Bangladesh
Covid-19 Second Wave: Maleque seeks further steps against transmission
Health Minister Zahid Maleque has said that Dhaka North City Corporation kitchen market in Mohakhali will be turned into a makeshift hospital dedicated for novel coronavirus patients.
“It will have around 50 ICU beds and above 1000 Covid patients can be tretated at the hospital,” said the minister.
Moreover, three specialized public hospitals -National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology, will also open units dedicated for coronavirus patients with 100 beds each.
Also read: Bangladesh reports record number of 5,358 new daily Covid cases; 52 deaths
He came up with this information while talking to the reporters at a a meeting with the owners of private hospitals this evening.
Zahid Maleque reaffirmed that the ministry is doing everything in its power to curb the ‘dramatic’ rise in Covid-19 cases.
“Additional 2500 bed will be increased in the hospitals of the capital to treat Covid-19 patients within a very short time. Moreover, central oxygen line has been provided to 90 hospitals,” he said.
Also read: Don’t be panicked about possible second wave of Covid-19: Minister
The minister also urged people to consider Covid hospitals adjacent to Dhaka city to reduce pressure on the capitals’ hospitals.
“There are similar medical facilities in Gazipur, Manikganj and some other districts around Dhaka. Patients can be admitted to those hospitals,” he said.
The minister said that if the authorities fail to do anything about the source of the massive spread of Covid-19 cases, then it would be impossible to bring the situation under control even if they turn the entire Dhaka city into hospitals.
Also read: Vaccine drive to continue with AstraZeneca shot: Health Secretary
“People are visiting tourist destinations, attending weddings and social events without maintaining any health guidelnes. If this continues, then it will not be possible to curb the spread of Covid-19.”
The minister said the steps taken by the health authorities were effective in restricting Covid-19 in Bangladesh which resulted in lower cases in February. But people became lethargic afterwards, which was the main reason for increase in coronavirus cases.
The minister expressed his concern by saying if the situation goes beond the authorities control, then it would be very difficult to bring life back to normal.
Hathazari Hefazat-police clash: 2,500 accused in 7 cases
Seven separate cases were filed on Tuesday night over the clash between Hefazat-e-Islam activists and police at Hathazari in Chattogram.
Five days after the incident, Hathazari police filed four cases, Patia police filed one and Hathazari land office filed two.
The cases accused 2,500 people, none of them named, for attack on police station, vandalism of land office, arson, obstruction of police work and assaulting on-duty policemen.
Also read: Four killed in clashes with cops in Chattogram
Hathazari circle ASP Mosiudoula Reza said they would identify the suspects through investigation.
Hathazari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ruhul Amin said, “Students of the madrasa have caused irreparable damage to the people of Hathazari by setting fire to the land office.”
Hefazat activists protested against the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh on March 26. They also attacked Hathazari Police Station and vandalised it.
Also read: Hefazat’s day-long hartal ends amid violence, clashes
Five people, including several Hefazat activists, were killed when police opened fire.
Later, the protesters set fire to the Hathazari Upazila Land Office and two cars.
Rohingya relocation: 1,716 more going to Bhasan Char in 6th phase
More Rohingyas are being relocated to the Bhasan Char island in the sixth phase.
On the second day of the sixth phase, more than 1,700 Rohingyas were taken to Chattogram from the camps in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday.
Cox's Bazar Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Shamsuddauja Nayan said that 1,716 Rohingya men, women and children left for Chittagong on 25 buses in the morning and at noon.
Also read: Don’t worry about Rohingya relocation to Bhasan Char: Dhaka to UNHCR
Rohingyas willing to go to Bhasan Char were brought to the temporary transit point at Ukhiya Degree College ground and given necessary items including food, water and medicine.
They would be taken to Noakhali’s Bhasan Char from Chattogram’s Patenga under the Navy’s management.
Also read: Don't undermine, misinterpret genuine efforts: Dhaka on Rohingya relocation
Earlier, on March 30, the first day of the sixth phase, 2,495 Rohingyas reached Chattogram for Bhasan Char.
In five previous phases, over 14,000 Rohingyas were shifted to Bhasan Char from the camps in Cox's Bazar.
Transport connectivity: Bimstec master plan ready for approval
The special session of Bimstec Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) Wednesday endorsed the "BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity" for approval and adoption by the 17th Bimstec Ministerial Meeting and Fifth Bimstec Summit.
The Fifth Bimstec Summit is expected to be held in Sri Lanka's Colombo this year.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen virtually took part in the SOM held in Colombo.
He led a four-member Bangladesh delegation of Additional Foreign Secretary Md Shamsul Haque (Saarc and Bimstec) and other officers.
