Podcasts about dhaka university

In this episode of the Blood Brothers Podcast, Dilly Hussain speaks with the prominent Bangladeshi academic, author, and former chairman of the department of International Relations at Dhaka University, Professor Shahiduz Zaman. Topics of discussion include: The Islamic history and heritage of Bengal from the Bengal Sultanate to the Mughal Empire. The betrayal and land-loss of East Bengal's Muslims during partition. Why did India intervene in Bangladesh's liberation war in 1971? Is Pakistan to blame for anything that led to the end of East Pakistan?  Islamic brotherhood with Pakistan and Hindu hostility from India. Pakistan, China, the U.S., ISI and Myanmar. Shaping a new foreign policy for Bangladesh with considerations for a nuclear deterrence pact with Pakistan. FOLLOW 5PILLARS ON:  Website: https://5pillarsuk.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@5Pillars Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/5pillarsuk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5pillarsnews Twitter: https://x.com/5Pillarsuk Telegram: https://t.me/s/news5Pillars TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@5pillarsnews

The Dr B S Harishankar Memorial Lecture, Bharatiya Vichara Kendram, Trivandrum, 27th August 2024.A Malayalam version of this has been published by Janmabhumi newspaper at https://janmabhumi.in/2024/09/01/3258051/varadyam/geo-political-implications-for-bangladesh/It was startling to hear from retired Ambassador G Sankar Iyer on Asianet's program with Ambassador TP Sreenivasan that the celebrated Malayalam author Vaikom Mohammed Basheer (once nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature) said in 1973: “In Bangladesh, we have created yet another enemy.” With his novelist's insight, Basheer understood that the Two-Nation Theory held sway among certain sections of Bengalis.In the current crisis situation in 2024, the ongoing pogrom against Hindus (amounting to a virtual genocide) and the forced resignation of teachers, police officers and other officials based only on the fact that they are Hindus (there are videos that show them being beaten and humiliated even after resigning) suggests that anti-Hindu feeling is running rampant in Bangladesh. It is another kristallnacht.This is coupled with anti-India feeling. For instance, the current floods in Bangladesh are being blamed on India opening a dam in Tripura after torrential rains, although the Indian government has said that it provided all the hydrological data that it always has. The fact of the matter is that the departure of Sheikh Hasina is a blow to India's geo-political ambitions. It now appears as though India erred in “putting all its eggs into one basket” by cultivating only her Awami League, and not the Bangladesh National Party of her arch-rival Khaleda Zia. The indubitable fact that Indian influence in Bangladesh has now been supplanted by forces inimical to India raises the question of who might be behind the regime change operation. Beyond that, there is the question of whether it was indeed a popular uprising based on the suppressed ambitions of the people that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.The third question is what this means for Bangladesh, India and the region going forward, especially as climate change may alter the very geography of the area. It is predicted that as much as 11% of the land area of Bangladesh could be underwater by 2050. This could displace 18 million people, which would lead to unprecedented migration of their population into India. Regime Change operation: Who benefits from it?Cui bono? Who benefits? That Latin phrase is used to consider who might be motivated to commit a crime (the other part is who has the means to commit it). In this case of regime change in Bangladesh, there are several entities who might benefit. Obviously Pakistan. That country has never lived down its balkanization in 1971, and it had a number of its sympathizers already in place at that time. There were many who collaborated with the Pakistani Army in identifying Hindus and facilitating their killing or rape or ethnic cleansing, and also Muslims who were their political opponents. These are the people Sheikh Hasina referred to as “razakars”, and they are essentially in control now. China is a clear winner whenever something happens that hurts India's interests. There is the perennial issue of the Chicken's Neck, that narrow strip of land that connects the Seven Sister states of India's Northeast to the Gangetic Plain. It is a permanent threat to India that somebody (most probably China) will cut this off and truncate India, with the Northeast then becoming part of a Greater Bangladesh, with associated genocide of Hindus and Buddhists. Former Ambassador Veena Sikri spoke to Ambassador TP Sreenivasan about something very odd indeed: Sheikh Hasina made a state visit to China in mid July, and she was thoroughly humiliated there. Xi Jingping refused to meet her; and she cut her visit short by one day and returned to Dhaka. This is an unheard-of protocol violation for a State Visit; what it suggests is that China had decided