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Former State Minister Palak Stopped at Airport While Attempting to Flee the Country

In a dramatic turn of events, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the former state minister for posts, telecommunications, and information technology of Bangladesh, was reportedly stopped at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) while attempting to flee the country. According to an airport official, Palak was en route to New Delhi when the incident occurred.The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, informed The Daily Star that the airport authorities detained Palak after staffers and workers at HSIA recognized him and raised an alarm. The authorities, acting swiftly, notified the army, who were informed about the situation."Palak was trying to board a flight to New Delhi when our staffers identified him and stopped him from leaving the country," the official stated. "He is currently being held at the airport, and we have informed the army about his presence."The reasons behind Palak’s attempted departure remain unclear. Speculation has been rife in recent months regarding possible legal actions against certain high-profile individuals, but no official charges or warrants against Palak have been confirmed as of yet.Zunaid Ahmed Palak served as the state minister for posts, telecommunications, and information technology, playing a significant role in Bangladesh's digital transformation initiatives. His tenure was marked by a push towards technological advancements and the implementation of digital infrastructure across the country.However, recent political developments and shifts within the government have led to increased scrutiny of various figures, including former ministers. Palak’s sudden attempt to leave the country has raised questions and sparked concerns about potential legal or political repercussions that may have prompted his actions.As the situation unfolds, all eyes are on the authorities to provide further clarification on the matter. The incident has also fueled ongoing discussions about the state of governance and accountability within the country.At the time of writing, no official statement has been released by Palak or his representatives, and the reasons for his attempted departure remain speculative. The army and relevant government bodies are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

News

Researchers use AI to analyse cosmic explosions

TechLife ReportNew research is being carried out using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse cosmic explosions, reports BBC.A type of AI known as machine learning will be used to make simulations of star explosions called supernova that release elements such as calcium and iron back into the universe.The research by the University of Warwick aims to help astronomers understand more about why and how supernovae take place.Lead Author Dr Mark Magee said while one model currently took up to 90 minutes to create, AI would enable thousands of supernovae models to be generated in less than a second. AI would also make research more accurate, helping to establish what models match real-life explosions, the university said.It added advancements in machine learning had made the research possible with future studies including a greater variety of explosions and supernovae."Machine learning approaches like this enable studies of larger numbers of supernovae, in greater detail, and with more consistency than previous approaches," Dr Thomas Killestein said.

News

Intel unveils new chip tech in AI battle

US chip titan Intel on Tuesday struck a defiant tone in the face of strong challenges from rivals Nvidia, AMD and Qualcomm, unveiling technologies it said would lead the artificial intelligence revolution.For decades, Intel has dominated the market for the chips that run everything from laptops to data centres. But in recent years, its competitors, especially Nvidia, have soared ahead on specialised AI processors.During a keynote speech at Taiwan's Computex expo, CEO Pat Gelsinger introduced Intel's latest Xeon 6 processors for servers, and shared more details about its next-gen Lunar Lake chips for AI PCs."AI is driving one of the most consequential eras of innovation the industry has ever seen," Gelsinger said."The magic of silicon is once again enabling exponential advancements in computing that will push the boundaries of human potential and power the global economy for years to come."Gelsinger said Intel's latest equipment provides the best available mix of performance, energy efficiency and affordability.Intel's Gaudi systems -- used for advanced AI work such as training models -- come at a third of the cost of what competitors offer, he claimed.Gelsinger's presentation followed earlier keynote speeches by Nvidia boss Jensen Huang, AMD CEO Lisa Su and Qualcomm's Cristiano Amon -- and they were replete with claims and counterclaims about which firm's products were best for AI.Su and Amon gave detailed presentations on the chips their companies have developed for AI-enhanced personal computers. Microsoft this month unveiled its Copilot+ AI PCs, which will have artificial intelligence features built into its Windows operating system.

StartUp

iFarmer to work with Winrock for farmers’ climate resilience

TechLife ReportAgro-tech platform iFarmer has partner with Winrock International to work on a range of initiatives through AugroJatra climate change project of US Department of State.The partnership singed will encompass both agriculture and aquaculture by ensuring farmers’ benefit with information on climate-smart farming practices and tailored financial assistance, says a press release.  iFarmer CEO Fahad Ifaz and B-PEMS AugroJatra project director Nasir Chowdhury signed the agreement on behalf of respective sides recently.Regarding the initiative, Fahad Ifaz said the partnership with Winrock International marks a significant step towards achieving vission aligned with climate-smart agriculture.Winrock senior technical lead Zakia Naznin, livelihood and skill development specialist Layel Md. Zahirul Islam and communication and knowledge management specialist Nusrat Khan, iFarmer vice president Forhad Jufiker Rafel, head of farmer financing operators Kallol Kumar Roy, development project coordinator Deb Kumar Nath, impact analyst Mohammad Adeeb Sharif and assistant manager Mayesha Binte Mahbub were present on the occasion.Winrock Internationals B-PEMS AugroJatra Climate Change Project intends to generate evidence on the intersection between climate change and human trafficking to assist farming and fishing households in becoming more climate resilient from 11 districts.The collaboration with iFarmer aims to leverage climate-resilient agriculture and aquaculture in 5 climate-vulnerable districts in southern and northern Bangladesh.

Tech Reviews

EBLConnect wins Digital CX Award

TechLife ReportEastern Bank has been honoured as best cash management platform by international platform of Digital Banker for its corporate online banking platform.Md Jabedul Alam, head of transaction banking at Eastern Bank, received  the award titled ‘Outstanding Digital CX - Cash Management Platform 2024’ at a ceremony held in Singapore recently, says a press release.This year, with over 817 entries, EBL stood out in fulfilling the stringent criteria of Digital Bankers judging panel, comprised of industry experts from world renowned organizations.Regarding the achievement, Eastern Bank Managing Director Ali Reza Iftekhar  said that the prestigious recognition underscores our commitment to providing an exceptional online banking experience to our customers.“This award further solidifies our position as a leader in digital innovation within the financial services industry," he said.EBLConnect now facilitates over 30 per cent of the total volume of internet banking transactions in Bangladesh, according to Bangladesh Bank.  Digital Banker is a globally respected entity in financial services news, business intelligence, research, and awards. They organize the prestigious Digital CX Awards, the world’s only programme dedicated to recognizing pioneering innovation in digital customer experience across the financial services sector.

News

Russell takes charge of BASIS president for second term

TechLife ReportRussell T Ahmed of Team Creative has been reelected as president at Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) for a two-year term.M Rashidul Hasan of Systech Digital was given responsibility of senior vice president at the apex tread body of information technology sector of the country, says a press release.Two vice-presidents are: Syed Mohammad Kamal for administration and Iqbal Ahmed Fakhrul Hasan for finance. The seven elected directors of the BASIS are Md Mostafizur Rahaman Sohel, Didarul Alam, M Asif Rahman, Syed Abdullah Jayed, Mir Shahrukh Islam and Muhammad Risalat Siddique and Biplob Ghosh Rahul.The election of the executive council of BASIS took place on May 8 with 33 candidates vying for the 11 positions. Among them, eight were elected from the general category and one each from the associate, affiliate and international categories. Out of 1,464 voters, 1,157 voted in this year's BASIS election.TIM Nurul Kabir, chairman of the BASIS election board; Syed Mamnun Quader and Nazim Farhan Choudhury, members of the election board, were also present at the executive council handover ceremony at BASIS head office in the capital.

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