Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the much-awaited Elevated Expressway Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport-Farmgate section for traffic on Saturday (September 2).

Dhaka Elevated Expressway Project Director AHMS Akhter said, "The Prime Minister will inaugurate the expressway today at 3:30 pm in a ceremony organized at the old trade fair ground in Shere-bangla Nagar."

The Airport-Farmgate section will be opened for traffic the day after the inauguration, the official said.

He said, the length of this part is about 11.5 kilometers. There are 15 ramps for boarding. Among them, two ramps at Banani and Mohakhali will remain closed for the time being. The maximum speed limit for vehicles on the expressway will be 60 km per hour.

Three wheelers, bicycles and pedestrians will not be allowed to ply on the expressway. The motorbike cannot run now.

Earlier, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges fixed the toll rate of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport-Farmgate section of Dhaka Elevated Expressway from Tk. 80 to Tk. 400.

Cars, taxis, jeeps, sports utility vehicles, microbuses (below 16 seats) and light trucks (below 3 tonnes) toll rate Tk. 80 for crossing the Airport-Farmgate section from any point under category 1.

Toll rate for medium trucks (up to six wheelers) for crossing the route from any point is Tk.320 under Category-2.

The toll rate for trucks (more than six wheelers) for crossing the route from any point under category 3 is Tk. 400. Toll rate for any bus (16 seater or above) under category-4 is Tk.160 for crossing the route from any point.

The total length of elevated expressway from Kaola, Kuril, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Moghbazar, Kamalapur, Syedabad, Jatrabari to Qutubkhali on Dhaka-Chittagong highway is 46.73 km.

Initially, the speed limit on the expressway will be 60 kmph and it will take 10 minutes for vehicles to cover the distance of 11 km from HSIA to Farmgate.

With 11.5 km of mainline and 11 km of ramps, the length of the section will be 22.5 km. Initially 13 out of 15 ramps of this section will be opened. Ramps at Banani and Mohakhali will be opened only after completion of construction.

The total cost of the project is estimated at Tk. 8,940 crore, of which the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) fund is Tk. 2,413 crore, which will be provided by the Government of Bangladesh.

First Dhaka Elevated Expressway (FDEE) Company Limited is an investment company. It includes Italian Thai Development Public Company Limited with a 51 percent stake, China Shandong International Economic and Technical Cooperation Group (CSI) with a 34 percent stake and Sinohydro Corporation Limited with a 15 percent stake.

As per the project, the first contract was signed on January 19, 2011 and the review contract was signed on December 15, 2013 and the project completion period was from July 2011 to June 2024.

The construction work of the second phase from Banani Railway Station to Moghbazar Rail Crossing is progressing rapidly.

Several infrastructure projects have started in Bangladesh in the last 15 years. Considering the size, budget and economic impact, many of these projects have been called mega-projects.

The government has identified some of them as fast track projects. Among these, Padma multipurpose bridge, Bangladesh's first metro rail project MRT Line-6 and Chandra-Elenga four-lane highway have been completed.

The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, South Asia's first and longest underwater road tunnel, is expected to be opened for traffic soon.

Other Projects - Padma Bridge Rail Link, Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Rail Link, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Matarbari 1200 MW Coal Based Power Plant, Payra Deep Sea Port, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Railway Bridge over Jamuna River. The economic growth of the country and therefore the main focus of the government is now to complete them on time.

After coming to power in 2009, the Awami League government undertook several monumental development projects aimed at transforming the country's communication, transport and power infrastructure.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government partially launched the modern transport system Dhaka Metrorail and inaugurated other mega projects including the Padma multipurpose bridge.

Former State Minister and Member of Parliament for Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail-Ashuganj) Constituency Advocate Abdus Sattar Bhuiya breathed his last (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun).

He died at 3 am on Saturday (September 30) while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the capital. He was 84 years old at the time of his death.

Mainul Hasan Tushar, the only son of Abdus Sattar Bhuiya, confirmed the death.

He said, my father was suffering from kidney disease for a long time. He was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital a week ago when his physical condition worsened. The treatment was going on there. He breathed his last while undergoing treatment at the hospital on Saturday morning at 3:02 am.

Abdul Sattar Bhuiya was born on January 16, 1939 to Abdul Hamid Bhuiya and Rahima Khatun of Parmanandpur village in Aruail Union of Sarail Upazila in Brahmanbaria. He was engaged in the profession of lawyer in Brahmanbaria court. He was the president of Brahmanbaria district BNP for a long time.

