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Ex-JU VC Mustahidur Rahman laid to rest
Professor Khandaker Mustahidur Rahman, a former vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University (JU) and a renowned economist who died of Covid-19, was laid to rest on Saturday.
He was buried at Banani Graveyard around 2pm after his second namaz-e-janaza on JU campus, said his daughter Tasmina Rahman, a Pharmacy department Professor of the same university.
The ex-JU VC’s first namaz-e-janaza was held on the premises of Aminbag Jam-e-Mosque in the city’s Shantinagar area after Esha prayers on Friday.
Read JU treasurer to serve as next Pro-VC
Mustahidur breathed his last around 3:30pm while undergoing treatment at Islami Bank General Hospital in the capital on Friday.
He left behind his wife, a son, two daughters and a host of relatives to mourn his death.
The ex-JU VC was admitted to the hospital on August 4 as he tested positive for the coronavirus.
Read Prof Imdadul made new VC of JnU
Prof Mustahidur Rahman joined JU as a lecturer at the Economics department in 1971. He worked as the VC of the same university from 2004 to 2008.
He was a member of pro-BNP professionals body Sammilita Peshajibi Parishad.
Meanwhile, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed deep shock at the death of Prof Mustahidur.
Read The contenders to be the next VC of Rajshahi University
In a condolence message, he prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved family members.
JU Vice-Chancellor Prof Farzana Islam also condoled his death and prayed for the eternal peace of his departed soul.
Read Dr Mashiur appointed National University VC
AL pays homage to August 21 martyrs
Awami League and its associate organisations on Saturday paid tributes to the martyrs of the August 21 grenade attack that left 24 killed and hundreds injured 17 years ago.
Among the dead was Ivy Rahman, the women affairs secretary of Awami League, as hand grenades rained on an anti-terrorism rally addressed by then Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina at Bangabandhu Avenue. She narrowly escaped the attack.
Also read: 17th anniversary of Grenade Attack on AL rally beckons
AL leaders and workers gathered at the site of the attack and stood in silence for a few minutes before placing wreaths there in the morning.
In observance of the day the ruling party also held a discussion meeting where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke virtually.
Also read: Bangladesh observes 17th anniversary of Dhaka grenade attack
Expat Bangladeshi intellectuals urged to establish Bangbandhu internationally
Speakers at a virtual discussion have called upon the expatriate Bangladeshi intellectuals to establish Bangabandhu internationally.
They said that the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family was a very well-planned coup of the anti-independence clique.
On the occasion of National Mourning Day 2021, Bangabandhu Parishad Brunei organized the virtual discussion titled "Bangladesh after 15th August" on Friday night.
The meeting was chaired by local president of the organization Mostafa Reza Ali and the chief guest was the advisor of Bangladesh Awami League and General Secretary of Central Bangabandhu Parishad Dr SA Malek.
Also read: South Sudan names road after Bangabandhu
The keynote speaker was Bangabandhu Parishad Presidium Member and Founder Chairman of the Department of Criminology at Dhaka University, Professor Dr Zia Rahman, said a press release.
Executive committee member of Bangabandhu Parishad Dr Abdullah Al Mamun, Vice President of Awami League Australia Dr Lovely Rahman, General Secretary of tAwami League of Australia Dr Abul Hasnat Milton, President of Bangabandhu Parishad of Malaysia Dr ATM Emdadul Haque, Bangladesh High Commission Brunei's counsellor Jelal Hossain, Brunei Bangabandhu Parishad Adviser Dr Nur Rahman Khokon and General Secretary of Brunei Bangabandhu Parishad Mahbubur Rahman Bakul, Rezaul Karim, Dr ABM Kamrul Hasan, Adviser of Brunei Bangabandhu Parishad, among others took part in the discussion.
Also read: ‘Bangabandhu Corner’ set up at Seoul National University Library
Aug 21 attack wouldn’t have been possible without then govt’s patronage: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said it was not possible to carry out an attack like that of August 21, 2004 had there been no direct patronage from then BNP-Jamaat government.
"They (BNP-Jamaat govt) thought that I had been killed (in the grenade attack), but when they came to know that I didn’t die they allowed four criminals to flee the country," she said.