that Sheikh Hasina was on the way out. This is in sharp contrast to a Xi visit in 2016 when he made grand promises about Belt and Road Initiative investments. The United States also has interests. Sheikh Hasina had alleged two things: * An unnamed Western power wants St Martin's Island (aka Coconut Island) off Cox's Bazaar as a military base to keep an eye on both China and India, * An unnamed Western power intends to form a new Christian Zo nation (for Mizo, Kuki, Chin) just like Christian homelands were carved out in East Timor and South Sudan.The implication was that the unspecified Western power was the US. It is not entirely clear that the US benefits greatly from a military base in the Bay of Bengal but there has been a long-running Great Game initiated by the British to keep India down as a supplier of raw materials and a market for their products. The US may have inherited this mantle.Intriguingly, the US Deep State and its proxies in the Western media had built a narrative around Sheikh Hasina as a model leader for developing Asia, a woman who also succeeded in improving the economic status of her country. That Bangladesh's per capita GDP had overtaken India's, and that its garment industry was doing well were used to mock India's own economic achievements. The switch to Hasina being a ‘dictator' was a sudden change in narrative.There is, therefore, enough circumstantial evidence to suggest that there was a foreign hand in the happenings in Bangladesh, although we will have to wait for conclusive evidence. Was this indeed a regime-change coup or a true popular uprising?It is true that Bangladesh under Sheikh Hasina's fifteen-year rule was not a perfect democracy. But there are mitigating factors, including a violent streak that led to the assassination of her father and independence hero Sheikh Mujibur Rahman just four years after the bloody birth of the new State after the Pakistan Army's assault on its Bengali citizens. The toppling and desecration of his statue shows that his national hero status may not be accepted by the entire population: in fact it looks like friends of Pakistan wish to erase his entire legacy. The history of democracy in independent Bangladesh is checkered and marred by violence. Before he was deposed and killed in 1975, Mujibur Rehman himself had banned all opposition parties. After Mujib, there was outright military rule till 1986, when the erstwhile Chief Martial Law Administrator Hussain Mohammed Ershad became the elected President. When Ershad was deposed after (student-led) agitations in 1991, Khaleda Zia (BNP or Bangladesh National Party) became the PM and after that she and her arch-rival Sheikh Hasina (Awami League) alternated in power. The BNP boycotted the 2018 elections partly because Khaleda Zia was jailed on allegations of corruption. In all of these twists and turns, ‘students' were involved. In 1971, when Yahya Khan launched Operation Searchlight, the Pakistani army went straight for students and professors in Dhaka University, especially if they were Hindus. Later too, ‘student' protests were instrumental in the overthrow of Ershad. The proximate cause of the troubles in 2024 was also a ‘student' uprising. There had been a 30% quota in government jobs for the children of freedom fighters; along with other such set-asides e.g. for minorities and women, a total of 56% of government jobs were ‘reserved' by 2018. This reservation system was largely abolished by Sheikh Hasina's government in 2018 after yet another student agitation. In June 2024, a High Court in Bangladesh overturned the 2018 judgment as unconstitutional. Even though the Supreme Court reversed it, and restored the status quo ante (of drastically reduced reservations to 7% in total), the peaceful ‘student' agitation suddenly morphed into a violent confrontation led by members of the Jamaat e Islami (an Islamist party) and the BNP. There was police firing. The Daily Star, a respected daily, found out that 204 people were killed in the first few days, out of which only 53 were students. It appears the supposed ‘student revolution' was taken over by professional agitators and agents provocateurs, and it rapidly led to the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina, with escalating violence, especially against Hindus, and the Army getting involved. Even though the Army is in charge now, there is a smokescreen of an ‘interim government' that allows entities like the UN an excuse to not impose sanctions on Bangladesh. It is hard to take it on face value that this was a popular uprising; circumstantial evidence suggests that there was a clear agenda for regime change, and since it suits both China and the US to keep India constrained, either of them could have been behind it. The diplomatic snub to Hasina in July suggests the Chinese were well aware of the coming coup. On the other hand, the sudden U-turn in the narrative about Hasina in the Western media suggests that the US might have decided to dump her. The process by which the regime change happened is also similar to what happened in other countries that experienced ‘color revolutions'. The actions