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Global Covid cases top 211 million
The global Covid-19 caseload has surpassed 211 million, with the world still struggling to contain the pandemic fueled by new variants.
The total caseload and fatalities from the virus stand at 211,307, 313 and 4,422,280 respectively as of Sunday morning, as per the latest data released by Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
On the other hand, as many as 4,898,315, 248 vaccine doses have been administered across the world.
Read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 120 more deaths, lowest in two months
The US has logged 37, 667, 889 cases and 628,276 fatalities to date, the highest death toll in the world, according to the university.
Brazil currently has the world's second-highest pandemic death toll, after the United States, and the third-largest caseload, after the United States and India.
India's COVID-19 tally rose to 32,393,286 on Saturday as 34,457 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry's latest data.
Besides, 375 deaths due to the pandemic since Friday morning took the total death toll to 433,964.
Read: Bangladesh's Covid cases, fatalities down for 3rd day
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh logged 120 Covid-related deaths in 24 hours till Saturday morning, the lowest in about two months amid concern over the unlocking of the country from restrictions imposed to check the spread of the virus.
The country last saw 119 Coronavirus related deaths on June 27 and the upward curve of the fatalities reached its peak on August 5 and 10 with 264 deaths.
Besides, 3,991 more people came out positive with the virus after testing 23,882 samples during the last 24 hours, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read:Take actions against Cumilla councilor for pushing Covid jabs: Probe
The fresh number pushed the country’s total fatalities to 25,143 while the cases reached 1,457,194.
The country is currently seeing around 170 deaths and 6,800 cases on a seven day average.
Meanwhile, the government managed to vaccinate 6,395,466 with two doses, while another 16,386,203 people have received the first dose to date, said DGHS.
100 oxygen cylinders missing from SBMCH: 5-member probe body formed
Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) authorities have formed a five-member probe committee after the missing of 100 oxygen cylinders and 30 cylinder meters from the Covid unit of the hospital.
Headed by assistant director of SBMCH Dr Maniruzzaman, the other members of the committee are—assistant director Dr Mohammad Nazmul Hossain, Dr Mahmud Hossain, Store officer Anamika and health supervisor Selina Akter.
Read:City corporation cleaners return to work after 3 days in Barishal
The incident of missing oxygen cylinders came to light on Saturday and later the authorities formed the body to look into the matter on Thursday..
According to the sources at the medical store, the oxygen cylinders and cylinder meters were supplied through the ward master of the corona unit and during a regular counting , the authorities detected that matter.
Selina Akter, said a staffer of the hospital, has been served a show cause notice in this regard.
Dr. HM Saiful Islam, director of SBMCH, said necessary action will be taken against those involved in the incident after getting the probe committee report.
Read:Barishal violence: 2 ruling party activists lose eyesight
According to the hospital sources, there have 628 oxygen cylinders at the hospital. Of these, some were provided by the government while some were donated by different organisations to tackle the Covid situation.
Govt urged to utilize Bangladeshi expatriates’ expertise in infrastructure projects
Speakers at a webinar on Saturday urged the government to create opportunities to utilise expatriate Bangladeshis’ expertise in developing infrastructure projects.
They also observed that more attention should be given to improve the country’s educational system to create skilled manpower.
“The existing educational system is not being able to produce quality youths. As a result, they are not getting jobs and remain as educated but unemployed”, said Humayun Rashid, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Energypac, a leading local firm in the engineering and energy sector, while speaking at the virtual seminar organised by Energy and Power managing.
The seminar, titled: “NRB’s & Local Technical Resource Integration For Capacity Development of Bangladesh”, was also addressed by special envoy to the presidency of the Climate Vulnerable Forum Abul Kalam Azad, former power secretary Dr Sultan Ahmed, expatriate educationists Dr Habib Siddiqui, Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan, Abdus Saleque,and managing director of Summit Technopolis Abu Reza Khan while magazine editor Mollah Amzad Hossain conducted the function.
The speakers said that certificates of Bangladesh’s vocational institutes are not accepted abroad.
Read: Bahrain urged to take back Bangladeshi expats
They said though many expatriate Bangladeshis want to engage themselves in the infrastructure projects to utilize their expertise, no initiative is taken by the government.
Abul Kalam Azad said the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Finance Ministry can play a vital role in offering the expatriate Bangladeshis to engage in the infrastructure projects.
The government is executing a project to develop 100 economic zones across the country where they could be employed, he opined.