She said the then BNP-Jamaat government assembled the terrorists and militants for carrying out such an attack and gave them a safe passage to flee abroad.
Sheikh Hasina made the allegation while addressing a discussion marking the August 21, 2004 grenade attack.
READ: PM mourns death of journalist Zahiduzzaman Faruk
Awami League organised the event at its Bangabandhu Avenue central office. The Prime Minister attended the event virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
"No one dared to dream that there would be arges grenade attack (on the rally) attempting to kill in broad daylight," she said.
Recalling the barbaric carnage, Sheikh Hasina alleged that then Prime Khaleda Zia and her government staged grenade attack as killings is their habit.
She said that Bangabandhu killers Dalim and Rashid were among those criminals while the other two were militant Tajul and one jailer.
After the attack, she said, police lobbed teargas shells and charged baton on AL leaders and workers instead of rescuing the victims.
Hasina said even BNP-Jamaat-backed doctors did not attend the injured AL leaders and activists at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and no patient was allowed to enter Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Medical University.
Referring to some remarks made by Khaleda Zia before the grisly grenade attack and planting of twin bombs — one of 76 kg and another of 84 kg — in Kotalipara, the Prime Minister said, “Before every attack, Khaleda Zia used to say Awami League won’t be able to go to power in 100 years. And right before the grenade attack, she said even Sheikh Hasina would never be the leader of the opposition,” she said.
The then government destroyed the evidence of the gruesome attack while an army officer faced trouble as he wanted to preserve an unexploded grenade used in the attack, she said. “They tried to erase all the evidences of the attack.”
"And all know about a staged drama by the government," she said pointing to the Joj Mia issue which was later proved false.
The Prime Minister said ruling BNP-Jamaat did not allow AL to discuss the matter in Parliament although many of the injured were MPs and she was the leader of the opposition.
She said that Almighty Allah repeatedly saved her from various types of attacks including the August 15 and August 24 to materialise something that only He knows.
Referring to the ongoing pandemic she said that the government always remains beside the people of the country as it strictly follows the ideology of Father of The Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
"Inshallah, we will be able to establish developed and prosperous Golden Bangladesh that was dreamt by the Father of the Nation," she said.
AL presidium member Matia Chowdhury, general secretary Obaidul Quader, joint secretary Dr. Hassan Mahmud, AL central working committee member Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, organising secretary SM Kamal Hossain, Dhaka South Unit of Awami League president Abu Ahmed Mannafi and Dhaka North Unit of Awami League president Sheikh Bazlur Rahman also spoke at the programme joined by senior leaders of the party.
The barbaric grenade attack was carried out on an anti-terrorism rally of Awami League on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital on August 21, 2004 during the BNP-Jamaat government aiming to wipe out the AL leadership.
READ: PM talks tough against corruption by public servants
Twenty-four people, including then president of Mohila Awami League and late President Zillur Rahman’s wife Ivy Rahman, were killed and over 500 others suffered splinter injuries in the grisly attack and many of them became crippled for life.
Sheikh Hasina, the then opposition leader, narrowly escaped the attack but sustained hearing impairment due to the impact of the repeated grenade blasts near the truck-dais of the huge public rally. AL men saved her life creating a human shield surrounding her during the attack.
Bangladesh observes 17th anniversary of Dhaka grenade attack
The country is observing the 17th anniversary of the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in the city with various programmes.
On this day in 2004, a grisly grenade attack was carried out on an anti-terrorism rally organised by the Awami League at Bangabandhu Avenue.
Sheikh Hasina, then leader of the opposition, was apparently the target. The BNP-Jamaat alliance government was in office at that time.
At least 24 people, including Awami League women affairs secretary and late President Zillur Rahman’s wife Ivy Rahman, were killed. Three hundred others were also injured. Hasina escaped with her life but suffered hearing impairment.
Fourteen years later, a Dhaka court sentenced 19 people, including the then BNP government’s state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, to death.
Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and the party's current acting chairman, and 18 others were also sentenced to life in prison.
The Awami League and affiliated outfits are observing the day as the 'Grenade Attack Day' with elaborate programmes, including discussions.
On this occasion, politicians of the Awami League and its affiliated outfits placed wreaths at a makeshift altar in front of the party’s central office at Bangabandhu Avenue in the morning.
