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Spanish authorities on Monday shot and killed Younes Abouyaaqoub, the suspected driver of the van that rammed into crowds last week in Barcelona, according to a tweet from the Catalan police. Abouyaaqoub was killed during an operation in Subirats, west of Barcelona. Police earlier said they had shot a man wearing an explosive belt but did not immediately identify him as Abouyaaqoub. A robot was sent to remove the explosives belt from the body before officers were cleared to approach it and make a positive identification, authorities said. Abouyaaqoub, a 22-year-old Moroccan national, is alleged to have been the sole driver of the van used to kill 13 people Thursday on Las Ramblas. More than 100 others were injured. -CNN  ....

Published at: 2017-08-22 05:00:05

Random job cuts in recent months at a number of renowned ICT companies like Ericsson, Accenture and Grameenphone, often in the name of Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS), have prompted a sort of uncertainty in an otherwise growing tech industry of Bangladesh. In some cases, the terminated skilled employees of the companies in question were seen agitating and observing work abstention while in other cases, the sacked engineers and staff members were seen going to the labour court to press home their demands. On Monday, some 50-60 employees of LM Ericsson Bangladesh Limited laid siege to their Gulshan office in Dhaka keeping their high officials confined and virtually agitated all day long seeking their job back or issues resolved. When asked, Luthfor Rahman, Secretary of Ericsson Employees' Union, said these employees were served a termination notice all in a sudden on Thursday last. The employees started agitation since 10:00am on the day to press home their legitimate demands and also to raise voice against rampant violation of labour law by the company, he added. Asked about the issue, Ericsson's acting Country Unit Head Abdus Salam said that he was not designated to talk about the issue. Later, Sonia Aplin, Head of Marketing & Communications of Ericsson (South East Asia, Oceania & India) sent an emailed statement to The Financial Express regarding the company's operational changes in Bangladesh. She said, "Ericsson, as previously announced, has made a number of operational changes to our organisation in Bangladesh, including headcount reductions, based on business needs and as part of our continuous efforts to increase efficiency." She also said, "All changes have been made and communicated to our impacted employees in strict compliance with local regulations and company policies, and in keeping with our core values of professionalism and respect." Industry insiders and protesting employees said around 200 permanent and temporary employees were earlier terminated from the company's Product Services and the Operations & Development Departments from September 2016 to March 2017. In total, the Swedish telecom equipment manufacturer Ericsson terminated 509 staff members since April 19, 2016. On August 17, 60 more employees were fired, following which they started movement seeking lay-off package and voluntary separation scheme (VSR), they said. Only a few weeks earlier, Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Limited (ACISL), a global management consulting and professional services company, terminated all 556 members of its local staff. The Accenture move jolted the country's thriving outsourcing sector, which has an ambitious target of earning $1 billion annually in BPO services exports by the year 2021. The Ireland-based company entered Bangladesh in 2013 by acquiring 51 per cent of shares in the GPIT, a subsidiary of the largest local mobile phone operator Grameenphone (GP) Limited. Even in July this year, ICT industry sources said, a total of 267 employees of GP went on Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). Asked about the widespread job cuts, State Minister for IT Junaid Ahmed Palak said, "It will not have any significant impact on our fast-growing information and communication technology (ICT) sector as a whole." "We have a number of schemes, arrangements and facilitations on offer for the technology investors and entrepreneurs from home and abroad, following which Bangladesh has already scripted a notable success story in this particular field," he said. The local IT industry, according to him, is growing at a pace of 30 per cent year-on-year. As part of the government machinery, he said that his ministry cannot interfere in the functioning or proceedings of any private sector company. "I think, those companies are run by certain rules and regulations formulated by the concerned authorities. And the government, having a concerned ministry and directorate in this regard, is always there to help them run smoothly." Bangladesh's IT sector has reached a new height in recent years and it will continue to march forward in the days to come, he said. "We even hope to have some really good news and groundbreaking development regarding the country's growing ICT sector during the Prime Minister's forthcoming USA visit."     nashir@gmail.com....

Published at: 2017-08-22 05:00:05

Millions of Americans converged on a narrow corridor stretching from Oregon to South Carolina to watch the moon blot out the midday sun Monday for a wondrous couple of minutes in the first total solar eclipse to sweep coast to coast in 99 years. Veteran eclipse watchers warned the uninitiated to get ready to be blown away. Planetariums and museums posted "Sold out of eclipse glasses" on their front doors. Signs along highways reminded motorists of "Solar Eclipse Monday," while cars bore the message "Eclipse or bust." With 200 million people within a day's drive of the path of totality, towns and parks braced for monumental crowds. It's expected to be the most observed, most studied and most photographed eclipse ever. Not to mention the most festive, what with all the parties. In Salem, Oregon, a field outside the state fairgrounds was transformed into a campground in advance of an eclipse-watching party for 8,500. "It's one of those 'check the box' kind of things in life," said Hilary O'Hollaren, who drove 30 miles from Portland with her two teenagers and a tent, plus a couple friends. Astronomers consider a full solar eclipse the grandest of cosmic spectacles. -CBS News  ....

