Bangladesh
Rohingya relocation: 2,495 going to Bhasan Char in 6th phase
About 2,500 Rohingyas are being relocated from the camps in Cox’s Bazar to Bhasan Char island in the 6th phase.
Cox's Bazar Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Shah Rezwan Hayat said 47 buses carrying the Rohingyas have reached Chattogram.
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.
Rohingya Majhis (leaders) said many forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals are now willing to move to Bhasan Char after learning about the facilities and quality of life there.
Also read: Rohingya relocation: 1,778 more heading towards Bhasan Char
Cox's Bazar Additional RRRC Shamsuddoza Nayan said the Rohingyas would be taken to Bhasan Char from Patenga under the Navy’s management on Wednesday.
In five phases, over 14,000 Rohingyas were shifted to Bhasan Char.
Bangladesh is currently hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in camps in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char. Most of them came here since August 25, 2017 when the Myanmar military launched a brutal offensive targeting the mainly-Muslim ethnic minority.
Where is Bhasan Char?
It surfaced 20 years ago 34 kilometres off the mainland and was never inhabited.
Bangladesh spent millions of dollars to develop Bhasan Char and plans to relocate 100,000 Rohingyas there in phases in the face of growing concerns over the extreme congestion in Cox’s Bazar camps and to avert any untoward incident.
Also read: Don’t worry about Rohingya relocation to Bhasan Char: Dhaka to UNHCR
Contractors say the island’s infrastructure is like a modern township. A police station was also set up there recently.
Who are the Rohingyas?
The Rohingyas are one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.
Members of this ethnic minority are denied citizenship by Myanmar and many are forced to live in squalid camps in apartheid-like condition. State-sponsored discrimination against the Rohingyas stretches decades back.
Also read: Don't undermine, misinterpret genuine efforts: Dhaka on Rohingya relocation
Rohingya crisis and Bangladesh
Bangladesh has long been urging the global community to take effective steps to put pressure on Myanmar to create a congenial atmosphere for Rohingya repatriation but there has been little progress so far.
The presence of the huge number of Rohingya refugees in the coastal district has put them on a collision course with the locals. Many Rohingyas have allegedly got involved in various criminal activities.
Humaira Azam to be first female MD of private bank
Humaira Azam is set to become the first female managing director of a private bank in Bangladesh when she assumes the role of Trust Bank Limited.
She is currently serving as the Additional Managing Director (AMD) at the bank.
Banking industry sources said the Trust Bank board of directors in a meeting on Monday selected Humaira for the post of MD and forwarded a proposal to the central bank in this regard.
Read Nine public sector banks hold 27 percent assets, deposits in banking sector
The appointment will be made after getting approval from the Bangladesh Bank.
Humaira served as the first female MD in the IPDC Finance, a private financial institution.
The Dhaka University International Relations graduate started her banking career in 1990 as a trainee officer at ANZ Grindlays Bank.
In her long career, she served different foreign and local banks and financial institutions in various capacities.
Read Banks can declare the highest 30% dividend.
Humaira joined HSBC Bangladesh in 1996 and switched to Standard Chartered Bank in 2002. In April 2009, she took over as the MD of the financial institution IPDC where she turned the organization into a profitable one.
She joined Bank Asia in January 2012 as the Chief Risk Management Officer. In March 2016, she took over as the Chief Risk Management Officer and Additional MD at the Trust Bank.
Earlier, Prabasikalyan Bank got the first woman MD in the state-owned banking sector.
Read Legendary Women in Bangladesh with Pioneering Contribution in Diverse Fields.
Pak scholar wants their govt to apologise to Bangladesh
Internationally renowned scholar from Pakistan Husain Haqqani has said the people of Pakistan should urge their government to offer a formal apology to the people of Bangladesh for all the atrocities that were committed in 1971.
“To this day, no apology has been forthcoming.... an apology is the most courteous thing ...," he said who served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States from 2008 to 2011.
Referring to the general elections of 1970 in the then Pakistan and the Pakistan military, Haqqani, now living in the United States, said the military’s reaction in the form of imprisoning Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and initiating genocide against the Bengalis.
