Others
Bangabandhu satellite-1 to be used to restore telecommunication in flood-hit areas
The government has started the connection work of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 to keep telecommunication and internet services active in the flood affected areas on Sunday.
Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) has set up a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) Hub in Sylhet Hi-Tech Park following the directives of Post and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar.
To ensure telecommunication services in the flood-affected areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj districts, 12 VSAT equipment were handed over to the Bangladesh Army on Saturday. VSAT hubs will be set up in Netrokona and North Bengal today.
Read: Floods: India extends "support, solidarity" to Bangladesh
Besides, preparations are underway to hand over 23 more sets of VSAT equipment to the Sylhet Divisional Commissioner office.
Bangabandhu Satellite-1 will also be able to activate the mobile phone network as per the requirement of mobile phone operators.
The Post and Telecommunications Division has also launched 12 toll-free helpline numbers for the flood-affected people.
The toll free numbers are- Grameenphone -01769177266, 01769177267, 01769177268, Robi- 01852788000, 01852798800, 01852804477, Banglalink- 01987781144, 01993781144, 01995781144, and Teletalk- 01513918096, 01513918097, 01513918098.
PM to witness flood devastation in the north on Tuesday
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will visit the flood-hit northern region including Sylhet and Netrakona on Tuesday to see for herself the devastation and the measures taken to mitigate the sufferings of the marooned people.
“The PM will leave for Sylhet in the morning by a helicopter from Dhaka. On the way, she will monitor Netrakona district’s flood situation from the helicopter by lowering it,” said a PMO Official.
Also read: Provide emergency banking services in flood-hit areas: BB
Her helicopter will land at MAG Osmani International Airport in Sylhet, he said.
Shafiqur Rahman, incumbent president of Sylhet Awami League said “The PM will come to see the sufferings of the flood-hit people and measures taken to control the situation.”
Also read: One lakh flood-affected people evacuated in Sylhet, Sunamganj
Rohingyas create social problems in Bangladesh, PM tells new Canadian envoy
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said the Rohingyas are creating social problems in Bangladesh as many of them are engaged in drug and women trafficking.
The prime minister said this when newly appointed Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Lilly Nicholls called on her at her Sangsad Bhaban office.
Also read: PM: Padma Bridge comes as divine blessings for southern Bangladesh
PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the call on.
The PM told the envoy that over 1.1 million Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh is causing a long term problem
“How long Bangladesh could bear such a huge burden,” she said. She said Bangladesh is providing temporary shelter to one lakh Rohingyas on Bhasan Char Island where they get better facilities.
The high commissioner said that Canada will always support Bangladesh in this regard.
She also mentioned that her country is creating an additional fund through charity for Rohingyas.
The envoy said Canada is highly pleased to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties with Bangladesh.
She also congratulated Bangladesh on celebration of the golden jubilee of its Independence and the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Both discussed about the Russia-Ukraine War and agreed that war always causes sufferings to the people.
The envoy appreciated PM Hasina for her government's success in reducing rate of poverty in Bangladesh.
Both said that trade and business can grow further between the two countries.
In this regard, Hasina said that she looks forward to boosting trade and investment with Canada.
In this connection she said that Large Bangladeshi diaspora in Canada is positively contributing in enhancing people- to-people contact between the two nations.
Also read: Southern region won’t remain neglected anymore: PM
Congratulating the new envoy the PM said that she expected that the high commissioner would play her role to strengthen existing excellent relations between the two countries.
She assured all possible support to the HC for discharging her duties in Bangladesh.
The premier said that since Bangladesh's Liberation War Canada is supporting Bangladesh.
She also mentioned that During COVID-19 Canada had been always supportive and work closely with Bangladesh since the beginning of the pandemic.
“We have special relation with Canada,” she said.
She thanked Canada for donating COVID-19 vaccines and equipment.
The prime minister appreciated Canada saying that the number of Bangladeshi students is increasing in Canadian Universities and requested the Canadian government to include Bangladesh in the Student Direct Stream programme.
Ambassador-at-large M Ziauddin and Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus were present.
Draft bill of new Education Act to be ready June 23
Education Minister Dipu Moni on Sunday said that the draft of the Education Act would be finalised on June 23.
In reply to a tabled question from Jatiya Party MP Shameem Haider Patwari, the Minister said in Parliament that after finalising the Act on June 23, it will be sent to the Cabinet Division for getting approval in principle from the cabinet.
Also read: JS extends time for Oil, Gas and Mineral Corp. bill
The education ministry took the initiative to prepare an education law in line with the Education Policy of 2010.
The policy recommended formulation of a law for proper implementation of the policy.
It also asked a subcommittee of the education policy implementation committee to draft a law on January 26, 2011.
In December 2016, the education ministry sent a draft of the Education Act to the Cabinet Division. But it took the draft back following huge criticism as the ministry gave legitimacy to coaching and private tuition in the name of "shadow education".