of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and of some diplomats in supporting the BNP, have been offered as possible evidence of US bad faith.What is obvious is the role of the fundamentalist group, the Jamaat e Islami, which has strong connections with Pakistan. It seems likely that they were the enforcers, and had invested assets within the armed forces. They have called for the secular Bangladesh constitution to be replaced by Islamic Sharia law, and for non-Muslims to be treated as second-class citizens. The Yunus government has just unbanned the Jamaat e Islami.The attacks on Hindus, including large numbers of lynchings, rapes, and abductions of women, suggests that there is a religious angle and the Jamaat e Islami's prejudices are coming to the fore. Notably, the entire Western media, Amnesty International, the United Nations, and the USCIRF, human rights specialists all, had nothing at all to say about the horrific oppression of Hindus. The New York Times even had a headline about “revenge killings” of Hindus, as though somehow the 8% minority Hindus had been responsible for whatever Sheikh Hasina was accused of. Upon being called out, the NYT changed the headline to just  “killings” of Hindus with no explanation or apology.The role of Professor Mohammed Yunus is also intriguing: he had been invited to head an interim government in 2007 but abandoned the attempt and in fact left politics. He had been close to Sheikh Hasina at one point, for instance he got the licenses for his Grameen Phone during her rule, but they later fell out. Yunus' Nobel Peace Prize and his earlier stint in the US have raised questions about whether he is in fact managed by US interests.Given all this, it is much more likely that it was a coup than a popular agitation. It remains to be seen who was behind the coup. What next for India and the region?There are several long-term challenges for India. None of this is positive for India, which is already facing problems on its periphery (eg. Maldives and Nepal). The coup in Bangladesh also makes the BIMSTEC alliance as unviable as SAARC.1. Deteriorating India-Bangladesh RelationsThe overthrow of Sheikh Hasina, seen as a close ally of India, has led to a rise in anti-Indian sentiment in Bangladesh. The new government may not be as friendly towards India, especially on sensitive issues like trade and security. This could jeopardize the gains in bilateral ties over the past decade. The presence of hardliners among the ‘advisers' to the interim government suggests that India will have little leverage going forward.2. Increased Border Security RisksIndia shares a long, porous border with Bangladesh. The political instability and potential increase in extremist groups could lead to more infiltration, smuggling, and illegal migration into India's northeastern states, posing internal security risks. Monitoring the border region will be critical. As it is, there are millions of illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingya residing in India, which actually poses a threat to internal Indian security.3. Economic FalloutBangladesh is India's largest trading partner in the region, with $13 billion in commerce under the Hasina government. A deterioration in relations could hurt Indian exports and investments. The economic interdependence means India also has a stake in Bangladesh's stability and prosperity. Brahma Chellaney pointed out that Bangladesh is in dire straits, and has requested $3 billion from the IMF, $1.5 billion from the World Bank, and $1 billion each from the Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency to tide over problems. 4. Climate Change ChallengesBoth countries are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels, floods, droughts and extreme weather events. Bangladesh is especially at risk due to its low-lying geography. Millions of climate refugees could seek shelter in India, straining resources and social cohesion.  5. Geopolitical ImplicationsThe regime change has opened up space for China to expand its influence in Bangladesh. India will need to balance its ties with the new government while countering Chinese inroads in the region. The U.S. is also closely watching developments in Bangladesh. Instability in the region plays into the hands of Pakistan, whose medium-term ambition would be to detach India's Northeast as revenge for the creation of Bangladesh and for increasing normalization in J&K.6. Quota ImplicationsIndians, especially those agitating for ‘proportional representation' should note that the Bangladesh quota system was abolished in its entirety by Sheikh Hasina's administration in 2018 in response to student demands. India has a constitutional limit of 50% for reservations, but some are agitating for even more, which is a sure recipe for resentment and possibly violence. It is not inconceivable that it could be the spur for regime change in India as well.7. Human rights for Hindus and Buddhists; Citizenship Amendment Act and the Right to ReturnThe Hindu population in Bangladesh has fallen dramatically from about 28% in 1971 to about 8% now, and there is every indication that this is a demographic