Bangladesh
Bangladesh opt to bowl first in 2nd T20 vs New Zealand
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl first in the second T20 of the three-match series against New Zealand on Tuesday at Napier.
The visitors have lost the first game by 66 runs. So this match is a chance for the Tigers to keep the series alive. The third and final match of this series will take place on April 1.
Also read: Bangladesh vs New Zealand ODI Series 2021: Bangladesh Team Report Card
Mushfiqur Rahim, the wicketkeeper-batsman of Bangladesh, who missed the first game of the series, is also unavailable in the second game for a shoulder injury.
Bangladesh made a change to the playing XI replacing Mustafizur Rahman with Taskin Ahmed who bowled well in the ODI series.
There is the possibility of rain during this game, and that is why the Bangladesh captain opted to bowl first under the overcast condition.
Also read: New Zealand post 210 in 1st T20I vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Mohammad Naim, Liton Das(w), Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah(c), Afif Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nasum Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed
New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Finn Allen, Devon Conway(w), Will Young, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Southee(c), Ish Sodhi, Hamish Bennett, Adam Milne
Rohingya Repatriation: Dhaka seeks Delhi’s strong role in UNSC
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has requested India, as a member of the United Nations Security Council, to play a “strong role” in the early repatriation of the displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.
Prime Minister Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have reiterated the importance of safe, speedy and sustainable return of Rohingyas to their homeland for the greater security of the region.
India which shares border with Bangladesh and Myanmar assured its continued support in this regard, according to joint statement issued on Prime Minister Modi’s two-day state visit that ended on Saturday.
Also read: US urged to lead in finding durable solution to Rohingya crisis
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed appreciation at the generosity of Bangladesh in sheltering and providing humanitarian assistance to the 1.1 million forcibly displaced persons from the Rakhine State of Myanmar.
Bangladesh and Myanmar signed the repatriation deal on November 23, 2017. On January 16, 2018, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a document on ‘Physical Arrangement’, which was supposed to facilitate the return of Rohingyas to their homeland.
Bangladesh says the Rohingyas do not trust their government, and Bangladesh gave a number of proposals to build trust among them.
Also read: Dhaka seeks global community's constructive role in early Rohingya repatriation
Bangladesh is trying in multiple ways -- bilaterally, multilaterally, tri-laterally and through the judicial system -- to find a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis.
Bangladesh proposed deployment of nonmilitary civilian observers from Myanmar’s friendly countries -- Japan, China, Russia, India and Asean countries.
Worrying Covid upsurge in Bangladesh: 3,908 new cases, 35 deaths
A growing number of coronavirus cases and an alarming uptrend in the daily infection rate are posing big challenges to Bangladesh in its fight against the deadly virus.
A 2.75 percent rise in the infection rate was recorded on Sunday (17.65 percent) compared to 14.9 percent a day earlier.
The country’s health authorities reported 3,908 new cases and 35 Covid-related deaths during a 24-hour period until Sunday morning.
Now, the local fatality tally stands at 8,904, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The country reported its first coronavirus-related death on March 18 last year.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records 3-month high 39 deaths; 3,674 fresh cases
Bangladesh, which announced its first cases on March 8 last year, has so far reported 595,714 infections.
However, the mortality rate was recorded at 1.4 percent on Sunday which was 1.5 percent on Saturday.
So far, 535,941 patients (89.97 percent) have recovered, including 2,019 in the last 24 hours, according to DGHS.
So far, 4,588,830 samples, including 22,136 in the past 24 hours, have been tested.
Also read: Global Covid-19 cases top 126.6 million
Coronavirus cases were first reported in China in December 2019. Until Sunday, countries around the world confirmed 126.6 million cases with 2.77 million fatalities, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Fight against Covid
Along with a countrywide vaccination drive, the government has taken a tougher stance to tackle the transmission of Covid-19.
The Health Ministry sent letters to districts, directing the officials concerned to impose fines on people flouting Covid protocols.
Meanwhile, the closure of schools and colleges were extended until May 23 as the situation showed no sign of improvement.
Also read: 36 countries yet to get Covid jabs: WHO
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said she wants quick steps to fight the fresh surge of Covid-19 cases. “We’ll have to take prompt steps as we did in the past,” she said at a virtual discussion.
She said health guidelines and safe physical distance will have to be maintained at every programme and the use of face masks must be ensured.
New Zealand post 210 in 1st T20I vs Bangladesh
Despite losing the first wicket off the first ball of the match, New Zealand posted a challenging total of 213 for three in the first T20I of the three-match series against Bangladesh on Sunday at Hamilton.
New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first. Mahmudullah Riyad, the Bangladesh captain, asked Nasum Ahmed, who got inducted to international cricket with this game, to bowl the first over. Nasum got his maiden wicket straightway removing New Zealand debutant Finn Allen for a golden duck.
Also read: Key T20I Records between Bangladesh and New Zealand
In the second wicket stand, New Zealand added 57 runs with the help of Martin Guptill and Devon Conway, who is on good form for a while now.
Inside the powerplay, New Zealand lost only a wicket. But in the very next over, Mahedi Hasan removed Guptil for 35. In the third wicket stand, Conway and Martin Guptill added 105 runs off 60 balls. They were destructive against the Bangladeshi bowling attack.
Glenn Phillips hit 24 off 10 balls coming into the crease at number five. With his blazing batting display, New Zealand passed the 200-run mark.
For Bangladesh, Nasum bagged two wickets while Mahedi took one. Shoriful Islam, the other debutant of Bangladesh, had a bad day at the office as he conceded as many as 50 runs in his four overs.
