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Covid Surge: Bangladesh sees 241 more deaths, 10,299 new cases
Covid-19 in Bangladesh continued its relentless havoc as the country saw 241 more deaths and 10,299 new cases in 24 hours till Sunday morning.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatality to 22,652 and the total caseload to 1,353,695, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The new cases were detected after testing 42,003 samples which lowered the country’s case positivity rate to 24.52% from Saturday’s 25.65%.
The country overwhelmed by the Delta variant Covid surge has been seeing over 200 deaths daily since July 25 while over 13,000 cases daily on average for a week.
However, the case fatality rate remained unchanged at 1.67% during the period, said the DGHS.
Besides, the recovery rate rose to 89.05% from 88.89 % with 16,627 new patients recovering from Covid-19 during this time.
Of the recent deaths, 105 people died in Dhaka alone, the highest ever in the division.
Deaths in Bangladesh’s capital on a single day crossed the grim landmark of 100 for the first time on Saturday with 101 deaths.
Read: Govt eases lockdown from Aug 11 with some guidelines to follow
Besides, 59 people died in Chattogram division, 30 in Khulna, 12 each in Rajshahi and Barishal, 10 in Rangpur, seven in Sylhet and six died in Mymensingh.
Of them, 128 were men and 113 women.
As per their age breakup, one was below 10 years, one between 11-20, nine between 21-30, 17 between 31-40, 28 between 41-50, 54 between 51-60, 70 between 61-70, 49 between 71-80, nine between 81-90 and three were between 91-100 years of age.
BSF handovers to BGB 5 Bangladeshis held in Fulbari border
Indian Border Security Force (BSF) handed over five Bangladeshi citizens who illegally entered India to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) after holding a flag meeting on Saturday evening.
The arrestees were identified as Abul Kalam,25, his wife Shahnaj Begum, son, Shahjalal,5, from Kamalapur village of former enclave Dashiarchara and Nur Jahan Begum,35, and her son Nur Imam,7, from Jokarhat Amtala village of the same upazila.
BGB filed a case against three of the arrestees for crossing borders without passports and handed them over to police while leaving the two children in their parent’s custody.
Also read: Benapole: BGB on high alert to prevent rawhide smuggling
Belal Hossain , relative of an arrestee said, they went to India’s Delhi by illegal means through a broker and used to work in a brick kiln there.
While waiting to enter Bangladesh near the border, BSF members of India’s Dhaprahat camp arrested them, he said.
Dhaprahat-192 battalion BSF inspector Vivek Mila handed the arrestees over to BGB-15 Kashipur camp Company Commander Subedar Ramjan Ali in a flag meeting held near international pillar no-942 of Kashipur border around 5pm, Saturday, said the BGB sources.
Also read: BGB detains 8 Bangladeshis pushed back from India
Officer-in-Charge of Fulbari police station, Rajib Kumar Ray said the three arrestees were sent to jail Sunday.
Govt eases lockdown from Aug 11 with some guidelines to follow
The government has decided to ease the ongoing nationwide lockdown from Aug. 11 with a few guidelines to follow in different sectors and people’s movement and gatherings.
The Cabinet Division issued a notification in this regard Sunday saying with some restrictions imposed during the lockdown will be lifted following the decision taken in an inter-ministerial meeting held on Aug. 3.
From August 11, all the government, private offices and banks will be opened following the health guidelines, said the notification issued on Sunday.
It said Bangladesh Supreme Court will issue necessary directives about the courts.
Read: Lockdown or no lockdown, life is the same in Dhaka
Road, railways and river transports will be allowed to carry passengers in full passenger capacity. However, in regard to road transports local administrations (Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners) are allowed to order half of the public transport to move every day after consulting with the relevant authorities and law enforcement forces.
Lockdown or no lockdown, life is the same in Dhaka
Amid growing calls for stronger measures to stop the spread of Delta variant, the government has imposed a nationwide lockdown and extended it several times. But the question is whether there is any lockdown in capital Dhaka as everything looks normal?
“This lockdown seems to be pointless when people are allowed to move as they wish. What we really need are clear rules about the lockdown and its genuine enforcement,” said a retired engineer wishing anonymity.