under extreme duress. Buddhist Chakmas in the Chittagong Hill Tracts are also under stress. India should enhance the CAA or create a formal Right to Return for Hindu and Buddhist Bangladeshis. Writing in Open magazine, Rahul Shivshankar pointed out that Hindus had faced attacks and threats in 278 locations across 48 districts.In summary, the fall of the Hasina government and the long-term threat of climate change compel India to rethink its Bangladesh policy. Fostering stable, democratic and economically prosperous neighbors is in India's own interest. Rebuilding trust and deepening cooperation on shared challenges will be key to navigating the new realities in the region.2350 words, Aug 26, 2024 Get full access to Shadow Warrior at rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com/subscribe

Students in Bangladesh have been protesting against the reinstatement of the quota allocation for government jobs. These quota allocations are for relatives of veterans from the country's war of independence from Pakistan. The protests began when students at Dhaka University peacefully held placards and flags against the quota allocation but escalated after they were violently attacked by individuals associated with the ruling political party and police.  Since then 200 people have been killed and another 10,000 people detained. The protests have now turned into students and other people protesting against the ongoing killings, arrests, attacks and disappearances.  Wire Host Caeden spoke to Fiasol Miah from the Bangladesh skilled migrants association of New Zealand about these protests.

One teenage man, two adult man and one adult woman + one teenage man friends gather around to go on a study tour to Kaptai Discord server - https://discord.gg/X94h4XWKMQ Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:05 Fixing some mistakes we made in a previous episode 00:03:20 Afa's recent study tour 00:25:20 Rishat's new home tutor and what hapeens in TARC (from the perspective of nobodies)? 00:36:50 Primordial Zamalpuira nature 00:44:40 Afa'r biya kobe 01:01:45 Ishmum dreams Ismail bai and chilling horror stories of seems afa 01:05:10 Things we hate corner 01:18:20 Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2023 01:45:00 Outro Things mentioned- Peacemaker (TV series) - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peacemaker_(TV_series) The Boys (Comic) - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boys_(comics) 420 (TV series) - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0C4VFuMR-n9bBHNhqrdL6eXdZ0I-g3R_ Oldboy (Film) - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldboy_(2003_film) Oldboy (Film) - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldboy_(2013_film) Zinda (Film) - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinda_(film) Ratul Sinha (YouTube channel) - https://youtube.com/@itsratulsinha Listening to the show on iTunes/Spotify/Google Podcasts/YouTube really helps the podcast gain exposure iTunes - http://bit.ly/DUHonApplePodcasts Spotify - http://bit.ly/DUHonSpotify Google Podcasts - http://bit.ly/DUHonGooglePodcasts Saavn - https://bit.ly/DUHonSaavn YouTube - http://bit.ly/DUHonYouTube 2nd channel - http://bit.ly/DUHBoysOnYouTube Support the podcast through Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/duhabp DUH on social medias: Facebook page - https://bit.ly/DUHonFacebook Instagram - https://bit.ly/DUHonInstagram Twitter - https://bit.ly/DUHonTwitter TikTok - http://bit.ly/DUHonTikTok Apurbo YouTube - http://bit.ly/ApurbosYouTube Facebook profile - http://bit.ly/ApurbosFBprofile Instagram - http://bit.ly/ApurbosInstagram Twitter - http://bit.ly/ApurbosTwitter MyAnimeList - https://myanimelist.net/profile/ApurboTheA1 Grouvee - https://www.grouvee.com/user/105735-ApurboTheA1/ Rishat YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFwHfBWsOZEW3cKFh_BWZaw YouTube - https://youtube.com/channel/UCJ2S-k0MBh3Pn5Jhdq_s1OA Ishmum Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCssbWLyz9JYIbGGGxxknnOg Instagram - https://instagram.com/kuddus.mia.42069?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Twitter - https://twitter.com/Beeg_Nontu MyAnimeList - https://myanimelist.net/profile/BeegNontu Grouvee - https://www.grouvee.com/user/123182-Dipjolfan42069/ Sharif YouTube - https://youtube.com/channel/UCj9sYXzE-ySF0DPsK1xpVyg Bangladesh, Bangladeshi, Bangladeshi podcasts, Podcasts in Bangladesh, Bangla podcast, Bengali podcast, Podcast Bangla, Podcast, Bengal podcast, What is podcast Bangla, DUHABP, Ashrafuzzaman Apurbo, eatabrick, Some retard, duhabp #DUHABP #BengaliPodcast #BangladeshiPodcast #BanglaPodcast --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/duhabp/message

In February 1952 thousands of people marched in Dhaka in defence of the Bengali language. Eight of the protesters were shot dead by police. It became known as Bangladesh's Language Movement Day. We hear from Abdul Gaffar Choudhury, one of the demonstrators, whose song about the protests became the anthem of the movement. (Photo: Student demonstrators gather by Dhaka University, February 1952. Courtesy of Prof Rafiqul Islam and Liberation War Museum).