Dr Sultan Ahmed said if expatriate Bangladeshis are employed in the country’s infrastructure projects, they could provide better services at a lower cost than that being offered by the foreign experts.
Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan said many experts in our country are more qualified than foreign consultants.
Read: No good news yet from Italy: FM about expats' return
“We all need patriotism, honesty and then skills. They are qualified to give opinions on mega projects such as Padma Bridge and Metro Rail. But many times their opinion is not taken”, he added.
Abu Reza Khan said that non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) have many forums. But they should be brought to one forum.
He said if there is any database for the NRBs, then any ministry can utilize the relevant NRB experts when it comes to projects.
Stop repression on teachers, students: Zafrullah to govt
Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury on Saturday urged the government to stop repressing and harassing students and teachers to avert a dire consequence in case of change in power.
“Stop attacks on teachers and students and filing cases against them. Only then you won’t have to see the scene of Kabul that Asif Nazrul feared. Otherwise, it will not be a surprise to see the repetition of a Kabul-like situation in the country,” he told a protest rally.
Sachetan Nagarik Samaj, (conscious citizens' group), arranged the programme in front of the National Museum in the capital’s Shahbagh area protesting Bangladesh Chhatra League’s (BCL’s) threat to Dhaka University Prof Asif Nazrul and obstruction to democratic programmes like meetings and rallies.
The rally was also meant for mounting pressure on the government to release the students and youth leaders arrested during their demonstrations against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s last visit to Bangladesh on March 26.
Dr Zafrullah, a freedom fighter, strongly protested padlocking the office room of Dhaka University Law Department Professor Asif Nazrul centering a Facebook status.
Read: Dr Zafrullah finds lockdown allocation too small, slams govt
He warned that the nation may face disaster since it cannot show respect to a university teacher like Asif Nazrul.
Zafrullah said the government promised not to file any case against the students who took part in the safe-road movement, but cases remained pending for three years.
Besides, he said 54 students arrested for protesting against the arrival of Narendra Modi have not yet been granted bail. “This case should be withdrawn immediately.”
Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said Chhatra League locked the room of Asif Nazrul though he did not mention the name of any person or party on his Facebook post. “They (BCL) are oppressors.”
He urged the Dhaka University proctor to lodge a complaint with Shahbagh Police Station against those padlocked Asif Nazrul’s office and bring them to justice.
Read: Govt trying to suppress new generation: Dr Zafrullah
Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of Ganosaghati Andolon, said the current government is afraid of facing the similar future as the way people tried to escape at Kabul airport in Afghanistan.”They'll meet the same fate after their fall. Otherwise, why do they feel so much heartburn with a Facebook status?
He said the government has enacted the Digital Security Act to suppress people and their voices. “This act must be annulled immediately.”
Strong current disrupts ferry services, hundreds of vehicles stranded at Paturia
Hundreds of goods laden trucks, buses and cars were stranded at Paturia from Saturday morning as strong current in Padma River disrupted ferry crossings.
The recent suspension of ferry movement on Simulia-Banglazar route added to pressure as vehicles of that route are taking Paturia-Daulatdia route, said the terminal authorities.
Also read: Ferry hits Padma Bridge pillar: BIWTC forms probe committee
At least 800 general goods laden trucks were seen waiting to cross at the terminal and on the highway six kilometers away from it as the authorities were prioritizing emergency goods services and passenger carrying vehicles.
Deputy General Manager (trade) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transportation Corporation Aricha office Md Jillur Rahman said number of trips on the route decreased as strong current has slowed down the pace.
Also read: Ferry with heavy vehicles banned from plying under Padma bridge: Khalid
Currently 17 of the 18 ferries on this route are in service, said Jillur.
Dengue: Death toll rises to 35 with 4 more deaths in 24 hrs
Dengue claimed four more lives in 24 hours until Saturday morning, raising the death toll to 35, said a report of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
A total of 278 new patients were admitted to different hospitals during the period, it said.
Among the new patients, 257 were admitted to government and private hospitals in Dhaka while the remaining 21 cases were reported from outside the division, according to DGHS.
Of the deceased, 31 died alone in Dhaka city, two in Chattogram division, one in Khulna and one in Rajshahi.
Read: Risk of dengue outbreak rises amid lockdown
Health authorities have been recording over 200 dengue cases per day since August 1.
The dengue outbreak has become a cause of major concern as the country is battling the deadlier Delta variant of coronavirus with its limited health care facilities for the last few months.
Some 1,206 patients diagnosed with dengue fever are receiving treatment in the country as of Thursday morning, according to DGHS.
