The United Kingdom's (UK) Royal Navy warship HMS Kent arrived at Chattogram Port Jetty this morning marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of the country's independence.    The ship was welcomed by Chief Staff Officer of Commander Chattogram Naval Area Captain SM Moyeen Uddin, said a press release.    The British defense adviser in Dhaka and other senior naval officials were present during the welcome ceremony.    The 133-meter-long ship, commanded by Commander MJ (Matt) Sykes RN, is carrying 32 officers, 187 sailors and three civilians onboard.    During this friendly visit, the Commanding Officer of the visiting ship, Commander MJ (Matt) Sykes RN, will call on Commander Chattogram Naval Area, Commander BN Fleet and Chairman, Chattogram Port Authority. Moreover, officers and sailors of HMS Kent will visit Bangladesh Naval Academy, BNS Shaheed Moazzam, War Cemetery, BN Ashar Alo School and Rehabilitation Center for Children with Special Needs, various tourist and historical sites in Chattogram.    Friendly sports and cultural arrangements are also planned during the visit. This visit will strengthen the historic ties and foster friendly relations between the two countries.    Earlier, when the ship reached the waters of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Navy ship BNS Abu Bakar accorded traditional welcome.    On completion of the visit, the ship is expected to leave Chattogram port on October 18. Source: BSS AH

The deadly coronavirus infection and its symptoms have caused 15 deaths afresh in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH). The deaths occurred in the last 24 hours starting from 8 am (Thursday) to 8 am (Friday). RMCH Deputy Director Saiful Ferdaus confirmed the information. Saiful Ferdaus said, of the 15 deceased 8 were from Rajshahi district, 6 were from Chapainawabganj and 1 was from Natore district. He also said, in the last 24 hours total 373 samples were tested in RMCH and of them 143 were detected with coronavirus infection. The tracing rate is 38.33 per cent comparing to the tests conducted. Meanwhile, district administration has declared ‘lockdown’ in Rajshahi starting from 5 pm today and it will be effective till midnight 0f June 17. AH  

Indian Media Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (IMCAB) has condemned at the kidnapping and 23 hours torturing of Journalist Siam Sarower Jamil, a well-known young journalist of the country. In a joint statement on Sunday, IMCAB President Basudeb Dhar and General Secretary Masum Billah said, Siam was kidnapped on Thursday evening allegedly from Aminbazar in Dhaka. Unknown abductors tortured him over 23 hours. He was rescued from a field at Nabinagar in Savar, on the outskirts of the capital on Friday evening. Siam, a Dhaka Correspondent of the Indian English Daily Imphal Times, was admitted to Dhamrai Upazila Health Complex after he was rescued at about 8:00pm by locals from a field beside the Dhaka-Aricha Highway at Nabinagar. Siam was forced to board a microbus where he was tortured.  After threatening and torturing abductors hijacked his mobile phone and wallet, the kidnappers thrown him away in the field, he said. Siam could not talk in detail as he was traumatized and physically weak. Doctors found several injury marks on his body. In their statement, the IMCAB demanded exemplary punishment of the abductors. "The state and the government will have to shoulder the responsibility and take steps to curb such attacks," They added.

Though the first coach of metrorail has reached in the country in due time frame but due to slow pace of construction work it is uncertain that when it will start. But the concerned officials think that if not possible to start in full fledged it could be started on experimental basis in the coming Victory Day. The managing director of metrorail project is optimistic about that. He hopes that everything will be completed in time. The construction work of rail track starting from Diabari, Uttara to the fifth station at Pallabi is going on in full swing. The authority claimed that 80 per cent construction work of first station at Uttara has been completed over the last four years but no stair or escalator is yet to set up. Rail slippers were fitted but the construction work of electric line has not been completed. The work of other stations is going on slowly. In this regard metrorail project managing director M A N Siddik said, the spaces for the lifts were constructed. Now lifts have to be placed. Work for electric connection is going on. We hope that the work will be completed before the stipulated time frame. We hope the metrorail will start in due time. He also said, metrorail stations will be constructed keeping similarity with Kamalapur Station. If the rail authority demolishes or shift the Kamalapur station with their initiative then we have nothing to do. AH      

In the capital on the roads from Tejgaon Sat Rasta Mor to Uttara House Building 10 U-turns will be opened formally from tomorrow (Saturday). In this connection right turn points on this way will be shut after inauguration of the U-turns. The information was delivered through a press release of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) on Friday. According to DNCC, under the project of constructing 11 U-turns 10 will be made open for traffic on Saturday. The U-turns are- in front of Rajlakshmi complex, Uttara RAB-1 office, Flying Club Kawla, Banani overpass, in front of Banani Army Stadium, Banani chairman bari, Mohakhali Amtali, Mohakhali bus terminal, Tejgaon Nabisco Mor and Satrasta BG Press area. Besides, all the right turn points on both sides of the roads will be made shut. In this regard DNCC will seek cooperation from Dhaka Metropolitan Police. The right turning points which will be made shut are- road near Navy headquarters, Banani road number 27, Banani Kakoli, Banani road number 11, Mohakhali Amtali Mor, Tejgaon Kohinoor Mor and Love Road Mor. DNCC also requested the concerned people to use the U-turns to ease traffic congestion. In this regard DNCC Executive Engineer Mohammad Farhad said, those U-turns were in operation earlier. But we are going to start those formally. Besides, we will close the right turning points. It is the main feature of the project. It will ease the traffic congestion. Mentionable, from Tejgaon Satrasta Mor to Uttara House Building 11 U-turns were scheduled to construct but later it was decided that 10 U-turns will be constructed on this way. AH