He - a candidate of Green party, a writer, a graduated PhD in social sciences. 24 years ago, he was on the crossing road to choose his career path. Like most of Bangladeshi master degree graduated, he could find a descent and prestigious job in civil services. Instead he went back to Dhaka University library. This time, he aimed at the information for a higher education and found an exotic name - Finland. In year 1996, he was accepted as an international student for a Doctor degree of Social Sciences in Helsinki University. Mojibur Doftori’s path in Finland is prominent with his academic aspiration. He worked as a researcher in University of Helsinki and Tampere in Finland and Roskilde in Denmark, as a trustee and chair in PEN (Peer Educators Network) and as a project officer in Peace Union of Finland. After work contracts ended, he unemployed and started to write a book ‘Career Development’. Year 2020 he was on a book promotion tour to his homeland Bangladesh. The numerous lectures and discussions inspired him. He realized that he has the capacity to give his knowledge and skills to help the people. After the trip, he decided to give it a try. Today he wants to use Green party as a platform and to speak for the immigrants in Helsinki. He aims to work for youth empowerment, integration of immigrants and inclusive of all in Finnish society. Equality for all is his vision. Dr. Mojibur Doftori’s websites: https://mojiburdoftori.com & Facebook: @authormojibur

The #Pakistan army killed hundreds of people in areas around #Dhaka University, police lines, and areas where #Hindus lived on the eve of the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Foreign correspondents were thrown out while the #Bangladesh press was silenced. Mark Tully, former bureau chief of BBC, New Delhi, tells ThePrint's Strategic Affairs Editor Jyoti Malhotra about the events that led to the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, in this episode of #ThePrintUninterrupted

Mohammad Oli Ahad (মোহাম্মদ অলি আহাদ) is the Founder & CEO of Intelligent Machines: an AI and advanced analytics company serving companies like bKash, Unilever, BAT, Arla Foods, IDLC, and Telenor Myanmar. Previously, he also worked at BAT and IFAD for 10 years under multiple roles. He graduated from IBA, Dhaka University. Find our video interviews here: https://www.youtube.com/SeeamShahidNoor --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tbp-seeam/support

Saleh Tanveer (সালেহ তানভীর) is a Professor of Mathematics at Ohio State University. He completed his Master's and PhD from Caltech in Applied Mathematics. So far (as updated), Saleh Tanveer has won 14 Major grants (including from NSF and NASA), has 70 publications, has supervised 10 PhD students and spoke at events arranged by MIT, U of Chicago, Oxford and Caltech etc. He also won the Francois Frenkiel Prize for Fluid Dynamics awarded by the American Physical Society. I recorded this podcast 3 years ago with my friends, Mubtaseem Zaman (Lester Pearson Scholar at University of Toronto) and Adib Nur (BUET). Find our video interviews here: http://www.youtube.com/c/SeeamShahidNoor --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tbp-seeam/support

Is COVID19 the possibility to change the structure of Central Banks for good? Can Central Bank eradicate poverty and increase social justice? And should they contribute to fighting climate change? In this episode we interview prof. Atuir Rahman the 10th governor of the Central Bank of Bangladesh and professor at Dhaka University. With him we discuss the role of central banks in social challenges such as climate change, gender equality and eradicating poverty. He explains how his policies contributed to a better Bangladesh and why it is the Central Bank's job to conduct such policy. He furthermore comments on the FED and ECB approach to the financial crisis.

