Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Vegan diet may help lower your cholesterol






Are you suffering from high cholesterol? Try plant-based vegetarian diets, especially vegan diets, which can significantly help lower the levels of cholesterol -- known to increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a study.

The findings showed that long-term adherence to plant-based eating patterns leads to changes in body composition which help in reducing the cholesterol levels.
The reductions were found to be greater compared to omnivorous diets.
The immediate health benefits of a plant-based diet like weight loss, lower blood pressure and improved cholesterol are well known.
However, "our goal is to capture the net risk reduction of using a vegetarian diet to control lipid levels. We hope to empower patients with new research about the long-term cardiovascular health benefits of a vegetarian diet, which include a reduced risk of a heart attack, stroke and premature death," said Susan Levin from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance known as a lipid and is vital for the normal functioning of the body.
While high levels of "good" HDL cholesterol are beneficial, too much "bad" LDL cholesterol can lead to heart disease.
Plant-based diet includes vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and whole grains, which are naturally rich in components such as soluble fiber, soy protein and plant sterols, while an omnivorous diet includes both plant and animal foods.
For the study, appearing in the journal Nutrition Reviews, the team conducted a dietary review of 49 observational and controlled studies.
The results revealed that a plant-based vegetarian diet is associated with total cholesterol that's 29.2 mg/dL lower.
Further, in clinical trials, a plant-based diet lowered total cholesterol by 12.5 mg/dL.

Schoolgirl injured in stalker attack


A schoolgirl received serious injuries after three stalkers allegedly beat her up in broad daylight at Uttar Sharshuna village in Shalikha upazila of Magura on Tuesday afternoon, reports news agency UNB.

The victim, a student of class 10, said three stalkers - Ayez Uddin, Ali, and Rana, residents of Uttar Sharshuna village - used to disturb her regularly on her way to school and gave her indecent proposals.


As the schoolgirl denied the proposals, the three hoodlums beat her up mercilessly while returning from school in the afternoon, leaving her severely injured.


Later, she was taken to Magura Sadar Hospital, said officer-in-charge of Shalikha Police Station Rabiul Islam.

Ranking of Private Universities in Bangladesh 2017

Ranking of Private Universities in Bangladesh 2017

1. North South University (NSU)
2. East West University (EWU)
3. Independent University Bangladesh (IUB)
4. Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST)
5. BRAC University (BRACU)
6. United International University (UIU)
7. Daffodil International University (DIU)
8. University of Asia Pacific (UAP)
9. American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB)
10. Green University of Bangladesh
11. Southeast University
12. International University of Business Agriculture and Technology
13. University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh
14. Stamford University Bangladesh
15. International Islamic University Chittagong
16. Eastern University Bangladesh
17. Bangladesh Army International University of Science & Technology,Comilla
18. Bangladesh University of Business and Technology
19. University of Development Alternative
20. Notre Dame University Bangladesh
21. Northern University Bangladesh
22. Army University of Science and Technology(BAUST), Saidpur
23. Primeasia University
24. State University of Bangladesh
25. Chittagong Independent University (CIU)
26. Army University of Engineering and Technology (BAUET), Qadirabad
27. Central Women’s University
28. Bangladesh University
29. ASA University Bangladesh
30. Gono University
31. Manarat International University
32. BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology
33. East Delta University
34. Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology
35. University of Science & Technology Chittagong
36. BGC Trust University Bangladesh
37. Uttara University
38. University of Information Technology & Sciences
39. Presidency University
40. Premier University Chittagong
41. World University of Bangladesh
42. Prime University
43. Metropolitan University Sylhet
44. Sylhet International University
45. City University
46. Bangladesh Islami University
47. Victoria University of Bangladesh
48. Hamdard University Bangladesh
49. The Millenium University
50. North East University Bangladesh
51. Britannia University
52. People’s University of Bangladesh
53. CCN University of Science & Technology
54. European University of Bangladesh
55. Canadian University of Bangladesh
56. Central University of Science and Technology
57. Coxs Bazar International University
58. Exim Bank Agricultural University, Bangladesh
59. Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib University
60. Dhaka International University
61. Royal University of Dhaka
62. Port City International University
63. Khwaja Yunus Ali University
64. University of South Asia
65. Sonargaon University
66. Fareast International University
67. Pundro University of Science & Technology
68. Bangladesh University of Health Sciences
69. Feni University
70. First Capital University of Bangladesh
71. Northern University of Business & Technology, Khulna
72. Z H Sikder University of Science & Technology
73. The International University of Scholars
74. N.P.I University of Bangladesh
75. German University Bangladesh
76. Rajshahi Science & Technology University (RSTU), Natore
77. Global University Bangladesh
78. Ishakha International University, Bangladesh
79. Leading University, Sylhet
80. Varendra University
81. North Bengal International University
82. North Western University, Khulna
83. Rabindra Moitri University, Kushtia
84. Ranada Prasad Shaha University
85. Times University Bangladesh
86. University of Creative Technology, Chittagong
87. Anwer Khan Modern University
88. Atish Dipankar University of Science & Technology
89. Asian University of Bangladesh
90. Southern University Bangladesh
91. Queens University
92. IBAIS University

