Bangladesh
Covid in Bangladesh: Positivity rate rises to 16.50% with 20 deaths
Bangladesh logged 20 more Covid-linked deaths with 5,023 fresh cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning.
The daily positivity rate slightly increased to 16.50 per cent from Friday’s 15.46 per cent after testing 29,904 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read: 88% Covid patients in Bangladesh infected with Omicron variant: BSMMU survey
On Friday, Bangladesh reported 27 more Covid-linked deaths with 5,268 fresh cases.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,791 while the caseload mounted to 1,904,826.
Among the new deceased, 12 were men and eight women.
Thirteen of the deaths were reported in Dhaka division while two each in Rajshahi and Khulna, and one each in Sylhet, Barishal and Rangpur divisions.
Meanwhile, the mortality rate remained static at 1.51 per cent.
However, the recovery rate slightly rose to 87.40 per cent with the recovery of 8,821 more patients during the 24-hour period.
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its earlier highest daily positivity rate at 33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths.
Read:Can you get long COVID after an infection with omicron?
On December 9 last year, Bangladesh again logged zero Covid-related death after nearly three weeks as the pandemic was apparently showing signs of easing.
The country reported first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.
Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.
Woman beaten dead in Kushtia over dowry, husband held
A 22-year-old housewife was beaten and suffocated to death allegedly by her husband over dowry at Nandalalpur in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia early Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Sonali Khatun, wife of Shafiqul Islam of the upazila. The couple has a 2-year old son.
Family sources said Shafiqul used to beat u Sonali for brining dowry from her father since their marriage. Shafiqul brutally tortured Sonali on Friday night for not getting dowry money.
Read: Man arrested for chopping wife’s wrist in Narayanganj for dowry
Later, locals rushed Sonali to Kushtia Sadar Hospital on Saturday morning where doctors declared her dead.
The body was sent to Kushtia General Hospital morgue for autopsy, said Kamruzzaman Talukdar, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kumarkhali Police Station.
A case was filed in this regard at Kumarkhali Police Station after arresting Shafiqul, said the OC.
SUST VC finally apologises over cop attack on students
Vice-Chancellor of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Farid Uddin Ahmed expressed regret over the police action on protesting students on January 16.
“I express my sincere sympathy to all of those, including students, teachers and staff injured in the unwanted incident on that day,” he said in a press statement.
The statement reads: “I express my sincere regret over the incident and I also express my gratitude to the teachers, students and staff who are trying to overcome the stalemate.”
The VC expressed regret a day after Education Minister Dipu Moni visited the university on Saturday.
Read: Now SUST students want removal of new proctor
Farid Uddin Ahmed also thanked deputy education minister, the government officials concerned, Awami League leaders and members of law enforcement agencies, media workers who played a responsible role in restoring normalcy on the campus.
The VC also urged all to play their role in restoring the normal academic atmosphere and normal activities on the campus.
On Friday, the SUST agitating students reiterated their demand for the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin at their meeting with Education Minister Dipu Moni.
Bangladesh, US keen to further strengthen ties with greater engagements
U.S. Ambassador-designate to Bangladesh Peter D. Haas has said he is keen to working together with Bangladesh to move forward the relationship as the two countries eye greater engagements marking the 50th anniversary of Dhaka-Washington diplomatic ties.
He was speaking at an interaction session with the officers of the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington D.C. on Friday.
Read:Bangladesh promotes culture of peace: FM
Ambassador designate Haas paid the visit to the Embassy before taking up his assignment in Dhaka.
He was received by Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States M Shahidul Islam and other officials of the Mission.
Woman, her grandchild die in Gazipur road accident
A 45-year-old woman and her three-year-old grandchild travelling in an e-rickshaw died after it overturned following a collision with a CNG-run auto-rickshaw and a bike in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur district on Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Begum and Naim, the son of Sadek Hossain, a garment worker and a resident of the upazila. The two were returning to their home in MC Bazar from Hossainpur when they met with the accident.
In fact, the accident occurred in the Tengra area around 8am when the speeding auto-rickshaw and the bike crashed into the e-rickshaw. The e-rickshaw overturned in the impact and its two passengers sustained serious injuries, according to eye-witnesses.
Read: Two students die in Sherpur road crash
The woman and her grandchild were declared dead on arrival at Sreepur Upazila Health Complex, said duty doctor Mariam Akter. The drivers of the e-rickshaw and the CNG-run auto-rickshaw escaped with minor injuries, she added.
3 injured in oxygen cylinder explosion in Bagerhat
Three persons sustained burn injuries after an oxygen cylinder exploded in an ambulance near Rayendanmasua ferry ghat in Sharankhola upazila of Bagerhat district on Friday night.
