others
Covid fatalities, infections in Bangladesh drop for 3rd straight day; 166 more die
Although the Covid-related deaths dropped to 166 in Bangladesh on Friday from 231 on July 19, the country’s health system still remained overwhelmed.
The country saw the below 200 fatalities for the third straight day.
Also, Covid-19 infections are at 81% of the peak now, with 9,632 new cases reported on average each day. The highest daily average was recorded on July 15.
Bangladesh recorded 6,364 new infections in 24 hours till Friday morning after testing 20,493 samples.
With Covid's Delta variant spreading fast, the country's fatalities had been hovering at nearly 200 for the last two weeks. It reported the highest daily Covid-19 fatality number – 231 – on July 19 and 13,768 infections on the 12th of the month.
There have been 1,146,564 infections and 18,851 coronavirus-related deaths here since the pandemic began, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read: Dhaka to receive 2.45 lakh AstraZeneca jabs from Tokyo Saturday
Meanwhile, the daily test positivity rate fell to 31.05% from Thursday's 32.19% when the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a 5% or below rate.
Amid growing concerns about the highly infectious Delta variant, Dhaka division reported the highest 60 deaths, Khulna and Chattogram 33 each, Rangpur 12, Barishal 10, Sylhet eight, Rajshahi seven, and Mymensingh three.
However, the death rate stood at 1.64% and the recovery rate rose to 85.35%.
So far, Bangladesh has administered at least 11,565,087 doses of Covid vaccines – enough to have vaccinated around 3.1% of the country's population, assuming every person needs two doses.
The government on Friday reimposed the countrywide strict lockdown following an eight-day pause for Eid-ul-Azha. The new restrictions will continue till August 5, unless extended again.
The country imposed its toughest lockdown at the start of July. Under the lockdown, people were only allowed to leave home to buy essentials and for emergencies.
Read: India working to resume vaccine export to Bangladesh, reiterates Doraiswami
With the recent removal of the curbs ahead of Eid celebrations, people were seen breaking Covid-19 rules while they were on the streets and in markets and malls.
At least 82.67 lakh subscribers of the four telecom operators left Dhaka during July 15-20 to celebrate Eid, according to Post and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar.
The WHO has reported that globally, Covid-19 cases and deaths had soared after periods of decline, with the reversal spurred in part by the delta variant.
Remembering Tajuddin on his 96th birth anniversary
The 96th birth anniversary of Tajuddin Ahmad, the first Prime Minister of independent Bangladesh and one of the four national leaders, was observed on Friday.
Tajuddin, a great man and a political logician to the core, was born on this day in 1925 at Dardariya village in Kapasia, Gazipur.
Since the 1947 partition, Tajuddin Ahmad played a very important role in all movements from anti-communalism to the Language Movement to the 1971 Liberation War.
A close confidante of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Tajuddin was the general secretary of the Awami League in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Always actively associated with politics for the emancipation of people, he coordinated with Awami League’s election campaign in 1970, in which the party won a historic parliamentary majority to form the government.
Read: Tajuddin Ahmed’s 95th birth anniversary observed
Tajuddin had led the wartime provisional government during the Liberation War of Bangladesh 1971.
On December 22, 1971, Tajuddin returned to Dhaka after the war.
After the independence of Bangladesh, Tajuddin served as the Prime Minister till the historic return of Bangabandhu to his homeland on January 10, 1972.
Later, he served as the Minister of Finance and Planning in the cabinet of the Bangabandhu government. He resigned from the cabinet on October 26, 1974.
On November 3, 1975, four national leaders and heroes of the country’s Liberation War -- Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, Captain Mansur Ali and AHM Quamruzzaman -- were assassinated inside the Dhaka Central Jail.
The strong and unbending role Tajuddin had played during the Liberation War and the supreme sacrifice he made will always be remembered by this grateful nation.
Read: Tajuddin Ahmad's 95th birth anniv: LWM and Radio Shadhin to host online event
Liberation War Museum arranged a 48-hour online programme from Friday at 8pm, marking the 96th birth anniversary of Tajuddin Ahmad.
Filmmaker Tanvir Mokammel will deliver a speech on this virtual event, titled "Jonmodine Tajuddin Ahmad: Nisshongo Sarothi" and there will be a question-answer session at the end of the discussion.
Link to watch the documentary: vimeo.com/liberationwarmuseum
Zoom link for the discussion: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8520693449
Prof Yunus renews call for ensuring vaccine equality breaking profit wall
Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus has reiterated call for ensuring vaccine equality around the world noting that all the people need to be safe breaking the wall of profit.
“We’re talking much to make the vaccine patent-free. We’re working to get the patent out of the vaccine because the vaccine is a wall of profit and the wall of profit makes it tough for people to get the vaccine,” said Prof Yunus.
He made the remarks when asked about what he expects from the international community to ensure vaccines for all in a recent media briefing mentioning that they have been working for more than a year to ensure vaccine equality around the world.
