Country`s private carrier US-BANGLA Airlines is set to fly to Singapore tomorrow morning as its fifth international destination.
The Singapore-bound maiden flight will leave Dhaka at 11pm (local time) with 164-seater Boeing 737-800 aircraft and is scheduled to reach the destination at 5.15am (local time).
"We are operating flight on this route as Singapore is one of the most important cities in Asia besides there is a good demand from passengers," said US-BANGLA Managing Director Muhammed Abdullah Al Mamun.
Besides, the return flight will start from Singapore at 6.15 am (local time) and will land in Dhaka at 8.30am (local time).
US-BANGLA will operate Dhaka-Singapore-Dhaka flight on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
Initially, the minimum fare for Dhaka-Singapore route has been fixed at BDT 19,999 and with return, BDT 24,499 inclusive of all taxes and surcharges.
The Boeing 737-800 has 8 business-class and 156 economy seats.
Now, the US-BANGLA is operating international flights to Muscat from Dhaka and Chittagong and to Kolkata from Dhaka daily and weekly 5 flights to Kuala Lumpur with Boeing 737- 800 aircraft. In addition, flights on Dhaka-Kathmandu route is being operated three days in a week.
Mamun said: "They have planned to expand their footprint to Bangkok, Guangzhou, Doha and Paro within a short possible time."
Besides, in domestic routes, the airlines is operating six flights in Dhaka-Chittagong, three flights in Dhaka-Cox`s Bazar, three flights in Dhaka-Jessore, two flights in Dhaka-Saidpur and one flight in Dhaka-Sylhet route daily. And three flights in Dhaka-Barisal and Dhaka-Rajshahi routes are being operated weekly.
Currently, US-BANGLA has six aircraft in its fleet, of which three are Boeing 737-800 and three are Dash8- Q400.
"Within August, 2017, the forth Boeing 737-800 and DASH8-Q400 aircraft will join to its fleet as well," added US-BANGLA Managing Director.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Turkey, Germany must rebuild friendship 'step by step': German FM
Germany and Turkey must work towards restoring ties frayed by a series of disputes, Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Wednesday, while warning Ankara that any comparison to Nazis is a "red line that cannot be crossed".
Ankara and Berlin have been locked in a new row over the past week because of a ban imposed by several German local authorities on rallies by Turkish ministers.
The dispute is the latest in a long list of problems that have plagued ties, and comes just after Ankara's arrest of a journalist for German daily Die Welt that sparked consternation in Berlin.
On Sunday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the stakes when he told a rally in Istanbul that the German ban against his ministers is "not different from the Nazi practices of the past".
Hosting his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu for talks on Wednesday,Gabriel said he "made clear that comparisons between Nazi-era and the cancellation of rallies or rule of law in Germany is forbidden."
"Both sides have the responsibility to simply not cross certain red lines,and comparisons to Nazi Germany is one of them," said Gabriel.
Despite their deep differences on a host of issues, "there is no alternative to dialogue because that is the only way we can return step by step to a normal and friendly relationship," added Gabriel.
Ankara and Berlin have been locked in a new row over the past week because of a ban imposed by several German local authorities on rallies by Turkish ministers.
The dispute is the latest in a long list of problems that have plagued ties, and comes just after Ankara's arrest of a journalist for German daily Die Welt that sparked consternation in Berlin.
On Sunday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the stakes when he told a rally in Istanbul that the German ban against his ministers is "not different from the Nazi practices of the past".
Hosting his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu for talks on Wednesday,Gabriel said he "made clear that comparisons between Nazi-era and the cancellation of rallies or rule of law in Germany is forbidden."
"Both sides have the responsibility to simply not cross certain red lines,and comparisons to Nazi Germany is one of them," said Gabriel.
Despite their deep differences on a host of issues, "there is no alternative to dialogue because that is the only way we can return step by step to a normal and friendly relationship," added Gabriel.
Over 30 dead as gunmen dressed as doctors raid Kabul hospital
Gunmen dressed as doctors stormed
Afghanistan's largest military hospital Wednesday, killing more than 30 people in a six-hour attack claimed by the Islamic State group as it makes inroads into the war-battered country.
Around 50 others were wounded in the assault on the Sardar Daud Khan
hospital, with explosions and gunfire rattling Kabul's diplomatic district as dense clouds of smoke rose in the sky.
