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What is life really like when five of a family are physically challenged?
Life with physical disabilities is tough for anyone and the struggle turns crueler when the whole family suffers from it. You will hardly find anyone to understand what the Zia Sheikh family in Faridpur is going through.
Zia Sheikh, in his early 40s, is a hearing-impaired man lives with his seven-member family at Megmachi village in the district’s Madhupur upazila. Ironically, five of the family members, including Zia himself, his mother Rina khan, 60, his wife Arjina Begum, 37, and two of their children have physical disabilities.
Read:Light in the abyss: Local engineers turn on GK Project's third main pump
Rina Khan, Arjina Begum and their 6-year-old girl Yasmin suffer with hearing disability like Zia while their elder son Akash, 15, has mental and physical disability by birth. Zia’s other daughter, Helena, 14, and son Tamim, 8, are the only members in the family who are not suffering from any disability.
Zia said his miseries started right after his birth as he was the youngest son of Karim Sheikh, a landless man in the village who had earned livelihood by begging.
After his father’s death, Zia looked after his mother. One day he got married and started his own family but they have to live in a tin-roofed and clay-made room. Zia somehow supported the family working as a day-labourer and tending palm and coconut trees of their in his village and adjacent areas. Arjina also tried to help him working in a factory but she could not continue because of her illness.
More sufferings hit the ill-fated family when Zia, the only breadwinner, got his spine broken as he fell from a palm tree. After taking a long treatment at Faridpur Bangabandhu Sheikh Medical College and Hospital, doctors said he needs a surgery to walk like before but Zia failed to manage the money for it.
Zia now can walk only with the help of a stick. “Our only recourse is a 1300-sqf land we bought by selling a cow we had. And we had bought it with money provided by an NGO.”
Beshi Joss dreams of taking Bangladeshi guitars and drums global
Who could think of a Bangladeshi acoustic drums brand six years back? When most drummers dreamt of having a western branded set of drums, Nafeez Al Amin was struggling to make one for himself. It all started out of dismay in 2015. One of his snare drums was stolen and he could barely afford another.
After trying several times, he succeeded making a snare all on his own and that’s when the story of Nafeez Al Amin’s Beshi Joss Customs began. Though it began as a one-man-project at his home garage, now Nafeez has a factory and a dedicated team working to take musical instruments, made in Bangladesh, to the next level.
Nafeez, who happens to be the drummer of a renowned Bangladeshi band, Arbovirus, said, "We never say no to anything, whatever demand someone comes up with, we do it our way. We have come all these way through many ups and downs, we had hurdles but we kept trying. We believe something which is done or achieved by trying relentlessly is ‘Beshi Joss’ and that’s how the brand stands."
Nafeez, also an assistant professor at Daffodil International University, was much appreciated by his peers after he succeeded in making his snare drum. This inspired him to make drums for others. So, he started the Beshi Josh Drums, the first custom acoustic drums manufacturing brand of Bangladesh.
Later, the brand began making cajons, custom electric and acoustic guitars, and that’s why the brand was titled to Beshi Josh Customs. Reuben Custom guitars, Beshi Joss drums and Ocean cajons- all these are now produced under the same roof at Beshi Joss Factory in the capital’s Baigartek area.
Pandemic had been hard for Beshi Joss Customs team as they had to leave their previous place in Ashulia. Besides, as the lockdown was imposed across the country their sales went down. However, the team passed through the hard days. They started working with a new spirit at the new factory-place as the lockdown was eased.
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Though it started with acoustic drums Beshi Joss did already make a good number of custom electric guitars on orders. They have been producing cajons on mass scale which are sold in different musical instrument stores across the country.
Nafeez has turned himself a master luthier, has a dedicated team that he has trained up and is being highly appreciated by the musicians and music enthusiasts across the country, and beyond the borders. Now it’s time to take this dream project to the next level. Nafeez says, “For our survival we must export. Though the demand in our country has been increasing day by day, it’s not always possible for domestic customers to afford these products. As many of our buyers are students and struggle to gather money for their required instrument.”
Light in the abyss: Local engineers turn on GK Project's third main pump
Irrigation is critical for crop production in Bangladesh and the heart of most irrigation systems are pumps.
There are 15 pumps – three main devices and 12 subsidiaries – in the Ganges-Kobadak Irrigation Project or GK Project – a large surface irrigation system set up by the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) on the right bank of the River Ganges – the River Padma in Bangladesh.
