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Death toll from Barishal trawler capsize rises to 5
The death toll from the trawler capsize in the Gazaria river of Barishal district rose to five, with the recovery of two more bodies on Sunday.
The deceased were identified as Mala Begum, 38 and Yeamin, 5.
Local people spotted the floating bodies of Mala and Yeamin, three kilometers off the accident spot around 9 am and informed police who recovered the bodies later, said Touhid Zaman, officer-in-charge of Mehendiganj Police Station.
READ: Two drown, 3 missing as ferry sinks off Barishal coast
Earlier, on Saturday, police recovered the body of a child.
On Friday, Coast Guard members recovered the bodies of two people from the river.
Five people went missing when the passenger trawler with nine people on board sank in the river off the coast of Mehendiganj upazila due to strong current while heading towards Dabirchar Khajuria from Majherchar on Wednesday.
Barishal University student gets job at Google
A student of the University Barishal (BU) has recently been offered a job at Google, American company that is most commonly known as a search engine.
Abu Sayem Sefatullah, a Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department student at BU of 2015-16 sessions, received a job offer for the post of software engineer at Google, said Assistant Professor of the department Md Mostafizur Rahman.
He took to social media for congratulating Sayem on his success. In his post, the Md Mostafizur said it was a great achievement for both the university and the department.
“Sayem had earlier represented the university in International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) and National Collegiate Programming Contest (NCPC) through Team ‘Robotrush’. I am proud to be the official coach of this team in 2017-2020. Congratulations and best wishes for him. I hope other students of BU will follow his path,” said the post.
Talking to UNB, Abu Sayem said that all those who study at CSE want to get a job in tech company like Google. “I also had the same dream. I used to participate in programming contests since I was a first-year student.”
READ: Lawsuit: Google, Facebook CEOs colluded in online ad sales
“When I was in the 7th semester, I got an offer from Singapore. But I waited for an offer from Google which was my major target,” he said.
Google's interview process is long and difficult, he said adding that his interview started in November last year.
“After going through many rounds and processes for months, I finally got the offer yesterday,” Sayem added.
Global Covid cases top 498 million
The overall number of Covid cases has surpassed 498 million amid a rise in new infections in parts of the world.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 498,154,313 while the death toll from the virus reached 6,176,420 Sunday morning.
The US has recorded 80,399,474 cases so far and 985,482 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows.
India's Covid-19 tally rose to 43,035,271 on Saturday, with 2,204 new cases registered in 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry's latest data.
Besides, 122 deaths due to the pandemic reported since Friday morning took the total death toll to 521,695.
READ: Global Covid cases top 497 million
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh logged 28 fresh Covid cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning, taking the total caseload to 19,52,023.
As per the latest government data, the country’s total fatalities remained static at 29,123 as no death was reported during the period for the 5th consecutive day.
The daily positivity rate slightly decreased to 0.62 per cent from Friday's 0.77 per cent after testing 4,491 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
On Friday, the number of infections was higher as 48 new cases were reported with no death.
Besides, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent.
The recovery rate rose to 96.72 per cent with the recovery of 610 more patients during the 24-hour period.
In March, the country reported 85 Covid-linked deaths and 8,000 new cases while 66,639 patients recovered from the disease, according to DGHS.
Among the 85 deaths during the period, 44 were unvaccinated patients, 11 were vaccinated with the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, 28 with the second dose and two with the third dose.
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.
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest daily positivity rate at 33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths.
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.
We are proud of our religious harmony: Dipu Moni
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni has said Bangladeshis are proud of their religious and social harmony.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working relentlessly to take that harmonious Bangladesh forward. It’s unfortunate but true, that a certain quarter is always trying to circulate communal hatred and destroy peace.
The minister made the remarks while responding to reporters after a seminar titled 'Future of Education in Bangladesh Perspective' at the seminar room of the Computer Engineering Department of Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB) on Saturday afternoon.
Religion plays a big role in everyone's life and it is a personal matter, Dipu Moni said.
Bangabandhu has ensured freedom of religion and the practice of religion in our constitution. In the same way, we have to move forward with science and technology, she added.
Earlier in the seminar, the minister said, " We will not interfere in anyone's religion. We have to be respectful of religion and move forward with knowledge, science and technology”.
Hridoy Chandra Mandal, a science teacher at Binodpur Ramkumar High School in Munshiganj, was sent to jail on charges of insulting religion.
Dipu Moni said that a teacher should not be harassed for teaching his subject. The way he/she teaches can be investigated. If there are any allegations against someone, they can be investigated. But the whole incident seemed very sad to me, the minister added.