Abdus Sattar Bhuiya was elected Member of Parliament as an independent candidate in the then Comilla-1 constituency in 1979. Later, in 1991 and 1996, he was elected Member of Parliament in Brahmanbaria-2 constituency on the nomination of BNP in the 15th February and June elections. In the 2001 elections, Abdus Sattar served as Minister of State for Law, Fisheries and Lands as a technocrat minister in the then 4-party coalition government. However, after the 2008 elections, he was inactive in political activities. In the 11th National Parliament election held in 2018, he won again as a BNP nominated member of parliament with the paddy symbol. He was expelled from BNP on January 2, 2023. Later, when the by-elections were held, he won as an independent candidate.

Serious clashes ensued between Awami League MPs group and upazila chairman groups took place over the expansion of dominance in Rangpur's Mithapukur upazilla. At least 45 leaders and workers including 11 policemen were injured in the clash. 25 of them have been admitted to Upazila Health Complex. Mithapukur Police Station OC Mostafizur Rahman is also among the injured.

On Friday (September 29) the clash continued intermittently from afternoon to evening. At present, efforts are being made to calm the situation by deploying additional police in Mithapukur.

According to police and local sources, on the occasion of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's birthday, two groups of local Awami League organized discussion meetings at separate places on Friday.

Central Awami League Treasurer HN Ashikur Rahman MP's side held a discussion meeting at the auditorium hall next to the Upazila Parishad gate and Upazila Chairman Zakir Hossain Sarkar's side held a discussion meeting at the same time under the overbridge on the Rangpur-Dhaka four lane highways.

At around 4:30 pm, the upazila chairman's side was crossing the upazila parishad gate on its way to the venue with a procession, and there was an altercation with the leaders and activists of the other side (MP side). At one stage, when the conflict started between the two sides, hundreds of leaders and activists of both sides clashed with sticks and bricks.

The chase continued for more than two hours and the incident of stone pelting. At this time panic spread among the people in the upazila headquarters.

In an instant, all kinds of business establishments were closed. People started running in panic.

The police resorted to lathi charge to stop the conflict. At least 11 policemen and 45 activists and pedestrians were injured in the clash and counter-chase of the two sides. Many of them are in serious condition and are being treated in hospital. Others were given first aid.

Mithapukur police station OC Mostafizur Rahman and 10 policemen are among the injured. They have also been treated. The situation returned to normal around 7 pm. However, the entire upazila parishad and highway area was in a state of panic.

SI Muhibur Rahman of Mithapukur police station said that 10 policemen including OC were injured in the clash between the two sides. The situation is normal. No one has complained so far.

Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, Masterda Suryasen Hall and Salimullah Muslim Hall of Dhaka University (DU) have large and well-planned auditoriums. But due to lack of maintenance and care from the auditorium to the TV room and sports room, the curtain has not been raised on the stage of the auditorium for many years. The structure is being destroyed and the cultural practices of the students of the hall are disappearing. Experts are claiming it as 'cultural misery'.

Salimullah Muslim Hall was inaugurated on August 11, 1931. In 1966 and 1967, Masterda Suryasen Hall and Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall were established as the largest residential halls at that time. Inside the hall, the auditorium is constructed for the healthy recreation and cultural activities of the resident students. Salimullah Muslim Hall Auditorium is now known as TV Room, Suryasen Hall Auditorium is Shaheed HM Ibrahim Salim Auditorium and Mohsin Hall is known as Mohsin Hall Auditorium. These auditoriums have proof-size stages and large audience spaces. Adjacent to the stage are auditorium offices, toilets and all necessary facilities for stage users.

But on the surface, it can be seen that table tennis is played in the auditorium of Mohsin Hall and various types of handicrafts are being made in a large space. The entire auditorium is dirty with craft materials and scattered garbage. Some people are living behind the curtain behind the stage. When asked about their identity, they identified themselves as the family of the hall employee. Behind the stage can be seen the 'Haji Muhammad Muhsin Hall Auditorium Office' established by the Muhsin Hall Welfare Society. This office is now hidden from the public eye. Most of the students in the hall are unaware of the existence of the auditorium office. Going up the stairs on both sides, it is seen that it is being used as a residence for the employees. Again, plaster cement falls from various places and from the roof. Roof irons are visible in most places.

Meanwhile, the condition of Martyr HM Ibrahim Salim Auditorium of Surya Sen Hall is also dire. Both the entrances here are locked for a long time. All the furniture of the hall is kept inside. Going up the stairs on both sides, it is seen that it is being used as a residence for the employees. From outside it is seen that the upper railing has collapsed.

