Registration for Joy Bangla Concert has kicked off, with an overwhelming rush among young music lovers to avail the opportunity to enjoy one of the biggest live music events in the country. This year, Joy Bangla Concert will be held on March 8 at Dhaka’s Army Stadium, under the supervision of Centre for Research and Information (CRI). Young Bangla, one of the leading youth networks of Bangladesh, has been holding the rock concert since 2015 to instill the spirit of the Liberation War among youths. Concert-goers are requested to log into ticket.youngbangla.org to avail their e-tickets. For registration, the participants will require their passport-sized photos and images of their ID cards. NIDs, ID cards of their educational institutions, passports, and driving licenses will be accepted. Continuing the previous years' trend, the concert this year is set to feature iconic and emerging bands of the country such as Artcell, Avoid Rafa, Lalon, Chirkutt, Cryptic Fate, Karnival, Meghdol, Nemesis and Arekta Rock Band. The youths who jumped, screamed, and danced to rock music and the wartime patriotic melodies are eagerly waiting for the concert that is returning after a gap of two years due to the pandemic. “The last edition in 2020 is a memorable experience for me — that concert so vividly created a unique blend of history and music. The idea of rendering songs that were aired on the wartime radio station called Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra 50 years ago — inspiring the freedom fighters to free the country — is really awe-inspiring,” said Rajin, a university student. Read more: Young music lovers rejoice as Joy Bangla Concert is back after a two-year gap “What better way to pay tribute to the historic March 7 speech by the Father of the Nation!… Expecting a bigger and better return this time”, added another university student Sujon. With a call to roar like the nation did on March 7, favorite bands presented several Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra songs before an audience of this generation at previous editions. Starting in 2015, in successive years, the country’s biggest concert for youths added some special features such as presentation of the coloured version of the speech in 2016. The speech, transformed from black and white into colour, appeared onscreen before an audience of 30,000 youths at the concert. Registration for free ticket can be done at: ticket.youngbangla.org

Banks  have been asked to continue operation on April 29 and 30 to facilitate payment of garment workers' salary, Eid bonus, allowances and export-import activities. Bangladesh Bank (BB) gave the directive to the scheduled banks through a circular on Monday. READ: Despite central bank's green light, banks shy to invest in capital market BB has asked banks to continue operation before Eid-ul-Fitr in the industrial areas in Dhaka metropolitan area, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Bhaluka, Narayanganj and Chittagong ensuring adequate security. The Department off-site Supervision of Bangladesh Bank issued the circular and sent it to the top executives of the banks to take necessary action.

After a gap of over three years, Malaysia will reopen its job market for Bangladeshis by this year-end, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed has said. “The Malaysian government has shown interest in signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with our government over the issue. The final date will be known in a day or two after we get the necessary documents,” he told reporters at Sylhet Circuit House on Friday night. READ: Govt plans big to equip youths for future job market According to the Minister, the job market will be reopened for Bangladeshi workers in several sectors -- tree plantation, gardening, agriculture, production, mining, construction and domestic service. Besides, another MoU will be signed for sending workers to Greece legally, said Imran, urging people to refrain from going abroad illegally. Malaysia is one of the most popular destinations for Bangladeshi workers. As many as 1,057,056 Bangladeshis have found work in Malaysia between 1976 and 2019, according to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET). READ: Why the pandemic left long-term scars on global job market Manpower export to Malaysia has remained suspended since 2018.

Banks will remain open on Thursday as the government has re-fixed the holiday on Holy Ashura. Earlier, Thursday was announced as the public holiday on the occasion of  Holy Ashura. READ: Banks to remain closed on Sunday Later as per the decision of the National Moon-sighing committee, the public holiday was re-fixed for Friday, said a Bangladesh Bank circular issued on Wednesday. READ: Banks to return to normal operation hours from Wednesday