A mother came to street with her 10-month-old baby in order to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh: Dr Shafiqur RahmanBangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman said, “A mother come to street with her 10-month-old baby during anti-discrimination student movement in order to build a Bangladesh free from discrimination and injustice. He called upon the countrymen to work together to build a poverty, hunger and discrimination-free Bangladesh. Jamaat Ameer today evening made the remarks as the chief guest while addressing a winter cloth distribution event at Monipur School among locals in the capital. Kafrul thana west Ameer Abdul Motin Khan presided over the event while secretary Maulana Atique Hasan Rayhan conducted it. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami central executive council member and Dhaka City North unit’s Ameer Mohammad Selim Uddin, and secretary Dr Muhammad Rezaul Karim were the special guests. Central Mojlish-e-Shura member Maulana Muhibullah, city working committee member Muhammad Shahidullah, Sha Alam Tuhin among others were present. 

The best among people is the person who works for the welfare of people, Shafiqur Rahman Added. 

He emphasized eligible and honest candidates for future leadership of the country. Shafiqur Rahman called for unity to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh based on justice.  

Jamaat wants to establish such a discrimination-free society where no one will remain hungry; no one will launder money abroad. Only it is possible to follow the rules of the Quran and Sunnah. 
Jamaat Ameer urged everyone to be united under the banner of Jamaat. 

Jamaat distributed 1000 blankets among the poor. 

Bangladesh 189 for 7 (Jaker 72*, Parvez 39, Shepherd 2-30) beat West Indies 109 (Shepherd 33, Rishad 3-21, Mahedi 2-13) by 80 runsBangladesh completed their demolition of West Indies with an 80-run win in the third T20I in Arnos Vale. It resulted in their first 3-0 win in a T20I series in nearly two years, as they capped off a tough West Indies tour with a trophy in hand. They bowled West Indies out for 109, their lowest total against Bangladesh, with the margin of victory being Bangladesh's second-biggest in terms of runs.Jaker Ali continued to be their tour's MVP, signing off with a dramatic, match-winning performance. His unbeaten 72 powered the visitors to 189 for 7, their highest score in the West Indies, before Rishad Hossain helped bowl West Indies out cheaply.

Jaker had walked off the ground when he was on 18 after a mix-up with Shamim Hossain. But the TV umpire Zahid Bassarath instead adjudged Shamim as the one dismissed, as he hadn't placed his bat inside the crease before Jaker. It sparked a dramatic turnaround, as he struck six sixes and three fours in his 41-ball knock.

Parvez sparks rapid start

Bangladesh were off to their best start with the bat in this T20I series. Parvez Hossain Emon, who replaced the injured Soumya Sarkar, went after debutant Jayden Seales and Romario Shepherd in the first three overs. He struck four boundaries, while Litton Das, in woeful form, got three of his own. Parvez then launched Alzarri Joseph over wide long-on for his first six, before Litton fell for 14, his first double-figure score in seven innings in all formats.

Parvez continued to go after the fast bowlers, blasting Joseph for his second six over long-on. Next ball, though, Justin Greaves juggled a couple of times but completed Parvez's catch on the square-leg boundary. Parvez made 39 off 21 balls, giving Bangladesh their best powerplay (54 runs) of the series.

Jaker's dramatic re-entry

Bangladesh were 102 for 4 in the 14th over when Jaker struck Gudakesh Motie towards deep midwicket. Spotting Obed McCoy getting injured trying to take the catch, Jaker signaled to Shamim not to take the third run as the ball had spilled away from the injured McCoy.

Jaker and Shamim then had a communication breakdown, with both batters ending up at the striker's end, while Roston Chase broke the stumps at his end. Jaker, who ran through the striker's end, was irate with Shamim. He walked off fuming while the third umpire spotted that Jaker had indeed reached the crease before Shamim, who didn't place his bat inside the crease.

The fourth umpire Gregory Brathwaite hauled Jaker, who had taken off his gears inside the dressing room, out to the middle to continue his innings. The distance between Jaker and Shamim, not looking at each other, as they crossed each other near the boundary was immense.

Jaker takes full advantage

As if one dramatic run-out was not enough, Mahedi Hasan was also run-out in the same over from Chase. Jaker, however, regrouped quickly in the following over, hitting Joseph straight down the ground for his second six. McCoy then conceded 20 runs in the 18th over when Jaker and Tanzim Hasan struck a six each; Jaker blasted him with a slog sweep, and Tanzim swung him over long-on.

Joseph then went for 25 in the last over, with Jaker hitting him for three sixes in the last four balls of the innings. It turned out to be Bangladesh's best final over of a T20I innings in their history.

West Indies in tailspin

For the third game in a row, West Indies lost half their side before reaching 50 runs. After Taskin Ahmed removed Brandon King early, like in the previous two matches, Greaves fell to Mahedi to a catch at long-on. Johnson Charles and Nicholas Pooran then struck a cluster of boundaries, as they quickly moved to 45 in the powerplay. Pooran, however, fell to Mahedi for the third time in the T20I series, bowled off the inside edge for 15.

Rishad sends 'em packing

As if Pooran's fall was not enough, Charles then seemed slow in reaching the crease while completing the single, but Rishad's throw caught him short. Then the legspinner further got into the act, with three wickets.