The pumps – with a total lifting capacity of 153 cumec – are used to draw water from the Padma through an intake channel to supply it to the fields by gravity canals.
GK, the first major step in Bangladesh to provide supplemental irrigation to traditional rice varieties, covers an area of 197,500 hectares in Kushtia, Chuadanga, Jhenaidaha and Magura districts.
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Thirteen upazilas – Kushtia Sadar, Kumarkhali, Khoksa, Mirpur, Bheramara, Chuadanga, Alamdanga, Jhenaidaha, Harinakunda, Shailkupa, Magura Sadar, Sreepur and Daulatpur – are served by the project in two seasons.
However, the project, the largest lift-cum-gravity irrigation system in the country, largely missed its targets – raising food production, cropping intensity; improving cropping patterns and the socio-economic conditions of the farmers.
It is facing multiple setbacks both at the implementation and operational stages like other irrigation projects in Bangladesh.
Hundreds of farmers in four districts of the Khulna division have been deprived of irrigation facilities from the project for years. GK is now in the grip of land grabbers, mismanagement, and negligence.
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The area of the project is shrinking day by day as land sharks continue to fill up the irrigation canals. Now only 116,000 hectares of land of GK is net irrigable.
Also, as there is no proper drainage system, most of the water supplied from the project is wasted. The system needs to be improved to prevent waterlogging of low lands as well.
Govt bets big on agriculture to reshape rural economy
The allocation for the agriculture sector in the upcoming budget is likely to see a significant rise as the government has taken various initiatives for this vital sector to ensure food security, boost the incomes of farmers and create jobs and thus improve the lifestyle of the rural poor.
The total spending in this sector is projected to grow by 10 percent on average annually to Tk 377.07 billion in 2023-24 fiscal, according to a budgetary document obtained by UNB.
The allocation for this sector in the running 2021-22 fiscal is Tk 319.12 billion while the projection for the next 2022-23 fiscal is Tk 344.26 billion.
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The allocation was Tk 239.17 billion, Tk 219.77 billion and Tk 297.25 billion in 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 fiscals respectively.
This agriculture sector covers the activities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Ministry of Land and Ministry of Water Resources.
The document states that agriculture is one of the top priority sectors of the government, as it plays a leading role in advancing the growth path of the economy by enhancing productivity and employment opportunities.
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"So, addressing the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on agriculture was considered urgent.
As per the document, the share of agriculture to GDP in Bangladesh is currently more than 13 percent, and it is the main source of generating income and employment for the rural people, particularly the poor segment.
2021 in review: BNP failed again to impress people
Unlike previous years, BNP put in greater efforts in 2021 to make people feel its presence, but Khaleda Zia’s party still faces an uphill task to cast any impact on the political landscape ahead of the 2023 national election, according to political analysts.
As the nature of the game has changed, they said, BNP must have a strategic plan to make a turnaround.
“BNP should have done something that would have surprised people instead of only focusing on sending Khaleda abroad for medical treatment. People want a strong movement, BNP should concentrate on it,” said Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury.
Professor Ali Riaz, a distinguished professor of political science at Illinois State University (USA), said BNP needs to bring its house in order and develop a strategy for the future.
Read: Get ready for movement with shrouds on heads: BNP to followers
‘Nothing tangible’ in 2021
On the first day of 2021, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had said they were taking a fresh vow to completely free Khaleda Zia from jail and ‘restore’ democracy in the country through a mass upsurge by uniting the country’s people and political parties, but the party could not do much to live up to its pledge.
The party held various street programmes, including rallies and human chains, in protest against the price hike of essentials, a flawed election system, different incidents, demanding Khaleda’s treatment abroad all over the year.
The party marked the seventh anniversary of the 10th parliament election day-- January 5, 2014 -- by hoisting flags at its offices across the country.
2021: The year imported LNG was established as the fuel for the future
At the same time that the country’s overall daily natural gas production witnessed a fall of 79.2 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) in last one year, the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) registered a rise by 85.9 mmcfd.
This is revealed in Petrobangla data against the reality that currently 20 percent of the total gas supply has to be met by import while the country is consuming gas of about 2,898.8 mmcfd against a demand for 4610 mmcfd.
A comparison of data from Petrobangla—the state-owned hydrocarbon corporation—shows that the country produced 2,898.8 mmcfd gas on December 2 this year against 2,978.0 mmcfd on the same day in 2020.
The production capacity, however remained static at 3,760 mmcfd as it did not witnessed any fall or rise in last one year against the backdrop of lack of exploration activities.