Medical staff hunkered down in the hospital wards posted desperate messages for help on social media. Television footage showed some of them trapped on the ledge of a top-floor window.
"Attackers are inside the hospital. Pray for us," a hospital staff member wrote on Facebook.
Hospital administrators told AFP three gunmen wearing white laboratory coats began spraying bullets after a suicide bomber on foot blew himself up at the backdoor entrance, sparking chaos inside the 400-bed facility.
"I saw one of the attackers, armed with an AK-47 and dressed as a doctor, shooting at patients and guards on the third floor," hospital nurse Abdul Qadeer told AFP.
"They shot my friend but I managed to flee... I had to jump over the barbed wire to escape."
At least two other loud explosions -- including what the defence ministry called a car bomb in the hospital's parking lot -- were heard as Afghan special forces launched a clearance operation that lasted around six hours.
The attackers were gunned down after special forces landed on the roof of the hospital in a military helicopter.
"More than 30 people were killed and around 50 wounded in today's attack," defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP. "Most of the victims are patients, doctors and nurses."
- 'Criminal act' -
Afghanistan's warring parties, including government forces, have repeatedly targeted medical facilities, decimating the country's fragile health system and preventing conflict-displaced civilians from accessing life-saving care.
"This is a criminal act. Nothing can justify an attack on hospitals," Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said of the latest attack.
"We will never forgive these criminals. Unfortunately, this attack has resulted in some casualties." Islamic State jihadists claimed the attack via a verified Telegram account.
The more powerful Taliban said they were not behind the raid. The militant group, Afghanistan's largest, is known to distance itself from attacks on medical facilities or those that result in high civilian casualties.
The assault comes just a week after 16 people were killed in simultaneous Taliban suicide assaults on two security compounds in Kabul.
Dozens of others were wounded as a suicide car bomber struck an Afghan police precinct in western Kabul and a five-hour gun battle ensued after another attacker sneaked in.
In the second attack last week, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the gates of an Afghan intelligence agency branch in eastern Kabul.
The carnage underscores rising insecurity. The country is bracing for an intense fighting season in the spring as the government's repeated bids to launch peace negotiations with the Taliban have failed.
Afghan forces, already beset by record casualties, desertions and non-existent "ghost soldiers" on the payroll, have been struggling to beat back insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.
Kabul last month endorsed US General John Nicholson's call for thousands of additional coalition troops to hold off the militants before the spring offensive.
Extra troops were needed to end the stalemate in the war, Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan, told the US Congress in what could be President Donald Trump's first major test of military strategy.
Afghanistan's largest military hospital Wednesday, killing more than 30 people in a six-hour attack claimed by the Islamic State group as it makes inroads into the war-battered country.
Around 50 others were wounded in the assault on the Sardar Daud Khan
hospital, with explosions and gunfire rattling Kabul's diplomatic district as dense clouds of smoke rose in the sky.
Medical staff hunkered down in the hospital wards posted desperate messages for help on social media. Television footage showed some of them trapped on the ledge of a top-floor window.
"Attackers are inside the hospital. Pray for us," a hospital staff member wrote on Facebook.
Hospital administrators told AFP three gunmen wearing white laboratory coats began spraying bullets after a suicide bomber on foot blew himself up at the backdoor entrance, sparking chaos inside the 400-bed facility.
"I saw one of the attackers, armed with an AK-47 and dressed as a doctor, shooting at patients and guards on the third floor," hospital nurse Abdul Qadeer told AFP.
"They shot my friend but I managed to flee... I had to jump over the barbed wire to escape."
At least two other loud explosions -- including what the defence ministry called a car bomb in the hospital's parking lot -- were heard as Afghan special forces launched a clearance operation that lasted around six hours.
The attackers were gunned down after special forces landed on the roof of the hospital in a military helicopter.
"More than 30 people were killed and around 50 wounded in today's attack," defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP. "Most of the victims are patients, doctors and nurses."
- 'Criminal act' -
Afghanistan's warring parties, including government forces, have repeatedly targeted medical facilities, decimating the country's fragile health system and preventing conflict-displaced civilians from accessing life-saving care.
"This is a criminal act. Nothing can justify an attack on hospitals," Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said of the latest attack.
"We will never forgive these criminals. Unfortunately, this attack has resulted in some casualties." Islamic State jihadists claimed the attack via a verified Telegram account.