2017-03-07 Special EnglishThis is Special English. I&`&m Ryan Price in Beijing. Here is the news.Chinese president Xi Jinping says the city planning in Beijing and preparation for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games co-hosted by the city, are two important missions for Beijing in the present and near future.President Xi made the remarks during an inspection tour in Beijing recently.During the two-day inspection, Xi visited the site for Beijing&`&s new international airport, a sports center, the Capital Gymnasium and a forest park.While inspecting the construction site of Beijing&`&s new international airport terminal building, Xi Jinping said the new airport was a major landmark project of the capital, which should adopt the highest standards, best quality and the world&`&s most advanced management technology and experience.At the Wukesong sports center, venue for the 2022 Winter Olympics ice hockey event, the president urged efforts to learn from foreign experience while strengthening domestic development and technological innovation in terms of stadium planning, design and construction.This is Special English.Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, US President Donald Trump&`&s pick for Ambassador to China, has said that he would work to ensure the continued growth of US agricultural exports to China when he begins his new job, particularly reopening the Chinese market for American beef.He said the US-China relationship offers many opportunities to continue to grow agricultural exports" to China. Branstad made the remarks at the US Department of Agriculture&`&s annual Agricultural Outlook Forum. He said he looks forward to being an advocate for all agricultural exports in the new role.US agricultural exports to China have grown more than 200 percent over the past decade and China was the United States&`& second-largest international market in 2015.The governor said China has already imported more US soybeans than all the rest of the world combined, and the world&`&s second-largest economy has become a major importer of American pork as well. He noted that multi-billion dollar soybean contracts between the United States and China have become a commonplace.In terms of his priorities as US Ambassador to China, Branstad said he hoped China to reopen the market for American beef soon. China halted beef imports from the United States in 2003 to prevent the spread of mad cow disease.You&`&re listening to Special English. I&`&m Ryan Price in Beijing.China will push international cooperation in the cartoon and game industry in countries along the Belt and Road.A cooperation and exchange program in the sector has been launched. That&`&s according to organizers of the China International Cartoon and Game Expo scheduled for July in Shanghai.The event will have a special Belt and Road hall to exhibit cartoon works from participating countries and boost commercial cooperation.China&`&s Ministry of Culture has made it a key task this year to strengthen cooperation in the cartoon and game sector along the Belt and Road.The Belt and Road Initiative was proposed by China in 2013. It aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trade routes.The expo has been held annually in Shanghai since 2005. It is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Shanghai municipal government. This is Special English.The amount of smuggled ivory tracked down in China fell 80 percent last year from previous peak years.The State Forestry Administration made the announcement at the opening ceremony of a wildlife protection campaign, without specifying detailed numbers.China will stop commercial processing and sales of ivory by the end of this year. Last year, it imposed a three-year ban on ivory imports in an escalated fight against illegal trading of wild animals and plants.The number of illegal wildlife trade cases has been on the decline since last year.Meanwhile, the numbers of critically endangered species in China, including giant pandas, the crested ibis, the Yangtze alligators and the Tibetan antelope, have been increasing steadily.China&`&s newly-revised law on wild animal protection took effect at the start of this year, imposing harsher punishment on overkilling and illegal utilization of wild animals. You&`&re listening to Special English. I&`&m Ryan Price in Beijing.The first international porcelain contest, "Chinese white", has been held in Dehua County in Fujian province.Porcelain made in Dehua county is famous for its shiny, snow-white color. It is as thin as paper and can produce the sound of chimes when tapped. As early as 650 years ago, Dehua porcelain had become one of the main export commodities sent to Europe through the Maritime Silk Road.The decision to hold the contest every other year was finalized at the first China-France Culture Forum in May last year. It aimed to provide a platform for artists from both countries to communicate and exchange ideas in the field of porcelain arts.Around a dozen artists have arrived at Dehua on March 1 for a seven-month visit where they will create porcelain artworks. The outstanding works will go on show in France in September.This is Special English.China will have many more museums in the coming years. The State Administration of Cultural Heritage said recently that it expects one museum to be available for every 250,000 people in the country by 2020. The plan is part of a comprehensive blueprint to nurture China&`&s protection of cultural heritage and improve public participation in the process. Chinese