Bangladesh
ICCB seeks climate change mitigation, role of private sector
The world’s most vulnerable populations are facing ever-increasing risks, food insecurity and have fewer chances to break out of poverty and build better lives with global temperatures rising, says ICCB.
Their challenges also include changing weather patterns, sea-level rise, increases in droughts and floods, according to the International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh (ICCB).
While involvement of multinational corporations and major international business groups in international climate action efforts have grown substantially, they are still an incomplete picture of what the broader business community, including MSMEs is capable of contributing at national and global levels, says ICCB in its quarterly news bulletin (April-June’21) published on Monday.
While the International Chamber of Commerce, the world business organization welcomes announcements at the U.S. Leaders’ Climate Summit and G7 meetings of increased pledges for climate change mitigation and finance, these pledges do not yet place the world on track to achieve committed UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement actions, says the ICCB.
According to Climate Action Tracker, the sum of all the targets submitted so far would limit global warming to an estimated 2.4°C by century’s end.
This is still short of limiting global temperature rise by 2°C – ideally 1.5°C – by the end of the century as per the Paris Agreement, according to the ICCB.
More than a decade ago, developed countries committed to jointly mobilizing $100 billion per year by 2020 in support of climate action in developing countries.
But, according to the UN, the $100bn target is not being met (the latest available data for 2018 is $79bn), even though climate finance is on an “upward trajectory.” So, there is still a big gap in finance.
The annual $100bn commitment, “is a floor and not a ceiling” for climate finance, according to the UN.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that adaptation costs alone faced by just developing countries will be between $140 billion to $300 billion per year by 2030, and $280 billion to $500 billion annually by 2050.
“This troubling gap should give the international community impetus to consider how to unleash and engage further action both now and over the longer term across society. In the run-up to the next, UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow, and over the course of the Paris Agreement five-year review cycle, governments have the unique opportunity to widen the circle of implementation for inclusive ambition, with a particular focus on countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as a vehicle,” the ICCB says.
ICC – representing more than 45 million companies in over 100 countries and in its roles as Permanent Observer to the UN General Assembly and official UNFCCC Focal Point for Business and Industry – believes that UNFCCC and Paris Agreement Parties should revisit the scope and implementation of their climate policy strategies to assess how to enhance involvement of businesses of every sector, size and jurisdiction, in particular in NDC development, implementation and tracking at both national and international levels.
The pandemic and its disruptive impact on societies, economies and businesses have compounded the difficulty of developing and delivering on NDCs, which makes it even more important to design practical and inclusive NDCs, said the ICCB.
Overcoming these challenges will require mobilization and agreement to commit to redoubled efforts across society and in particular from governments and business, it said.
MSMEs are the foundation of the global economic system– they make up 90% of businesses worldwide, comprise an estimated 80 percent of employment in many countries, and collectively employ two billion people.
“Yet, they are not a dominant voice and presence in the UNFCCC process,” says the ICCB.
It is suggested, governments to encourage MSMEs to take on appropriate climate mitigation and adaptation measures; develop good practices that are flexible to innovation across NDCs, in particular for MSMEs tackling the social and economic impacts of the pandemic and create a dedicated and recognized space inside the UNFCCC for enhanced consultation and dialogue with business and employers, inclusive of MSMEs.
This private sector platform could also provide for practical and realistic dialogue on converging climate and recovery agendas, according to the ICCB.
Covid’s frightening peak in Bangladesh; record 231 more die
Reeling from the devastating second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bangladesh on Monday saw 231 deaths related to the virus, the highest number since the pandemic hit the country, amid an eight-day pause in the nationwide strict lockdown.
The situation is likely to get even worse because of the fallout from the lockdown pause ahead of Eid holidays.
With Covid's Delta variant spreading fast, Bangladesh already tallied more than 1.1 million infections and 18,000-plus deaths from the pandemic. The country's fatalities have been hovering at approximately 200 for the last two weeks.
Also, Covid-19 infections in Bangladesh have reached 99% of the peak, with more than 11,828 new cases reported each day. The highest daily average was reported on July 15.