Prof Yunus is all set to receive the Olympic Laurel as only the second person in history when the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics takes place on Friday.
“Bangladesh will be so proud of this award because Bangladesh is a country that doesn’t get close to an Olympic medal. But they have a cause for a celebration now. The whole world will watch a Bangladeshi receiving an Olympic award which will make every single person of Bangladesh proud of it. I believe it’ll be something that Bangladesh will remember for long,” said Prof Yunus during a virtual press meet.
Read: Patent-free Covid-19 vaccines: Yunus’ petition gets 1 million signatures
India working to resume vaccine export to Bangladesh, reiterates Doraiswami
India, the world’s largest vaccine maker, is working to resume the export of Covid vaccine jabs to Bangladesh as vaccine production in India is growing rapidly.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami reiterated this at Akhaura International Checkpost on his way back to Bangladesh from India on Friday morning.
Read:India trying to send vaccine jabs to Bangladesh soon: Doraiswami
The envoy said India is working to resume the vaccine supply to Bangladesh and the increased production of Covid vaccine is a positive sign.
"Hopefully, we’ll be able to send vaccine jabs to Bangladesh if vaccine production increases further. But I can't give any specific date in this regard," he told local journalists.
He said the trade volume between the two countries has increased despite the pandemic. "If our communication systems remain suitable, then we’ll be able to continue trading amid this pandemic."
Read:Doraiswami keen to push Covaxin as Covishield exports disrupted
Doraiswami also said India will be happy it can cooperate more with Bangladesh in their fight against Covid-19.
Akhaura Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rumana Akhter, officer-in-charge of Akhaura Police Station Md Mizanur Rahman and Immigration Police In-Charge Md Abdul Hamid others were present.
On July 18, the envoy went to New Delhi though Akhaura land port to discuss how India can expedite the supply of the remaining doses of Covishield jabs produced by Serum Institute of India.
Read:Greater trade, connectivity hold brighter future for Dhaka-Delhi ties: Doraiswami
Bangladesh was scheduled to get three crore doses of vaccines from India under a tripartite agreement signed last year. But New Delhi halted the export after sending only 75 lakh doses in March citing high domestic demand.
Dhaka to receive 2.45 lakh AstraZeneca jabs from Tokyo Saturday
Some 2,45,200 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine are scheduled to arrive here on Saturday from Japan.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will receive the vaccine doses that will come under COVAX facility.
A Cathay Pacific Airways flight will carry the vaccine doses that will land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the afternoon on the day.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki on Friday said Japan will provide in total 3 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Bangladesh.
Lockdown returns; most streets in Dhaka fall silent
Streets in capital Dhaka now look much quieter than normal after the government reenforced the nationwide lockdown following an eight-day break to protect people from the coronavirus transmission.
The lockdown restrictions came into force at 8am today and will continue till August 5 midnight, unless extended again as announced by the government on Thursday, upping its guard against the devastating Delta variant of Covid-19.
Today (Friday), the first day of the restarted lockdown, the number of vehicles seen in the capital was much lower than any other day during the last week.
Also read: Strict lockdown from Friday, againEven then, many were seen in the morning returning to Dhaka through different ways as public transports were not operating following the fresh order.
The government’s order for everyone was to stay in their respective areas as offices, courts, garment factories and all other export-oriented industries will remain closed during the period.Rab and army personnel, deployed to enforce the strict restrictions, were seen checking the movement of people and vehicles at different points of the capital in addition to the duties performed by the police.
Global Covid cases top 192 million
The global Covid-19 caseload has now surged past the grim milestone of 192 million as the highly contagious Delta variant is spreading like wildfire in several countries even with mass inoculations underway.
The total caseload and fatalities stand at 192,489,618 and 4,134,432, respectively, as of Friday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
So far, 3,746,414,242 vaccine doses have been administered across the globe.
The US, which is the world's worst-hit country in terms of both cases and deaths, has so far logged 34,278,077 Covid cases. Besides, 610,132 people have lost their lives in the US to date, as per the JHU data.
Also read: Americas account for 40% global Covid deaths, 25% cases: WHO
Brazil has registered 1,388 more Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, raising its national death toll to 547,134, the health ministry said on Thursday.
As many as 54,748 new cases were detected during the period, taking the total caseload to 19,524,092, the ministry said.
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.
The third worst-hit country, India's Covid-19 tally rose to 31,291,704 on Thursday as 41,697 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, as per the federal health ministry's corona data.
Besides, as many as 510 deaths due to the pandemic since Wednesday morning have taken the total death toll to 419,502.
Also read: What is a COVID-19 vaccine “breakthrough” case?
According to AP, India’s excess deaths during the pandemic could be a staggering 10 times the official Covid-19 toll, likely making it modern India’s worst human tragedy, according to the most comprehensive research yet on the ravages of the virus in the South Asian country.
