Joe Biden to Introduce Lady Gaga’s Oscars Performance

US Vice President Joe Biden

prothom-alo24.com Desk

Dhaka: US Vice President Joe Biden will attend this year’s Academy Awards, where he will introduce Lady Gaga’s performance of “Til It Happens to You” from the documentary “The Hunting Ground,” a White House official confirmed.

Gaga and Diane Warren’s “Til It Happens to You” is nominated for best original song. She’s up against The Weeknd (“Earned It” from “Fifty Shades of Grey”), Sam Smith (“Writing’s on the Wall” from “Spectre”), David Lang (“Simple Song #3” from “Youth”) and J. Ralph and Anohni (“Manta Ray” from “Racing Extinction”). The Weeknd and Smith will also take the Oscar stage.

“The Hunting Ground,” about campus sexual assault, addresses one of Biden’s signature issues. A longtime advocate against sexual assault and domestic violence, and the author of the Violence Against Women Act, Biden is expected to direct viewers to the It’s on Us campaign. The public awareness campaign aims to help prevent campus sexual assault by asking people to pledge and make a personal commitment to help keep women and men safe from sexual assault.

Biden’s appearance is unusual for the Oscars, but not unprecedented. Then-Vice President Charles Curtis attended the 4th Academy Awards in 1931 on President Herbert Hoover’s behalf. First Lady Michelle Obama presented best picture (to Ben Affleck’s “Argo”) remotely from the White House in 2013, and President Ronald Reagan delivered a taped message in 1981. Franklin Roosevelt addressed the Oscars via radio in 1941.

The vice president will attend the Oscars with his wife, Jill Biden.

Source: Yahoo

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Open judicial probe into BDR mutiny to unravel mystery: BNP

Prothom-alo24.com Desk

Dhaka: The BNP has demanded a judicial investigation into the mutiny and killings at the border guards headquarters in Dhaka seven years ago.

The party’s Standing Committee member Mahbubur Rahman raised the demand on the anniversary of the bloody revolt on Thursday.

“Peelkhana killing trial has been going on for a long time; it is farcical, not a fair trial,” the former Army chief told reporters after paying respect at the graves of the slain army officers at Banani Military Graveyard.

“The real murderers and conspirators have remained unknown,” he said in the presence of party leaders.

The mutiny at Peelkhana, the former headquarters of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), on Feb 25-26, 2009 left 74 including 57 army officers dead.

The incident sent ripples across the globe.

The border force was rechristened as Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) after the mutiny. The uniform of its personnel was changed too.

Of the more than 6,000 accused in 57 cases over the mutiny, 5,926 have been sentenced to varying terms in prison.

The court ordered the hanging of 152 of the 825 accused for murder and arson.

The Awami League and BNP leaders had accused each other of instigating the mutiny.

Source: bdnews

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Mashrafe appointed UNDP Nat’l Goodwill Ambassador

Prothom-alo24.com Desk

Dhaka: Bangladesh national cricket team captain for ODI and T20I Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was appointed by the UNDP as its National Goodwill Ambassador for Youth in Bangladesh.

UNDP Bangladesh Resident Representative Robert Watkins handed over the official appointment to Mashrafe at a press conference in a city hotel on Thursday.

The Tiger captain expressed his commitment to work for the youth in reaction to the appointment, UNB reports.

“I believe we need to do more to help our youth shine,” he said.

Mashrafe, the Narail Express, stressed that the Bangladeshi youths need inspiration from all public figures to engage their talent and potential and he want to utilise his time to work for this, after cricket.

Expecting a powerful voice from Mashrafe in UNDP initiatives, Watkins said: “We hope that as the UNDP National Goodwill Ambassador, Mashrafe will support us in bringing youth to the forefront of Bangladesh development efforts.”

Mashrafe now will work closely with UNDP to advocate for youth employment in Bangladesh to assist in the country’s efforts in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDS).
Mashrafe who lead Bangladesh cricket in many historical wins is one of the more popular public figures in Bangladesh.

Mashrafe became the 4ht Bangladeshi cricketer as an UNICEF Ambassador after the world famed all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, former Bangladesh captains Mohammad Ashraful and Habibul Bashar Sumon.

Shakib adorned the position in September 2013 along with actress Arifa Zaman Moushumi and Magician Jewel Aich.

Ashraful and Habibul Bashar shared the honourary seat in the year 2005 with country’s former celebrity table tennis player Zobera Rahman Linu.

Goodwill Ambassadors are prominent individuals from the fields of arts, sciences, literature, entertainment, sport or other fields of public life who have expressed their desire to contribute to the promotion and realization of the ideals enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

Source: UNB/dailysun

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Sanjay Dutt Walks Out Of Jail, Says 'I Am Not A Terrorist'

Sanjay Dutt photographed at his Mumbai residence

Prothom-alo24.com Desk

Dhaka: Actor Sanjay Dutt kissed the ground and saluted the flag as he walked out of jail this morning after completing his sentence in an arms case related to the 1993 Mumbai blasts.

"I waited for this day of azadi (freedom) for 23 years," he told reporters much later at his home.

"I am not a terrorist. I was in jail under the Arms Act. It is a request, please don't call me a 1993 Bombay blast convict," he appealed at the press conference.

Hefting a large bag as he emerged from Pune's Yerwada jail at around 8.45 am, the 56-year-old actor walked to his wife Maanayata, twins Iqra and Shahraan and filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, his friend.

To his 'best half' Maanayata - who he said had suffered the most - he handed over the Rs. 440 he had earned making paper bags in prison.

The actor was driven away in a white SUV to the airport, from where he took a chartered plane.

"There is no easy walk to freedom, my friends," he said, smiling, to media personnel at the Pune airport.

After reaching Mumbai, Mr Dutt headed straight to the famous Siddhivinayak temple to offer prayers to Lord Ganesha. He then went to his mother Nargis Dutt's grave in Marine Lines before heading to his Pali Hill home.

 Image courtesy: AFP

Among the posters welcoming him home was one from his family that greeted "Papa" and "Uncle" and "Bro".

"I miss my father today," he said.

Sanjay Dutt, the star of films like Khalnayak and the blockbuster Munnabhai series, was released a little over three months ahead of time on grounds of good behaviour.

Image courtesy: PTI

On Monday, the Bombay High Court will hear a petition challenging his early release. It also alleges that the actor enjoyed preferential treatment in jail.

The actor's frequent breaks from jail had been criticised as evidence of VIP treatment. Between May 2013 and 2014, Mr Dutt spent over 118 days out of prison.

In 2007, Sanjay Dutt was found guilty of illegally keeping an AK-56 rifle and a pistol acquired from those involved in the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai that killed 257 people and injured hundreds. The actor served 18 months but then was out on bail, fighting the conviction until a court in March 2013 ordered him back to jail.

Mr Dutt, who was cleared of conspiracy charges in connection with the blasts, had claimed that he had the weapons for protection during the riots that erupted after the blasts.
Source: NDTV

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