Also read: Delta variant in children: Chattogram reveals troubling data
The country recorded 13,321 infections in 24 hours till Monday morning after testing 45,012 samples.
Bangladesh reported its highest daily Covid-19 fatality of 230 on July 11 and 13,768 infections the next day.
Ctg lawyer files case seeking ban on building hospital at CRB
A lawyer has filed a case in a court here Monday seeking a ban on constructing a hospital in Chattogram's CRB area what he claimed would harm the environment.
Advocate kazi Sanwar Ahmed Lavlu, a member of district Bar Association, filed the case with the Chattogram assistant judge court-1.
The court has taken the case into cognizance but hasn’t passed any order.
Also read: Should a hospital come at the cost of ruining lungs of Chattogram?
Sixteen officials were named in the case including Secretary of Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, Chattogram Metropolitan police commissioner, Deputy Commissioner of the district, Director of Chattogram Environment Department, Secretary of Chattogram Development authority and Press Club Journalists association.
The lawyer said destroying the natural resources of the hill surrounding CRB for building a hospital is unacceptable.
The 16 people have been accused so that no one can assist in establishing the controversial hospital, he said.
Also read: Writ petition filed against tree cutting at Suhrawardy Udyan
Bangladesh Railway, which owns much of the land in the CRB area, struck a deal in March 2020 with United Enterprise and Company (owners of United Hospital in Dhaka) to build a 500-bed hospital and 100-seat medical college on six acres of land in CRB.
The idea to build a hospital under Private Public Partnership in CRB was first broached at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on August 14, 2013.The committee's approval for such a project would have to wait seven years, till February 2020. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave her all-important approval the same month.
However, residents of the Port City got a rude shock when they came to learn about it on a signboard that appeared at the intended site some weeks ago. Nobody who came to know about it seemed to have their spirits lifted by it. Their disgruntlement was always bubbling under the surface.
Over the last week, the residents of the Port City were disgruntled seeing a signboard of the hospital that appeared at the intended site. The disagreement soon turned into a movement against the hospital planned at CRB, and kept gaining momentum.
On Friday, they held rallies, a tree plantation program, formed a human chain and even engaged in other forms of revolt all day.
A legal notice has already been sent to concerned individuals including the Cabinet Secretary, Secretary of the Ministry of Railways, Director General of Bangladesh Railways and a few others by the Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation’ on behalf of the protestors to remove the hospital site elsewhere.
Rohingya gang leader killed in Ukhiya gunfight
A Rohingya man, who allegedly led a gang of robbers, was killed on Monday in a gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) at a Kutupalong Rohingya camp in Ukhiya, an official said.
The deceased was identified as Kalimullah,32, leader of the Kalimullah group of the camp.
Also read: 20 Rohingyas who fled Bhasanchar arrested in Chattogram
The incident happened early in the morning at Lambashia camp.
Sub Commander of Rab-15 Tanvir Hasan said, the gunfight started when the Kalimullah robber group fired at the Rab members thinking they were another group of robbers.
Later Rab recovered Kalimullah’s body, two rifles and four rounds of bullets from the spot, he said.
Also read: ‘Top terrorist’ killed in Cox’s Bazar ‘gunfight’
Passengers can travel to India every day, but return on 3 days through Benapole
Despite the extension of travel ban to India through land ports till July 31, passport-holding passengers are now allowed to travel through Benapole land port every day and return on only three weekdays.
Collecting Covid-19 negative certificates and NOCs from Bangladesh High Commission in India passengers can return through the land port on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday, said the Benapole immigration authority on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the police immigration process will remain open from 8am to 3pm every day.
Also read: Benapole to allow entries from India on 3 days a week
Before the travel ban imposed nine to ten thousand passengers used to move through the Beanpole land port. This has now decreased to 60 to 70 passengers a day.
Officer-in-Charge of Benapole immigration Ahsan Habib said only the passengers who have passes issued from the Home Ministry and Bangladesh High Commission in India are moving through the port on applied conditions now.
In general travel for all passengers will not be possible yet considering the extension of border closure, he said.
