The government has announced to provide financial assistance to the victims of Sitakunda oxygen plant fire that claimed lives of six people and injured 50 others. State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian made the announcement on Sunday. She also expressed deep shock over the loss of lives in the fire. The government also announced Tk 25,000 for the burial of the deceased while Tk 2 lakh to the family members of each deceased. Besides, Tk 50,000 was announced for the treatment of the injured victims. Read more: Sitakunda oxygen plant fire: Death toll rises to 6 Already the cheques were handed over to the relatives of the deceased and injured victims. Six people were killed and 50 others injured in an explosion at Seema Oxygen Plant around 4:30 pm on Saturday. Among the injured, 30 were admitted to Chittagong Medical College and hospital (CMCH) hospital. A four-member committee was formed to look into the explosion.

Roger Federer is retiring from professional tennis at age 41 after a series of knee operations, closing a career in which he won 20 Grand Slam titles, finished five seasons ranked No. 1 and helped create a golden era of men’s tennis with rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Federer posted what he called a “bittersweet decision” via social media on Thursday, less than a week after 23-time major champion Serena Williams played what is expected to the last match of her career. Combined, the exits by two of the greatest athletes in their sport’s history represent a significant turning of the page. “As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries. I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form,” Federer wrote on Twitter. “But I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear.” Federer has not competed since Wimbledon in July 2021, and so, in that sense, his news is not all that surprising. But he had appeared at an event marking the 100-year anniversary of Centre Court at the All England Club this July and said he hoped to come back to play there “one more time.” He also had said he would return to tournament action in his home country at the Swiss Indoors in October. In Thursday’s announcement, Federer said his farewell event will be the Laver Cup in London next week. That is a team event run by his management company. Federer is married and he and his wife, Mirka — a tennis player, too; they met as athletes at an Olympics — have two sets of twins. Read: Federer stunned by 55th-ranked Millman in US Open 4th Round He leaves with a total of 103 tour-level titles on his substantial resume and 1,251 wins in singles matches, both second only to Jimmy Connors in the Open era, which began in 1968. Federer’s records include being the oldest No. 1 in ATP rankings history — he returned to the top spot at 36 in 2018 — and most consecutive weeks there (his total weeks mark was eclipsed by Djokovic). When Federer won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003, the men’s record for most was held by Pete Sampras, who had won his 14th at the U.S. Open the year before in what turned out to be the last match of the American’s career. Federer would go on to blow way past that, ending up with 20 by winning eight championships at Wimbledon, six at the Australian Open, five at the U.S. Open and one at the French Open. His 2009 trophy at Roland Garros allowed Federer to complete a career Grand Slam. His serving, forehand, footwork and attacking style will all be remembered. Also unforgettable were his matches against younger rivals Nadal, 36, and Djokovic, 35, who both equalled, then surpassed, Federer’s Slam total and are still winning titles at the sport’s four biggest tournaments. Nadal now leads the count with 22, one ahead of Djokovic. “I was lucky enough to play so many epic matches that I will never forget,” Federer said in Thursday’s announcement. Also read: Federer marks 100th match on Rod Laver Arena with 3-set win Addressing his “competitors on the court” — although not by name — he wrote: “We pushed each other, and together we took tennis to new levels.” Federer’s last match anywhere came on July 7, 2021, when he lost at Centre Court in the Wimbledon quarterfinals to Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-0. Soon after, Federer had surgery to repair damage to his meniscus and cartilage in his right knee — his third operation on that knee in a span of 1 1/2 years. “Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt,” Federer said Thursday, “and now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career.”