museums are also likely to see the total annual visitor number rise to 800 million from the current 700 million by that year.The administration also said that the first national survey of movable cultural relics will be completed by 2020, and a database containing identity tags for State-owned artifacts, will be established.According to the blueprint, cultural products worth at least 20 million yuan, roughly 3 million US dollars, will likely be sold in the future.You&`&re listening to Special English. I&`&m Ryan Price in Beijing. You can access the program by logging on to crienglish.com. You can also find us on our Apple Podcast. Now the news continues.A Chinese language proficiency competition for varsity students has been held in Bangladesh&`&s Dhaka University.Dozens of students applied to attend the competition from a number of leading institutions including Dhaka University, Bangladesh Open University, CRI-SMF Confucius Classroom and North-South University.Zhou Mingdong, director at Dhaka University Confucius Institute, told Xinhua News Agency that around 20 of the applicants were selected through initial processes to join the competition.The winners have been awarded prizes and certificates according to their individual results.Dhaka University Confucius Institute and the Institute of Modern Languages in Dhaka University organized the 2nd Chinese Poetry Recitation Competition and the 3rd Chinese Knowledge Contest.The events are aimed at further inspiring Bangladeshi students who are learning Chinese language and building further bridges of relationship between the people of the two countries through more cultural exchanges.All the contestants competed in two segments featuring speeches and artistic performances.This is Special English.A Columbia University study released recently said women who had infections early in pregnancy may be twice likely to have a child with autism.The research team leader Milada Mahic told NBC News that the mother&`&s immune response to HSV-2 could be disrupting fetal central nervous system development, raising the risk for autism.For instance, the Zika virus can infect a developing baby&`&s brain and some viruses may cause severe birth defects, including brain damage. The research was published in the journal mSphere, a U.S. journal that makes fundamental contributions to microbial sciences.However, some experts drew a different conclusion. Ian Lipkin, an infectious disease expert at Columbia University oversaw the research and believes that it&`&s actually the mother&`&s immune response that causes the damage.Lipkin said the chemicals made by inflammation cross the placenta and directly affect the developing brain of the fetus.Autism refers to a broad range of symptoms, including relatively mild social awkwardness of Asperger&`&s syndrome, profound mental retardation which debilitates repetitive behaviors and an inability to communicate. You&`&re listening to Special English. I&`&m Ryan Price in Beijing. More than 4 percent of the world&`&s population lives with depression, and women, youth and the elderly are the most prone to its disabling effects.The World Health Organization said an estimated 320 million people suffered depressive disorders in 2015, a rise of 18 percent in a decade, as people live longer.A report from the US agency said global economic losses exceed 1 trillion US dollars a year. The loss refers to lost productivity due to apathy or lack of energy that lead to an inability to function at work or cope with daily life.Depression is the single largest contributor to years of living with disability. It is the top cause of disability in the world today. That&`&s according to Dr. Dan Chisholm from the World Health Organization.He said depression is 1.5 times more common among women than men.A further 250 million people suffer anxiety disorders, including phobias, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive behavior and post-traumatic stress disorder.Some 80 percent of those stricken with mental illness live in low-and middle-income countries. This is Special English.Constant stress has been linked to various physical and mental health problems including hypertension, heart disease and insomnia. According to new research, days filled with stress may also increase your risk of becoming overweight.The research was led by Sarah Jackson, a research associate at the Institute of Epidemiology and Health at the University College London. The research results were published in the journal Obesity.For the study, researchers from the university followed over 2,500 men and women aged 54 and older for around four years.The researchers took a sample of hair from each participant to measure the levels of cortisol, a hormone which is released into the bloodstream in times of stress. If a person is under constant stress, the level of cortisol will be much higher.Previous research measured the levels of cortisol in blood or saliva, but these levels can also be affected by other factors, making them unreliable for research.The researchers also collected data on participants&`& weight and compared cortisol levels in the sample to body weight. The results showed that participants with higher cortisol levels tended to have larger waist circumferences.The research concluded that these results provide consistent evidence that long-term stress is associated with higher levels of obesity.Based on the conclusion, Jackson suggested that people should look for better ways to manage stress. This is Special English.New Zealand researchers say they have made a breakthrough in potential treatments for the debilitating Parkinson&`&s disease by identifying how it spreads in the brain.The University of Auckland scientists said they had the first strong evidence that the progressive neurodegenerative condition spread through pathological proteins, known as Lewy bodies, moving from cell to cell.Research leader, Associate Professor Maurice Curtis said in a statement that they have the first proof in cell culture of the mechanism controlling the spread.Curtis said the implication is that if there is a spread of the Lewy bodies in the brain, then the spread could be stopped early on.（全文见周日微信。）