Read: Dengue spike in Bangladesh: 242 more hospitalized in 24 hrs
Most of the cases have been reported in the capital so far, said the health authorities.
Of them, 1,119 patients are receiving treatment at different hospitals in the capital while the rest were listed outside Dhaka.
Some 7,750 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January, and 6,509 of them have been released after they recovered from the disease.
Reopen educational institutions on an experimental basis: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader has demanded the government reopen all the educational institutions right now on an experimental basis.
“The nation is being pushed towards a dark future as educational institutions have been closed for almost two years due to coronavirus,” he said.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said the government should take immediate steps to resume academic activities in the educational institutions ensuring the health safety rules.
“The educational institutions should be reopened now without buying further time on an experimental basis,” he said while talking to reporters in the district town on Friday.
Earlier, the Jatiya Party Chairman inaugurated the academic buildings of Giasuddin High School and Poet Sheikh Fazlul Karim Girls’ School.
Local Jatiya Party senior leaders and administrative officials were present.
The government shut the educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and universities, on March 17, 2020 after the country had reported its first Covid-19 cases on March 8. Then the closure was extended several times. The latest extension to the closures is supposed to continue till August 31.
Different political parties and civil society members are mounting pressure on the government to reopen the educational institutions with strict health protocols in place since the students' academic lives are being severely hampered.
Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 120 more deaths, lowest in two months
Bangladesh logged 120 Covid-related deaths in 24 hours till Saturday morning, the lowest in about two months amid concern over the unlocking of the country from restrictions imposed to check the spread of the virus.
The country last saw 119 Coronavirus related deaths on June 27 and the upward curve of the fatalities reached its peak on August 5 and 10 with 264 deaths.
Besides, 3,991 more people came out positive with the virus after testing 23,882 samples during the last 24 hours, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The fresh number pushed the country’s total fatalities to 25,143 while the cases reached 1,457,194.
Read: US okays Covid booster dose for those with weak immune systems
Meanwhile the case positivity rate fell to 16.71 % from Friday’s 17.18% , said the DGHS.
The country last recorded 16.38% daily case positivity rate on June 20.
The recovery rate rose to 93.02 %, but the case fatality increased to 1.73 % compared to the same period.
Among the new deaths, 40 died in the Dhaka division, 27 in Chattogram , 15 in Khulna, 13 Sylhet, nine in Rajshahi, seven in Rangpur, six in Mymensingh and three in Barishal division.
Read Dengue vs. COVID-19: Symptoms, when & where to test, ways of prevention
Of them 69 were male and 51 female.
The country is currently seeing around 170 deaths and 6,800 cases on a seven day average.
Meanwhile, the government managed to vaccinate 6,395,466 with two doses, while another 16,386,203 people have received the first dose to date, said DGHS.
Attack on Hasina’s motorcade: absconding convict held in city
Police have arrested a man who had been on the run since he was given a 10-year jail term for an attack on the motorcade of then-opposition leader Sheikh Hasina in Satkhira district.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s intelligence wing held absconding Arifur Rahman Ranju from the city’s Hazaribagh area on Friday.
Ranju, a former Chhatra Dal leader, confessed to leading a group of 50 people in carrying out the attack on Aug. 30 in 2002 at Kalaroa in Satkhira district. Sheikh Hasina was returning to Dhaka after attending a meeting in Kalaroa.
Also read: Sheikh Hasina's convoy attack: Ex-BNP MP, 2 others get 10-yr imprisonment
A court in Khulna held trial of the 50 attackers, including Ranju, in a case over attempt on the life of Sheikh Hasina, the current prime minister.
Detective Branch (DB) Additional Commissioner AKM Hafiz Akhter told reporters at DMP's media center on Saturday that Ranju started student politics in 1993 at Kalaroa College. He used to lead college Chattrd Dal.
After the investigation charge sheets were issued against 50 people. On February 3, the court sentenced Ranju to 10 years in jail. Ranju had been on the run ever since, he said.
Also read: Verdict in PM’s convoy attack case to be delivered Thursday
The additional commissioner informed that Ranju would be taken to court at Satkhira Saturday to complete further legal procedures.
Bangladesh gets 7,81,440 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Japan
Bangladesh has received 7,81,440 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from Japan.
The vaccine doses arrived at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Saturday afternoon by a flight of Cathay Pacific.
With this shipment, the total amount of dispatched vaccines from Japan stands at over 2.4 million as of today.
Also read: Bangladesh to get 781,440 AstraZeneca doses from Japan Saturday