৫০ বার তদন্ত প্রতিবেদন জমার তারিখ পেছাল

সাংবাদিক দম্পতি সাগর-রুনি হত্যা মামলার তদন্ত প্রতিবেদন আজ বুধবারের ধার্য দিনে আদালতে জমা পড়েনি।
আগামী ৮ অক্টোবর প্রতিবেদন জমা দেওয়ার নতুন তারিখ দিয়েছেন ঢাকার মহানগর হাকিম মাজহারুল হক। এ নিয়ে ৫০ বার মামলার তদন্ত প্রতিবেদন জমা দেওয়ার তারিখ পেছাল। এখন মামলাটি তদন্ত করছে র‍্যাব।
২০১২ সালের ১১ ফেব্রুয়ারি সকালে রাজধানীর পশ্চিম রাজাবাজারে ভাড়া বাসায় মাছরাঙা টেলিভিশনের বার্তা সম্পাদক সাগর সরওয়ার ও এটিএন বাংলার জ্যেষ্ঠ প্রতিবেদক মেহেরুন রুনির ক্ষতবিক্ষত লাশ মেলে।
সাগর-রুনি হত্যাকাণ্ডে দেশজুড়ে চাঞ্চল্যের সৃষ্টি হয়। ঘটনাস্থলে এসে ৪৮ ঘণ্টার মধ্যে খুনিদের গ্রেপ্তারের নির্দেশ দেওয়ার কথা বলেছিলেন তৎকালীন স্বরাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রী সাহারা খাতুন। ৪৮ ঘণ্টা থেকে পাঁচ বছর পেরিয়ে গেছে। কিন্তু এই মামলার ফলাফল এখনো শূন্য।
মামলাটি প্রথম তদন্ত করে শেরেবাংলা নগর থানার পুলিশ। তারপর মামলার তদন্তভার ঢাকা মহানগর পুলিশের গোয়েন্দা শাখাকে (ডিবি) দেওয়া হয়। দুই মাসের বেশি সময় তদন্ত করে ডিবি রহস্য উদ্‌ঘাটনে ব্যর্থ হয়। একপর্যায়ে হাইকোর্টের নির্দেশে মামলার তদন্তভার র‍্যাবকে দেওয়া হয়। কিন্তু এখন পর্যন্ত র‍্যাব এই ঘটনার কোনো কিনারা করতে পারেনি। তদন্ত প্রতিবেদন জমা দেওয়ার জন্য সংস্থাটি আদালতের কাছে বারবার সময় চেয়ে আসছে। আদালত প্রতিবারই সময় মঞ্জুর করেছেন।

