A bank official was killed as a lorry ran over him in the capital's Jatrabari area on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Aftab-e -Alam,45, of Shimulhati village of Kishoreganj district. He was a principal officer of Pubali Bank's Islampur branch. The lorry hit Alam on his way home in Shanirakhra area of Jatrabari around 9:30 pm, leaving him dead on the spot, said Mostafizur Rahman, sub-inspector of Jatrabari police station. Read more: Couple among three killed in Cumilla road accident Police recovered the body and took it to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy, added the SI. Police arrested the driver and seized the lorry, he said.    

The deputy chief of China's securities watchdog said the country's capital market and fund industry are still in an important period of strategic opportunity despite challenges faced by the broader economy. Fang Xinghai, vice chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, made the remarks at a meeting of the Asset Management Association of China. The fund industry should seize opportunities, focus on high-quality development, and better serve the real economy, he said. READ: 53 dead in China building collapse, search for trapped ends Last month, China stressed the role of capital at a key meeting. Efforts will be made to regulate and guide the healthy development of capital per the law and give play to the positive role of capital as a significant production factor.

Another official of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park in Gazipur has been shunted out as the probe into the recent animal deaths continues. Md Sarwar Hossain Khan, the wildlife supervisor of the park, was transferred, and Md Helim Rayhan, the wildlife ranger of Rajshahi, has been appointed in his place, said Dipankar Bar, senior information officer of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Earlier, three officials -- the project director, the veterinary officer, and in-charge of the park -- were removed from their posts to ensure an impartial investigation into the deaths of the animals. Also read: CID probes Safari park animals' deaths So far this year, 11 zebras, one lioness and a tiger have died at the park. Of them, 10 zebras died between January 2 and 24. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has already formed a five-member committee to find out the cause of the zebra deaths and fix accountability. It has been given 10 days to submit a report. Meanwhile, on Monday, a team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) visited the park and collected samples for tests at its laboratory. Also read: Safari Park animal deaths: Minister promises strict action against anyone found involved

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday unveiled the official schedule of the eighth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), rebranded as Bangabandhu BPL. The first match of this year BPL is set to take place on January 21 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, when Chattogram Challengers will take on Fortune Barsihal at 1:30 p.m. READ: Liton earns career-best ranking in Test A total of 34 matches will be played in this year’s BPL across three venues in Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet, and a total of six teams will compete in this T20 event.  All the teams have finalized their squads in the players draft in Dhaka on December 27. All the teams will start preparation on January 15.  The official schedule of BPL: Dhaka phase: 21 JanuaryChattogram Challengers vs Fortune BarishalKhulna Tigers vs Minister Group Dhaka 22 JanuaryComilla Victorians vs Sylhet SunrisersChattogram Challengers vs Minister Group Dhaka 24 JanuaryFortune Barishal vs Minister Group DhakaChattogram Challengers vs Khulna Tigers 25 JanuarySylhet Sunrisers vs Minister Group DhakaComilla Victorians vs Fortune Barishal Chattogram phase: 28 JanuaryChattogram Challengers vs Khulna TigersSylhet Sunrisers vs Minister Group Dhaka READ: BPL Fixtures 2022: Full Bangladesh Premier League Schedules, Dates, Times, Venues 29 JanuaryKhulna Tigers vs Fortune BarishalChattogram Challengers vs Sylhet Sunrisers 31 JanuaryChattogram Challengers vs Comilla VictoriansKhulna Tigers vs Fortune Barishal 01 FebruaryComilla Victorians vs Minister Group DhakaChattogram Challengers vs Fortune Barishal Dhaka phase:  3 FebruaryKhulna Tigers vs Sylhet SunrisersChattogram Challengers vs Comilla Victorians 4 FebruarySylhet Sunrisers vs Fortune BarishalComilla Victorians vs Minister Group Dhaka Sylhet phase:  7 FebruaryComilla Victorians vs Fortune BarishalKhulna Tigers vs Sylhet Sunrisers 8 FebruaryChattogram Challengers vs Minister Group DhakaSylhet Sunrisers vs Fortune Barishal 9 FebruaryKhulna Tigers vs Minister Group DhakaComilla Victorians vs Sylhet Sunrisers Dhaka phase:  11 FebruaryKhulna Tigers vs Comilla VictoriansFortune Barishal vs Minister Group Dhaka 12 FebruaryChattogram Challengers vs Sylhet SunrisersKhulna Tigers vs Comilla Victorians Play-offs14 FebruaryEliminator: third place vs fourth place First Qualifier: first place vs second place 16 February Second Qualifier: loser of First Qualifier vs winner of Eliminator  18 February Final: winners of qualifiers.

The coronavirus pandemic is not over yet and restrictions should not be eased too quickly, WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans Kluge said in an op-ed available to TASS. "It may be summer, but the pandemic is far from over. Pandemic fatigue has taken a toll on our collective mental health, and it is only natural that people want to relax after what has been a challenging time for everybody," he pointed out. "However, we were in this position last summer. When restrictions were eased too quickly we saw a devastating rise in cases and deaths across the Region that led us back into lockdowns," Kluge added. READ: It was premature to rule out Covid lab leak: WHO "Now, after over a year of pressure on our health systems, schooling, livelihoods, economies, physical and mental health, we cannot afford to make the same mistake," Kluge emphasized. He noted that "although vaccination continues apace" across Europe, "a large proportion of the population remains unvaccinated, while highly transmissible variants of concern are circulating". "At the same time, we are seeing an easing of public health and social measures leading to an increase in COVID-19 cases; where vaccination rates are not high, especially among the most vulnerable, that translates into increased hospitalizations, stretched health systems - and lost lives," the WHO regional director for Europe stressed. READ: WHO chief describes current stage of pandemic 'very dangerous'

A health department official on Monday committed suicide at his home in the capital's Moghbazar area. The deceased was identified as Dr. Md. Jihanul Alim (55). His relatives found him unconscious on the fourth floor of the building and took him to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where the doctor on duty declared him dead at 2.45 pm READ: Chuadanga cattle trader 'commits suicide' over Covid stigma Md. Abdul Khan, assistant sub-inspector of DMCH Police outpost, said the deceased had black marks on his neck. He was an official of the department of health and his wife works at the Directorate General of Health Services. His relatives there did not want to say anything. However, his wife Farhana said her husband had a stroke. READ: One in 100 deaths is by suicide: WHO The incident was reported to Hatirjheel police station and the body was kept at the hospital for autopsy.