Published at: 2017-08-22 05:00:05

The commercial operation of the Second Maitree Express service between Khulna and Kolkata could not be started in over five months since its trial run in April last as the authorities are yet to take a decision on its formal opening. Officials said the authorities of both Bangladesh and Indian railways have completed necessary preparations like keeping the trains, tickets and other facilities ready, and proposed different options for inaugurating the passenger train service. One of the proposals was to inaugurate the cross-border service by the prime ministers of the two countries through video conference, said an official requesting not to be named. He said another proposal was that Indian foreign minister or Bangladesh railway minister would inaugurate the train, which would initially run once a week. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the trial run through a video conference from New Delhi on April 8, nine years after the inauguration of the first Maitree (friendship) Express between Kolkata and Dhaka in 2008. The inter-government railway meeting (IGRM) held several times to start the commercial operation of the second Maitree Express could not take the final decision. A BR official said the committee will sit again on September 12 to review the progress. "But without a decision from the high-ups, the committee would not be able to finalise the date of inauguration," he added.     smunima@yahoo.com....

Published at: 2017-08-22 05:00:05

Outgoing European Union (EU) Ambassador in Dhaka Pierre Mayaudon has voiced optimism over a 'transparent and inclusive' national election saying there is a lot of enthusiasm and determination across the board in Bangladesh, report agencies. "Absolutely...I found the goodwill across the board. There's a lot of enthusiasm and determination to bring the country forward," he told the media in an interview at his office on Monday. Recalling the 'adverse consequences' during and after the last national elections, Ambassador Mayaudon said everybody has understood that such things should be avoided. "Frankly speaking, I think it won't happen again," the ambassador said mentioning that he found the goodwill among all to make sure that the next national election in Bangladesh is a chance to bring forward the democratic agenda in Bangladesh. The ambassador said the initiative taken by the Election Commission engaging the civil society and political parties in discussion is certainly a 'contribution' to finding a way forward in making sure that all significant and relevant political forces will be represented in the electoral competition. "I think all actors are too conscious. Goodwill prevails," said Ambassador Mayaudon who leaves Dhaka on Thursday completing his three-year tenure in Bangladesh. In May last, the ambassador also hoped that all the political parties in Bangladesh will take part in the next national election saying there have been some 'lessons learned' from the last election. "There've been some lessons learned already that will certainly lead to proper approach...We wish that all political forces in this country will participate in the next elections obviously to make them as inclusive as possible," he said. The ambassador was positive about sending an EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) saying such Mission is not just focusing on Election Day rather it is quite massive involvement. He reiterated EU's willingness to provide any assistance to the Election Commission if any such assistance is sought. Referring to his meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, the ambassador said he reiterated their offer to bring forward the long-established partnership with the Election Commission. Replying to a question, the EU ambassador said democracy, governance and human rights are on top of the EU agenda in Bangladesh, and they never miss the opportunities to address these 'crucial fields'. Asked to compare Bangladesh's present situation with the one three years ago, Ambassador Mayaudon said the political situation was quite volatile with widespread agitation and killing of innocent people. "Three years later, today, the situation is much more peaceful," he said admitting that the last election had left many frustrated. He said this is the kind of past and lessons learned from it. "I feel a general determination to make the next national a great opportunity for Bangladesh." Evaluating his overall Dhaka assignment, the ambassador said, "Frankly speaking without exaggeration...probably this is the most rewarding period of my professional life." Despite some difficulties and some tragic moments, he said altogether he is going to have a very positive kind of conclusion in Bangladesh with great satisfaction and fulfilling experience. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has apparently threatened to 'limit visas' to Europe for travellers from Bangladesh if there was no action by Dhaka on irregular migrants. In a letter to Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni recently, Juncker also promised to 'pressure Bangladesh' to take back its migrants, since the 'vast majority of them' are ineligible for international protection. Asked why the EU turned so 'cruel' suddenly, Mayaudon said, "I beg to differ. We're not cruel at all. The EU is open to Bangladeshis." He said every year the EU member states issue an average 20,000 residence permits to Bangladeshis to stay and work there. The ambassador said over the last two years the number of Bangladeshis who tried to enter Europe through illegal channels has dramatically increased putting their lives at risk. "Our intention is to save the lives of people. We're looking at it on a very humanitarian aspect." Bangladesh, earlier in principle, decided to take back its irregular migrants from Europe after proper verification of their nationality. Bangladesh and the EU are now discussing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on the return of irregular migrants from the EU countries. Responding to another question, he said education has a 'core role' in addressing the root cause of terrorism and violent extremism. He acknowledged that no country in the world is spared from the threat of this global problem.....

Published at: 2017-08-22 05:00:05