The International Criminal Court said on Friday it issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes because of his alleged involvement in abductions of children from Ukraine. The court said in a statement that Putin “is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of (children) and that of unlawful transfer of (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.” It also issued a warrant Friday for the arrest of Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, the Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, on similar allegations. The move was immediately dismissed by Moscow and welcomed by Ukraine as a major breakthrough. Its practical implications, though, could well be negligible. Even if the court has court has indicted world leaders before, it was the first time it issued a warrant against one of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. The court’s president, Piotr Hofmanski, said in a video statement that while the ICC’s judges have issued the warrants, it will be up to the international community to enforce them. The court has no police force of its own to enforce warrants. “The ICC is doing its part of work as a court of law," he said. "The judges issued arrest warrants. The execution depends on international cooperation.” The chances of a trial of any Russians at the ICC remains extremely unlikely, as Moscow does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction— a position it vehemently reaffirmed on Friday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted that Russia doesn’t recognize the ICC and considers its decisions “legally void.” He added that Russia considers the court’s move “outrageous and unacceptable.” Peskov refused to comment when asked if Putin would avoid making trips to countries where he could be arrested on the ICC’s warrant. Ukrainian officials were jubilant. “The world changed," said presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the “wheels of justice are turning," and added that "international criminals will be held accountable for stealing children and other international crimes.” Olga Lopatkina, a Ukrainian mother who struggled for months to reclaim her foster children who were deported to an institution ran by Russian loyalists, welcomed the news of the arrest warrant. “Good news!” she said in an exchange of messages with the Associated Press. “Everyone must be punished for their crimes.” Ukraine also is not a member of the international court, but it has granted it jurisdiction over its territory and ICC prosecutor Karim Khan has visited four times since opening an investigation a year ago. The ICC said its pre-trial chamber found “reasonable grounds to believe that each suspect bears responsibility for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population and that of unlawful transfer of population from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation, in prejudice of Ukrainian children.” The court statement said that “there are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Putin bears individual criminal responsibility” for the child abductions “for having committed the acts directly, jointly with others and/or through others (and) for his failure to exercise control properly over civilian and military subordinates who committed the acts. After his most recent visit, in early March, ICC prosecutor Khan said he visited a care home for children two kilometers (just over a mile) from front lines in southern Ukraine. “The drawings pinned on the wall ... spoke to a context of love and support that was once there. But this home was empty, a result of alleged deportation of children from Ukraine to the Russian Federation or their unlawful transfer to other parts of the temporarily occupied territories,” he said in a statement. “As I noted to the United Nations Security Council last September, these alleged acts are being investigated by my Office as a priority. Children cannot be treated as the spoils of war.” And while Russia rejected the allegations and warrants of the court as null and void, others said the ICC action will have an important impact. “The ICC has made Putin a wanted man and taken its first step to end the impunity that has emboldened perpetrators in Russia’s war against Ukraine for far too long," said Balkees Jarrah, associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch. "The warrants send a clear message that giving orders to commit, or tolerating, serious crimes against civilians may lead to a prison cell in The Hague.” Prof. David Crane, who indicted Liberian President Charles Taylor 20 years ago for crimes in Sierra Leone, said dictators and tyrants around the world "are now on notice that those who commit international crimes will be held accountable to include heads of state.” Taylor was eventually detained and put on trial at a special court in the Netherlands. He was convicted and sentenced to 50 years' imprisonment. “This is an important day for justice and for the citizens of Ukraine,” Crane said in a written comment to the Associated Press Friday. On Thursday, a U.N.-backed inquiry cited Russian attacks against civilians in Ukraine, including systematic torture and killing in occupied regions, among potential issues that amount to war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity. The sweeping investigation also found crimes committed against Ukrainians on Russian territory, including deported Ukrainian children who were prevented from reuniting with their families, a “filtration” system aimed at singling out Ukrainians for detention, and torture and inhumane detention conditions. But on Friday, the ICC put the face of Putin on the child abduction allegations.