He made the remarks in a virtual talk on ‘‘Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: An Iconic Leader of People’s Struggle for Freedom’’ organised by the Embassy of Bangladesh to Belgium and Luxembourg, and Mission to the European Union in Brussels on Monday.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen joined the event as chief guest while Bangladesh Ambassador in Brussels, Mahbub Hassan Saleh, moderated the event.
Ambassador Husain Haqqani, currently a Senior Fellow and Director for South and Central Asia at Hudson Institute, a top think tank in Washington, D.C., United States, said Bangabandhu is not only the greatest Bengali of all time, he is one of the greatest leaders emerging out of South Asia.
He also said Bangabandhu is a great leader in the history of the world, and an iconic figure of struggle for freedom that the world has seen throughout the 20th century.
Digital Healthcare: Over 450,000 women get treatment costs
Digital Healthcare Solutions has recently celebrated the International Women’s Day by supporting over 450,000 women in Bangladesh with maternity free health cashback, access to doctors and specialists.
Since its inception, DH has been relentlessly working to mitigate the gap between rich and poor, rural and urban people in the health sector of Bangladesh, said a press release.
Women are largely marginalized in the society compared to men in cases of accessing the basic needs such as healthcare while DH through its innovative and affordable services providing them healthcare.
The women can also get both general practitioner and specialist consultations by just making a call.
Through various campaigns and projects, DH has registered over 450,000 women under various health plans and packages which provide free consultations and free health cashback to its members along with their families.
In the last few months alone, DH has also provided over 1300 consultation with general practitioners for free along with over 1100 consultations with specialists including gynecologists and pediatricians.
This year, in an effort to acknowledge the achievements of the women of DH, the management of DH conducted a virtual session with all the female employees on 8th March.
In an effort to ensure that the female employees of DH are comfortable and happy and based on this year’s theme ‘Choose to Challenge’, DH also conducted a virtual session with them on 1st March where they discussed about the challenges they face and proposed various innovative solutions.
Dr Sharmin Zahan, head of ecosystem and business development said, “We are determined to use our privilege in making digital health accessible for all, particularly for the women and their families as COVID-19 pandemic has flashed light on the inequality across the health and other areas.”
Dr Tanhar Islam, Manager of clinical team said “I'm proud to be a part of DH family where I can flourish myself without facing any negative force and doing something meaningful for the society as well.”
More details about DH can be availed by calling 08 000 111 000 or visiting its website - dh.health
DMP bans firearms, agitations in Jatiya Sangsad area
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has banned carrying firearms and holding rallies, processions or agitation in and around Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban ahead of the 12th session of the 11th parliament, scheduled to begin April 1.
The DMP’s restrictions will be effective from 12am on Wednesday night, police said in a press release on Tuesday.
DMP said the ban would be in force until the end of the session.
The restrictions have been imposed to maintain law and order in and around the parliament area to ensure undisrupted holding of the coming session.
The restricted areas are Mohakhali crossing of Mymensingh Road to Bangla Motor crossing via Old Airport Road, the western part of Bangla Motor Link Road to Saarc Fountain at Sonargaon crossing, the eastern part of Panthapath to Farmgate via Green Road Link Road, Shyamoli crossing to Dhanmondi 16 (old 27) Link Road on Mirpur Road, Rokeya Sarani Link Road to Bijoy Sarani Parjatan crossing via old 9th division (airplane) crossing, the eastern part of Indira Road to Manik Mia Avenue's western part, and restricted parts of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and all the roads and lanes in the area.
2 cases filed over Chattogram BNP, police clash
Police on Tuesday filed two cases over Monday’s clash between BNP activists and the law enforcers at Kazir Deuri area of Chattogram City.
One of the cases was filed under the Special Powers Act and the other under the Explosive Substances Act at Kotwali Police Station, said Officer-in-Charge Nizam Uddin.
Also Read: 20 injured as BNP, cops clash in Chattogram
Police accused 57 BNP leaders and activists, including divisional Organising Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Shamim and President of Chattogram City unit Dr Shahadat Hossain, in the two cases. Sixty other anonymous suspects were also accused, he said.
On Monday, at least 20 people, including policemen, were injured in a clash between BNP activists and law enforcers at Kazir Deuri.
The clash broke out around 4pm and lasted for an hour.