The data shows the country witnessed only 6.2 mmcfd increase in the gas production at the government-run 18 gas fields as their daily production was recorded at 851.7 mmcfd against 845.5 mmcfd in 2020.
READ: Experts suggest use of abandoned Sangu platform as storage for imported LNG
On the other hand, the production at the international oil company-operated 4 gas fields fell by 171.3 mmcfd as they produced 1499.2 mmcfd against the 1670.5 mmcfd in the same period.
The import, however, registered a rise by 85.9 mmcfd to 547.9 mmcfd on December 2 in 2021 from 462.0 mmcfd in the same day 2020 against an import capacity of 1000 mmcfd which was also the same in 2020.
Energy experts have been blaming the government’s lack of interest in local hydrocarbon exploration, coupled with a seeming eagerness toward import of LNG, for the current situation.
According to the annual report published by the International Group of LNG Importers (GIIGNL), Bangladesh ranked 15th among the nations in the world that increased their LNG imports most in 2020.
Expressing grave concern over the country’s energy situation, energy expert and former professor of Chemical Engineering Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) Dr Ijaz Hossain said Bangladesh is moving towards a dangerous situation as Petrobangla has failed to conduct necessary exploration in hydrocarbon sector.
“Currently, we’re importing 20-25 percent of gas as LNG from abroad. If there’s no discovery within the next 10 years, we will have to import more than 90 percent gas from foreign sources,” he told UNB.
“The government has to ensure at least 15 percent drilling -- 5 drilling by Petrobangla and 10 drilling by foreign companies -- to avert the future crisis.
Dr Ijaz also said there might be the influence of vested interest groups for increasing LNG import, but the government has to take the right decision to increase exploration works.
As per the country’s Gas Master Plan 2017, the demand will increase to 5257 MMCFD in 2022-23, 6228 MMCFD in 2024-25 to meet the needs of different sectors, including power and industry, in line with average 7 percent economic growth.
According to a forecast by Petrobangla, the country’s gas production from the local fields will be depleting and imports will continue to rise to meet the growing demand in power, industry and other sectors.
Petrobangla’s Annual Report 2020 says the country’s total initial recoverable proven plus probable gas reserve of 27 fields has been estimated to be at 28.29 trillion cubic feet (TCF). Up to December, 2020, as much as 18.24 TCF gas was produced, leaving only 10.05 TCF of recoverable gas in 2P category. Currently, 20 gas fields are in production with 105 wells on-stream.
Energy expert and professor of the BUET’s petroleum and mineral resources engineering department Dr M Tamim said current situation is the result of the Petrobangla’s failure to make any initiative for exploration in last 7 years since the country’s maritime boundary disputes with neighbours were settled in 2014.
READ: 40 pc imported LNG remains unused for transmission constraints
The Petrobangla data reveals that the four gas field operated by US-based company Chevron and UK-based Tullow have been producing about 40 percent of the country’s total gas from their four fields—Chevron’s Jalalabad (209.8 mmcfd), Maulavibazar (19.6 mmcfd), Bibiyana (1200 mmcfd) and Tullow’s Bangora (90.9 mmcfd).
The state-owned Petrobangla has been operating 18 gas fields of which Titas has been producing the highest amount of 396.4 mmcfd which is followed by 158 mmcfd.
Showcasing beautiful Bangladesh, ‘Raat Jaga Phool’ to hit the theatre on Dec 31
Portraying the picturesque rural and urban beauty of Bangladesh, popular actor Mir Sabbir’s film ‘Raat Jaga Phool’ is scheduled to be released on New Year’s Eve this Friday across the country, making it the very last release in 2021.
A storyteller by passion, the popular actor has been directing television plays and drama serials for a long time in his two-decades-long career in television. He left no stone unturned for his debut film as its director, actor lyricist and producer.
Talking to the journos at a press conference arranged at the Dhaka Club on Wednesday evening, Mir Sabbir alongside his cast and crew members described the journey behind the film, which has already created a buzz in the cinema sphere for its subtle, beautiful and promising presentation through its trailer, songs and unique promotional campaigns.
“This was certainly a great challenge for me and my team. As it is already known to all that we got Tk 60 lakh from the government as a grant, however, we had to add a lot more to our budget because I wholeheartedly wanted to make this film as enthralling as possible, for our beloved moviegoers,” Sabbir said at the press conference.