The victims have been identified as Al Mamun, 30, the owner of the ambulance, Milon Khan, 32, its driver, and Shimul, 30, an assistant.
The explosion occurred when one of the victims was removing the oxygen mask of a patient, sources said.
Fortunately, the patient escaped unhurt.
The injured were taken to Sharankhola Upazila Health Complex and later shifted to Khulna Medical College and Hospital for better treatment, said Dr Farida Yeasmin, a doctor.
The victims sustained burn injuries in their hands and other parts of the body, she said.
Read: Worker dies in Ctg gas cylinder blast
Govt determined to end shrimp production & exportation problems: Rezaul
The Bangladesh government is determined to end all problems related to shrimp production and its exportation, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim has said.
“These problems at shrimp hatcheries will eventually be resolved as the Bangladesh government is giving utmost importance to the development of the fisheries sector," the Minister said.
"For this, the government has selected Cox’s Bazar and a number of big projects, including dried fish procession and sustainable coastal and marine fisheries, are being implemented,” he added.
The Minister said these at an interactive meeting with members of the Shrimp Hatchery Association of Bangladesh in Cox’s Bazar on Friday evening.
Also read: Viruses come back to haunt Bagerhat shrimp farmers
Asserting that the major food supplies come from fish, meat, milk and eggs, the Minister said those involved in the fisheries sector are playing an important role in the country's economy as well.
At the same time, he urged all to refrain from indulging in any malpractices in shrimp exportation.
"To overcome the economic damages in the fisheries and livestock sector due to the pandemic, the government has taken many steps," the Minister said.
RAB detains driver of pick-up van that killed 5 brothers in Cox's Bazar
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Saturday detained the driver of a pick-up van that ploughed into a group of nine siblings walking back home from a temple in Cox's Bazar last week.
Tuesday's horrific accident on the Cox’s Bazar-Chattogram highway in Chakaria upazila left five brothers dead on the spot. Four other siblings were also injured in the accident.
Also read: 4 brothers killed in Cox’s Bazar road crash, 5 injured
Acting on a tip-off, a Rab-15 team raided Dhaka's Mohammadpur area this morning and detained the van driver, Shahidul Islam alias Saiful, 22, sources told UNB.
During primary interrogation, Saiful confessed to his guilt, said RAB.
Saiful has no driving license and has been driving pick-up van, ‘Chander Gari’ and mini truck for the last two years.
On a fateful day, Saiful along with his nephew Rabiul and Tarek, son of the pick-up van owner, was heading towards Cox’s Bazar for delivering vegetables.
Saiful could not see the victims standing in the area for crossing the road due to poor visibility caused by fog and high speed of the vehicle and the driver lost control over steering, said RAB.
Tuesday's accident occurred around 5am near Memorial Christian Hospital in the Malumghat area of Chakaria when the nine siblings were crossing a road.
Read: 3 killed in Cox's Bazar road accident
The nine had gone to a nearby temple to offer prayers for their father who was killed a day before.
Plaban Sushil, another brother lodged a complaint with Chakaria Police.
25-yr-old woman found dead at Ctg hotel
A 25-year-old woman was found dead with her throat slit in a hotel room in the Agrabad area of Chattogram port city, police said on Friday.
The identity of the deceased is yet to be established, according to officials.
Mostafizur Rahman, the officer-in-charge of Halishohor Police Station, said the woman checked into the hotel along with a man on Thursday afternoon.
"The two had identified themselves as husband and wife. Around 5.30 pm, the man left the hotel," he said.
Cops broke open the door of the hotel room after its staff alerted them around 11.30 pm after getting no response from inside.
Read: Bodies of 2 newborns recovered from a box in Sherpur
Later, police recovered the body of the woman. "The body had multiple injury marks. Efforts are on to nab the man," the OC said.
2 killed, 10 hurt in Dinajpur bus accident
Two persons were killed and 10 others injured when a bus fell into a roadside ditch in Chirirbandar upazila of Dinajpur district early on Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Halima Khatun, 45, wife of Majibur Rahman, and Abdul Jalil, 50, son of Azim Uddin of Sadar upazila.
Police said the accident occurred around 5am when the bus belonging to ‘Hanif Paribahan’ rammed a girder of Mohonpur Bridge and plunged into the ditch while giving way to a truck.
Read: Man dies after being hit by train in city
"While two persons died on the spot in the impact of the accident, at least 10 others sustained injuries," said a sub-inspector at Chirirbandar Police Station, Abdul Quader.
The injured were rushed to M Abdur Rahim Medical College and Hospital.