Also Read: BNP activists clash with police in city
BNP activists torched several vehicles near Nasiman Bhaban. Police fired several shots to control the situation.
BNP Office Secretary Idris Ali on Monday said BNP activists were preparing for a peaceful rally and accused police of obstructing them and firing at them as they tried to reach BNP office.
Fifteen BNP activists were injured in the firing and 50 others were wounded during police action, he claimed.
OC Nizam accused BNP activists of attacking police with brick chips when the law enforcers asked them to hold their rally in a safe place instead of the road.
Police detained BNP leader Shahadat after the clashes.
BNP was holding the rally demanding punishment to policemen involved in shooting incidents in Chattogram and Brahmanbaria during anti-Modi protests that left at least nine people dead, including several Hefazat-e-Islam activists.
Asia, Pacific must avoid K-shaped recovery: UN report
The Asia-Pacific region needs large, yet attainable, investments in resilience to protect development gains amid a fragile and inequitable post-COVID-19 economic recovery, says a report released on Tuesday.
The report was released by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok.
Also Read: ADB forecasts developing Asian economies in recession
The Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2021: Towards post-COVID-19 resilient economies forecasts that, on average, developing Asia-Pacific economies are expected to grow by 5.9 per cent in 2021 and 5 per cent in 2022, after having experienced an estimated contraction of 1 per cent in 2020.
Despite a reasonably strong rebound expected in 2021, a “K-shaped recovery” is likely, with poorer countries and more vulnerable groups marginalized in the post-pandemic recovery and transition period.
The Survey estimates that because of the pandemic, an additional 89 million people in the region could have been pushed back into extreme poverty in 2020 at the $1.90 per day threshold, erasing years of progress in poverty reduction.
Working-hour losses in 2020 equaled 140 million full-time jobs, while severe disruptions of economic activity and education are likely to have caused a significant setback to human capital accumulation and productivity in the region.
For a more robust and inclusive recovery, the Survey calls for a more synchronized COVID-19 vaccination programme across countries and highlights opportunities to leverage regional cooperation.
At the same time, it recommends that fiscal and monetary support should be sustained, as premature tightening could increase long-term scars.
“COVID-19 is a shock like no other and it requires a response like no other,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP.
“The time is now for the Asia-Pacific region to seize this opportunity to speed up and make its transition towards more resilient, equitable, and green development the centerpiece of the post-pandemic economic recovery.”
Looking beyond the pandemic, the Survey examines the broader risk landscape facing Asia-Pacific countries, including epidemics, natural disasters and financial crises.
It finds that adverse shocks, both economic and non-economic, result in permanent economic, social and environmental losses, and advises countries to take a more comprehensive approach to building resilience against future shocks.
Specifically, the Survey proposes a “build forward better” policy package for resilient post-COVID-19 economies that aims to ensure universal access to healthcare and social protection, close the digital divide and strengthen climate and clean energy actions.
It estimates that the package would reduce the number of people living in poverty in the region by almost 180 million people and cut carbon emissions by about 30 per cent in the long run.
Notably, the package would result in a modest fiscal and debt burden if accompanied by bold policy actions, such as ending fossil fuel subsidies and introducing a carbon tax.
Among other potential financing solutions, the Survey also recommends debt swaps-for-development initiatives for countries with special needs and those with limited fiscal space.
It also calls for international assistance to least developed countries burdened with significant “resilience gaps.”
For his part, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has recommended in a policy brief on Preventing Debt Crises In the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond: The Time to Act is Now, that countries address immediate liquidity constraints; debt overhangs and creating space for investment in crisis response, the Sustainable Development Goals and climate action; and reformation of the international debt architecture.
In conclusion, the Survey recommends that countries in the region should respond aggressively to adverse shocks to minimize the reversal of hard-won development gains. Swift and robust policy responses are needed to safeguard sustainable development in crisis times, and risk management must become central to development planning and policymaking.
Produced annually since 1947, the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific is the oldest United Nations report on the region’s progress.
The Survey provides analyses to guide policy discussion on the current and emerging socio-economic issues and policy challenges to support inclusive and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.
Covid-19: Bangladesh records 5000+ cases for 2nd consecutive day
Bangladesh on Tuesday recorded over 5,000 new coronavirus cases for the second straight day, signalling a tough fight ahead for the country as people are still reluctant about following basic health guidelines.
