Two Bangladeshi migrants drowned in the Sea of Oman while taking a bath in Al Shifa beach area in Muscat early Monday (September 04, 2023). The deceased were identified as Abbas, 25, and his brother Azad, 20, sons of late Ahmed Hossain, of Chandgaon Para, Ward No. 4 under Nazirhat Municipality of Fatikchari upazila. Read: 3 construction workers die from electrocution in B'baria According to the locals, the two brothers had been living in the Hamriyah area of Oman for a long time. Recently their father died and they along with other family memebrs came to the country. Later, Abbas and Azad went back to Oman leaving behind their mother. Quoting family members, Md Shahjahan, councilor of Nazirhat Municipality,  said on Monday around 3am (local time), the two brothers went to Al-Sifah Beach in Muscat. While bathing, Abbas and Azad were washed away by a strong wave and went missing. Other friends searched for them but failed to trace them during the night. Read: Son dies from electrocution in Jashore; father injured Later, Oman Royal Police recovered the bodies of the two brothers on Monday morning. Now, their bodies were kept in the morgue of Qurum Royal Police Hospital in Muscat, Councilor Shahjahan added.

State-owned Petrobangla, the oil gas and mineral corporation of Bangladesh, is set to sign another agreement with OQT, Oman to import more liquified natural gas (LNG) from the Middle-east country.    According to the Ministry of Power Energy and Mineral Resources, the signing ceremony between Petrobangla and OQT, the Omani state-owned company, will take place in the city on Monday. Also Road: Deal signed with Qatar to get additional 1.5 MTPA of LNG for next 15 years Prime Minister’s Energy Advisor Dr. Tawfiq-e- Elahi chowdhury and State Minister for Power Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid are expected to be present at the function.  Currently, Bangladesh has been importing 1-1.5 million tonnes of LNG from Oman under a state level deal.  “This will be in addition to the existing deal with Oman to increase the import by another 1 million MT under a 10-year agreement”, said a senior official of the Ministry of Power Energy and Mineral Resources.    Also Read: Qatar's Amir promises larger supply of LNG to Bangladesh Bangladesh has been desperately looking for increasing its import of LNG under a long-term agreement to sustain the volatility due to the frequent price fluctuation in the global energy market. As part of the move, recently Bangladesh signed a new deal with Qatar to get an additional 1.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the next 15 years from 2026. Also Read: Bangladesh-Oman foreign office consultations held at Muscat  The Petrobangla signed the new agreement with Qatar’s state-owned Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Ltd., (Qatargas). Also Read: Summit Group receives approval for setting up another LNG terminal Under the new deal, Qatar will supply an additional about 1.5 MTPA of LNG per year from 2026 to 2040. Of this, Bangladesh will get 12 LNG cargoes in 2026 and 24 cargoes in 2027. Currently, Bangladesh has been importing 1.82-2.5 million MTPA of LNG since 2018 under an existing deal signed in 2017. Also Read: Floating LNG terminal resumes supply, but loadshedding keeps increasing The country's total natural gas production is about 3000 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) against a demand of 4000 MMCFD leaving a shortfall of about 1000 MMCFD. Of the total production, 700 MMCFD is imported while 2300 MMCFD.  Also Read: Petrobangla wants to set up 3 more LNG terminals to meet growing gas demand    

Bangladesh won their second Men's Junior Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Cup (U-21) title in style Thursday, beating Oman 7-6 in a penalty shootout. The title decider between the arch-rivals ended in a 1-1 draw in the stipulated 60 minutes at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Oman's Muscat. The match went to a penalty shootout after Al-Noufali Alkhoder put hosts Oman ahead in the very first minute (1-0) and Mohammad Hasan equalised for Bangladesh in the 52nd (1-1) with field goals. In the penalty shootout, Mohammad Rahman, Mohammad Uddin, and Mohammad Joy scored two goals each while Mohammad Hasan scored the other goal for Bangladesh. For Oman, Mandit Aiman, Barazahan Asama and Al Noufali Aliyas scored two goals each.  Bangladesh won the crown of the eight-nation AHF Cup with an unbeaten run. They also won their maiden title of the tournament, beating Oman 4-0 in the final of 2014 in Dhaka eight years ago.  As the semi-finalists of the tournament, Bangladesh qualified for the next Youth Asia Cup Hockey. The winners will return home at 10am Friday. Thailand finished third in the tournament, beating Uzbekistan 2-1 in the penalty shootout as the two sides could not be separated in the stipulated period today at the same venue. The decider ended in a 2-2 draw in the stipulated 60 minutes. Earlier, Bangladesh made the final, beating Thailand 3-0 in the first semi-final. Hosts Oman qualified for the final after defeating Uzbekistan 5-0 in the second semi-final at the same venue Wednesday night. Earlier, Bangladesh topped Pool B, securing nine points from three straight matches after beating Hong Kong 4-0, Sri Lanka 14-0 and Uzbekistan 6-1. Oman finished top of Pool A also with an unbeaten run, outplaying Chinese Taipei 9-1, Thailand 7-1 and Indonesia 8-0.  Read more: Asian Games Hockey Qualifier: Bangladesh finish runners-up after suffering 2-6 defeat against Oman

Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman has celebrated its 52nd National Day in the capital as elsewhere in the world. The Embassy arranged a reception marking its 52nd National Day at a city hotel on Wednesday hosted by Omani Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdul Ghaffar Al Bulushi. Omani envoy Abdul Ghaffar Al Bulushi received the chief guest Imran Ahmad, Minister for Expatriate’s Welfare and Overseas Employment on the occasion, according to a press release from the embassy. Read more: Bangladesh, EU willing to sign “partnership cooperation” agreement to elevate ties The Omani envoy said Bangladesh and Oman maintain an excellent bilateral relations giving emphasis on working together for further consolidating the existing relations and taking it to the new height. Imran Ahmad appreciated Oman government to host some around 700000 Bangladeshi expatriates living and working in Oman contributing significantly in the national economies of both the countries. The Minister also urged Oman government to recruit more manpower from Bangladesh welcoming Omani trade and investment in Bangladesh. Read more: Bangladesh seeks direct shipping connectivity, PTA with Sri Lanka Foreign diplomats, representatives of international organizations resident in Dhaka and other government officials as well as Bangladesh business leaders and entrepreneurs were present.

An oil tanker associated with an Israeli billionaire has been struck by a bomb-carrying drone off the coast of Oman amid heightened tensions with Iran, an official told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The attack happened Tuesday night off the coast of Oman, the Mideast-based defense official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they did not have authorization to discuss the attack publicly. Read: Russian missiles cross into Poland during strike on Ukraine, killing 2 The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military organization in the region monitoring shipping, told the AP: “We are aware of an incident and it’s being investigated at this time.” The official identified the vessel attacked as the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Pacific Zircon. That tanker is operated by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, which is a company ultimately owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. A phone number for Eastern Pacific rang unanswered Wednesday.  

Fifteen musicians have received the 2022 Aga Khan Music Awards at a ceremony held at Royal Opera House Muscat’s House of Musical Arts.  The award-giving ceremony marked the culmination of a two-day celebration in which laureates performed live or were presented in short films.  The 2022 Aga Khan Music Awards concluded on Sunday night with the presentation of awards to 15 laureates by Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham Al Said and Prince Amyn Aga Khan during a gala concert.  A special Award for Lifetime Achievement was presented to acclaimed tabla player Ustad Zakir Hussain during the Music Awards’ opening night concert on October 29. Read more: ​​​​​​​Ustad Zakir Hussain receives Aga Khan Music Award This evening’s programme featured performances by Peni Candra Rini, an Indonesian composer, improviser, vocalist and educator; Yasamin Shahhosseini, an Iranian oud player who is reimagining the place of the oud in Iranian music; the Tehran-based Golshan Ensemble, which performs Iranian classical music; and Soumik Datta, a sarod player from the United Kingdom who fuses his training in Hindustani classical music with pop, rock, electronica and film soundtracks to raise awareness about urgent social issues, including climate change, refugees and mental health. Laureates of the 2022 Music Awards were selected by a Master Jury from a field of close to 400 nominees from 42 countries.  They share $500,000 prize money and will have opportunities for professional development.  These opportunities include commissions for the creation of new works, contracts for recordings and artist management, support for pilot education initiatives, and technical or curatorial consultancies for music archiving, preservation, and dissemination projects. Read More: Bangladeshi Marina Tabassum in Aga Khan Award for Architecture’s Steering Committee