Holding an international driving license is an essential requirement for individuals who intend to travel abroad and operate a vehicle. If you are a Bangladeshi citizen and wish to drive a car or a motorcycle while visiting a foreign country, you need to acquire an international driving license. The license verifies that you are authorized to drive in your home country and meet the requirements of driving. In Bangladesh, an international driving license is relatively simple and can be completed through the Automobile Association of Bangladesh (AAB). Let's find out the procedure for obtaining an international automobile driving license from Bangladesh, including the necessary documents and fees. Steps to Get an International Driving License from Bangladesh This International driving license is recognized in most countries around the world and allows you to drive legally in foreign territories. However, some countries may limit the period of driving. For example, if you are staying in that country for more than 6 months or one year, you may need to get a new license for that country. Follow the steps provided below to get your international license from Bangladesh. Eligibility To apply for an International Driving License, you must be a valid license holder of a car or a motorcycle in Bangladesh. Additionally, you must be at least 18 years of age to be eligible for the license. To get an international driver's license, you must first complete three stages of testing for a national driving license. Once you have obtained the national license, you will be eligible to apply for the international one. Read More: Process for obtaining driving license to be completed from home Fill out an International Driving License Form BRTA does not issue International Driving Permits. The Automobile Association of Bangladesh (AAB) issues International Driving Permits. So, you need to fill out the form provided by the automobile association. However, you can get the form through the BRTA website. Link of Online Application Form: http://www.brta.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/brta.portal.gov.bd/forms/7d3a9c38_982a_434f_a661_782e56068d11/International_Permit.pdf http://www.aabangladesh.net/international_driving_licence_from.pdf Read More: How to get BRTA Bangladesh Motor Driving License: Necessary documents and costs

Showcasing 26 films made by mobile filmmakers from 25 different nations, the 9th edition of Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) was inaugurated on Saturday at the permanent campus of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) campus in the capital’s Mohammadpur. A flagship event of the Media Studies and Journalism Department of ULAB, the festival’s inauguration ceremony was joined by media personality and Grey Group Bangladesh Managing Partner and Country Head Syed Gousul Alam Shaon as the chief guest. The jury chair for the newly introduced Open Door and Vertical Film categories and ‘Hawa’-famed executive producer-filmmaker Shimul Chandra Biswas also joined the inauguration ceremony as the special guest. ULAB Media Studies and Journalism Head of Department Professor Dr Jude William Genilo inaugurated the screening sessions at the ‘Black Maria', a dark tent set at the ULAB open ground for film screenings at daylight. “No matter what type of ethnicity you belong to, films bring us all together,” Dr Genilo said at the ceremony. Gousul Alam Shaon congratulated DIMFF for successfully continuing the festival over the years, saying: “To continue the magic of storytelling, we need to create myths - and films are the best medium for that. Our film industry is continuously growing and mobile filmmaking is certainly a great addition to that, and I am honoured to share the day with young film-enthusiastic filmmakers-audiences here.” Festival Director Md Sambitul Islam said, “I am very grateful to my team who worked hard the entire year together since our last festival to make this event a reality.”

The International Day for Disaster Reduction will be observed across the country tomorrow (Thursday), with this year's theme set as ‘Early Warning and Early Action for All’. State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman disclosed this at a press conference at the secretariat in the capital on Wednesday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will virtually address a function organised to mark the day at Osmani Memorial Auditorium as chief guest.  With the aim to increase awareness among people and the authorities concerned about reduction of risk of disaster, the International Day for Disaster Reduction has been observed across the world as well as Bangladesh on October 13 since 1989, the junior minister said. Read: Super cyclone ‘Sitrang’ unlikely to hit Bangladesh coast: State Minister He informed that the government built 94,338 disaster-tolerant houses and construction of a further 44,909 such houses are underway as part of infrastructural development in disaster-risk management scheme. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate statements marking the day on Wednesday. The president said Bangladesh is now considered a capable country in disaster reduction by the world at large, due to measures taken by the government. He wished for the success of all the programmes taken marking the day. Sheikh Hasina said the loss of lives and properties from natural disasters in Bangladesh came down to single digits due to several effective measures taken by her government. Besides, Bangladesh is now a role model to the world in disaster management, the premier said.

The Department of Global Studies and Governance (GSG) of the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) Thursday launched the book titled "Rohingya Camp Narratives: Tales From the 'Lesser Roads' Traveled." It is the fourth international volume that the department published in the last five years. Edited by Dr Imtiaz A Hussain, professor at the department of GSG and director of IUB's Centre for Pedagogy, and published by renowned international publishing house Palgrave Macmillan, the book contains 13 chapters. The book was reviewed by Professor Dr Meghna Guhathakurta, executive director of Research Initiative Bangladesh, and Dr Tasneem Siddiqui, professor and chairperson at the Department of Political Science, University of Dhaka, and founding chair of RMMRU. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen joined the programme online as the chief guest. Shabbir Ahmed Chowdhury, secretary (west) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Johannes van der Klaauw, UNHCR's representative in Bangladesh, attended the programme as special guests. Abdul Hai Sarkar, chairman of the IUB Board of Trustees, Tanweer Hasan, vice-chancellor of IUB, and former ambassador Tariq A Karim, director of IUB's Center for Bay of Bengal Studies, also spoke. Professor Taiabur Rahman, dean of IUB's School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, moderated the programme. Also read: Thai envoy visits Rohingya camps

