A record 59.1 million people were displaced within their homelands last year, 4 million more than in 2020, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Thursday.  For the past 15 years, most internal displacements were triggered by disasters, with annual numbers slightly higher than those related to conflict and violence.  Weather-related events such as floods, storms and cyclones resulted in some 23.7 million internal displacements in 2021, mainly in Asia Pacific.  With the expected impacts of climate change, and without ambitious climate action, numbers are likely to increase in the coming years, the IOM said. Meanwhile, conflict and violence triggered 14.4 million internal displacements in 2021, a nearly 50 percent increase over the previous year.  The majority took place in Africa, particularly Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while Afghanistan and Myanmar saw unprecedented numbers of displacement.  Children and youth accounted for more than 40 percent of the total number of those internally displaced last year.  Also read: Ukraine war refugees top 5 million as assault intensifies

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced the names of the winners of the National Film Awards 2020 on Tuesday. A gazette was issued announcing the awards in 27 categories. Anwara Begum and Raisul Islam Asad were jointly named for the lifetime achievement award. READ: National Film Awards 2020 sees lowest submissions in recent years The film Gor and Bishwasundari jointly bagged best film award. Government grant-winning short film Aarong won best short film award. Bangabandhur Rajnaitik Jiban o Bangladesh-er Abhyudoy was named for the best documentary film award. Gazi Rakayet won the best director award for Gor. His film Gor was named for awards in ten categories and Chayanika Chowdhury-directed film Bishwasundari for awards in eight categories. Siam Ahmed has been named for the best actor award in the principal in Bishwasundari and the best supporting actor award went to Fazlur Rahman Babu in the same film. Deepanwita Martin bagged the best actress award for the principal in Gor. The best supporting actress award went to Aparna Ghosh for Gondi. READ: PM distributes National Film Awards Misha Sawdagor was awarded the best villain for Bir. The best child actor award went to Mugdhota Morshed for Gondi and Mohammad Shahadat Hasan Badhon won the special award in the child actor category for Aarong. Belal Khan won the best music director award for Hridoy Jurey. Mohammad Sahidur Rahman won the best dance director award posthumously for Bishwasundari. Mohammad Mahmudul Haque Imran won the best male singer award for the song Tui Ki Amar Hobi Re in the film Bishwasundari. The best female singer award jointly went to Dilshad Nahar Kona for the song Tui Ki Amar Hobi Re in the film Bishwasundari and Somnur Monir Konal for her song Bhalobasar Manush Tumi in the film Bir. The best lyricist award went to Kabir Bakul for his song Tui Ki Amar Hobi Re in the film Bishwasundari. Mohammad Mahmudul Haque Imran won the best music composer award for the song Tui Ki Amar Hobi Re in the film Bishwasundari. The best story writer award went to Gazi Rakayet for Gor. The best screenplay award went to Gazi Rakayet for Gor. The best dialogue award went to Fakhrul Arefeen Khan for Gondi. The best editor award went to Mohammad Shariful Islam for Gor. The best art director award went to Uttam Kumar Guha for Gor. The best cinematographer award jointly went to Pankaj Palit and Mohammad Mahbub Ullah for Gor. The best sound director award went to Kazi Selim Ahmed for Gor. The best costume designer award went to Enamtara Begum for Gor. The best makeup artiste award went to Mohammad Ali Bakul for Gor.

The global economy could shrink almost 1% this year due to the new coronavirus, a sharp reversal from the pre-pandemic forecast of 2.5% growth, the United Nations said Wednesday.