According to the sources of people who have been working in this hall for many years, no event is held here for many years. A few years ago, students and staff were injured when the auditorium railing collapsed.

In this regard, Masterda Suryasen Hall Provost Professor Dr. Zakir Hossain Bhuiyan said that the auditorium is in a dangerous condition so it has been closed. Our programs take place in the TV room and various large rooms. Renovate the auditoriums if we can. As far as I know, it is supposed to be demolished and locked, there is a plan.

Provost of Haji Muhammad Muhsin Hall Dr. Maksudur Rahman when asked to speak to about this, he did not answer the phone.

Mahin Ahmed, resident student of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, 17-18 session, wants cultural programs to be staged in the auditorium of the hall.

He said, "If there is a democratic coexistence, there is a pressure on the administration. If there is pressure, the administration is somehow forced to continue the cultural activities. If there is no one else then who will apply the pressure? Hall students Sangsad are ineffective. Who will take the cultural programs if the Sangsad is ineffective? On the other hand, there is no cultural student organization; the absence of cultural organization makes the infrastructure of the university useless. That is why democratic coexistence is needed. Otherwise, the administration will remain unaccountable as it is now and democratic co-existence is needed to make the responsibility felt”.

Dhaka University's Department of Theater and Performance Studies Assistant Professor Tanveer Nahid Khan said about the importance of cultural and theatrical practice for students, Dhaka University was the top place for drama. When the country was partitioned in 1947, the theatrical practice of the region was centered on DU. Auditorium of Salimullah Muslim Hall Shahidullah Hall, Jagannath Hall was suitable for dramas. At that time we used to practice two types of drama. A group of progressive dramatists who practiced drama based on language and nationalism. Another group, according to theorists, practiced Islamic conservative drama. Those who were the teachers of DU, Munir Chowdhury, Akhtar Ibn Saeed, Saeed Ahmed, Syed Waliullah had great practice in drama and DU, these exercises based on hall were excellent. A drama troupe of DUCSU was 'Natyachakra'. The fact that these are not happening can be called 'cultural tyranny'.

A few years ago, with the initiative, Hall drama was born. When DUCSU was organized after the elections, there were still cultural competitions from DUCSU. They should be. As a result of non-existence, no more meritorious people emerged. When theater was practiced in halls, many people used to act, write plays, direct plays, and later they played roles in the main stream or at the national level. Today, the famous playwrights of independent Bangladesh are practicing in the halls of Dhaka University. Important dramatists such as Ramendu Majumdar, M Hamid, Mamunur Rashid have accelerated our national level theater practice by coming from Dhaka University.

But now the students are spending time on Facebook on their mobiles instead of practicing drama. The student does not go like that without playing in the TV room as well. The auditoriums of the hall should be used only for drama. As a result, the practice of healthy culture will be accelerated. When a person is associated with drama, he learns to speak beautifully, as a result of working in the theater, he learns punctuality, learns to work in a team, creative practice, contemporary events of the society come to the writing of drama. They make people mindful. But without this healthy practice, many students are getting involved with drugs, if you want to do theater, you have to study.

Hospitals in the capital Dhaka and district cities are struggling to cope with the influx of dengue patients. At such a time, the researchers of the International Diarrhea Research Center Bangladesh (ICDDRB) and the University of Vermont (UVM) Lerner College of Medicine have brought good news.

They claimed that they have successfully completed the dengue vaccine research. It is effective against four types of dengue virus, Dengue-1, Dengue-2, Dengue-3 and Dengue-4.

In a press release on Thursday (September 28), ICDDRB claimed it. The results of this study were recently published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases Journal.

It is said to be a promising tetravalent vaccine. It is effective against all four types of dengue virus (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4). The single-dose vaccine used in the study evaluated TV-005.

It has been shown to be safe for use in children and adults and able to induce immunity.

The vaccine is named TV-005 (Tetravalent). ICDDRB scientist Mohammad Shafiul Alam, one of the researchers, said that the dengue vaccine has been tested successfully. This is certainly promising news because, at the moment, a dengue outbreak is going on in the country.

He claimed that a single dose of this vaccine can protect people. However, more research is needed on this. Whose second stage trial or test has been done in Bangladesh. However, the vaccine has already completed 42 phase trials in different countries of the world.

The ICDDRB scientist said that the third phase of testing has been done in India. It has strong potential to protect humans from dengue. We are also trying to do a phase III trial.