Mongla Port Authority and EGIS India Consulting Engineers Pvt. Ltd on Monday signed the project management consultancy services contract for the ‘upgradation of Mongla Port’ project. The project is being financed under the Government of India’s concessional line of credit of USD 4.5 billion extended to the Government of Bangladesh.  The total project cost under India’s concessional line of credit is USD 530 million of which the PMC contract awarded to EGIS India Consulting Engineers Ltd. is for USD 9.60 million. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury MP, was the chief guest at the signing ceremony.  High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Pranay Verma and Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, Md. Mostafa Kamal, attended the event as special guests.  High Commissioner Verma highlighted that Bangladesh is India’s largest development partner, both in terms of value and number of projects.  Nearly one fourth of India’s global development assistance is extended to various projects in Bangladesh, covering a variety of sectors, he said.  Also Read: Transit: Regular movement of Indian goods using Ctg, Mongla ports at final stage "This robust development cooperation is a reflection of India’s commitment to partnering with Bangladesh in its journey towards greater growth and prosperity," said the Indian envoy. He emphasised that various connectivity projects like the Mongla Port project, once completed, would have a transformational impact on not only India-Bangladesh economic relations but also on the economy of the entire sub-region.  The government of India has extended four concessional lines of credit to the Government of Bangladesh till date, worth USD 7.862 billion.  Under the concessional loans, 42 projects have been taken up so far, according to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.  Of these, 14 projects have already been completed and the remaining are in various stages of implementation.  Over USD 2 billion worth of projects have been contracted and actual disbursements have crossed  USD 1 billion, significantly picking up pace despite the severe challenges presented by the pandemic.  The ‘Upgradation of Mongla Port’ project is the largest project in the shipping/ports sector which Government of India is financing under its concessional loans.  Also Read: Constructing ferry ghat, road in Mongla port area may put 2 LPG plant operations at risk The development of this port will strengthen maritime connectivity for Bangladesh, not just for the movement of goods with India but also with Bhutan and Nepal.  India is also providing concessional financing for the Khulna-Mongla Port rail line project and the Khulna-Darsana rail line project and with the completion of these projects, Mongla Port would become the only port in Bangladesh with rail connectivity, making it a truly multi-modal hub and unlocking immense economic potential.   

Iranian filmmaker Morteza Atashzamzam, director of the Bangladesh-Iran joint production "Din: The Day," has decided to sue Ananta Jalil, the lead actor of the movie, citing a breach of contract. "Ananta Jalil broke our agreement and contract, he did not fulfil his responsibilities and promises as we agreed," Morteza wrote in an Instagram post Thursday. He claimed Ananta breached the contract by distorting his creation and also shared an animation of the film's poster on an Instagram reel with the word "fake."  Read: Azmeri Haque Badhon: Starring the Title Role of 'Rehana Maryam Noor' Film Premiered in 74th Cannes "The name of the movie was supposed to be "Day" (rooz) but nothing happened as we planned. I was the main and major producer but he continued the production in his way, with his content and form and shapes," he wrote. The Iranian filmmaker said he would sue Ananta and register a complaint against him at the court in Tehran, Iran, and have it followed up by an international lawyer at the court in Bangladesh.   Morteza added that he would also reveal the original contract in public and the main budget of the film. "It's time for Ananta Jalil to pay back his debt to the Iranian team. The legal prosecution will reveal the whole truth in due time."

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan cancelled his contract with Betwinner News after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) took a stern position against his contract with the betting company brand. "Shakib sent us a letter confirming the cancellation of his contract with that company," BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury told UNB Thursday. According to BCB's regulation, no cricketer can work for any organisation that is involved in betting-related activities.   Also, every player needs to take the permission of the board before partnering with any organisation as an ambassador. But Shakib did not do so while teaming up with Betwinner News. Read: BCB to Shakib: Quit Betwinner News or get out of national team "We have a zero-tolerance policy against betting and betting-related activities," BCB President Nazmul Hassan Papon told the media earlier in the day. "If Shakib continues his contract with the betting organisation, we will not consider him for the national team." Meanwhile, the BCB is yet to announce the Bangladesh squad for the Asia Cup due to its issue with Shakib. Nazmul said the board will announce the squad by Saturday.

