United News of Bangladesh

On his birthday, one of the best cricketers in the world, Shakib Al Hasan, announced the launch of the Shakib Al Hasan Cancer Foundation on Friday in Dhaka. The foundation aims to support the treatment of underprivileged cancer patients in Bangladesh. Shakib's ultimate goal is to build a world-class cancer hospital in the country, as he believes that early diagnosis is crucial for better treatment and survival. “Cancer is often referred to as a deadly disease, but succumbing to fear won't help us overcome it,” Shakib said during the launching ceremony. “The foundation is dedicated to helping those who cannot afford costly cancer treatments or diagnoses.” The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the President of the Pharmaceutical Industry Association, Nazmul Hasan Papon, have pledged to support the foundation. Shakib's previous foundation, The Shakib Al Foundation, has done commendable work during the peak of the Covid-19 crisis in Bangladesh.  

The Walton First Division Women's Chess League 2023, organised by the Bangladesh Chess Federation (BCF), began Wednesday in the capital. Eight teams are taking part in this year's competition. In the first round at the BCF hall room today, holders Bangladesh Navy, runners-up Bangladesh Police, Shahin Chess Club and Uttara Central Chess Club won their matches. Navy beat Basir Memorial Chess Academy by 4-0 points. Wadfa Ahmed, WCM Ahmed Walijah, Kazi Zarin Tasnim and Warsia Khusbu of Navy won against Rashma Alam, Sanjeedah Khanam Mitul, Monika Kundu and Dibbayangana Biswas of Basir Memorial Chess Academy. Police beat Basir Memorial Chess Club by 4-0 points; Shahin Chess Club beat Sheikh Russel Chess Club by 4-0 points. Uttara Central Chess Club beat Team Barisal by 2.5-1.5 points. The second round matches will begin Thursday at 3pm. Basir Memorial Chess Academy will play Sheikh Russel Chess Club, Barisal will face Shahin Chess Club, Police will play Uttara Central Chess Club, and Navy will face Basir Memorial Chess Club. The champions will receive a prize of Tk25,000.00, runners-up Tk15,000.00, and second runners-up Tk10,000.  

Tuesday’s (March 21, 2023) professional boxing ‘Fight Night’ at InterContinental Dhaka had everything – from Bangladeshi-origin UK boxer Ruqsana Begum’s debut win against Tanjila in a 10-round thriller to Sura Krishna Chakma’s nerve-wracking second-round knockout punch against Thai boxer Ponlawat Nanchinda. With her debut win, Ruqsana also secured the WBU Female Intercontinental Championship Belt, marking the first time female boxers competed for a championship belt in Bangladesh. During the 10-round thriller, Ruqsana’s professional boxing experience faced off against Tanjila’s aggressive fighting. However, it was Ruqsana — a former kickboxing world champion — who pulled-off the narrow win in the flyweight category. The professional boxing event was organized by Xcel Sports Management and Promotions. Also Read: 'Beximco XBC Fight Night' on March 21 A total of 14 participants from Bangladesh, England, France, India, and Thailand competed in the ring across seven different categories, including featherweight, light heavyweight, bantamweight, cruiserweight, flyweight, and welterweight. In the lightweight category, Bangladeshi professional boxer Sura Krishna Chakma came head-to-head against Thailand’s Ponlawat Nanchinda.

Bangladesh Army emerged as champions in the Independence Day Water Polo Competition beating Bangladesh Navy by 5-1 goals in the final at the Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur on Tuesday. Bangladesh Police finished 3rd in the four-team meet beating Bangladesh Air Force by 2-1 goals.  Humayan of the Bangladesh Army was adjudged the best player and highest scorer of the meet.  Commanding Officer of BN Base Haji  Mohsin Captain SM Mesbahuddin was the chief guest in the final and later he distributed the prizes. General Secretary of Bangladesh Swimming Federation (BSF) MB Saif presided over the closing function, organized by BSF.

