Dhaka-Cox's Bazar train will start operation by September this year, said Railway Minister Md. Nurul Islam Sujan on Tuesday. The Minister revealed the information at the iconic station building in Cox’s Bazar during a visit to Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar rail line construction work. Also Read: Padma Bridge Rail Link: 75% complete, on course for June 2024 handover He said, "Among the ten priority projects of the government, two are currently underway in the railway sector. The first one is the Padma bridge rail link project, and the second is Dohazari-Cox's Bazar new rail line construction project." Responding to questions regarding the potential challenges posed by the Kalurghat bridge, the minister assured that an expert team is diligently working on the renovation of the bridge. Also Read: Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar rail line to open this year: Railways Minister He said, "We have taken steps to renovate the bridge based on the recommendations of the expert team. There will be no obstacles to operating train once the necessary renovations are complete." The Dohazari-Cox's Bazar railway construction project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), involves the construction of a new 101 km dual gauge single line connecting Dohazari to Cox's Bazar via Ramu. Once completed, it will be connected with the Trans-Asian Railway Corridor.    

The Asia Foundation and UNESCO Dhaka Office on Wednesday jointly launched “Children Books on Traditional Games.”The launching event with a virtual panel discussion was part of Bangladesh’s celebrations marking the 50 years of the Independence and birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman supported by UNESCO at its 40th General Conference.The Asia Foundation in Bangladesh and UNESCO Dhaka Office joined forces to produce and disseminate books and reading materials focused on cultural heritage of Bangladesh, and to promote reading among children and youth of Bangladesh. READ:  7pc Bangladesh families have to borrow to send children to school: UNESCO As an outcome of this partnership, 11 books were prepared in an age appropriate manner on the Traditional Games of Bangladesh under the theme of “Let’s Read about Heritage’’.The content was developed by reputed children book writers and illustrators under the overall guidance of the Asia Foundation and UNESCO Dhaka Office, presenting traditional games of Bangladesh for children as an expression of cultural identity and living heritage of Bangladesh.The books were approved and highly appreciated by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) and the Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO (BNCU).The e-book versions of the 11 books for Children on Traditional Games are publicly available free of charge on the Asia Foundation's Let's Read's Digital library: https://reader.letsreadasia.org/all/newChildren, parents, students, teachers and caregivers can download the books free of charge to their smartphones, tablets, or other digital devices.Thus enabling their children to learn at and from home, and giving them a chance to learn the expression of cultural identity and living heritage of Bangladesh.The launching event and panel discussion of these children books on traditional games highlighted the importance, challenges and opportunities of the creation of books and strengthening reading habits for children in Bangladesh.Md Shohel Imam Khan, Deputy Secretary General, Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO, joined the discussion as a special guest. READ:  Doleshwar Hanafia Jame Mosque wins UNESCO award Prof  Abdullah Abu Sayeed, founder and chairperson of  Bishwa Sahitya Kendra (World Literary Centre), educator, writer, television presenter and activist, Sara Zaker, actor, director and co-producer of Sisimpur, Prof AKM Reazul Hassan, Member, Primary Curriculum, National Curriculum and Textbook Board Bangladesh, Beatrice Kaldun, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh, Kazi Faisal Bin Seraj, Country Representative Bangladesh, Asia Foundation joined the panel discussion and shared their experience and reflection on the significance of book creation and enhancing the reading habit for children.The panel discussion was moderated by Kizzy Tahnin, Programme Officer for Culture, UNESCO Dhaka Office.

Vivo debuted X70 Pro in Bangladesh Monday, the brand's latest premium phone.  X70 Pro (5G) is touted for its "mobile photography advancements" jointly developed with ZEISS, a global leader in optics and optoelectronics. "With X70 Pro, vivo is actively closing the gap between mobile and professional photography with cutting-edge technology," said Sharon, sales director of vivo Bangladesh.  READ: Google Pixel 6 Review – Astoundingly Fabulous Google Flagship X70 Pro (5G) can capture stunning photographs. The smartphone sports a 32MP front camera. For portrait's, vivo worked with ZEISS to bring more fun and classic features of four legendary ZEISS lenses in one gadget, including Biotar, Distagon, Planar, and Sonnar – acclaimed aesthetics used in filmmaking and photography. The phone also uses an Ultra-Sensing Gimbal Camera coupled with Gimbal Stabilisation 3.0 technology to capture steady images or videos. Read Infinix Hot 11S Review with Price in Bangladesh X70 Pro has a 4450mAh (TYP) battery, along with a 44W FlashCharge technology for long-lasting performance. The phone is outfitted with a 6.56-inch display that can peak at 120Hz refresh rates and 240Hz response rates for smooth scrolling and viewing. Among other features, X70 Pro (5G) comes with Funtouch OS 12, and the newly launched Nano Music Player, which enables users to access their favourite music from different apps like Spotify and JOOX.  READ: Vivo iQOO Z5 Review: What does it offer? The price of the vivo X70 pro (5G) is Tk72,990, according to a media release.

Bangladesh Embassy in Washington D.C has introduced the electronic passport (e-passport) services for catering to the needs of Bangladeshi diaspora in the USA.  Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA M Shahidul Islam and Secretary to the Security Services Division of the Home Ministry Md. Mokabbir Hossain jointly inaugurated the services at the Embassy in Washington. The electronic passport (e-passport) system was officially launched by receiving two application forms from two applicants, said the Embassy on Saturday.  READ: e-Passport to brighten Bangladesh image: PM Hasina The e-passport system was earlier inaugurated in the New York Consulate on September 10 and the Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington is the fourth in line after introducing it in Berlin and Athens. Mokabbir Hossain said e-passport being the latest technology leaves no chance of fraudulence and it will be appreciated by all countries.  He mentioned that many developed countries have not yet been able to implement this e-passport system and Bangladesh is the first in South Asia to do so.  The Secretary also mentioned that synchronizing with the e-passport system, the government has already established e-Gates at the international airports of Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet which will ease the immigration procedures of passengers. Ambassador Shahidul underscored the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for successful implementation of e-passport service as another landmark event of her attaining-“Digital Bangladesh”.  He hoped that the introduction of e-passports, in the year of 50th anniversary of independence and birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, would reduce the sufferings of Bangladeshi diaspora living all over the world.  The Ambassador said as pledged by the Government, the progression of this service from hand-written to electronic took a short span of time.  He emphasized the effective coordination between the Department of Immigration and Passport (DIP) and the missions abroad for rendering optimum services to the Bangladesh diaspora.  The Ambassador thanked the Security Services Division and Department of Immigration and Passport (DIP) for considering the commencement of e-passport services at the Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington D.C as well as two Consulate General offices in New York and Los Angeles at the initial phase of introducing the new system.  READ: Bangladesh enters e-Passport era Project Director of e-Passport project, Brigadier General Mr. Saidur Rahman Khan noted that after the inauguration of the e-passport system by the Prime Minister on 22 January 2021, Department of Immigration and Passport (DIP) has already distributed 10 lakh e-passports in the country.   He also mentioned that all the passport offices of the country were brought under the e-passport system at the end of June 2021 and now the system is being extended to Bangladesh missions abroad.

Youth Carnival of Dhaka Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC) was inaugurated at the Government College of Physical Education in Mohammadpur on Friday.