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President of the nation Abdul Hamid will issue separate messages commemorating the martyrs of the day.
Besides, an arts summit titled ‘AUGUST REPEATED ATTEMPTS’ will take place on the premises of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy from August 21-23. The summit will be inaugurated on Saturday evening.
Banani warehouse fire doused after 10 hrs
Firefighters managed to put out the fire in a Banani building under control at 7:30 pm, nearly 10 hours after it broke out Saturday morning in Chairman Bari.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
MD Raihanul, station officer (media) of Fire Service and Civil Defense headquarters, said the blaze started on the second floor of the six-storey building around 9.10am and spread soon.
Read: Fire in power substation triggers outage in Naogaon
Climate Change: How Bangladesh is being affected by Global Warming?
Although climate change is a global problem, its impact on the developing, or underdeveloped economies will be devastating and unbalanced. In these countries, there are severe shortages of materials, science, and technology to adapt to the changing environment and situation. The funny thing is that the people of the least developed, developing or underdeveloped countries are or will be the victims of the better life of the developed countries. An acute example is Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is one of the most endangered coastal countries in the world due to global warming and climate change. Scientists say that if global warming continues at the same rate, a large area of Bangladesh will be flooded in the next 100 years, and about 30 million people will become refugees.
Read: Over 19mn BD kids at front line of climate change disasters
According to the World Bank, Bangladesh emits only 0.40 percent of the world's total greenhouse gases. But unfortunately, we will be one of the top 10 countries affected by climate change. Mainly due to geographical location, overpopulation, poverty, and inadequacy of social security, the risk of Bangladesh is increasing day by day. As a result, the economic effect is gradually intensifying due to the impact of various climatic variables, such as rainfall and changes in average temperature, which may go beyond proper management in the future. Let's take a brief look at the effects of climate change on Bangladesh.
The Reason behind the Global Warming
There is an invisible layer called the 'ozone layer in the atmosphere, which prevents the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays from entering the earth and helps the heat from the earth to return to space in the process of radiation. But, due to man-made pollution and deforestation, the ozone layer is being eroded. Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gas is used in household products such as refrigerators, air conditioners, various types of sprays, etc., which are also used in industry. This CFC is one of the reasons for the depletion of the ozone layer in space.
Read COP26: Global competition launched to find top climate science communicators
Excessive carbon dioxide is not being absorbed due to environmental pollution and deforestation. This results in an excessive increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which traps the heat from the sun in the atmosphere. Thus, on the one hand, due to the depletion of the ozone layer, the ultraviolet rays of the sun are reaching the earth. On the other hand, heat is constantly being stored in the atmosphere. Thus the earth has become heated. The world as a whole is facing natural disasters as a result of an endangered environment.
Climate Change and its Impact in Bangladesh
According to environmental scientists, Bangladesh is one of the countries most affected by global warming. The major natural disasters that have been occurring in Bangladesh in recent times are mainly due to climate change. Following are the top effects in Bangladesh.
Sea Level Rise
Bangladesh is one of the largest delta islands in the world, with numerous rivers flowing through it. If the earth's temperature rises by 1 degree Celsius, 19 percent of Bangladesh's land will be lost to the sea. As a result, 55 million people will be affected.
Read: Action on climate change urged for children's sake
The sea level in Bangladesh is increasing at the rate of 7 mm per year, whereas the rate of increase in land level is 5-6 mm / year. As a result, the rate of sea-level rise in the coastal areas of Bangladesh is 1-2 mm/year. According to a study, the current sea level could rise by 3.5 to 15 mm per decade. Even by the year 2100, it can reach 30 cm to 100 cm. Therefore, the rise in sea level will cause a terrible disaster for Bangladesh.
Biodiversity Destruction
According to environmentalists and geologists, if the sea level rises by just 1 meter, 70 percent of the Sundarbans will be submerged. If biodiversity is destroyed, it will have terrible consequences for Bangladesh as well as the world. The environment will lose its balance.
Read Climate change: 'Children in Bangladesh, 3 other countries at extremely high risk'
Flash floods
Due to the steep slopes, flash floods occur every year in the northeastern part of Bangladesh, especially in the Meghna Basin. About 4,000 sq km in the northeastern part of the country and about 1,400 sq km in the southeastern part of the country are the victims of such flash floods. As a result of climate change, rainfall and mountain slopes are increasing.