Acclaimed Indian tabla player Ustad Zakir Hussain has received prestigious Aga Khan Music Award in lifetime achievement category for his enduring contributions to the musical heritage of humanity at a ceremony at Muscat in Oman. Prince Amyn Aga Khan on Saturday night presented the special award to Zakir Hussain as he said the true impact of the Aga Khan Music Awards will be measured by the achievements of a laureate like Zakir Hussain. The award was given for his peerless musical mastery and sustained social impact as a performer and teacher, according to the award citation. The Prince said such a maestro endeavours to use his musical talent and knowledge to contribute to the well-being of the respective societies and of humanity at large.  "The gift of artistic talent bestows a responsibility on those who receive it to share their good fortune with others, to unite us despite our many apparent differences,” he said. Read more: 2 Bangladesh projects win 2022 Aga Khan Award for Architecture Prince Amyn underscored the important role of the Music Awards in supporting music educators.  “By educating young people in their own musical traditions while also providing them the tools to expand those traditions in new cosmopolitan directions, we are helping to prepare a new generation of cultural leaders that will build bridges and connections across cultures,” he said. Prince Amyn’s address was preceded by remarks from Dr Jamal al-Moosawi, Director of the National Museum – Sultanate of Oman.  Dr al-Moosawi noted that hosting the second edition of the Aga Khan Music Awards is very much in alignment with the Sultanate’s desire to build bridges of communication and cooperation between countries and cultures. The Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra was joined by the Aga Khan Master Musicians (AKMM), the resident ensemble of the Aga Khan Music Programme, in a rousing performance of “Tashkent,” composed by AKMM saxophonist Basel Rajoub and arranged for orchestra by Dmitri Yanov-Yanovsky. Ustad Zakir Hussain, meanwhile, with his mesmerising performance enthralled the audience in the Royal Opera House Muscat’s House of Musical Arts on Saturday night. He performed as a soloist with the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Hamdan al Shaely in a performance of Peshkar, a concerto for tabla and orchestra composed by Zakir Hussain in 2015. In addition to Ustad Zakir Hussain, other laureates who performed live or were presented in short films include sarangi players Dilshad Khan and Asin Khan Langa, from India; Tanzanian praise singer Yahya Hussein Abdallah; Coumbane bint Ely Warakane, a hereditary griot from Mauritania; singer and guitar player Afel Bocoum, from Mali; devotional singer Sain Zahoor and “Queen of Pashtun Folk Music” Zarsanga, from Pakistan; and music researcher Musallam Al-Kathiri, from the Sultanate of Oman.  The Music Awards will continue for the second day on Sunday with more performances, films and presentations of awards. The triennial Awards, established by the Aga Khan in 2018, recognise exceptional creativity, promise and enterprise in music in societies across the world in which Muslims have a significant presence.  Award winners and recipients of a Special Mention will share a prize fund of $500,000 as well as opportunities for professional development.  List of the laureates of the 2022 Aga Khan Music Awards: Afel Bocoum (Mali) Singer and guitar player from Niafunké, Mali whose music combines acoustic guitar with local instruments to echo the sound of “desert blues” in an earthier, tradition-based style. Asin Khan Langa (India) Sarangi player, singer, composer and community activist from Rajasthan’s hereditary Langa musical community, who performs Sufi poetry set to traditional and newly composed melodies. Coumbane Mint Ely Warakane (Mauritania) Singer and ardin (harp) player from Trarza, in southwest Mauritania, who performs the music of Mauritanian griots in a deeply traditional style. Read more: Aga Khan Music Awards announces seven-member Master Jury 2022 Daud Khan Sadozai (Afghanistan) Leading exponent of the Afghan rubab who has had a major impact on the preservation, development and dissemination of Afghan music worldwide. Peni Candra Rini (Indonesia) Indonesian composer, improviser, vocalist and educator whose knowledge of traditional Indonesian performing arts informs her creation of new works produced worldwide. Soumik Datta (UK)  Sarod player who fuses his training in Hindustani classical music with pop, rock, electronica and film soundtracks to raise awareness about urgent social issues including climate change, refugees and mental health. Yahya Hussein Abdallah (Tanzania) Singer and composer of devotional songs and reciter of the Qur’an from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania who composes and sings in Swahili as well as some of Tanzania’s 126 local languages. Yasamin Shahhosseini (Iran) Leading young master of the oud who is reimagining the place of this instrument in Iranian music through her innovative compositions and improvisations. Zarsanga (Pakistan) Singer from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, known as the Queen of Pashtun Folklore for her career-long devotion to the orally transmitted traditional music of tribal Pashtuns. Special Mentions Dilshad Khan (India) Tenth-generation sarangi player from a hereditary lineage in Rajasthan who is expanding the language of the sarangi in film music and through innovative cross-cultural collaborative projects. Golshan Ensemble (Iran) Four women who perform Iranian traditional music with a contemporary sound and are active as teachers, with a special focus on transmitting their musical tradition to girls and women. Sain Zahoor (Pakistan) Punjabi musician with a lifelong practice of singing Sufi poetry in local shrines and festivals, often accompanied by ecstatic dance. Seyyed Mohammad Musavi & Mahoor Institute (Iran) Founder and long-time director of Mahoor Institute of Culture and Arts, who has made seminal contributions to the development of Iranian music and musicology. Read more: Despite some event hiccups, Suman still creates magic for Dhaka fans Zulkifli & Bur’am (Aceh, Indonesia) Revitalisers of Acehnese song traditions who have cultivated community building amongst youth through their participation in Bur’am, a traditional singing and drumming ensemble established by Zulkifli.