India returnee passengers have to remain in a minimum of 14-day institutional quarantine in hotels of Benapole and Jashore, he added.
Sub Director of beanpole port Mamun Tarafdar said, BGB police and port security patrol the area to ensure Indian truck drivers remain within the port area.
Also read: 304 enter through Benapole after fresh regulations
Commissioner of Benapole Customs house Azizur Rahman said, export-import trade through the land port has remained normal, maintaining all the health guidelines.
75 more new cases reported amid Dengue surge
Amid the growing concern over Denuge situation in Bangladesh, authorities reported 75 more new cases in 24 hours until Monday morning.
Some 403 patients diagnosed with dengue are receiving treatment at different government and private hospitals in the country as of Monday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Of them, 398 patients are receiving treatment at different hospitals in the capital while five others outside Dhaka.
Also read: Amid Covid pandemic dengue could worsen: DGHS
Some 1,282 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January and 877 of them have been released after recovery.
Bangladesh is seeing the rise in Denuge cases when the Covid situation turned more devastating with the spread of highly contagious Delta variant.
DGHS spokesman and line director, Prof. Dr. Nazmul Islam on Sunday expressed his deep concern regarding dengue, at a regular heath bulletin on coronavirus.
Also read: 81 dengue cases reported in 24 hrs: DGHS
The situation would continue to deteriorate if those responsible for mosquito control across the country do not try their best by all means, Dr. Nazmul said.
He advised the people to be much more aware in preventing dengue.
He said, if someone has a fever, they should be tested for dengue as well as corona.
And in case of treatment, the medicine must be taken on the advice of a registered doctor. If necessary, one could take treatment by contacting the hotline number of DGHS.
A total of 1,193 dengue cases and three confirmed dengue-related deaths were reported in 2020.
According to official figures, 101,354 dengue cases and 179 deaths were recorded in Bangladesh in 2019.
Dengue fever was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000 when it claimed 93 lives. In the following three years, the fatalities almost fell to zero.
However, the mosquito-borne viral infection struck again in 2018, killing 26, and infecting 10,148 people.
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Khaleda takes 1st dose of Covid vaccine
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia took the first dose of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine on Monday.
Khaleda Zia took the vaccine shot at Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute and Hospital in the city’s Mohakhali area at 3:56pm.
Read:Khaleda receives vaccination SMS: Dr Zahid
She got an SMS to take the first dose of Covid vaccine as she got registered online through a government-approved app, ‘Surokkha’, 10 days back.
“Madam received an SMS as a formality to take the first dose of the Covid vaccine,” said her medical team member and BNP vice-chairman Dr AZM Zahid Hossain told UNB on Sunday.
On April 11, the 76-year-old BNP chief tested positive for Covid-19 and she was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
Read:Khaleda registered online for Covid vaccine: Dr Zahid
A 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital a day after her admission there.
She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus.
Read: Govt violating HR by blocking Khaleda’s treatment abroad: BNP
On June 19, Khaleda Zia got back home from the hospital after 53 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.
Covid claims 52 more lives in Khulna division 1,165 fresh cases recorded
Fifty two more people have died of Covid-19 in different districts of Khulna division in the last 24 hours until Monday morning as highly contagious Delta variant continues its onslaught across the country.
According to the health director's office, another 1,165 people tested positive during the period.
Read: 13 more die of Covid in Khulna hospitals
Of the recent deaths, 14 were recorded in Kushtia, 12 in Khulna, 11 in Jessore,5 in Meherpur, 3 in Jhenaidah, 2 each in Bagerhat, Magura and Narail and 1 in Satkhira.
Khulna has emerged as one of the hotspots of coronavirus in June and July as the number of cases and deaths has been increasing every day.
Read:Covid claims 51 more lives in Khulna division, another 1,345 infected
With the fresh numbers, the total death toll in the division has crossed 1,947, said the health officials.
Some 82,586 cases have been detected in 10 districts of the division since the onset of Covid, of which 54,405 patients have recovered so far.