Drought
Drought occurs when the level of evaporation is higher than the lack of moisture in the soil, i.e., rainfall. Climate change is taking place as a result of global warming, the effects of which are also being felt in Bangladesh. In the north-western part of Bangladesh, agriculture is being severely hampered due to a lack of rainfall and water during the monsoon season, and crop production is also declining.
Read Govt. moves to boost climate resilience of vulnerable people, says official document
Decrease in River Flow and Increase in Salinity of Water
Bangladesh is an agricultural country. The normal flow of rivers is very important for land irrigation and navigation. Climate change disrupts the normal flow of rivers. As a result, the flow of major rivers will be reduced, and due to the weak flow of the river, sea salt water will easily enter the inland river flow of the country and increase the salinity in the river water. At present, saline water enters coastal areas of Bangladesh and about 1.4 million hectares of remote islands, making open water and groundwater saline. These salinity levels will increase further as the climate changes.
Ocean Storms and Tidal Surges
Ocean storms are usually caused by hot air and cyclones. Although other processes are active behind the formation of cyclones, the increase in water temperature is the main reason. Coastal districts in Bangladesh are hit hard by sea storms in May-June every year. As global warming increases, ocean water temperatures will also increase at an increasing rate. Naturally, the intensity of sea storms and tidal surges will also increase.
Read ‘Nowhere to run’: UN report says global warming nears limits
Is there anything we can do about Climate Change?
Although the developed countries are mainly responsible for climate change, the whole world will have to work together to cope with the situation. For our part, we have to work on extensive afforestation programs. trees absorb harmful carbon dioxide gas from nature and emit oxygen. Therefore, the balance of the environment is maintained.
The afforestation program should be started as soon as possible in the coastal areas and riverine areas of the country. As a result, river erosion and the intensity of sea storms will be reduced. Simultaneously, deforestation must be prevented.
Furthermore, we will have to work on reducing the emissions of harmful gases that increase the temperature of the atmosphere. The industries need to save energy and take steps to purify the generated waste.
Read Implementation of Paris deal only way to check global warming: Hasina
Bangladesh is a country of natural disasters and various types of natural disasters are common in this country every year. In the coming years, disasters will become more severe due to climate changes. Hence, we have to be aware from now on, and we have to make proper preparation.
Climate change: 'Children in Bangladesh, 3 other countries at extremely high risk'
Children in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India are among those most at risk of the impacts of climate change, threatening their health, education, and protection, according to a new Unicef report launched Friday.
Bangladesh ranked second among South Asian countries and 15th globally in Unicef's index "The Climate Crisis Is a Child Rights Crisis: Introducing the Children's Climate Risk Index."
Read: Over 19mn BD kids at front line of climate change disasters
The index, first of its kind, ranked countries based on children's exposure to climate and environmental shocks, such as cyclones and heatwaves, as well as their vulnerability to those shocks based on their access to essential services.
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and India are among four South Asian countries where children are at extremely high risk of the impacts of the climate crisis, with global rankings of 14, 15, 15, and 26.
Nepal is ranked 51, Sri Lanka is at 61st place. Bhutan is ranked 111, with children at relatively lower risk.
South Asian countries are among the most vulnerable globally to the impacts of climate change. Extreme climate-related events – heatwaves, storms, floods, fires and droughts – affect more than half of the region's population every year and continue to burden their economies.
Read: Action on climate change urged for children's sake
Worse, before they can recover from one disaster, another one strikes, reversing any progress made.
Also, rising global temperatures and changing weather patterns have put the futures of millions of children living in climate-vulnerable areas in South Asia at constant risk.
Around 1 billion children live in one of the 33 countries classified as "extremely high-risk," including the four South Asian countries.
"For the first time, we have clear evidence of the impact of climate change on millions of children in South Asia. Droughts, floods, air pollution and river erosion across the region have left millions of children homeless and hungry, and without any healthcare and water," said George Laryea-Adjei, Unicef regional director for South Asia.
South Asia is home to over 600 million children and has the highest number of young people globally.