Earlier, Eminent writer Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal said he couldn’t believe the arrest of the teacher for answering a question raised in the classroom logically.
Dr Zafar Iqbal said, "We have to teach our children science with utmost care for the sake of the development of our country because development is impossible without science. Science teacher Hriday Mondol has been made the scapegoat of communal people for doing his duty of teaching science."
"All the people who believe in science will believe the words of Hriday Mondol and will admit it as truth and that he cannot be arrested for it," he added.
Commerce Ministry to launch real time app for monitoring prices
The Commerce Ministry has decided to launch a real time app for monitoring import, production, and marketing of essential commodities to keep their prices stable.
AHM Shafiquzzaman, Director General of Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection (DNCRP) and additional secretary of the Commerce Ministry announced the decision at a seminar on monitoring market and prices during Ramadan at Chattogram.
Read: Khalid inaugurates pilot launch service in Gaibandha
He said the government is strictly monitoring all levels aiming to keep the supply normal and prices stable. “Monitoring at mill level has also been strengthened,” he added.
The DNCRP DG said if the Chattogram port and Khatunganj wholesale market work normally no problem should arise regarding supply and prices of goods.
The business representatives at the meeting said that the government should keep the supply chain from millers to wholesale and retail level uninterrupted to keep the supply of goods, stocks and prices normal, market monitoring should be continued, price list of sale and purchase should be displayed in every store, transportation of goods should be kept uninterrupted.
Read: Ashtami Snan triggers 17- km tailback on Dhaka-Chattogram highway
They said necessary steps like removal of 13 tons obligation on Dhaka-Chattogram highway, adjustment of tariff in case of increase in price of goods in international market, adjustment in case of increase in value of dollar, removal of complication in issuing of Import Permit (IP), no excessive penalty for mistake in will also have to be taken including rational determination of dividends at import, miller, wholesale and retail level.
Khalid inaugurates pilot launch service in Gaibandha
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury inaugurated an experimental launch service from Balasighat in Gaibandha to Bahadurabadghat in Jamalpur on Saturday afternoon.If the pilot launch service becomes successful, ferries will be arranged for the transportation of goods and vehicles.The state minister said this while addressing a function at Balasi seaport on the occasion of the inauguration of the pilot launch service between Balasi and Bahadurabad.
Also read: Smoke in Barishal-bound launch creates panic among passengers The government has taken the initiative to dig 10,000 kilometers of waterways. In the meantime, 7,000 km of waterways have been excavated, said the junior minister.
Couldn’t believe a teacher got arrested for giving rational answer in class: Zafar Iqbal
Eminent writer Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal said he couldn’t believe the arrest of science teacher Hriday Mondol in Munshiganj for answering a question raised in the classroom logically.
The former professor of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) said this in a human chain rally held in front of National Museum around 5 pm on Saturday protesting the arrest of Hriday Mondol.
Demanding the release of Hriday Mondol, he said, “I couldn’t believe that a teacher has been arrested by the government for giving the most rational answer to a question of his student.”
Also read: Amnesty demands immediate release of school teacher Hriday
Nipironer Biruddhe Shahabag, a human rights organisation, formed the human chain protesting arrest of Hriday Chandra Mondol, a science teacher who was arrested on charges of “hurting religious sentiment” after he discussed in the classroom the distinction between religion and science
Dr Zafar Iqbal said, "We have to teach our children science with utmost care for the sake of the development of our country because development is impossible without science. Science teacher Hriday Mondol has been made the scapegoat of communal people for doing his duty of teaching science."
Bashundhara Bitumen to be used in Dhaka Elevated Expressway
Bashundhara Group will supply bitumen for the construction of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway.
The elevated expressway will connect Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with Kutubkhali via Mohakhali, Tejgaon and Kamalapur of Dhaka.
Bashundhara Oil and Gas Company signed a deal with the joint venture company Shandong Hi-Speed Road and Bridge (SDRB) and Sinohydro in the capital Saturday.
Read: Elevated expressway to be partially opened next year: Quader
SDRB-Sinohydro JV Deputy General Manager Lyu Jin said the company is taking Bashundhara Bitumen as the authorities already used Bashundhara Cement in the project.
Bashundhara produces 60-70 penetration grade bitumen, which is effective for use in national highways, internal roads, and bridges. Also, it is made for all kinds of conditions in all kinds of weather, according to a media statement.