Spain suspect says bigger attack planned

SpainA suspected member of the terror cell that unleashed carnage in Spain last week admitted to a judge on Tuesday that the jihadists had planned to hit monuments in an even bigger attack.
Mohamed Houli Chemlal, 21, said he knew of the plans two months ago, as he, and three other suspects, appeared in court for the first time since twin attacks killed 15 people and wounded more than 100.
The four are the only surviving suspects from what was believed to be a 12-man terror cell that rammed a van into pedestrians on a tourist-packed boulevard in Barcelona on Thursday. Hours later, members of the group committed a similar attack in Cambrils further south.
After a full day hearing before the judge, Chemlal and another suspect, Driss Oukabir, 27, were remanded in custody and charged with terror related offences.
But the third man who owns the car used in the Cambrils attack, Mohamed Aallaa, was granted conditional release, with the judge saying evidence against him was weak.
The judge gave himself three more days to decide if the fourth suspect, Salh El Karib—who manages a store that allows people to make calls abroad—should be remanded or released from custody.
Chemlal, a Spaniard, told the judge the cell was planning “an attack on an even greater scale, targeting monuments” using bombs, a judicial source told AFP.
He had known of the plans for an attack “at least two months ago”, he added.
‘Imam wanted to blow himself up’
Chemlal, dressed in hospital pyjamas and with his right hand bandaged, was brought in after a doctor said he was fit for interrogation, a court spokesman told AFP.
He was injured in an accidental explosion at the group’s makeshift bomb factory on Wednesday evening. One of those killed in the blast was an imam, Abdelbaki Es Satty, who is thought to have radicalised him and other young suspects.
Chemlal only survived because he was out on the porch when the blast occurred.
He told the judge the imam had wanted to blow himself up. The judicial source said that among the four suspects, “two blamed the imam for the plot while another two denied knowing him”.
Earlier, police had revealed that the suspected jihadists had been preparing bombs for “one or more attacks in Barcelona”.
Details on their plans were outlined in the 14-page ruling issued following Tuesday’s preliminary hearing.
Police clearing the rubble in Alcanar found “a large quantity of butane gas canisters, acetone, oxygenated water, bicarbonate, a large quantity of nails ... and detonators to spark the explosion,” said the court papers.
These are among key ingredients of TATP—the explosive of choice of the Islamic State group, which has claimed the attacks.
In the rubble, police also found a sheet of paper slipped into a green-coloured book, which said: “A brief letter from the soldiers of the Islamic State on the territory of Al Andalous to the crusaders, the sinners, the unjust and the corrupters”.
Al Andalous is the name of the territories governed until 1492 by Muslims better known as Moors.
But the accidental explosion in their bomb factory—a house in Alcanar, south of Barcelona—forced the suspects to alter their plans.
Plan B
After losing their bombs and two of their members in the blast in Alcanar, the jihadists decided a day after to rent a van.
But they once again suffered a false start as its driver was involved in an accident, not far from Cambrils.
A second van rented by Driss Oukabir was used two hours later in the Barcelona rampage.
In court on Tuesday, Oukabir admitted renting the van but said he did so for moving purposes.
Aallaa, freed conditionally and the owner of the Audi used in Cambrils, said it was registered under his name for insurance reasons but that his brother Said, 19, used it.
The court hearing came five days after the twin vehicle assaults.
Spanish police on Monday shot dead Younes Abouyaaqoub, the suspected Barcelona van driver, the last fugitive member of the cell.
While Catalan police say the cell has been dismantled, investigators are trying to determine if it had support from other individuals.
Questions are also arising about the group’s possible international connections.
Audi in Paris, imam in Belgium
In Belgium, the mayor of the Vilvorde region told AFP that Satty spent time in the Brussels suburb of Machelen—next to the city’s airport—between January and March 2016.
And in France, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb told BFMTV that the Audi used to kill people in Cambrils had been detected by speed cameras in the Paris region while making “a very rapid return trip” days before the Spanish attacks.
Collomb is due to host Spanish counterpart Juan Ignacio Zoido on Wednesday for talks due to include anti-terrorism cooperation.
At least one of the suspects also spent a night in Zurich in December, according to Swiss police.