The report found that these South Asian children are in constant danger from riverine floods and air pollution, but also that investments in child health, nutrition, and education can make a significant difference to protect children from climate change.
"Together, climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic have created an alarming crisis for South Asian children. The time to act is now – if we invest in water, healthcare and education, we can protect their futures from the impacts of a changing climate and degrading environment," Laryea-Adjei said.
The report also reveals a disconnect between where greenhouse gas emissions are generated, and where children are enduring the most significant climate-driven impacts.
The 33 extremely high-risk countries, including four from South Asia, collectively emit just 9% of global CO2 emissions. Conversely, the 10 highest emitting countries collectively account for nearly 70% of global emissions.
Read: Children rally against climate change in Dhaka
"The frightening environmental changes we are seeing across the planet are being driven by a few but experienced by many in South Asia," Laryea-Adjei said.
"We must urgently reduce greenhouse gas emissions and work together as a community to build greater resilience in South Asia. Children and young people are at the heart of this change, with almost half of 1.8 billion people below the age of 24 in South Asia."
Compared to adults, children require more food and water per unit of their body weight, are less able to survive extreme weather events, and are more susceptible to toxic chemicals, temperature changes and diseases, among other factors.
Without the urgent action required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally, children will continue to suffer the most.
So, Unicef urged governments, businesses and relevant actors to increase investment in climate adaptation and resilience in key services for children and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Countries must reduce their emissions by at least 45% (compared to 2010 levels) by 2030 to keep warming to no more than 1.5°C, it said.
Also, the Unicef report suggested providing children with climate education and green skills, critical for their adaptation to and preparation for the effects of climate change and including young people in all national, regional and international climate negotiations and decisions, including at COP26.
It called on the stakeholders and actors to ensure that the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic is green, low-carbon, and inclusive so that the capacity of future generations to respond to the climate crisis are not compromised.
Urban facilities being extended to rural areas: Dr Razzaque
Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Friday said all the urban facilities are being extended to the rural areas during the period of the present government.
“The urban facilities, including ensuring electricity to every house, construction of pucca roads, modern healthcare services and education are being extended to the villages. The urban-like-facilities are also spreading to Charlands and very remote areas, ”he said.
The Agriculture Minister made these remarks while visiting the Jhenai river erosion-affected places and dam at Keramjani and Jokna areas in Dhanbari under Tangail district, said a PID handout here.
Visiting the damaged areas and dams, he put emphasis on the river training and protection of the dam for the sake of crops cultivation there.
“In the grassroots areas, the people live on the crops cultivation. We’ve to save the crops. So, initiative is being taken for the sustainable protection measures and construction of dam,” said Dr Razzaque.
Dhanbari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Samiul Haque and local public representatives were present.
Dengue: 221 more hospitalised, no fatalities reported
Although Bangladesh saw no deaths from dengue in the past 24 hours till early Friday, 221 more people were hospitalised with the mosquito-borne fever.
Among the new patients, 212 were admitted to government and private hospitals in Dhaka alone.
According to the Directorate General of Health Service (DGHS), 7,472 patients have been diagnosed with dengue this year, including at least 31 deaths.
Read: Risk of dengue outbreak rises amid lockdown
July and August accounted for all the deaths; and of the deceased, 27 were from Dhaka division, two from Chattogram, one each from Khulna and Rajshahi.
The new infection tally indicates the fast-rising trend of the Aedes-borne disease in Dhaka. The country has been seeing over 200 dengue cases a day for the last 19 days since August 1.
Around 1,190 patients diagnosed with dengue fever are now receiving treatment and almost all the dengue cases have been found in the capital so far. Of them, 1,094 patients are receiving treatment at different hospitals in Dhaka.
Read: Dengue spike in Bangladesh: 242 more hospitalized in 24 hrs
So far, 6, 251 dengue patients have been released from hospitals, according to the DGHS.
A sharp spike in dengue cases deals a double blow to Bangladesh as the country's healthcare system has already been battered by a worsening Covid crisis, driven by the highly contagious Delta variant.
On Friday, 145 Covid-19 related deaths were reported across the country in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 25,023.
During the same period, 5,993 new cases were reported, taking the total caseload to 14,53,203.