Bangladesh clinched the  hat-trick title of the Bangabandhu Cup  International  Kabaddi Tournament with all-win run  beating Chinese Taipei by 42-28 point with three lonas (all out) in the final at the Shahid Noor Hossain Volleyball Stadium here on Tuesday. The home side dominated the first half by 20-14 point. As the finalists of 2023 meet, both the Bangladesh and Chinese Taipei have qualified for the next edition of the Kabaddi World Cup scheduled for next year. Bangladesh won the maiden title of the five-nation Bangabandhu Cup Kabaddi in 2021 beating Kenya 34-28 ,  lifted the title for the 2nd consecutive times in 2022, also beating Kenya 34-31 in eight-nation meet and emerged as the hattrick champions winning the 12-nation meet  this time (2023). It would be mentionable here that Bangladesh has never tested any defeat in the all three editions of the Bangabandhu Cup Kabaddi.  State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell MP witnessed the day' s final as the chief guest and later he distributed the prizes. Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, the President of Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation and the Inspector General of Bangladesh Police presided over the day' s closing function Habibur Rahman, the Additional IG of Bangladesh Police and the General Secretary of Kabaddi Federation, Mohammad Sarwar, the Secretary General of Asian Kabaddi Federation, Sathasivanm Munisami, the Secretary General of International Kabaddi Federation were also present,among others, at the function. Bangladesh captain Tuhin Tarafder  scored 16 points to be adjudged  the best player and best catcher of the final while Mizanur Rahman of Bangladesh named as the most valuable player and best raider of the Tournament. Chia Ming Chang of Taipei scored eight points in the final.    

Defending champions Bangladesh will face Chinese Taipei in the final match of the 12-nation Bangabandhu Cup '2023 International Kabaddi Tournament on Tuesday (March 21) at 12.15 pm at the Shaheed Noor Hossain Volleyball Stadium here. State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell MP will be the chief guest in Tuesday's final and will distribute the trophies at the closing function to be chaired by president of the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation (BKF) and Inspector General of Bangladesh Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun  Last two times champions Bangladesh stormed into the final eliminating Thailand by 45-26 points in the first semifinal Monday afternoon after dominating the first half by 17-11 points. With the day's feat, Bangladesh earned the right to play in the World Cup and Asian Games Kabaddi directly as the finalists of the ongoing meet.  Chinese Taipei booked a seat for the final eliminating Iraq by 52-44 points with two lonas (all-out) after leading the first half by 31-16 points. Cheng-Chih Chang of Chinese Taipei named as the man of the match.  In the day's first semifinal, Bangladesh, ranked number 5th in the world, had a cautious start against the 9th ranked Thailand.  Bangladesh initially went down by 2-3 points in the 6th minute of the match, but they leveled the margin 7-7 in the 13th minute. However, Bangladesh's inspiring captain Tuhin Tarafder ousted three Thai players in the 16th minute by a magnificent raid to change the scenario of the match.  Bangladesh earned the first Lona (all-out) by a superb raid by Tuhin and started firing all the cylinders.  After the first half, Bangladesh concentrated upon keeping the lead taking more points with raids rather than catching the Thai attackers.  However, Roman Hossain of Bangladesh branded a super performance in the dying minute with his precise catching.  Thailand raider Chayaphon Kamunee troubled Bangladesh defense line-up scoring eight points but the Thailand was unable to break the superiority of the defending champions. Tuhin Tarafder scored 11 points while Mizanur Rahman, the rising star, also bagged 11 points for Bangladesh.  Later, Tuhin Tarafder was adjudged the Man of the Match.    

An international professional boxing event is going to be held tomorrow at the InterContinental Dhaka.Xcel Sports Management and Promotions is organizing the event. Titled “Beximco XBC Fight Night”, the event will, for the first time, feature boxers from England, France, India, and Thailand, as they will battle Bangladeshi boxers, according to a press release.Champion Bangladeshi boxers Sura Krishna Chakma and Alamin, winners of the pro-boxing event in 2022, will be joining this year’s tournament.On top of that, for the first time in Bangladesh, globally acclaimed professional female kickboxer Ruqsana Begum will also participate in this edition of Fight Night, said the release.Adnan Haroon, chairman of Bangladesh Boxing Foundation, announced the professional boxing event today for this year.A total of 14 participants will be competing in the tournament across various weight categories. The tournament will start with a six-round bout of Bantamweight class between two Bangladeshi Boxers, added the release.With the fight night ahead, Xcel Sports Management and Promotions hosted a Weigh-In session today.“This is the first time that professional boxing will take place with female boxers contending for a title championship belt in Bangladesh. We are delighted to host the faceoff between superstars Ruqsana Begum and Tanjila on this year’s fight night. We believe this will pave the way for female boxers in the country,” said Adnan Haroon.Beximco is the title sponsor while Premier Bank is the co-sponsor of the event. The gold sponsors are 5R Securex and Innstar, while the Silver sponsors are Kloth, Trade majestic LTD., Unicom, and Pepsi.Besides, TNR, Bongo, T Sports, InterContinental Dhaka and bKash will feature as partners for this event. The event will be supervised by Ashraful Islam and will take place from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM. Viewers can watch the action live on T-Sports and Bongo.