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF)  on Tuesday announced a 23-member Bangladesh National team to play TIER 1’ International Friendly Football matches 2022 against the Maldives and Mongolia Bangladesh team is expected to leave here for the Maldives capital Male on March 22 to play the hosts Maldives on March 24 and will play hosts visiting Mongolia in Sylhet on March 29. Forward Mohammad Saaduddin was dropped from national squad this time  while defender Nasirul Islam recalled after a long time . Besides, two new faces--Meraj Hossain of Saif SC and Isha Foysal of Police FC have been included in the team. Maximum eleven players were taken from league champions Bashundhara Kings , followed by five players from Dhaka Abahani. READ: Amputee Football: Japan emerge champions, Indonesia runners-up to qualify for World Cup Selected players are:  Anisur Rahman (GK), Yeasin Arafat (DF),  Bishwanath Ghosh (DF), Tariq Raihan Kazi (MF), Rimon Hossain (DF),  Sohel Rana (MF), Mohammad Atiqur Rahman Fahad (MF), Biplo Ahamed (MF), Masuk Mia Zoni (MF), Mohammad Ibrahim (MF), Md Suman Reza (FW), (Bashundhara Kings). Md Sahidul Alam (GK), Md Tutul Hosain Badsha (DF), Rakib Hossain (MF), Md Jewel Rana (MF), Mohammad Nabib Newaz Ziban (FW), (Dhaka Abahani Ltd); READ: Cristiano Ronaldo Officially Becomes Highest Goalscorer in Football History Md Nasirul Islam Nasir (DF), Jamal Bhuyan (MF), Meraj Hossain Opi (MF), (Saif Sporting Club); Md Rayhan Hasan (DF) (Sheikh Jamal DC), Ashraful Islam Rana (GK), (Sheikh Russel KC), Md Jafar Iqbal (FW), (Mohammedan SC), Md Isa Faysal(DF), (Police FC).

The United Kingdom on Monday announced further sanctions on companies linked to Myanmar’s military regime which will restrict the military junta’s ability to profit from timber and pearl, key sources of revenue for the regime. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced the new sanctions against the Myanmar Timber Enterprise, Myanmar Pearl Enterprise and the State Administration Council. UK will maintain suspension on trade promotion in Myanmar and strengthen advice to British businesses following review of Myanmar trade, according to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. READ: Resolution on Myanmar fails to recommend actions on Rohingya repatriation: Dhaka In the UK’s sixth tranche of Myanmar sanctions, measures announced today will target the Myanmar regime’s economic interest with new designations against the State Administration Council (SAC), the junta’s ruling body, who continue to undermine democracy and brutally suppress Myanmar’s civilians.  These sanctions send a clear message to the junta the UK will not allow financial support that props up the military regime following the coup earlier this year, said the UK government.  Additional measures will now be imposed on the Myanmar Timber Enterprise and Myanmar Pearl Enterprise, 2 state owned entities in Myanmar’s extractive sector.  These asset freezes will be enforced with immediate effect, and target the junta’s ability to profit from pearl and timber, 2 high-value natural commodities that generate millions in revenue for the military regime. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said alongside our allies, they are placing sanctions on companies linked to Myanmar’s military junta, targeting the finances of this illegitimate regime. "The military has continued its subversion of democracy and brutal killing of civilians. We will continue to hold the Junta to account and sanction those responsible, until democracy is restored." The British Foreign Secretary also announced the conclusion of the UK’s Myanmar Trade Review.  In a Written Ministerial Statement in Parliament, he confirmed that the UK will maintain its suspension on trade promotion in Myanmar first imposed following the coup earlier this year. The UK will also strengthen their Overseas Business Risk guidance to reiterate the message that UK businesses must undertake enhanced supply chain due diligence and should not enter into trading relationships that benefit the Myanmar military. The Myanmar Trade Review emphasised that UK businesses continue to have an important role to play in Myanmar in job creation and poverty alleviation, but should operate responsibly in order to avoid inadvertently supporting the military regime. READ: Resident: Junta burns Myanmar village in escalating violence Today’s new sanctions announcement, alongside the similar announcement from the European Union on Myanmar Timber Enterprise,  follows the recent G7 communiqué which called on partners and business to exercise due diligence in their trade and investment in Myanmar.  Under the UK’s presidency the G7 continues to call for an end to the coup and the immediate adoption of the ASEAN 5-point consensus.