The more powerful Taliban said they were not behind the raid. The militant group, Afghanistan's largest, is known to distance itself from attacks on medical facilities or those that result in high civilian casualties.
The assault comes just a week after 16 people were killed in simultaneous Taliban suicide assaults on two security compounds in Kabul.
Dozens of others were wounded as a suicide car bomber struck an Afghan police precinct in western Kabul and a five-hour gun battle ensued after another attacker sneaked in.
In the second attack last week, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the gates of an Afghan intelligence agency branch in eastern Kabul.
The carnage underscores rising insecurity. The country is bracing for an intense fighting season in the spring as the government's repeated bids to launch peace negotiations with the Taliban have failed.
Afghan forces, already beset by record casualties, desertions and non-existent "ghost soldiers" on the payroll, have been struggling to beat back insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.
Kabul last month endorsed US General John Nicholson's call for thousands of additional coalition troops to hold off the militants before the spring offensive.
Extra troops were needed to end the stalemate in the war, Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan, told the US Congress in what could be President Donald Trump's first major test of military strategy.
Spanish climber abandons winter Everest summit attempt
A Spanish climber Wednesday abandoned his attempt to make the first winter summit of Mount Everest in over two decades, saying it would have been "suicidal" to push on.
Extreme cold and strong winds forced Alex Txikon, 35, to return to base camp, giving up his bid to scale the world's highest mountain without using oxygen tanks.
The last successful winter summit of Everest was in 1993 by a Japanese team. But no one has reached the peak in winter without additional oxygen since a Nepali mountaineer in December 1987.
"It would have been suicidal to continue," Txikon said from base camp, according to a statement released by his team.
"As the person responsible for the expedition, I must not endanger the lives of my companions and also not my own. And believe me, it is more difficult for me to go down to base camp than to go up to C4 (camp four)," added the experienced climber who last year made the first ever winter ascent of Nanga Parbat in Pakistan, which has been nicknamed "Killer Mountain".
Txikon's expedition to make a rare winter ascent of the 8,848 metre (29,030 foot) peak was mired by setbacks.
The Spaniard was forced to return to Kathmandu in mid-February after making it as far as camp four -- the last before the summit -- following a disagreement with his expedition organisers.
He returned to Everest last week with a new team of Sherpa guides.
Txikon's climbing partner, Spanish skier Carlos Rubio, 28, pulled out in late January after being crippled by altitude sickness while at camp two -- 6,400 metres above sea level.
Meanwhile the government liason officer who was meant to accompany the team died of altitude sickness before even reaching base camp in mid-January.
Txikon is expected to return to Kathmandu within days and fly back to Spain next week, Gontzal S enz, a member of his organising team, told AFP.
Most people attempt to summit Everest during a narrow window of favourable weather between late April and May.
Mountaineering experts say climbing in winter is more dangerous than in spring, owing to high winds and temperatures that can plunge as low as minus 60 C.
The extreme cold also makes it more difficult for the body to absorb
oxygen, which is already limited at high altitude.
Mountaineering is a major revenue earner for impoverished Nepal, home to eight of the world's 14 peaks over 8,000 metres
Extreme cold and strong winds forced Alex Txikon, 35, to return to base camp, giving up his bid to scale the world's highest mountain without using oxygen tanks.
The last successful winter summit of Everest was in 1993 by a Japanese team. But no one has reached the peak in winter without additional oxygen since a Nepali mountaineer in December 1987.
"It would have been suicidal to continue," Txikon said from base camp, according to a statement released by his team.
"As the person responsible for the expedition, I must not endanger the lives of my companions and also not my own. And believe me, it is more difficult for me to go down to base camp than to go up to C4 (camp four)," added the experienced climber who last year made the first ever winter ascent of Nanga Parbat in Pakistan, which has been nicknamed "Killer Mountain".
Txikon's expedition to make a rare winter ascent of the 8,848 metre (29,030 foot) peak was mired by setbacks.
The Spaniard was forced to return to Kathmandu in mid-February after making it as far as camp four -- the last before the summit -- following a disagreement with his expedition organisers.
He returned to Everest last week with a new team of Sherpa guides.
Txikon's climbing partner, Spanish skier Carlos Rubio, 28, pulled out in late January after being crippled by altitude sickness while at camp two -- 6,400 metres above sea level.
Meanwhile the government liason officer who was meant to accompany the team died of altitude sickness before even reaching base camp in mid-January.