According to the draft of the Education Act, there will be provision for imposing a ban on printing, publishing, and marketing notebooks and guidebooks.
The draft act stipulates that teachers will not be able to give private tuitions to students of their own institutions. It also seeks to ban corporal punishment for schoolchildren and mental torture by teachers.
According to officials, the draft law makes printing, publishing, and marketing of notebooks and guidebooks punishable by a maximum imprisonment of three years or a maximum fine of Tk 5 lakh or both.
It also states that if a teacher forces students of his institution to buy notebooks and guidebooks, actions will be taken against him or her.
However, the government will allow publication of supplementary books and education aid books only after approval from the authorities concerned.
If a teacher of an educational institution forces students to purchase supplementary books and education aid books, it will be considered as misconduct and disciplinary actions will be taken against him or her, says the draft law.
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Zakir Hossen said that there are 5,626 dilapidated primary school buildings in the country.
In response to a query of ruling Awami League MP elected from Noakhali Mamunur Rashid said the government has taken steps to develop the infrastructure in these dilapidated government primary school buildings.
According to sources available at different websites, the total number of government primary schools is around 65,000.
Also read:JS passes Bangladesh Tourism Corporation (Amendment) Bill
Responding to a question from ruling Awami League MP from Chattogram M Abdul Latif, Education Minister Dipu Moni said the government has taken steps to establish 10 government secondary schools in the vicinity of the capital to reduce the pressure of students in Dhaka schools.
These schools will be at Keraniganj, Purbachal, Jalkuri, Nabinagar, Dhamrai, Hemayetpur, Joarsahara, Santarkul, Ashulia and Chattogram Road.
The Minister in reply to Jatiya Party MP elected from Kishoreganj Mujibul Haque said the government will take necessary measures to address the issue of fixing of high tuition fees indiscriminately at the private universities.
“The University Grants Commission is already collecting and reviewing the fee structure of all private universities,” she said.
Responding to a question from AL MP from Feni Nizam Uddin Hazari, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Zakir Hossen said the ongoing school feeding program would end on June 30.
“A feasibility study has been initiated to take up new projects in this regard. Following the completion of the feasibility study, a new project will be adopted for school feeding of government primary school students across Bangladesh in the light of the recommendations,” he said.
Responding to a question from AL Mamunur Rashid, Dipu Moni said educational institutions which are not brought under MPO enrolment, will be considered for MPO registration as this is a continuous process.
Food production, price control should get prioritised in budget: Dr. Debapriya
Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Convener, Citizen Platform on Sunday said exchange rates and interest rates need to be balanced to make the economy stable and control food prices.
Apart from this, the agriculture sector should be given priority in the budget and at the same time Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) should play a special role in controlling food prices.
He said this in a press briefing on the budget for the marginal and backward people organized by Citizens' Platform for the Implementation of SDGs, held at the BRAC Center in the capital.
Also read: Debapriya wants more allocation for social safety in next national budget
“Globally, rising prices of food, fertilizers and fuels, three main commodities, are pushing up import costs and putting pressure on inflation. Bangladesh's economy has not yet returned to its earlier state of Covid-19 pandemic. It is important to protect the livelihoods and affordability of marginalized and backward people, as the impact on them is comparatively higher,” said Debapriya, an economist and public policy analyst.
In general, lower-middle class and marginal people are mostly affected by the price hike whose income does not increase in line with the market.
These groups should be given protection in the budget during the fiscal year of 2022-23, he said.
He said the stability of macro-economy depends on inflation, exchange rate and the flood situation.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Core Group Member, Citizen Platform said that although the budget is business- and bureaucrat-friendly, the hope of backward people remained left in the budget.
He termed it as an unconstitutional budget which is legitimizing corruption and immorality for those who are earning illegally.
Also read: Form expert committee to review govt data: Debapriya
"We are still lagging behind in terms of transparency and accountability," he said.
Rifat Bin Sattar, Director, Program Development and Quality, Save the Children, Bangladesh, Taslima Akter, Kashfia Firoze, leaders of garment workers, among others spoke in the function.
Shops, markets to closed by 8 pm from Monday: State Minister
All shops, shopping malls and markets across the country will close after 8 pm from Monday, said State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian on Sunday.
She said the move has been in line with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s instruction to keep shops shuttered after 8 pm to save on electricity and energy.
Also read: Businesses reject plan to impose 8pm closing time on shops
However, the kitchen markets, pharmacies, hotels, restaurants, petrol pumps and other services are out of this restriction and can operate after 8pm, read the directives.
The decision was taken at a meeting held at the Ministry of Labor and Employment on Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the traders and the businesspeople demand that shops and markets be allowed to do business until 10 pm from July 1 to July 10 for the sake of business ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
“We will send this proposal in the form of summary to the Prime Minister's Office,” Monnujan added.