India and Oman will hold a fortnight-long joint military exercise in the deserts of the western state of Rajasthan, aimed at bolstering bilateral defence ties. "The fourth edition of India-Oman joint military exercise 'AL NAJAH-IV' between contingents of Indian Army and the Royal Army of Oman is scheduled to take place at the Foreign Training Node of Mahajan Field Firing Ranges from August 1 to 13," India's Defence Ministry said in a statement on Sunday. A 60-member team from the Royal Army of Oman will represent the Gulf state in the exercise, where the 18 Mechanised Infantry Battalion of the Indian Army will take part, according to the Ministry. Also read: Mamata sacks tainted Bengal Minister over school jobs scam "The joint exercise would focus on counter-terrorism operations, regional security operations and peacekeeping operations under United Nations charter apart from organising joint physical training schedules, tactical drills, techniques and procedures," it said. Oman is India’s closest strategic and defence partner in the Gulf and provides key support to Indian warships deployed in the Arabian Sea. And the last edition of the joint military exercise was held in Oman's capital Muscat in 2019. Also read: 28 people dead, 60 sick in India from drinking spiked liquor

The AHF Cup champions  Bangladesh finished runners-up in the nine-nation Asian Games Men's Hockey Qualifier with a 2-6 goals defeat against their old foe Oman in the final at Queen Sirkit Commemorative Stadium in Bangkok Sunday afternoon  Both Bangladesh and Oman earlier qualified for the Asian Games Hockey'2022 main battle as the top six teams of the ongoing qualifying round are entitled to play in the Asian Games Hockey.  With the day's well merited victory, Oman not only clinched the long cherished  title, but also took revenge of their two consecutive defeats against Bangladesh in the nine-nation AHF Cup Hockey held  in Jakarta two month ago. Also read: Asian Games Hockey Qualifier : Bangladesh reach final beating Thailand 4-1 Earlier in March 20 this year, Bangladesh clinched the nine-nation Men's Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Cup title for the 4th times in a row with all-win record beating upper ranked Oman twice in the final and in the group match in Indonesia. Bangladesh emerged as AHF Cup  champions beating Oman by 5-3 goals in penalty shoot out as the final match between two teams was locked in  1-1 draw in stipulated period. Bangladesh also beat Oman by 3-2 goals in the AHF Cup  group match. In the day's final, Oman took lead by 3-0 in the first nine minutes surprising Bangladesh and the frustrated Bangladesh never recovered  from their early lapses. Shaaibi Ammaar put Oman ahead in the very 3rd minute of the match from a penalty corner (1-0), Al Lawati Fahad doubled the margin in the 7th minute by a field goal (2-0) and Al Saadi Salah scored  the 3rd goals for Oman in the 9th minute (3-0). After a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, inspired Oman maintained their strong pressure over their traditional rivals Bangladesh and sounded their margin again as Al Qasmi Asaad Mubarak scoring the 4th goal in the 33rd minute (4-0). Ashraful Islam of Bangladesh reduced the margin in the 47th minute from a penalty corner (4-1).. Fazari Rashad and Al Shibli Asama scored two more field goals for Oman in the 50th and, 58th minutes respectively (6-1). Fazle Hossain Rabby scored the 2nd goal for Bangladesh just one minute before the match over (6-2). Bangladesh reached the final outplaying hosts Thailand by 4-1 goals in the 2nd semifinal at the same.Venue last Saturday Also read: Asian Games Hockey: Bangladesh emerge group champions to reach semis beating Singapore 1-0 .Earlier, Bangladesh emerged Pool B champions with all-win record to reach the semifinal of the Asian Games Men's Hockey Qualifier after beating Indonesia and Sri Lanka by 3-1 goals each and Singapore by 1-0 goal in  three group matches. As the Asian Games qualifier concluded today (Sunday),, the Bangladesh team led by new captain Khorshedur Rahman will  travel to Indonesia directly from Thailand to compete in the Men's Asia Cup Hockey to be held in Jakarta from May 23 to June 1. In the eight- nation Hero Men's Asia Cup Hockey, Bangladesh team also been placed in Pool B with Malaysia, Korea and Oman. Bangladesh will face Korea on May 23, Oman on May 24 and Malaysia on May 26.

Bangladesh has sought an enhanced cooperation with Oman through tourism and people-to- people contract. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen conveyed it to Omani Undersecretary Sheikh Khalifa Al Harthy who paid a courtesy call on him at the Foreign Service Academy on Thursday and discussed these issues of mutual interest.  Read: Bangladesh Mission in New Delhi observes Genocide Day They discussed more exchange of visits between the trade bodies and business delegations of the two countries.  They also exchanged views about the new areas of collaboration between the two countries like contract farming, food security, blue economy, shipbuilding, ICT and ITES, climate change and environment.