Txikon is expected to return to Kathmandu within days and fly back to Spain next week, Gontzal S enz, a member of his organising team, told AFP.
Most people attempt to summit Everest during a narrow window of favourable weather between late April and May.
Mountaineering experts say climbing in winter is more dangerous than in spring, owing to high winds and temperatures that can plunge as low as minus 60 C.
The extreme cold also makes it more difficult for the body to absorb
oxygen, which is already limited at high altitude.
Mountaineering is a major revenue earner for impoverished Nepal, home to eight of the world's 14 peaks over 8,000 metres
Feminism not about male bashing: Alia Bhatt
- Alia Bhatt says feminism calls for gender equality but people misunderstand the essence of it and end up associating it with male bashing.
The actress says feminism does not demand "special" treatment for women.
"Being a feminist is not only limited to girls. Even a man can be a
feminist. It is about equality and everyone believes in equality. People usually misunderstand the essence of feminism. It is not about male bashing.
"I am not saying women are greater than men. I don't believe it is the right way to put it. I just feel there should be similar treatment (for both)," Alia told PTI.
The 23-year-old star says she may not be a part of any women rights
campaign, but it does not mean that she is not a feminist.
Alia believes enough has been said about women empowerment and people should realise that "equality" is a woman's birth right.
"If you are not campaigning for women rights you are not a feminist, that is also a big confusion. Even if I don't campaign, I am a feminist. As the youth of today, I don't want more conversation on women empowerment because I feel that it is all talk and I don't understand this talk. Equality is our birth right."
The actress says she could identify with her character of 'Vaidehi' in her upcoming film "Badrinath Ki Dulhania".
"I am closer to Vadehi. She is a feminist and very ambitious. I love that about her and I really connected with that. She is very sensitive but at the same time she is more mature."
Directed by Shashank Khaitan and also starring Varun Dhawan in the male lead, "Badrinath Ki Dulhania" will release this Friday.
The actress says feminism does not demand "special" treatment for women.
"Being a feminist is not only limited to girls. Even a man can be a
feminist. It is about equality and everyone believes in equality. People usually misunderstand the essence of feminism. It is not about male bashing.
"I am not saying women are greater than men. I don't believe it is the right way to put it. I just feel there should be similar treatment (for both)," Alia told PTI.
The 23-year-old star says she may not be a part of any women rights
campaign, but it does not mean that she is not a feminist.
Alia believes enough has been said about women empowerment and people should realise that "equality" is a woman's birth right.
"If you are not campaigning for women rights you are not a feminist, that is also a big confusion. Even if I don't campaign, I am a feminist. As the youth of today, I don't want more conversation on women empowerment because I feel that it is all talk and I don't understand this talk. Equality is our birth right."
The actress says she could identify with her character of 'Vaidehi' in her upcoming film "Badrinath Ki Dulhania".
"I am closer to Vadehi. She is a feminist and very ambitious. I love that about her and I really connected with that. She is very sensitive but at the same time she is more mature."
Directed by Shashank Khaitan and also starring Varun Dhawan in the male lead, "Badrinath Ki Dulhania" will release this Friday.
Jackie Chan: foreign 'pressure' good for Chinese films
Action star Jackie Chan said opening up China's heavily-restricted film market to more foreign works would put positive pressure on local filmmakers, as rumours swirl Beijing will expand its quota on imported movies.
Since 2012, China has permitted 34 films to be imported from overseas each year, but the state-run Global Times newspaper reported last month that Chinese and US officials are renegotiating the limit.
A shakeup in domestic movie offerings would challenge Chinese filmmakers to produce better work, Chan told reporters at a Tuesday press conference during the annual gathering of China's political advisory committee, of which he is a member.
"Their technology is more advanced than ours, but on the other hand, we will have more opportunities to watch their films and learn from them," he said.
"We are concerned -- very afraid -- but I believe that this kind of pressure is a positive thing...the more films that come in, the more we will ourselves improve."
Hollywood films accounted for more than half of China's 45.3 billion yuan ($6.6 billion) in ticket sales last year.
Several Chinese executives also made investments in major Hollywood studios in 2016, drawing attention to China's growing influence over US film.
The Beijing-based Wanda Group broke records last January by paying $3.5 billion for Legendary Pictures, the maker of "Jurassic World" and "Godzilla."