The inauguration ceremony of the Walton First Division Women’s Chess League, organized by Bangladesh Chess Federation under the auspices of Walton Hi-Tech Industries, will be held on Monday (March 20) at the Bangladesh Chess Federation hall-room here. FM. Iqbal Bin Anowar (Dawn), Senior Executive Director of Walton Hi-Tech Industries, will inaugurate the league as the chief guest Monday noon. KM Shahidullah, Vice President of Bangladesh Chess Federation will preside over the ceremony.  However, the league competition,to be played in round robin league format, will begin on Wednesday (March 22).  Twelve teams are expected to compete in this year's women's chess league, an international rating chess competition.  The teams are :last time champions Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Police, Titas Club, Uttara Central Chess Club, Rupali Bank Krira Parishad, Basir Memorial Chess Club, Sheikh Russell Chess Club, Shahin Chess Club, Sonali Bank Sports and Recreation Club, Sultana Kamal Smriti Pathagar, Team Barisal and Basir Memorial Chess Academy. A total prize money of Taka 50,000.00 (fifty thousand) will be awarded to the winners. The champion team will receive a cash prize of taka 25,000.00, the runners-up team will receive taka 15,000.00 and the 3rd place team will receive taka 10,000.00 and alongside the trophies and medals.

Defending champions Bangladesh will play Thailand and Chinese Taipei will face Iraq in two semi-finals of the Bangabandhu Cup International Kabaddi Tournament' 2023 on Monday (March 20) at the Shaheed Noor Hossain Volleyball Stadium here. Hosts Bangladesh will play the first semifinal against the Group B runners up Thailand at 4 pm while Group B champions Chinese Taipei will encounter Group A runners-up Iraq in the other semifinal at 5 pm on Monday. Earlier, defending champions Bangladesh emerged Group A champions to reach the semifinal with all-win record securing full ten points from straight five matches while Iraq stormed into the semifinal as the Group A runners securing eight points from five matches after beating England by 47-36 points in a hard-fought match Sunday afternoon. After the Group B matches, both the Chinese Taipei and Thailand have secured eight points each from all the five group matches, but in the net points Chinese Taipei (76-61 points) emerged group champions and Thailand finished group runners-up to reach the semifinals.. In the day's other matches, Thailand earned the 4th victory to reach the semis beating Indonesia by 55-26 points with three lonas (all out) after dominating the first half by 29-14 points while Kenya failed to make a semifinal berth from Group B despite beating Sri Lanka by 41-34 points with two lonas after leading the first half by 23-16 points, both at the Shaheed Noor Hossain Volleyball Stadium on Sunday.  

Bangladesh team clinched gold medal in the recurve mixed team event of the 2023 Asia Cup World Ranking Tournament beating their Kazakhstan rivals in Chinese Taipei on Sunday. Bangladesh mixed doubles pair Hakim Ahmed Rubel and Diya Siddiqui beat their Kazakhstan rivals Abdullin Ilfat and E Alina partner by 5-3 set in the event's final Monday afternoon.  Mohammad Abdul Hakin Rubel earned a bronze medal for Bangladesh in the recurve men's singles  beating his Kazakhstan opponent Abdullin Ilfat by 6-4 set in a bronze medal deciding match of the event, also on Monday. Also read: Bangladesh Archery team to fly for Chinese Taipei Tuesday early hour However, Diya Siddiqui of Bangladesh lost to her Malaysian rival Mashaqikh Syaqiera by 4-6 set in the 3rd place deciding bronze medal match of the recurve women's singles on Monday.  A nine-member Bangladesh National Archery team comprising  six archers and three officials left the capital for Chinese Taipei last Tuesday. Members of Bangladesh team: Mohamnad Hakim Ahmed Rubel, M Sagor Islam, Ram Krishna Saha (recurve men's archer), Diya Siddiqui (recurve women's archer), Mohammad Ashiquzzaman (compound men's archer) and Shymoli Rai (compound women's archer). Officials: Aynal Haque Swapan (team manager),  Martin Frederick ( head coach) and Mohammad Hasan (coach).