Also read: Bangladesh vs New Zealand T20 Series 2021: Who can replace Tamim in the opening slot?
Bangladesh are yet to win any international game against New Zealand in New Zealand. After losing the ODI series 3-0, the Tigers are eager to pull off a win in the T20Is series.
Dhaka, Delhi to accelerate momentum; eye next 50 years of diversified ties
Bangladesh and India have agreed to accelerate the momentum that exists between the countries with an eye on the next 50 years of cooperation in diversified areas.
Emphasis was also put on enhanced connectivity, not just between Bangladesh and India but beyond the two countries to ensure broader economic benefits.
“We not only need to continue the momentum, we need to accelerate the momentum,” Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said sharing the outcome of talks between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Saturday evening.
Modi had a “productive meeting” with Hasina and reviewed the full range of Bangladesh-India relations and discussed ways to deepen economic and cultural linkages in the times to come.
He said Prime Minister Hasina raised the Teesta issue while the Indian Prime Minister reiterated India's commitment to that end, sharing India’s sincere and continued efforts to conclude the agreement.
Also read: Hasina seeks fair share of Teesta water
The Indian Foreign Secretary said cooperation in the areas of common rivers water is an important issue.
Hasina, Modi jointly open five projects
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday jointly inaugurated five projects.
They inaugurated the projects virtually after bilateral talks between Bangladesh and India that took place at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The projects are Ground-breaking ceremony for Infrastructure Development for Power Evacuation Facilities of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, introduction of a new passenger train service, ‘Mitali Express’, between Dhaka and New Jalpaiguri and extended development work at Rabindra Bhawan Kuthibari in Shilaidaha, Kushtia.
Also read: Bangladesh, India for progress of whole world: Modi
The other projects are laying the foundation stone of a monument at Ashuganj in memory of martyred members of Indian Allied Forces in Ashuganj and three new Border haats along the India-Bangladesh border.
Bangladesh-India bilateral talks begin at PMO
The bilateral talks between Bangladesh and India have started at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is leading the Bangladesh delegation at the meeting while visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading his side. The meeting began around 5:40 pm.
Also read: Hasina-Modi Talks: Focus on connectivity, trade, health
Before the formal talks, the two leaders also had a tête-à-tête for some time.
Earlier, on his arrival at the PMO, the Indian Prime Minister was received by his Bangladeshi counterpart at the Tiger Gate of the Prime Minister’s Office.
Meanwhile, at least five MoUs are likely to be signed after the bilateral meeting, according to Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen. He said the MoUs are aimed at strengthening cooperation in various sectors of the two neighbouring countries.
Also read: FM discusses bilateral, connectivity issues with Modi
They will inaugurate some joint projects virtually and witness the signing of the MoUs between the two countries after the talks.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on Friday morning on a two-day official visit to attend the celebrations of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of the country’s independence.
Also read: Ideologies, forces behind inhuman acts remains active: Modi
Golden Jubilee: US Senate Foreign Relations Committee greets Bangladesh
US Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has greeted Bangladesh and its people marking the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence.
Extending best wishes to the people of Bangladesh, Senator Menendez said the members of Congress have a proud history of support for Bangladesh’s freedom.
“Senator Ted Kennedy’s 1971 visit drew international attention to the repression the people of Bangladesh faced, and Kennedy became a champion for the importance of Bangladesh’s independence,” the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee said in the statement.
Also read: Curtain falls on 10-day celebration marking golden jubilee, Bangabandhu’s birth centenary
He looks forward to strengthening the Bangladesh-US relationship on the basis of those values to address major issues including climate change, human rights, and humanitarian challenges.
Also read: PM releases commemorative stamp marking Golden Jubilee
Senator Menendez expressed gratefulness for the contributions made by Bangladeshi-Americans to the United States.
Int’l community lauds Bangladesh’s remarkable progress
Representatives of the UN and its member states have lauded the remarkable progress of Bangladesh saying it has made tremendous strides over the past five decades and become a development miracle.
They came up with the recognition during the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence on Friday.
The event was organised by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations in a virtual platform.
High-level representatives of the United Nations Headquarters, Permanent Missions of different countries and UN agencies along with other dignitaries of the international community attended the virtual reception.
In his video message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres recognised the tremendous strides made by Bangladesh over the past five decades, particularly on issues of social development and disaster preparedness.
He acknowledged Bangladesh’s valuable role on the world stage as the largest troop contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations, as Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and also as a host to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.
“We’ll continue to stand with Bangladesh in tackling the climate crisis and working for the Sustainable Development Goals,” said the UN chief.
Hefazat calls countrywide hartal for Sunday
Hefazat-e-Islam has called a dawn-to-dusk countrywide hartal for Sunday protesting against police action on their anti-Modi rally in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts.
The Qawmi madrasa-based organisation will also organise nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, Abdur Rob Eusufi, nayeb-e-ameer of Hefazat, announced the programmes at a press briefing in Purana Paltan on Friday night.
Hefazat chief Junaid Babungari published a video message in this regard.
A clash involving Hefazat supporters and police left four people dead and at least 15 others injured at Hathazari in Chattogram on Friday.
Also read: Four killed in clashes with cops in Chattogram
The clash took place when policed opened fire after a group of protestors attacked Hathazari thana compound and Hathazari land office and set fire to a vehicle
Meanwhile in Dhaka, at least 50 people, including several journalists, were injured in a clash between Muslim devotees and police in the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area in the afternoon.
Clashes erupted when police barred people from bringing out a procession after Jum’a prayers protesting against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.