Also read:Restaurant owners demand one-stop service for licensing, VAT for all food shops
On June 16, a letter signed by the Director General of the Prime Minister's Office (Administration) Ahsan Kibria Siddiqui, said that the PM has instructed the new timing for shops to save electricity amid rising energy prices worldwide.
Rongiyas rally in Cox’s Bazar demands return home in Myanmar
Rohingyas from 25 of the 34 refugee camps in Ukhia and Teknaf gathered on Sunday demanding that they are repatriated to their homeland Myanmar.
The rally started at 8 am at the 23 camps of Ukhia and two in Teknaf following staging human chains and demonstration.
Chanting “Back to Home” slogan Rohingyas of all ages from every block of the refugee camps participated in the rally and requested the global communities to ensure their return to Myanmar.
Also read: No alternative to collective plan to tackle cut in Rohingya aid: Experts
Rise in Covid cases: Bangladesh reports 596 more cases with positivity rate surging to 7.38pc
The positivity rate kept rising as Bangladesh recorded 596 new Covid cases in 24 hours till Sunday morning taking the country's total caseload to 1,956,327.
The country's total fatalities, however, remained unchanged at 29,131 as no death was reported during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Also read: Covid-19 : Bangladesh reports 304 more cases with no death
The daily test positivity rate increased to 7.38 per cent from Saturday’s 5.94 per cent with 8,191 samples tested during the period.
The country on Saturday saw 304 cases with zero death.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent. The recovery rates declined to 97.42 per cent as 49 patients recovered during this period.
In May, the country reported only four Covid-linked deaths and 816 new cases, while 7,356 patients recovered from the disease, according to the DGHS.
Among the four deaths during the period, one was vaccinated with single dose of Covid vaccine while three were vaccinated with two doses.
Also read: WTO ministers reach deals on fisheries, food, COVID vaccines
The country reported its first zero Covid death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 cases, since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020.
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest positivity rate of 33.37 per cent.
The country registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.
JS extends time for Oil, Gas and Mineral Corp. bill
The parliamentary standing committee on Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry on Sunday got additional 45 working days to submit its report on Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation Bill, 2022.
The Bill was placed in Parliament to expedite exploration of oil, gas and mineral resources in the country on June 5.
Also read: Supplementary budget for 2021-22 passed in JS
Chairman of the Committee Waseqa Ayesha Khan moved for the time extension in the House which approved it by voice vote.
The proposed law will replace the Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation Ordinance, 1985 that was declared void by the court as it was promulgated during the regime of military dictator.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid placed the bill on June 5 and it was sent to the respective parliamentary standing committee. The committee was asked to submit its report within 15 days.
As per the bill a Corporation will be established titled the Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation for carrying out the purposes of this bill. The corporation may also be called PETROBANGLA.
This will be a body corporate, having perpetual succession and a common seal with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and shall by the said name sue and be sued.
The main office of the corporation will be established in Dhaka whereas if necessary its offices can be set up in any place in and outside the country taking prior permission from the government.
The authorised capital of the Corporation shall be Tk 5000 crore, which was Tk 200 crore, while the paid up capital will be Tk 200 crore.
Also read:Electricity demand in Rajshahi region to go three-times higher in five years: Nasul Hamid
The Board shall consist of the following Directors, a Chairman to be appointed by the Government, an officer not below the rank of a Joint Secretary of the Ministry or Division dealing with energy and mineral resources to be nominated by that Ministry or Division, an officer not below the rank of a Joint Secretary of the Ministry or Division dealing with finance to be nominated by that Ministry or Division, an officer not below the rank of a Joint Secretary of the Ministry or Division dealing with planning to be nominated by that Ministry or Division, three officials of the Corporation nominated by the government and two Directors to be appointed by the Government.
Dengue: 24 new patients hospitalised
Twenty-four more dengue patients were hospitalised in 24 hours until Sunday morning.
All the new patients were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
As many as 122 dengue patients, including 118 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
Also read: Dengue cases rising in Bangladesh; 40 new patients hospitalised
This year, the DGHS has recorded 754 dengue cases and 632 recoveries so far. The directorate has not yet reported any death from the mosquito-borne viral disease.
Dengue – a leading cause of serious illness and death in some Asian and Latin American countries – was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000 and claimed 93 lives. In three years, the fatality number almost fell to zero.
However, 105 dengue patients, including 95 in Dhaka division, died in 2021.
Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas.
About 4 billion people, almost half of the world's population, live in areas with a risk of dengue, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Each year, up to 400 million people get infected with dengue while approximately 100 million get sick from infection, and 40,000 die from severe dengue, it says.
Also read: Dengue cases keep rising: 29 more hospitalized in 24 hrs
"There is no specific treatment for dengue or severe dengue. Early detection of disease progression associated with severe dengue, and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates of severe dengue to below 1 percent," according to the World Health Organization.