Raihan Abir is a Bangaldeshi academic and biomedical engineer and for the last five years Abir has been working in the Department of Biomedical Physics and Technology at Dhaka University. He is a recipient of a International Science Program Fellowship from Uppsala University Sweden and is a science writer, human rights activist, freelance journalist and […]

In February 1952 thousands of people marched in Dhaka in defence of the Bengali language. Eight of the protesters were shot dead by police. It became known as Bangladesh's Language Movement Day. We hear from Abdul Gaffar Choudhury, one of the demonstrators, whose song about the protests became the anthem of the movement. (Photo: Student demonstrators gather by Dhaka University, February 1952. Courtesy of Prof Rafiqul Islam and Liberation War Museum).

In the streets around Dhaka University in Bangladesh, families turn up in their thousands to celebrate together with traditional music, face painting and a parade down Kazi Nazrul Islam Ave.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus speaks about his latest book, "Creating a World Without Poverty"; at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. DR. YUNUS is a native of Bangladesh, and was educated at Dhaka University where he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study economics at Vanderbilt University. In 1972 he became head of the economics department at Chittagong University. He is the founder and managing director of Grameen Bank, a pioneer of microcredit, an economic movement that has helped lift millions of families around the world out of poverty. Yunus and Grameen Bank are winners of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus speaks about his latest book, "Creating a World Without Poverty" at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. DR. YUNUS is a native of Bangladesh, and was educated at Dhaka University where he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study economics at Vanderbilt University. In 1972 he became head of the economics department at Chittagong University. He is the founder and managing director of Grameen Bank, a pioneer of microcredit, an economic movement that has helped lift millions of families around the world out of poverty. Yunus and Grameen Bank are winners of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus speaks about his latest book, "Creating a World Without Poverty" at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. DR. YUNUS is a native of Bangladesh, and was educated at Dhaka University where he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study economics at Vanderbilt University. In 1972 he became head of the economics department at Chittagong University. He is the founder and managing director of Grameen Bank, a pioneer of microcredit, an economic movement that has helped lift millions of families around the world out of poverty. Yunus and Grameen Bank are winners of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus speaks about his latest book, "Creating a World Without Poverty"at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. DR. YUNUS is a native of Bangladesh, and was educated at Dhaka University where he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study economics at Vanderbilt University. In 1972 he became head of the economics department at Chittagong University. He is the founder and managing director of Grameen Bank, a pioneer of microcredit, an economic movement that has helped lift millions of families around the world out of poverty. Yunus and Grameen Bank are winners of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus speaks about his latest book, "Creating a World Without Poverty" at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. DR. YUNUS is a native of Bangladesh, and was educated at Dhaka University where he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study economics at Vanderbilt University. In 1972 he became head of the economics department at Chittagong University. He is the founder and managing director of Grameen Bank, a pioneer of microcredit, an economic movement that has helped lift millions of families around the world out of poverty. Yunus and Grameen Bank are winners of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus speaks about his latest book, "Creating a World Without Poverty" at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. DR. YUNUS is a native of Bangladesh, and was educated at Dhaka University where he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study economics at Vanderbilt University. In 1972 he became head of the economics department at Chittagong University. He is the founder and managing director of Grameen Bank, a pioneer of microcredit, an economic movement that has helped lift millions of families around the world out of poverty. Yunus and Grameen Bank are winners of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.