Top 5 news to follow today
We are nearing the end of the year and in Dhaka people are starting to feel the first of the winter winds. By contrast, the newsroom has been feeling the heat. A lot has been happening today, from Bangladesh's capitulation in the first innings of the Chattogram Test against India to Henry Cavill breaking the news that he won't be returning as Superman, and more.
To know all this and more, read our bite-sized updates for the day
Tiger census
Bangladesh has experienced a decline in tiger population over the last two decades. As per the last survey conducted in 2018, there are 114 tigers in the Sundarbans, down from 106 in 2015, and a whopping 404 in the 2004 survey. According to the forest department, there are about 3,840 tigers living in the wild in 13 countries. The latest tiger census kicked off today, using camera trapping method and surveying creeks and rivers in the Sundarbans under the "Sundarban Tiger Conservation Project". Will the survey find that number of tigers has increased due to the conservation practices over the last couple of years, or will it show that the number of the majestic beasts has dwindled further? The surveyors are expected to reveal their findings in June 2024.
Fardin murder
In the case of the mysterious death of Buet student Fardin Noor Parash, both the detective branch of police and Rab yesterday termed it "suicide". After detectives claimed that Fardin died by suicide by jumping off a bridge into the Shitalakkhya river, a group of Buet students visited the DB office in Dhaka to seek details on the death of their peer. After their meeting with DB, they told reporters that detectives could not substantiate their "suicide claims" by bringing any solid evidence to the forefront. The DB officials also reportedly told them that they were also not cent percent sure that Fardin died by suicide. Meanwhile, the DB chief said they did not find any involvement of Fardin's friend, Amatullah Bushra, in his death. So, he said they would inform the court accordingly. Fardin's father had accused her in the case filed following the recovery of his body from the Shitalakkhya on November 7, and Bushra has been in police custody since November 10.
Payra, Rampal power plants now connected to Dhaka
After inaugurating the 1,320MW coal-fired power plant at Patuakhali's Payra, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had declared 100 percent electricity coverage in Bangladesh. This type of coal-fired power plant using Ultra Supercritical Technology is the 13th in the world and seventh in South Asia. The Aminbazar-Gopalganj part of the transmission line includes 226 towers and 11 river-crossing towers. The project was, however, delayed due to incomplete towers. The delay caused suffering to consumers as power generated at the Payra plant could not be supplied to the grid due to the lack of supply line in the summer, when power cuts were long and frequent. The Aminbazar-Gopalganj 400KV double-circuit line, which is considered one of the major power transmission lines in the country, is now finally ready to transmit electricity from Payra Thermal Power Plant and the Rampal Power Plant to Dhaka.
Metro rail
Commuters of Dhaka can breathe a sigh of relief as a portion of the metro rail is ready to start operations from December 29. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the country's first metro rail a day before. She will be the first official passenger to ride from Agargaon to Uttara after inaugurating the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center on December 28. The MRT Line-6 of the metro will run from the capital's Uttara to Motijheel. It will have 16 stations in total -- Uttara North, Uttara Center, Uttara South, Pallabi, Mirpur 11, Mirpur 10, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Agargaon, Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Shahbag, Dhaka University, Bangladesh Secretariat, Motijheel. The Uttara North-Agargaon section will be open to public on December 29.
Tigers staring down the barrel
For the moment at least, the Fifa World Cup has receded slightly to the background of Bangladeshi sports lovers' minds as they brace for a humbling defeat against India in the first Test in Chattogram. Bangladesh stumbled to 133 for eight in the first innings at the close of the second today in reply to India's 403 all out. A follow-on looms in the morning, and unless there is a stirring fightback from the hosts, an innings defeat could well follow.
Defeat in Chattogram would continue the trend of Bangladesh being pretty much useless in Tests (as well as T20Is), leaving one-day internationals the lone form of cricket where the Tigers can compete.
Meanwhile, in Qatar, Messi will be daydreaming about the holy grail, a World Cup trophy, as Argentina prepare to face reigning world champions France in the final on Sunday. Before that, the fairytale story of the tournament, Morocco, will take on Croatia for the right to call themselves the third-best side of Qatar 2022.
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