International Master Mohammad Minhaz Uddin of Bangladesh Navy maintaining his sole lead in the Marcel Invitational International Rating Chess Tournament  securing 7 points after the 8th and penultimate round matches held at the Bangladesh Chess Federation hall room on Tuesday. FIDE Master Sheikh Nasir Ahmed of Bangladesh Navy is in the 2nd position with 6.5 points. Candidate Master Manon Reja Neer of Uttara Central Chess Club is in the 3rd slot  with 6 points.  Seven players shared the 4th position collecting  5.5 points each.  They are: Anata Choudhury of Rupali Bank Krira Parisad, FIDE Master Syed Mahfuzur Rahman of Janata Bank Officer Welfare Society, Shafiq Ahmed and Showkat Hossain Pollab of Sheikh Russel Chess Club, Jabed Al Azad of Manha’s Castle, Abdul Momin of Khelaghar Daba Sangah of Gopalganj and Mukitul Islam Ripon of Agrani Bank Daba Dal. READ: Int'l Rating Chess: CM Manon Reja Neer takes solo lead In the day's 8th round matches, IM Minhaz beat  Shafiq, FM Sheikh Nasir beat Md. Abu Hanif, Anata drew with FM Mahfuz, CM Neer beat CM Md. Sharif Hossain, Pollab beat FM Khandekar Aminul Islam, Ripon beat CM Md. Jamal Uddin, Momin beat FM Mohammad Javed, Md. Sariatullah drew with CM Md. Shawket Bin Osman Shaon and Jabed beat Kazi Zarin Tasmin. The 9th and last round matches will be held tomorrow (Wednesday) from 11 am at the same venue.  The prize distribution ceremony of the tournament  will be held on the same day (Wednesday) from 4: pm at the Chess Federation hall-room soon after completion of the games. Senior Executive Director and Head of Games and Welfare of the meet's sponsor Walton Hi-Tech Industries FM Iqbal Bin Anwar Dawn will distribute prizes among winners as the chief guest.

Echoing the slogan 'Together we all, divided we fall', Youth Bangla Cultural Foundation is going to inaugurate an international film festival titled 'Youth Bangla International Film Festival' on December 10 at the International Hope School Theatre Hall, Uttara in the capital. The maiden edition of this week-long international film festival is commemorating the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's Independence, according to the organizers. Showcasing a total of 60 national and international films, the festival is going to be the first-ever festival in the country using the Dolby Atmos surround system, to ensure the enhanced audio-visual experience for the moviegoers. A press event was arranged on Tuesday at the Bangladesh Shooting Sports Federation, where the organizers briefed the journos about the details of the festival. The press conference was joined by several iconic cultural personalities of the country including noted thespian-filmmaker Gazi Rakayet, also the festival director, alongside legendary actresses Dilara Zaman, Sharmili Ahmed, Shampa Reza, recitation artist Shimul Mustapha, singer-music director S I Tutul, silver screen actress and Youth Bangla's film secretary Nipun, actor Shipan Mitra, director Sohanur Rahman Sohan and more. Youth Bangla Cultural Foundation President Muna Chowdhury and the festival's Chief Patron Seema Hamid were also present at the press conference. A total of five films will be selected from the participating films to be awarded in this festival, the organizers said at the press conference. Films have been selected from India, Iran, Germany, Argentina, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal and Netherland, alongside Bangladeshi films, according to the organizers.  The opening film for this year's festival is Hasina: A Daughter's Tale directed by Piplu Khan. Several other prominent Bangladeshi films are also scheduled to be showcased in the festival, including Muktir Gaan by late eminent filmmaker Tareque Masud; Morshedul Islam directed Liberation War-based film Amar Bondhu Rashed and Gazi Rakayet directed film Gor (The Grave), Bangladesh’s first English-language based film and second nomination for the upcoming 94th edition of the Oscars. "One of our penultimate goals for this debuting film festival is to building a bridge between our new generation filmmakers and the rest of the cineworld," Gazi Rakayet said at the press conference. A highly-revered, five-member international and independent jury board will select the best films, best directors and best actors-actresses, he informed. "Our Youth Bangla Cultural Foundation believes that films can spontaneously depict human emotions, and a single good film can positively change a person and the society. Through this first-ever film festival, we sincerely want to connect all of our talented film artistes, filmmakers and scholars, for the betterment of our esteemed film industry," Youth Bangla Cultural Foundation President Muna Chowdhury said at the press conference. From 3 pm till 9 pm, the festival is expecting to cater up to 450 moviegoers each day till December 16.