The business conglomerate launched the country's first bitumen plant in the private sector in February 2020 to cater to the growing demand in the domestic market.
Four divisions, Cumilla region brace for showers
Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely at few places in Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka & Sylhet divisions and the region of Cumilla in next 24 hours according to the Met Office.
Apart from that, weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, said a weather bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) commencing 6 pm on Saturday.
Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country during the period.
Read: Six divisions likely to see rain, thundershowers
In an extended outlook for the next few days the forecast warned of an increase in rain or thunder showers activity.
For the synoptic situation, BMD said, a trough of low lies over West Bengal and adjoining area while seasonal low lies over South Bay.
Rehman Sobhan's ‘Untranquil Recollections: Political Economy of Nation Building in post-Liberation Bangladesh’ launched
Professor Rehman Sobhan’s second volume of memoirs titled “Untranquil Recollections: Political Economy of Nation Building in Post-Liberation Bangladesh” was launched on Saturday.
Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and the University Press Limited (UPL) jointly organised a publication ceremony on the occasion.
Professor Sobhan said in the function that the key challenge was putting policies into practice.
He recalled some of his practical experiences involving obstacles that he and the Planning Commission faced, and how Bangabandhu guided them and provided them with political support, and also how some in the bureaucracy often put roadblocks on the way.
He stated that Bangabandhu was the architect of the policies in the newly emerged country, and they tried to implement his directives.
Professor Sobhan also said the new generation needs to understand what Bangladesh was like back then and what the philosophies and values were in that period.
He said that he tried to capture reality as objectively as possible in his book.
Professor Rounaq Jahan, Distinguished Fellow, CPD, moderated the launching event.
Dr Kamal Hossain, Former Law and Foreign Minister, joined the event as the Special Guest.
Congratulating Professor Rehman Sobhan on the occasion, Dr Kamal Hossain said that the memoir does not limit itself to economic dimensions only, rather it also reflects on the political challenges in building a war-ravaged economy.
Read: 'Secret Documents' on Bangabandhu: International editions launched at London Book Fair
M Syeduzzaman, Former Finance Minister and Planning Secretary and Member, CPD Board of Trustees, chaired the event. He shared some of his experiences of working with Professor Rehman Sobhan.
"What this book offers to its readers can be demonstrated through multiple lenses—as a document of history, as a lesson in political economy, and as a source of economic analysis," said Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow, CPD.
Professor Abdul Bayes, Former Vice Chancellor and Professor, Department of Economics, Jahangirnagar University, felt that the 16 chapters in this volume are like 16 eloquent stories, that transmit a wealth of knowledge, wisdom and insights beneficial for both old and new generations.
Dr Ahrar Ahmad, Director General of Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq Bidyapeeth, remarked that the present volume is a brave reflection of many critical and controversial issues making the chronicle a “risk-prone” enterprise.
Habibul Haque Khondker, Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Al Zayed University, shared how Bangladesh moved ahead during its early years despite the difficulties and very limited policy options and policy choices.
Dr Meghna Guhathakurta, Executive Director, Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB), said that this book perfectly depicts the uncertainties of the post-independence period.
“Each page gripped me so much that I could not skip a page of the book,” she said.
Mahfuz Anam, Editor and Publisher, The Daily Star, focused on a number of issues covered by the author in the book.
He noted the tension between political leadership and academic leadership, and the difference in understanding between the political concept of socialism and Planning Commission’s concept of socialism.
Read: Month-long Islamic book fair opens at Baitul Mukarram
Mahrukh Mohiuddin, Managing Director, UPL, said that the volume with its subtitle “From Dawn to Darkness” contains many unknown facts as seen by someone who was an important player in policymaking as a member of the first Planning Commission.
The author mentions in the Preface that this volume is “a memoir of an activist who was himself a part of the historical process”.
This volume captures the unique challenges facing Bangladesh in the years immediately after liberation when Bangabandhu on his return assumed the responsibility as the head of the government.
Professor Sobhan sheds light on many challenges that the war-devastated country was confronted with while establishing new institutions from the ground up.
The newly set up Planning Commission of Bangladesh, of which Professor Sobhan was an integral part and a key member, was vested with the responsibilities of providing guidelines to Bangabandhu in laying the foundations of a socialist economy in Bangladesh. The book provides a framework narrative as to how the Planning Commission dealt with policy issues, how the political economy played the cut, how the first Five-Year Plan was formulated, and how foreign relationships were built, till the time of the tragedy of 15 August 1975.
The book is divided into 16 chapters featuring various phases of Professor Sobhan’s life till 1975.