People’s princess still in hearts of people

From TV documentaries and the private memories of her sons to a slew of new “revelations” and renewed theories about her death, Britain’s princess Diana is once again front page news 20 years after she died.

Diana was killed at age 36 on 31 Aug, 1997 along with her lover Dodi al-Fayed when a limousine carrying them crashed in a Paris tunnel as it sped away from paparazzi giving chase on motorbikes.
The first wife of heir-to-the-throne prince Charles, Diana was the glittering princess at the centre of a royal soap opera played out in the glare of the media, making her probably the most recognised woman around the world.
Her passing prompted the biggest public outpouring of grief seen in Britain in recent times, and few since have captivated the world like she did.
“There’ll never be anyone else like Diana,” said Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and author of “Diana: The Last Word”.
Previous anniversaries of her death have gone by with little fanfare, suggesting that the “People’s Princess”, as she was dubbed by then-British prime minister Tony Blair, had perhaps lost some of her allure and relevance.
But, with her sons Prince William and Harry to the fore, the 20th anniversary has seen her dominate front pages of newspapers as she did in her prime as the world’s most photographed woman.
“There was a period in the early 2000s where very little was heard of Diana,” commented Ken Wharfe, her ex-royal protection officer. He said her two sons’ desire to continue her work by supporting causes such as helping Aids sufferers, the homeless and combating landmines, had made her relevant again.
The princes have also been increasingly willing to speak about the trauma of her death and its lasting emotional impact.
In broadcasts aired over the last six months, William, 35, said the shock of losing his mother still lingered while Harry, 32, revealed he had sought counselling in his late 20s to help deal with the grief.
“She still is our mum,” Harry said in an intimate TV documentary entitled “Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy”. “Of course, as a son I would say this, she was the best mum in the world. She smothered us with love, that’s for sure.”
Ashley Gething, the documentary’s director, told Reuters he was impressed with Diana’s achievements. “What amazed me was what she’d actually done... All these enormous issues like championing the homeless, often in the face of criticism of politicians and editors of national newspapers.”
DARK DAYS
Almost 10 million Britons tuned into that documentary, while another TV programme “Diana In Her Own Words”, aired earlier this month, was watched by 3.5 million Britons, giving broadcaster Channel 4 its highest viewing figures for a year.
That programme featured videoed conversations, never shown before on British TV, of Diana speaking candidly with her speech therapist about her sex life with Prince Charles and her sorrow at the spectacular collapse of her marriage.
Similar shows have been aired or are planned in the United States, where many have been gripped by Diana’s story, from her fairytale marriage to Charles in 1981 to their subsequent separation and bitter divorce. More than 33 million Americans tuned in to watch her funeral in September 1997.
The days after her death were some of the darkest in Queen Elizabeth’s 65-year reign and some monarchists fear the attention lavished on Diana will rekindle resentment towards the House of Windsor.
Many Britons were angered at how Diana was ostracised by the royal family after her 1996 divorce from Charles, with Camilla Parker Bowles, Charles’s lover who later became his wife, a particular focus of enmity.
With renewed focus on the popular Diana, an ICM poll for the Sun newspaper this month found that just 22 percent of respondents wanted Charles, 68, to be the next king while more than half wanted the next monarch to be his son William.
It also showed that 36 percent of the 2,000 people questioned felt Camilla, 70, should be Princess Consort and not queen. Only 27 percent backed her having the regal title.
“Anything retrospective can open old wounds and does open old wounds,” Seward said, although she believed the impact would soon wane. “People forget quickly and I don’t think it has any long lasting effect.”
Instead she and other royal commentators say Diana’s lasting impact was a royal family more in touch with the public.
“This programme of bringing the royal family into the 21st century is being continued by her two sons who, for my part, are the future of the British monarchy,” Wharfe said.