Ousmane Dembélé has agreed to sign a new contract with Barcelona through June 2024. The deal on Thursday comes a day after club president Joan Laporta said Dembélé would stay on during the presentation of new signing Raphinha. Dembélé, now 25, joined Barcelona in 2017 on a then club-record transfer from Borussia Dortmund that with variables was set to reach 147 million euros (then $173 million) as the club sought a young talent after the unwanted exit of Neymar. Read: Barcelona reaches deal to sign Raphinha; Dembélé staying After suffering serious injuries early in his stay at Barcelona, Dembélé consolidated himself as one of its most irreplaceable players thanks to his speed and playmaking. The new contract concludes a drawn-out negotiation between player and club that appeared to have broken down in January when Dembélé rejected Barcelona's renewal offer, prompting the club to tell his agent to find the France winger a new club. Dembélé continued to play well for coach Xavi Hernández and remained one of his most used players. But with his contract expiring this summer, it appeared he would leave. Dembélé was linked to possible moves to England’s Premier League or to Paris Saint-Germain, the team of Neymar and former Barcelona great Lionel Messi. Now he will be considered one of Xavi’s pillars as the coach tries to build a winning side following a season without a title. Also read: Barcelona edges Sevilla to move into 2nd in Spanish league The forward has 32 goals and assisted on 34 more in 150 appearances for Barcelona.   As usual, Barcelona did not make his salary public. It is reported Dembélé had one of the highest wages on the squad under his previous contract. Barcelona has successfully convinced several players to take a wage cut as it tries to reduce its enormous debt.

Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez signed a contract with Mohammedan Sporting Club to play the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League this season, a source close to Hafeez confirmed UNB. Mohammedan officials have earlier said that Hafeez would play for them this season, but it was only finalised on March 12. Also read: Mash skips eighth surgery on leg to take part in Dhaka League The Pakistan allrounder is expected to arrive in Dhaka by March 15. According to the source, Hafeez will play the whole season of the Dhaka League. Hafeez played 392 international matches for Pakistan and scored more than 10,000 runs along with taking more than 250 wickets. He also played 800 competitive matches at the domestic level. Mohammedan has formed a strong team this year including the national players— Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim and Taskin Ahmed. It is expected that Shakib would lead Mohammedan this year. Also read: Shakib Al Hasan in for South Africa tour

Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) on Thursday signed a power purchase agreement with United Chattogram Power Limited (UCPL) to set up a 590 MW gas-based combined cycle power plant in Anwara, Chattagram. As per the contract, the UCPL, a subsidiary of United Group, has the option to operate through natural gas, if available, or through imported re-gasified liquefied natural gas (R-LNG). The UCPL will set up the plant on 12.5-acre of land in Anwara and start commercial operation by January 28, 2026. Also read: Bangladesh to extend deal with India on power import Two Japanese firms will have 40 percent stake in the project while United Group will hold the remaining 60 percent, BPDB officials said. Under the PPA, the state-owned principal entity in the power sector will purchase electricity from the plant over a period of 22 years at a tariff of US Cents 3.6867 (equivalent to Tk 2.95) per kilowatt hour if the plant is run through natural gas. If it uses R-LNG, the tariff will be US Cents 6.8043, equivalent to Tk 5.44) per kilowatt hour (each unit). At a function at Biduyt Bhaban, chairman of United Group and managing director of UCPL Mainuddin Hasan Sharif and BPDB secretary Saiful Islam Azad signed the contract on behalf of their respective sides. Also read: Bangladesh to formulate integrated energy-power sector master plan with focus on 3E+S concept Power secretary Habibur Rahman and BPDB chairman Belayet Hossain spoke on the occasion while other senior officials of the power division, BPDB and UCPL were present at the function. Two more contracts—implementation agreement (IA) with Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) and gas supply agreement (GSA) with Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited -- were also signed at the function.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is considering renewing the contract of national team head coach Russell Domingo till the T20 World Cup 2022. As per the ongoing agreement, Russell will remain the coach of the national team till the T20 World Cup 2021, scheduled in the UAE and Oman from October 2021, BCB President Nazmul Hasan told the media Sunday. "There is a possibility that his contract will be extended. We are likely to extend it by one year. However, we are yet to discuss it with Russell. We need to discuss it more, and after that, we will make a final decision," he added. Also read: BCB announces high-performance unit squad A one-year extension means the South African coach will continue as Bangladesh head coach till the T20 World Cup 2022, which will take place in Australia.  Russell was welcomed to Bangladesh with a Test-defeat to Afghanistan in 2019. After that, Bangladesh played 47 international matches and won 25.  The South African coach's biggest success, as the head coach of Bangladesh, came recently when the Tigers beat Australia 4-1 in a five-match T20 series. Also read: Meet Bangladesh's Full-Time Batting Coach - Ashwell Prince