This move was followed by Alibaba billionaire Jack Ma's investment in Steven Spielberg's Amblin Partners and a reportedly $1 billion agreement between Paramount and two Chinese companies.
The deals have been accompanied by concerns that Hollywood is increasingly pandering to Chinese audiences.
Chan said he frequently fields collaboration requests from firms eager to exploit the country's burgeoning box office, now the world's second-largest movie market after North America.
"I recently attended a meeting with several major executives who said 'okay' to every suggestion I gave," he said.
"My assistant told me, 'You're so awesome.' I said, 'I'm not awesome. It's today's Chinese market that is awesome.' Everyone wants to do business here."
Since 2012, China has permitted 34 films to be imported from overseas each year, but the state-run Global Times newspaper reported last month that Chinese and US officials are renegotiating the limit.
A shakeup in domestic movie offerings would challenge Chinese filmmakers to produce better work, Chan told reporters at a Tuesday press conference during the annual gathering of China's political advisory committee, of which he is a member.
"Their technology is more advanced than ours, but on the other hand, we will have more opportunities to watch their films and learn from them," he said.
"We are concerned -- very afraid -- but I believe that this kind of pressure is a positive thing...the more films that come in, the more we will ourselves improve."
Hollywood films accounted for more than half of China's 45.3 billion yuan ($6.6 billion) in ticket sales last year.
Several Chinese executives also made investments in major Hollywood studios in 2016, drawing attention to China's growing influence over US film.
The Beijing-based Wanda Group broke records last January by paying $3.5 billion for Legendary Pictures, the maker of "Jurassic World" and "Godzilla."
This move was followed by Alibaba billionaire Jack Ma's investment in Steven Spielberg's Amblin Partners and a reportedly $1 billion agreement between Paramount and two Chinese companies.
The deals have been accompanied by concerns that Hollywood is increasingly pandering to Chinese audiences.
Chan said he frequently fields collaboration requests from firms eager to exploit the country's burgeoning box office, now the world's second-largest movie market after North America.
"I recently attended a meeting with several major executives who said 'okay' to every suggestion I gave," he said.
"My assistant told me, 'You're so awesome.' I said, 'I'm not awesome. It's today's Chinese market that is awesome.' Everyone wants to do business here."
Bangladesh Jute Research Institute Bill, 2017 placed in JS
The "Bangladesh Jute Research Institute Bill, 2017" was placed in the Jatiya Sangsad today making provisions for establishing an institute to this effect for conducting research on innovating improved variety of jute, simplifying production and devising technologies for diversified use of jute.
Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury introduced the bill in the House with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
Despite annulment of the Jute Research Act, 1974, the bill has proposed retaining the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute established under this law as if it has been set up as per the same act. The bill also recommended keeping the head office of the institute in Dhaka.
The bill has ascertained nine specific activities to be carried out by the institute. The bill says whatever contained in this law the institute will abide by the instructions, recommendations and advices received from Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council.
The bill also recommended constituting a board comprising directors of the institute with the director general as the chairman for running the institute.
The bill has also made specific provisions, including the authority of formulating rules and regulations, for carrying out activities relating to the board, board meetings, appointment of the director general, authority and responsibility of the director general, appointment of directors, recruitment of employees, fund, budget, accounting and auditing, report, formation of committees, power of taking loans, singing agreements, foreign training and education, appointment of researchers and technologists and awarding fellowships.
Accepting the bill, the House sent it to the concerned parliamentary standing committee for scrutiny and reporting back within fifteen working days.
Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury introduced the bill in the House with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
Despite annulment of the Jute Research Act, 1974, the bill has proposed retaining the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute established under this law as if it has been set up as per the same act. The bill also recommended keeping the head office of the institute in Dhaka.
The bill has ascertained nine specific activities to be carried out by the institute. The bill says whatever contained in this law the institute will abide by the instructions, recommendations and advices received from Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council.
The bill also recommended constituting a board comprising directors of the institute with the director general as the chairman for running the institute.
The bill has also made specific provisions, including the authority of formulating rules and regulations, for carrying out activities relating to the board, board meetings, appointment of the director general, authority and responsibility of the director general, appointment of directors, recruitment of employees, fund, budget, accounting and auditing, report, formation of committees, power of taking loans, singing agreements, foreign training and education, appointment of researchers and technologists and awarding fellowships.
Accepting the bill, the House sent it to the concerned parliamentary standing committee for scrutiny and reporting back within fifteen working days.
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