Md. Zahidur Rabbi

As the year draws to a close, Spotify Wrapped has become a much-anticipated annual tradition for music enthusiasts. This feature of Spotify compiles a comprehensive summary of your musical journey throughout the year, presented in vibrant and engaging graphics. From top songs to unique listening habits, Spotify Wrapped offers users an insightful reflection of their year in music.

Starlink, a satellite internet system operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, will be allowed to operate over Gaza if the satellites are approved by Israel, according to Israel's Minister of Communications.

In a recent cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been assigned with the additional role of overseeing the Ministry of Science and Technology, while Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), has been assigned with the additional responsibilities of the Posts and Telecommunications Department, following the departure of the two technocrat ministers from these ministries.

CrackPlatoon Charging Solution Ltd, in collaboration with Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO) and Sumatra Filling Station, recently launched their first ever commercial Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure at Manikdi, Dhaka Cantonment.

Uttara Motors, the manufacturer and distributor of Bajaj motorcycles in Bangladesh, has recently launched The Pulsar N250 motorcycle.

Skoot Ltd, a local startup, has launched an e-bike rental station at Chowhatta Point, Sylhet on November 25. Through this station, users can rent an electric bike for as long as they require.

The government has formed the new 'National Cyber Security Agency' which will replace the previous 'Digital Security Agency', according to an official gazette published on November 17, 2023. The Cyber Security Agency will be responsible for monitoring online communication and countering cyber crimes.

Following a recent policy decision, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has taken the initiative to conduct a comprehensive audit of Teletalk, the state-owned telecom company, for the first time.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has recently announced two new AI-powered creative tools for Facebook and Instagram users. Built on Emu, Meta's foundational model for image generation, these two tools - Emu Edit and Emu Video - provide users with new ways to edit photos and generate videos using text prompts.

A birth certificate is a vital document, often required for various official purposes. Inaccuracies in birth certificates can lead to complications during verification processes. Fortunately, birth certificates can now be updated online, a service which includes options for adding both English and Bangla names, photo attachments, and more. This guide explains how to update your birth certificate online.

Startup Bangladesh Limited, a government-backed venture capital firm, is set to inject Tk 100 crore into 46 selected startups, aiming to strengthen the country's startup ecosystem. Since its establishment in 2020, the company has actively approved investments totaling Tk 73.50 crore across 28 companies, dispersing Tk 64 crore. These investments span critical sectors such as healthtech, agritech, edtech, logistics, fintech, e-commerce, and renewable energy.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is set to initiate legal proceedings against 11 airline companies over unpaid frequency allocation dues. According to sources, British Airways, United Airways, GMG Airlines, and Regent Airways are among the airlines identified for legal action. These companies, according to BTRC, have failed to settle their financial obligations pertaining to frequency allocation, a vital service for airline operations ensuring safe and effective communication channels.

ACI Motors, a subsidiary of ACI Limited since 2007, and Yamaha, a global leader in the motorcycle industry, recently celebrated a significant milestone: seven years of successful partnership in Bangladesh. This collaboration, marked by innovation and customer-centric approaches, has seen ACI Motors grow to become Yamaha's sole distributor and technical collaborator in the nation. 

In an effort to address the persistent parking difficulties in Dhaka, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has unveiled the ‘DNCC Smart Parking’ app. The inauguration of this pilot program took place on Wednesday at the DNCC's Nagar Bhaban in Gulshan 2.

Dark Kak, a Bangladeshi tech startup that works with Augmented Reality (AR) with the Internet of Things (IoT), has won an award for their upcoming project ‘Smart Jewellery’. The award, titled ‘Catalyzing Women’s Entrepreneurship Award’, was presented by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) at the She Loves Tech 2023 conference held at the Fairmont Hotel in Singapore. Dark Kak was entitled to a 15,000 USD cash prize from UN ESCAP and She Loves Tech.

DPS STS School Dhaka organised a TEDx session at their senior campus in Uttara, on October 14. The independently organised event featured G.M.B. Akash, Masuda Khan, Fyruz Khan, Raba Khan, Azra Mahmood, and Rafiath Rashid Mithila among others.

MG 5, a next-generation sports sedan, has been officially released in Bangladesh by RANCON British Motors Limited. As per RANCON, two variants of MG 5 will be made available in Bangladesh: turbo and non-turbo, priced at BDT 39 lakh and BDT 36 lakh respectively.

Google has announced plans to revolutioniae user authentication by phasing out traditional passwords in favor of passkeys. After receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback earlier this year, the tech giant is now focusing on enhancing the accessibility of passkeys.