Read:Lockdown breaches: 342 arrested in Dhaka on day 16
The movement of people and vehicles increased significantly on the 15th day of lockdown on Sunday as many people are coming out of their houses for various reasons.
Some people are going outside for vaccination as mass vaccination programme began in the country on Saturday while many more for other reasons as export-oriented factories were opened on August 1.
It is only the shopping malls and eateries that remained closed and public transport stayed off roads as per lockdown rules.
During visits to different areas of the city, the UNB correspondent saw roads were filled with private vehicles and rickshaws as usual.
In some cases, traffic police were seen handling the pressure of vehicles on roads. Besides, the pressure of vehicles was largely seen in Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Satrasta, Uttara, New Market, Mirpur, Asad Gate, Banani, Gabtoli and Technical points. The searching and checking of people and vehicles at different points of the capital also continued, though loosely.
Read:Bustling Dhaka finally feels ‘lockdown silence’
Traffic Inspector Asaduzzaman (Mohakhali), said, “The number of vehicles is higher than the previous days and we’re handling traffic manually at Mohakhali and Amtola point.”
BRAC partners with govt’s Covid-19 vaccination drive
BRAC, a development organisation, has joined as a partner of the government's Covid-19 vaccination drive to accelerate resilience against the pandemic.
BRAC started managing vaccine administration in nine centres of Dhaka from Saturday with the help of midwives from BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health. It is also assisting the government in 3,214 centres at the union level across Bangladesh.
Read: BRAC gets regulatory nod to issue zero-coupon bonds
People aged from 25 years and above can get the jab by showing their national identity card (NID) between 9am and 3pm every day from BRAC-managed centres, said a press release by the organization.
The service will remain open till August 12.
The eligible must bring a photocopy of NID card or the vaccine registration card registered with the Shurokkha App to receive the vaccine.
The centres are offering vaccine doses only for those who have registered with the Shurokkha App but have yet to receive a short message service confirming the date of vaccination.
Read:One-third of female employed youths jobless as impact of Covid-19: BRAC
Only the first dose of the vaccine is offered from these centres and will mention the date of the second dose in the vaccine card.
Each of these BRAC-managed centres in Dhaka city can administer 350 doses per day.
Women, elderly people (over 50 years) and people with disabilities are prioritized in vaccination from these centres.
Dr Morseda Chowdhury, director of Health, Nutrition and Population Programme (HNPP) at BRAC, said, “We aim to ensure vaccine administration management in a disciplined way everywhere, including hard-to-reach areas. We believe a combined effort by everyone is essential in the fight against the pandemic.”
Read:Nine banks to collaborate with BRAC in Covid awareness and support
The nine centres BRAC is operating in the two city corporations in Dhaka city are: Nurer Chala Government School and Shaheed Turjo Primary School in Badda under the Dhaka North City Corporation, and councillor office in Paltan Community Centre, Dingi in Dhanmondi 8/A, councillor office in Dhanmondi Community Centre at Bhuter Goli on Dhanmondi Circular Road, councillor office in Hatirpool Kacha Bazar, councillor office in Shegunbagicha multipurpose complex, Fakir Chan Sarder Community Centre in Narinda, and MA Sattar High School in Demra under Dhaka South City Corporation.
Dengue surge in Bangladesh: 224 more hospitalized in 24 hrs
As many as 224 new patients were hospitalized in 24 hours till Sunday morning amid a growing concern over a spike in dengue cases.
Since August 1, the country has been seeing over 200 dengue cases every day adding worries to the already overburdened health sector with Covid-19 patients.
Read: BGMEA issues guidelines on prevention of dengue, chikungunya
Of the new dengue cases, 211 were reported in Dhaka while the remaining 13 from outside the division, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
According to the (DGHS), 946 patients are currently receiving treatment at different hospitals across the country. Of them, 900 patients were reported to be admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rests in other divisions.
Some 4,543 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January and 3,587 of them have been released after they recovered.
So far, 10 suspected deaths caused by dengue were reported to the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) but none of them had been reviewed and confirmed yet, said the DGHS.