Also read: Bimstec SG lauds Bangladesh’s socioeconomic development
The foreign secretaries and senior officials of all the seven Bimstec member states joined the meeting, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
13,931 Bangladeshis legally hold dual citizenships, passports
A list of 13,931 Bangladeshis, legally holding dual passports and citizenships, was submitted to the office of the Attorney General on Wednesday.
The Special Branch Police Superintendent (Immigration) submitted the list in the afternoon.
On December 21 last year, a High Court bench sought the list of Bangladeshis holding dual citizenships, who have built or bought houses abroad and those who frequently use the three international airports.
Also read: High Court asks for list of Bangladeshi ‘money launderers’ with dual citizenship
On November 22, the HC sought all kind of details of the money launderers after a newspaper report was presented before the court.
The report quoted Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen as saying that the government service holders have laundered a huge amount of money.
Also read: Bangladesh enters e-Passport era
Many government service holders even have houses in foreign countries and their children live abroad, the minister said.
“I have seen 28 cases and among them only four are politicians,” FM said.
Leaders Summit on Climate: Kerry due Apr 9 to invite PM Hasina
John Kerry, the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on April 9 on a daylong visit during which Bangladesh will convey its priority issues to him on the climate front.
“Yes, we’re happy that he’s coming. We worked with him before, too,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told UNB on Wednesday.
Kerry will hand over the invitation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in person to attend the "Leaders Summit on Climate" to be held on April 22 and 23, Dr Momen said.
US President Joe Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Prime Minister Hasina, to the summit that he will host. The virtual summit will be live-streamed for public viewing.
The “Leaders Summit on Climate” will underscore the urgency – and the economic benefits – of stronger climate action. It will be a key milestone on the road to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) this November in Glasgow.
“We’ll be happy to convey our priority issues. We’ll also share the steps that Bangladesh has taken so far,” Dr Momen said.
Also read: Strict implementation of Paris deal only way forward for sustainable future: Dhaka
He said Bangladesh believes that adaptation is not enough and there has to be mitigation and Bangladesh needs support as promised by others. “It should be Kerry’s special target.”
Dr Momen said Bangladesh did not create the problem and those responsible countries should share responsibility of rehabilitating and protecting people from the river erosions.
During his recent meeting with Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry, the foreign minister discussed the global issue of climate change, and the possible US-Bangladesh collaboration in this connection.
The Foreign Minister recollected the vital contribution of Kerry towards the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and welcomed the decision of the US to return to the Paris Agreement.
He described various actions taken by the Government of Bangladesh under the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Hasina on mitigation, adaptation and resilience.
Dr Momen also briefed John Kerry on all current and future activities of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) regional office in Dhaka.
Also read: John Kerry chosen as Biden’s climate tsar
Kerry recognised the extraordinary challenges faced by Bangladesh due to climate change and frequent natural disasters.
Agreeing that the international financial institutions could do more for the issue of climate change, he also opined that displacement due to climate change would be a vital security issue for everybody.
They agreed to work closely in the COP26 and other multilateral platforms in order to fulfil commitments under the Paris climate agreement and even go beyond Paris.
President Biden took action on his first day in office to return the US to the Paris Agreement.
Days later, on January 27, he announced that he would soon convene a leaders’ summit to galvanise efforts by the major economies to tackle the climate crisis.
2,000 students receive ‘Muktijoddha Scholarship’
This year, 2,000 students, heirs of Freedom Fighters, will receive scholarships under the ‘Muktijoddha Scholarship Scheme’ which was initiated by the government of India in 2006 for the descendants of Freedom Fighters.
A total of 1,000 students from each HSC and UG level have been selected for scholarship.
The Ministry of Liberation of War Affairs extended their immense support to identify the students from all corners of Bangladesh. The scholarship amount will be credited directly to the bank account of the students through Direct Bank Transfer (DBT).
From today onward, State Bank of India, Gulshan branch will start transferring the scholarship amount directly.
Also read: Scholarship activities to be digitalised: Dipu Moni
Each year, the Indian government awards scholarships to descendants of Freedom Fighters to commemorate the invaluable contribution of Freedom Fighters towards the Liberation of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh and India have a unique historical legacy and the relationship is deeply rooted in a shared culture, heritage, history and geography, said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Wednesday.
It said India attaches the highest importance to its friendship with Bangladesh and is committed to work to support the national efforts of Bangladesh for the betterment of their own people.
The award of these scholarships, even during the Covid-19 Pandemic, is in furtherance to the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh.
Also read: New scholarship for Bangladeshi teachers announced by US embassy
It exemplifies the abiding commitment of the government and people of India towards friendship with their brethren in Bangladesh, said the High Commission.