Govt forms body to coordinate work of capital’s civic amenities providers

The government has constituted a committee for smooth coordination of the services and development activities of Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation as well as other organisations and institutions.

"Prime minister's principal secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury and director general (administration) of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Kabir Bin Anwar will act as the convenor and member secretary respectively of the 19-member body," a PMO source told BSS on Tuesday.

Other members of the committee are: the senior secretary of the water resources ministry, the inspector general of police (IGP), the senior secretary of the Bridges Division, the secretary of the housing and public works ministry, the secretary of the Local Government Division, the secretary of the Power Division, the secretary of the Information and Communication Technology Division, the secretary of the Post and Telecommunication Division, the secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division, the chairman of Dhaka WASA, the representative of Dhaka North City Corporation mayor, the representative of Dhaka South City Corporation mayor, the executive director of Dhaka Transportation Coordination Authority, the chief engineer of the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), the managing director of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd, the vice-chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and the deputy commissioner of Dhaka.
The committee will coordinate the work of the service providing agencies and all related organisations for smoothly implementing the development plans taken in Dhaka city by the government.
It will also coordinate the activities related to easing traffic jam, water-logging and sewerage water as well as management of water and power supply in the city, the source said.

Iconic actor Razzak laid to rest

Legendary actor Razzak, who passed away at a city hospital on Monday, laid to eternal rest at Banani Graveyard on Wednesday morning, reports UNB.
He was buried around 10:20am.
Earlier, his two namaz-e-janazas were held at Azad Mosque in Gulshan and Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) respectively on Tuesday.
Hundreds of people from all walks of life paid their last tributes to iconic actor Razzak at the Central Shaheed Minar.
Politicians, cultural personalities and activists converged on the area to say goodbye to Nayak Raj [the king of heroes] Razzak while Sammilita Sangskritik Jote arranged the tribute programme.
Information minister Hasanul Haq Inu and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader paid tributes to the iconic actor at the FDC in the morning when a lot of artistes, his co-workers and fans from across the country paid their respects to him with teary eyes.
Popular film actress Babita said, "Razzak was an institution for our film industry. He was unique as a friend, philosopher and star. He'll ever remain everywhere at the FDC."
President of Bangladesh Chalachitro Shilpi Samity Misha Saudagar said, "He was our inspiration. His long-term acting career is source of lessons for us."
Earlier on Monday, the actor was taken to United Hospital around 5:30pm after he had suffered a cardiac arrest and doctors declared him dead around 6:13pm.
Razzak, the founding president of Bangladesh Film Artistes' Association, was born on 23 January, 1942 at Nagtala in Taliganj of Kolkata.

IU expels teacher over sexual harassment

Islamic University (IU) authorities have expelled one of its teachers from the university permanently over the allegation of harassing female students sexually, reports news agency UNB.
The decision was taken at its 236th syndicate meeting with IU vice-chancellor M Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari in the chair.
IU acting registrar SM Abdul Latif said that the VC issued the suspension order against Asaduzzaman, an assistant professor of Finance and Banking Department of the university under the University Act 4 (1).
On 16 April last, the authorities suspended Asaduzzaman and formed a nine- member probe body, headed by Public Administration Department professor Nashim Banu, chief of the university's sexual harassment prevention cell, to investigate into the sexual harassment allegation.
The IU authorities also demoted M Ruhul Amin, an assistant professor of the same department from his yearly increment for three years for his alleged involvement with bribery scam and collecting candidates for recruiting them as teachers in different departments in exchange of money amounting to Tk 1.2 million to 1.5 million, he added.
Following the incident, on 2 April last, the university authorities formed a three-member probe body, headed by Ruhul KM Saleh, professor of Islamic History and Culture Department, against Ruhul Amin to investigate into the matter and suspended him from all the academic and administrative activities of the university.

Vegan diet may help lower your cholesterol

Are you suffering from high cholesterol? Try plant-based vegetarian diets, especially vegan diets, which can significantly help...