KL Deemed-to-be University, India announces Counselling for Engineering and Non-engineering
VADDESWARAM, India, July 19 (UNB/AsiaNet) - KLEEE Results announced for 40,000+ students appeared for KL Deemed-to-be University's online proctored Engineering Entrance Exam 2021.
- Counselling from 19th July for Engineering, Management, Science & Humanities,
Lateral Entry and all Programs at its two Campuses in India
- USD 6 Million Scholarships for International students
KL Deemed-to-be University [https://www.kluniversity.in/], one of the leading universities in India for graduation and higher education, has announced the results of KL Engineering Entrance Exam 2021 (KLEEE-2021) and will conduct Counselling from 19th July for all undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the University.
Read: How to Pick a College or University Abroad for Higher Education in 2021
The results were presented by Dr. N.Venkatram, Incharge Vice-Chancellor, Dr. K Ramakrishna, Convenor, Admissions Committee, Dr. J Srinivasa Rao, Director, Admissions and Dr. M Kishore Babu, Dean, Management, Humanities and Sciences.
Dr. J. Srinivasa Rao mentioned that 40,000+ students from India and various countries have appeared for the entrance examinations for Engineering and other courses of management, humanities and sciences, and the institution will be giving high priority to students from International countries.
To encourage and nurture talent, KL Deemed-to-be University has announced an allocation of USD 6 Million of Scholarships for international students. "To enable a strong platform for talent coming from other countries with high potential, KL Deemed-to-be University will be offering 50% scholarships for its undergraduate and postgraduate programs that include Engineering and Non-engineering streams," said Dr. N. Venkatram.
Scholarships through exemptions in fees will be provided to the students attending the online counselling.
The details are available on https://www.kluniversity.in/IR.
About KL Deemed-to-be University
Founded in 1980 as KL College of Engineering, KL Deemed-to-be University, India brings an academic legacy of 40 years. It was accredited by NAAC with A++ grade and Category-I Institution by UGC, MHRD, Govt. of India in 2019.
Read: WURI Ranking 2021: ULAB among global top 100 innovative universities
Ranked 41st in the NIRF 2020 rankings of top Universities of India, it is situated in a spacious 100-acre campus in Vijayawada and has another world-class campus in Hyderabad. The University has collaborations with 64 foreign Universities across 16 countries providing students international exposure through internships and exchange programs. The intellectual resources include 1,200+ faculty members, with 700+ Ph.D. faculty members. The University also rejoices an impeccable placement track record of placing 20,000 students in reputed companies so far.
For more details please visit https://www.kluniversity.in.
13 more die of Covid in Khulna hospitals
Thirteen more people have died of Covid-19 at four different hospitals in Khulna in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Monday.
Twelve of them tested positive while one showed symptoms of the virus, the officials added.
Read: Covid claims 51 more lives in Khulna division, another 1,345 infected
Of them, 7 died at Khulna Corona Dedicated Hospital, three at Gazi Medical College Hospital one at the Covid unit of Khulna General Hospital and two at Shahid Sheikh Abu Naser Hospital
Khulna Corona Dedicated Hospital nodal officer Dr Suhas Ranjan Haldar said seven people have died at the hospital in the past 24 hours.
Currently, some 163 people are undergoing treatment at the hospital. Of them, 87 are being treated in the red zone, 37 in the yellow zone, 19 in the ICU and 20 in the HDU.
Read:Covid: Khulna division sees 40 more deaths in a day
Meanwhile, in the past 24 hours, 23 people have been admitted to the hospital and some 31 discharged after recovery.
Dr Gazi Mizanur Rahman, owner of the private Gazi Medical College Hospital, said15 new patients were admitted to the hospital during the period and 17 discharged.
Khulna General Hospital Corona unit spokesman Kazi Abu Rashed said 62 people are currently undergoing treatment.
Read: 19 more Covid patients die at Khulna hospitals
In the past 24 hours, 12 people have been admitted to the hospital and 15 discharged.
Dr Prakash Debnath of Shahid Sheikh Abu Naser Hospital said that four new patients were admitted during the periled and two discharged after recovery.