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With an ensemble cast featuring Mir Sabbir as ‘Roiss,’ the main protagonist of the film, alongside new generation actors Rashed Mamun Apu, Miss World Bangladesh 2018 Jannatul Ferdous Oishee, Abu Hurayra Tanvir, Tanin Tanha, Shahid Shahriar with seasoned actors Fazlur Rahman Babu, Dilara Zaman, Sharmilee Ahmed, Joyraj, Dr Ezaz, Naresh Bhuiyan, Ahsanul Haq Minu and more - the film has already created high expectations among the audiences before its release.
When UNB asked Sabbir about the idea behind the selection of this ensemble cast, Sabbir said: “I have been moving with the story of ‘Raat Jaga Phool’ with myself for a very long time, and when it came to select the casting, my imagination matched with these popular and versatile actors. We all have truly worked not just as co-workers but a family for the entire period of this beautiful journey.“
Digital Bangladesh: World’s 7th largest data centre eyes foreign currency
The National Data Centre is eyeing to be a huge potential source of earning foreign currency as many foreign firms now show interest in storing their data in the center.
The world's 7th largest data centre, set up at Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City in Gazipur, has already started saving the country’s foreign currency in millions of dollars by reducing its foreign dependence on data preservation.
Alongside ensuring the security of the country’s data, the tier-IV data center is now saving Tk 353 core annually as Bangladeshi firms don’t need to preserve their data in foreign lands, according to officials of Bangladesh Data Centre Company Limited (BDCCL).
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Besides, the present government set up the Tier-IV National Data Centre on a 7-acre land as part of transforming the country into ‘Digital Bangladesh’ in line with its 2008 electoral manifesto. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the data Centre on November 28, 2019.
“Now any organisation of Bangladesh can store their data in the Tier-IV National Data Centre. Even foreign organisations are showing their interest to store their data here in the heart of Digital Bangladesh,” said company secretary of BDCCL, AKM Latiful Kabir.
Noting that the world standard data centre has ensured data localization in the country, he said if agreements are signed with the foreign firms, the centre would be a great source of earning foreign currency.
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Terming the data centre as the “brain” of Digital Bangladesh, State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak said it is the host of everything, including 55,000 websites, 11 crore National Identity Cards, e-Nothi, Surokkha and registration system.
Noting that the G-Cloud based data centre will have unlimited capacity of preserving data, he said, “We hope we could launch the G-Cloud of Oracle technology within the next six or 12 months. And it will be the largest G-Cloud platform in the Southeast Asia.”
Bangladesh’s aimless year in cricket
Dhaka, Dec 29 (UNB) — The year started on a hopeful note for Bangladesh as Shakib Al Hasan had returned to international cricket early this year after serving a ban imposed by the ICC for failing to report corrupt approaches by a known bookie. But by the time it ended, supporters of the Tigers were hoping they could forget 2021 as soon as possible.
Shakib was the most valuable player immediately upon his return, in the ODI series against the West Indies early this year. It was not the right indicator of what was in store for the remainder of the year. The downhill slide began in the Test series that followed the ODIs against the men from the Caribbean, who were severely depleted yet totally outplayed Bangladesh in both matches on the way to winning 2-0.
Bangladesh won 20 international matches across all three formats this year, out of 46 played. Although that makes it their second-best year in terms of matches won, this does not reflect the suffering that Bangladesh went through playing at home or abroad in 2021, and across all three formats really.
The poor show in Tests continued all through the year. At the end of the year, the Mominul Haque-led team suffered another 2-0 series defeat at home, this time against Pakistan.
31st at Cox’s Bazar: Strict ban on outdoor events, but hotels buzzing
There will be no event to welcome the year 2022 held anywhere outdoors in Cox's Bazar.
This time, the law enforcement agencies have taken extra precaution to ensure the safety of the tourists in Cox’s Bazar.
Besides, the district administration has formed a special monitoring cell to maintain discipline in the tourism hub. The tourist police have also taken several security measures to ensure the safety of tourists.
However, people from different parts of the country will visit Cox's Bazar to enjoy the last sunset of 2021, as well as the first sunrise of 2022, and there will be various events arranged indoors in different hotels to welcome the New Year 2022.
Meanwhile, Abul Kashem Sikder, general secretary of Cox's Bazar Hotel Motel Guest House Owners' Association, said that 70 to 80 percent rooms have been booked so far this year on the occasion of ‘31st Night’.
No event will be arranged on the beach as there is a government ban on holding events outfoors. So this time, tourist arrivals in Cox's Bazar will not be as expected, said Abul Kashem.