The report released Tuesday estimated excess deaths — the gap between those recorded and those that would have been expected — to be three to 4.7 million between January 2020 and June 2021. It said an accurate figure may “prove elusive” but the true death toll “is likely to be an order of magnitude greater than the official count.”
The report was published by Arvind Subramanian, the Indian government’s former chief economic adviser, and two other researchers at the Center for Global Development, a nonprofit think-tank based in Washington, and Harvard University.
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh reported 187 more Covid-19-related deaths in 24 hours till Thursday morning, with the vaccination drive still failing to gather steam in the country.
The virus also infected 3,697 others during the period as Bangladesh observed the last day with the relaxed lockdown rules.
With the fresh figures, the total Covid caseload stands at 11,40,200, while the death toll has risen to 18,685, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The country saw 200-plus Covid-related deaths over the past two weeks on an average.
Also read: Bangladesh loses 187 more lives as Covid situation remains girm
Bangladesh reported its highest daily Covid-19 fatality of 231 on Monday.
The new cases were reported after testing 11,486 samples. The case positivity rate increased to 32.19% from Wednesday’s 30.48%%, said the DGHS.
Meanwhile, the country’s fatality rate has increased slightly to 1.64%.
So far, 9,69,610 people have recovered from Covid, taking the recovery rate to 85.04%.
PM Hasina congratulates Nepalese PM Deuba, hopes to strengthen ties
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday congratulated newly appointed Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and expressed hope that his new leadership will further deepen the excellent relations between their two close neighbours.
"Your return to the high position for the fifth time and the overwhelming support extended to you by the Parliament of Nepal on 18 July 2021, is a testimony to the trust and confidence the people and the political leadership of Nepal have on your leadership," she said in the congratulatory message.
Sheikh Hasina stated that as close neighbours, Bangladesh and Nepal enjoy excellent bilateral ties that are based on multiple commonalities and shared linkages, said a media release of PM’s press wing.
Also read: PM congratulates Tigers for win against Zimbabwe
She expressed her deep confidence that under Deuba’s able leadership the existing multifarious cooperation between Bangladesh and Nepal will further be deepened through exploring the untapped opportunities in potential sectors of collaboration.
She recalled the recent visit by the President of Nepal to Bangladesh which, she said, added “immense value to our celebrations of the twin epochal events of the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh.”
She stressed that Bangladesh is on its way to translating the dream of the Father of the Nation for “Sonar Bangla” into a reality by becoming a developing economy by 2021 and a developed economy by 2041.
Also read: Prime Minister congratulates Tigers for ODI series win against West Indies
The Premier said Nepal can benefit from Bangladesh’s socio-economic development.
She reiterated that the relationship between the two countries that was forged when the leadership of Nepali Congress extended support to Bangladesh during the Liberation War in 1971 will continue to expand and deepen in the years ahead.
She extended invitation to Deuba to visit Bangladesh at his earliest convenience.
Domestic flights to carry intl passengers to port of departure during lockdown
Domestic flights would continue during the strict lockdown set to resume Friday, but only to facilitate the movement of the international flight passengers in the country.
According to a circular of Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB), domestic flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines and NovoAir may only carry the passengers who are ultimately scheduled to catch an international flight, said a press release Thursday.
Read: Strict lockdown from Friday, again
The flights could continue maintaining health protocols strictly as per instructions.
Airlines were told to ensure that the domestic flight tickets are issued only to the passengers having international air tickets and the documents pertaining to their international flight should be checked as well.
Read: Ferry-launch suspended from Friday morning
The instructions would come into effect from 6 am Friday at all domestic airports, the release also said.
“Green Corridor” for oxygen tankers at ICP Petrapole
Bangladesh received 180 metric tonnes of liquefied medical oxygen from India carried by 11 tankers, which were provided a green corridor on an emergency basis.
The movement of 11 tankers to Bangladesh was facilitated on an emergency basis at Integrated Check Post (ICP) Petrapole, India on Wednesday.
Given the criticality of these supplies of liquid oxygen to hospitals in Bangladesh, ICP Petrapole officials provided a green corridor for medical oxygen export.
Read: Increase oxygen supply, Corona beds: PMO
The oxygen was imported by Linde, Spectra and Pure Oxygen, said a media release.
Anit Jain, Assistant Commissioner of Customs at ICP Petrapole informed that despite being Eid-ul-Azha holiday a special team of Land Port officials, Custom officials, BSF and CNF agents was constituted and they were in regular contact with the High Commission of India in Dhaka and their Benapole counterparts.
Kamlesh Saini, Director, Petrapole Land Port said, field level officials have been given special instructions to ensure that essential commodities like Liquefied Medical Oxygen could be cleared quickly from the Petrapole port.
Read: 4 held for selling oxygen cylinders at Pabna Hospital
He said port authorities on both the side share excellent relations having a long tradition of assisting each other.
Government officials on both sides of the border have demonstrated the spirit of brotherhood in supporting each other on the Eid-ul- Azha day.