With 5,042 new cases in a 24-hour period until morning, the caseload rose to 605,937, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Meanwhile, the coronavirus fatalities climbed to 8,994 with 45 more deaths recorded until morning.
Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and the first death on the 18th of that month.
The DGHS said the infection rate jumped to 18.94 percent from 18.38 percent on Monday when Bangladesh recorded its highest-ever single day case count (5,181).
During the 24-hour period, 2,162 coronavirus patients recovered, taking the total number of recovered patients to 540,180.
The government has ramped up testing, intensified vaccination campaign and efforts to ensure that the people properly follow health guidelines and hygiene rules.
So far, 4,643,645 samples have been tested – including 26,620 in the last 24 hours, the DGHS said.
Dhaka sees highest Covid deaths
The mortality rate slipped slightly to 1.48 percent on Tuesday.
Among the deceased, 37 people died in Dhaka division, three in Chattogram, two in Rajshahi, two in Khulna and one in Sylhet.
So far, 5,118 coronavirus patients died in Dhaka division, 1,631 in Chattogram, 501 in Rajshahi, 579 in Khulna, 273 in Barishal, 318 in Sylhet, 373 in Rangpur and 201 in Mymensingh.
14-day institutional quarantine mandatory for travellers from European countries: CAAB
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) on Tuesday made 14-day institutional quarantine mandatory for travelers from European countries including the United Kingdom.
The CAAB issued a circular in this regard which will be effective from Wednesday (March 31, 2021).
As per the circular, on arrival in Bangladesh, all passengers returning from any European country including the UK will have to complete 14-day institutional quarantine at government facilities or government-approved hotels at passengers’ own expenses.
Also read: Now restrictions lifted on domestic flights: CAAB
Upon completion of the quarantine period, the Covid-19 PCR test will be carried out and the passenger will be released if the test result is negative.
Besides, passengers traveling from other countries except Europe and UK have to strictly complete a 14-day home quarantine if no covid-19 symptoms are found on arrival health check in Bangladesh.
But if any Covid-19 symptoms are detected he/she have to complete 14-day institutional quarantine at government facilities or government-approved hotels at his/her own expenses.
Also read: Migrant workers’ protests: CAAB permits operation of more Saudi Airlines flights
Irrespective of the Covid-19 vaccination, all passengers coming to Bangladesh shall mandatorily possess and show PCR based Covid-19 negative certificate during departure from origin or arrival at the airport.
The PCR test shall be done within 72 hours of the flight departure time.
Chattogram Civil surgeon tests positive for Covid-19
Civil surgeon of Chattogram Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi has tested positive for Covid-19, said senior consultant of Chattogram General Hospital Dr Md Abdur Rob.
“Dr Rabbi gave his sample for test on Monday and the report came positive at night. He will say in a 14-day home quarantine,” he said.
Dr Rob said Dr Fazle Rabbi received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine on February 7.
The country’s coronavirus caseload swelled to 600,895 on Monday after the health authorities recorded 5,181 new cases in 24 hours until the morning.
Also read: DGHS DG Khurshid Alam tests Covid-19 positive
Along with the high number of cases, 45 coronavirus-related deaths were also recorded, pushing the death tally to 8,949, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said in a handout.
The latest cases were reported after testing 28,195 samples.
Also read: BNP leader Ruhul Amin Chowdhury dies of Covid-19
The infection rate jumped to 18.38 percent on Monday from 17.65 percent on Sunday.
However, the death rate stands at 1.49 percent.
During this 24-hour period, 2,077 coronavirus patients recovered. So far, 538,018 patients have made recoveries.
Also read: Bangladesh’s Covid-19 tally crosses 6 lakh
Twenty-eight people died in Dhaka Division, six in Chattogram, five in Rajshahi, three in Khulna and one each in Barishal, Mymensingh and Rangpur.
So far, 5,081 people died in Dhaka division, 1,628 in Chattogram, 499 in Rajshahi, 577 in Khulna, 273 in Barishal, 317 in Sylhet, 373 in Rangpur and 201 in Mymensingh.
Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8, 2020 and the first death on March 18 the same year.