Originally, scholarships were awarded to Higher Secondary and Undergraduate level students. Undergraduate students were awarded Tk 24,000 per year for four years and Higher secondary students were awarded Tk 10,000 per year for two years.
The new scheme launched during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in April 2017 was to benefit 10,000 students from Bangladesh over a period of five years.
An amount of Tk 20,000 is to be given to Higher Secondary and Tk 50,000 to Undergraduate category students, who are direct descendants of Muktijoddhas, under the new scheme.
Also read: 20 Bangladeshis selected for Australia Awards Scholarships
The government of India has sanctioned an amount of Tk 35 crore for both schemes combined together.
As of now, 17,082 students have benefited under this Muktijoddha Scholarship Scheme, and an amount of Tk 37.99 crore has been utilised for this purpose.
No uncertainty over receiving vaccine doses: Finance Minister
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has ruled out any uncertainty over receiving vaccine doses from the Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd.
“We’ve already paid for the vaccine. So... we’ll get it,” he told reporters while briefing virtually on the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on Wednesday.
Also read: Vaccine drive to continue with AstraZeneca shot: Health Secretary
He informed that the second dose of vaccine will be administered in time.
He also said that the health minister had also attended the purchase body meeting and did not express any apprehension over uncertainty about receiving the vaccine doses.
Also read: Virus variants, vaccine inequity responsible for rising Covid caseload: WHO
Mustafa Kamal also turned down the idea of going for lockdown to contain coronavirus transmission. He said there will be no need for any such measures as the vaccination programme has been continuing.
“Once vaccination is completed, the situation will improve,” he said. “The countries, which are running the vaccination programme, are witnessing a fall in infection.”
Also read: Modi to bring 12 lakh more vaccine doses as gift for Bangladesh
Responding to a question on World Bank’s economic growth projection at 3.6 percent, the Finance Minister said the donor agency makes such projection on quarterly basis and the government does it annually.
Parliament body for waiving import duty of sports items
A relevant parliamentary committee on Wednesday recommended the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to take necessary steps for waiving import duty of sports items.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Youth and Sports Ministry made the recommendation in its 13th meeting in order to promote sports in the country.
The meeting was held with committee chairman Abdullah Al Islam Jakob at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, said a handout of the parliament.
Also read: Cabinet purchase body nods import of 50,000MT rice
Suggestions were made to construct 178 Upazila Youth Training and Entertainment Centres in the first phase as part of the establishment of a centre in every upazila in line with the government’s electoral manifesto.
It also recommended the ministry to send a development project proforma (DPP) over construction of some buildings, including an administrative building of the Directorate of Sports on the campus of Physical Education College in the city’s Mohammadpur area and academic building of the college, to the Planning Ministry.
Also read: Purchase body okays 6 proposals including import of LNG, rice
The parliamentary committee asked for sending a letter to the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry for handing over its land to Sheikh Hasina National Youth Development Institute for construction of its structures to implement the plans of the institute.
Committee members Mahabub Ara Begum Gini (Gaibandha-2), Abdus Salam Murshedi (Khulna-4), Jewel Areng (Mymensingh-1), AM Naimur Rahman (Manikganj-1) and Zakia Tabassum attended the meeting.
Hefazat attack instigators won’t be spread: IGP
Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed on Wednesday said that people who are behind the violence unleashed by Hefazat-e-Islam would be brought to book.
The IGP made the remarks at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in the afternoon while visiting police members injured in clashes with Hefazat in Chattogram and Brahmanbaria.
Hefazat’s top brass was not sued as they were not present on the spot of during the clashes and sabotage, Benazir said.
Also read: Hefazat announces ‘doa mahfil' for Monday, 'demonstration' on April 2
“But action will be taken against them if they’re found involved with the clashes and violence,” he said. “Those who launched the attack were named in the cases but [our] investigation will also reveal the names of instigators.”
“Their barbaric attack was an attempt to tarnish the golden jubilee celebration of country’s independence,” he said.
Also read: Hefazat’s day-long hartal ends amid violence, clashes
On Sunday, six separate cases were filed against 3,000 people over sabotage on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Narayanganj during Hefazat’s daylong hartal.
Siddhirganj police have filed five cases and the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) another.
Also read: Hefazat’s hartal underway; Dhaka-Chattorgam highway blocked
Clashes, vandalism, arson attacks and road blockades at different parts of the country were reported during the hardline Islamist group’s daylong hartal on Sunday.
Hefazat called for the shutdown demanding punishment of policemen involved in shooting incidents in Chattogram and Brahmanbaria during their anti-Modi protests that left at least nine people dead, including several Hefazat activists.