Bangladesh receives $2.7 billion investment commitments from potential foreign businesses as a two-day international investment conference concluded in Dhaka on Monday.   Talking to the UNB at the summit venue Md. Sirajul Islam, executive chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) said the pledged investment may even increase to $ 5 billion as some global partners are expected to declare their commitments later.   Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone have signed an investment deal of $150 million on the closing day of the summit. The conference focused on the opportunity of investment in the country as its domestic markets have been expanding with enhancing buying capacity of consumers. Speaking in different sessions on November 28 and 29, the private and public sector experts, investors, business organizations’ leaders emphasized Bangladesh’ domestic markets’ consumption demand along with the country’s ability in the productions as well as manufacturing sector. READ: International Investment Summit begins Sunday with focus on attracting FDI They said per capita income of Bangladesh crossed (USD) $2500, which means purchase capacity of the people have increased significantly. Bangladesh not only exporting goods in the global markets, but also importing a big volume of household appliance and consumers items, they said. Banks and financial institutions have been fully digitalized, electronic transaction system also modernized, mobile financial sector brought a revolution in online purchasing and e-commerce selling, the summit documents claimed. Readymade garments sector leaders said Bangladesh’ contribution in the garments manufacturing has been increasing gradually and new investment is required for development. Leather and leather goods entrepreneurs have showcased investment potentials in the sectors. Finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal was the chief gest in the closing ceremony while Salman F Rahman, prime minister’s adviser on industry and investment was the special guest  and Saleh Nasser Al- Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics was present as guest.  READ: 10-member Saudi delegation joins Investment Summit Dhaka North City Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, State Minister Nasrul Hamid , Hector Gomez Ang, regional director of international finance corporation (IFC), Rupali Huque Chowdhury, president of foreign investors’ chamber of commerce and industry (FICCI), among others, were spoke in the closing functions.  Prime minister Sheikh Hasina virtually inaugurated the summit on Sunday as the chief guest. Ministers, local and foreign delegates and experts joined physically. The slogan for the summit was "Bangladesh Discover Limitless Opportunities". The summit was organised the occasion of Mujib Borsho, the birth centennial of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.  BIDA organized the summit in association with Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza), Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza), Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA), Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA), Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and Foreign Investors' Chamber Of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Representatives of government and investors from 54 countries, including the USA, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirate, India, Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Netherlands took part in the conference.

The authorities of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) on Sunday said they are planning to suspend all international flights as the government is going to impose a strict lockdown from April 14 to contain the spread of Covid-19.  Read CAAB to suspend international flights from Apr 14 “However, no final decision has been taken yet. Decision on international flights will be taken after a meeting in the afternoon,” said Air-Vice Marshal M Mofidur Rahman, chairman of CAAB.   “The operation of flights will depend on the directives of the government and if the lockdown starts from Wednesday then CAAB will take decision on international flights as per the government’s lockdown directives,” he said.  Besides, no restriction will be imposed on the movement of chartered flights, cargo flights and special flights carrying high commissioners of different countries and foreign nationals. Also read: Govt to enforce 7-day lockdown from Monday: Quader The flight operations on domestic routes remained suspended since the enforcement of the seven-day lockdown in the country from April 5. Besides, on April1 , the civil aviation regulator suspended the entry of passengers from all European  countries , except the UK, and 12 other countries to Bangladesh from April 3. As the spread of Coronavirus has sparked alarm across the country, the government is set to issue a notification on Sunday over enforcing a fresh nationwide lockdown from April 14 in its desperate bid to stop the spread of the deadly virus. Also read: No domestic flight operations during lockdown: CAAB   Bangladesh, a densely populated country, is facing the wraths of the Covid-19 pandemic as people continued to defy health protocols despite warnings both from the government and experts.  On Saturday, the country registered 77 more deaths in 24 hours until Saturday morning, shattering all of its previous records.  The number of new coronavirus cases dropped slightly to 5,343 said a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).  Read UAE limits flights to Iran from Dubai over virus outbreak

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for a rare suicide attack that rocked central Baghdad, killing 32 people and wounding dozens.