Rishad had Rovman Powell caught behind in the tenth over, leaving West Indies on 60 for 6. Rishad had beaten Powell outside off stump with a lovely dipping delivery. He then had Motie caught straight down the ground as he tried to force him. Rishad had his third later in the over when Joseph gave a simple catch to Hasan Mahmud at extra cover.

Tanzim and Taskin removed the last two wickets to spark off celebrations in the Bangladesh camp.

Source: ESPNcricinfo

Iterating Bangladesh's steadfast stance for a two-state solution to the Palestine crisis, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday called for decisive and collective actions to end the atrocities unleashed by the Israeli forces in Gaza."We call upon all actors and stakeholders, indeed beyond the region, to take decisive and collective actions to end the brutalities unleashed by the Israeli forces," he told a special session during the D-8 Summit in the Egyptian capital of Cairo.The special session was held on 'the Humanitarian Crisis and Reconstruction Challenges in Gaza and Lebanon', according to a message received in Dhaka.In his speech, Prof Yunus said they gathered at a time when Israeli aggression and the 14-month long brutal genocide against the Palestinian people continue unabated in the occupied Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

"Words should suffice little," he added.

"To say the least, we are in utter dismay at Israel's blatant disregard to long-held international norms, laws and conventions."

The chief adviser said the ways the hostilities in Lebanon is spreading, there are heightened fears of further escalation and this can lend to dire and long-term consequences for peace and stability across the region, impacting global society and polity, not just economy.

"From Cairo, we must voice our unity and unwavering commitment, in solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, at this existential time in their history," he added.

Prof Yunus said throughout the history of Bangladesh, it has stood firmly in support of the Palestinian cause.

"We consistently condemned the illegal occupation and the violent repression carried out by Israel. We remain steadfast in advocating a just and lasting solution, through a two-State solution to the crisis, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and harmony," he said.

The 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate said Palestine has to emerge as a fully independent and viable state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

"This is what we also articulated in detail before the International Court of Justice this February as the Court finally called Israel's occupation illegal, in its Advisory Opinion," he said.

Both this year's Advisory Opinion as well as the one of 2004, on the Wall, provide important legal basis in their collective pronouncements, he added.

The chief adviser said Bangladeshis are profoundly concerned over the current state of affairs.

"Palestinians are no expendable people. Every Palestinian life matters," he added.

He said it is not an issue that merely concerns the Muslims rather it is a universal cause where human dignity is tested.

"It is about universal pledge to protect the vulnerable. It is indeed our moral duty to stand by them, resolutely," he said.

Prof Yunus said there are around six million Bangladeshi migrant workers and expatriate professionals, across the region, including in Lebanon who have been making significant contribution to the development of the countries across the Middle East.

Their safety and security are at risk, he said.

He said the massacres in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, are clear violations of international law, and constitute war crimes.

"Those responsible must account. That is why, last November, Bangladesh stood up at the International Criminal Court asking for expeditious investigations, into the heinous crimes against humanity," the chief adviser said.

Such actions on accountability can deter the perpetrators against further and future atrocities, he said and called for intensifying efforts on realisation of a viable two-State solution.

Beyond humanitarian interventions, the Nobel Peace Laureate said, it is time to prioritise thinking of reconstruction of Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.

He mentioned that the United Nations has cautioned that removing the 40 million tonnes of rubble, left in the wake of Israel's bombardment, could take at least 15 years.

"We understand that the rubble may contain over 10,000 bodies of the deceased. And this is also contaminated with asbestos," the chief adviser said.

He urged the D-8 to kick start a process, with an approximate estimation of the costs of reconstruction in Palestine and Lebanon.

"We can thereon press on formulation of international strategies for resource mobilisation," he said.

Prof Yunus commended the Government of Egypt for convening this Special Session on the Humanitarian Crisis and Reconstruction Challenges in Gaza and Lebanon during the D-8 summit.

Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, among others, joined the session.

Source: BSS

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated an investigation into corruption allegations totaling Tk 80,000 crore across multiple projects involving Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and niece Tulip Siddiq, including other family members.The alleged corruption spans nine projects, including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Special Shelter Project, Bangladesh Economic Zone (BEZA), and Bangladesh Export Processing Zone (BEPZA).ACC Director General (Prevention) Akhter Hossain confirmed the investigation on Tuesday (December 17). According to the ACC, Tk 21,000 crore worth of corruption has been identified in eight special priority projects under the Awami League government, while allegations of Tk 59,000 crore in irregularities have surfaced in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project alone.

ACC sources stated that the commission formally decided to investigate the matter during a meeting chaired by ACC Chairman Abdul Momen on Tuesday. The investigation specifically implicates Sheikh Hasina's immediate family members, including Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Sheikh Rehana, and Tulip Siddiq.

Earlier, on December 15, the High Court issued a rule questioning the ACC's inaction regarding the alleged corruption of $5 billion (approximately Tk 500 crore) in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project. The High Court bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Mubina Asaf issued the rule following a writ petition filed by Barrister Shahedul Azam Tamal.

On September 3, Bobby Hajjaj, Chairman of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), filed the writ petition seeking directives for the ACC to investigate the corruption allegations against Sheikh Hasina and her family. The petition challenged the ACC's failure to act on the allegations and named the ACC Chairman and other relevant officials as respondents.

The investigation marks a significant step by the ACC amid increasing scrutiny of major infrastructure projects and growing calls for transparency in government spending.