Read:Dengue surge in Bangladesh: 204 more hospitalized in 24 hrs
Dengue fever was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000, claiming 93 lives that year. In the year that followed, the country learned to deal with the disease much better.
The fatalities had almost fallen to zero at one stage, before surging again in 2018, leading to the severe outbreak the following year.
Begum Mujib was a co-fighter of Bangabandhu, says Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said Begum Mujib was not only Bangabandhu's wife, but she was also the father of the nation’s lifelong co-fighter.
He said this while addressing a press briefing after paying homage to Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib at Banani graveyard on the occasion of her 91st birth anniversary this morning. He paid the tribute first on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and then for the Awami League, along with its central leaders.
Read: Five women receive 'Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib Award'
Quader said Begum Mujib had given inspiration, strength and courage to Bangabandhu during crisis and struggle from behind the scenes.
No alternative to mass vaccination of apparel workers: BGMEA
There is no alternative to mass vaccination of the apparel workers to keep the operation of the factories uninterrupted and protect the country’s economy, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan has said.
He expressed sincere thanks and gratitude towards the government for bringing the workers of the apparel industry under the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
Earlier, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) requested the government to bring RMG workers under vaccination on a priority basis, considering them as frontliners who are working amid the pandemic to protect the economy of the country.
Also read: Take responsibility for Covid treatment of RMG workers: SKOP to owners
The BGMEA President requested all members and stakeholders involved to follow health safety guidelines, especially wearing mask to minimize the risk of Covid-19 infection and spread.
Vaccination of employees and workers of Mithela Group in Narayanganj has started, says BGMEA.
Nazrul Islam Babu, MP, Mithela Group Chairman Azahar Khan, Upazila Health and Family Planning Office Dr. Saima Afroz Eva and Araihazar Upazila Civil Surgeon were present at the vaccination programme that began on Saturday.
RMG factories to remain open amid 'all-out' lockdown: BGMEA president
The Mithela Group workers received the Covid-19 vaccines as part of the program launched by the government on July 18 to vaccinate apparel workers.
Who had planned Bangabandhu family's murder and why? questions Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday wondered why the August-15 carnage was carried out in cold blood and what the crimes of her father Bangabandhu, mother Bangamata and brothers were!
“One question always crosses my mind -- what actually had driven the killers to stage these killings, what were the crimes of my father, mother and brothers?” she questioned while addressing a programme arranged marking the 91th birth anniversary of Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib.
Read:Bangabandhu: Bangladesh’s liberator as proclaimer of independence
The theme of the day this year is ‘Bangamata: a fearless companion in the crisis and struggle’.
The prime minister joined the virtual programme from her official residence Ganobhaban, while other participants got connected from the Osmani Memorial Auditorium and Deputy Commissioner’s Office of Gopalganj.
She said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib and her brothers sacrificed their lives for peace and happiness and the independence and economic freedom of the nation. “But that Bangalees killed him, murdered him --why?” she said in an emotion-choked voice.
Hasina, the elder daughter of Bangabandhu and Bangamata, recalled that Bangamata contributed a lot towards advancing the struggle of independence with patience, courage and right and timely decisions and implementing those. “My mother contributed a lot to every movement.”
She also said Bangamata encouraged Bangabandhu throughout her life enabling him to devote himself to work for the country and the nation.
Mentioning that Bangamata always believed that every woman should receive education and attain financial solvency, the prime minister said, “She thought that only shouting for rights wouldn’t bring anything for the womenfolk. For attaining the rights, all women should take education and get economic emancipation to stand on their own feet…she had felt that very well.”
Hasina said Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib ignored her personal desires and demands in many ways to create a scope for Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to devotedly work for the country. Bangamata had no personal demand and never annoyed Bangabandhu with family matters.”
Read: Five women receive 'Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib Award'
Recalling the role of Bangamata in the country’s independence, she said Bangamata had taken the right decisions in various critical times in politics.
“When a matter of taking a tough decision came up in politics on various occasions, it’s very sad to say many of our senior and experienced leaders had failed to take the right decisions or about to take wrong decisions. My mother had taken the right decisions at the right time. Alongside dealing with family affairs, Bangamata used to take care of the families of the detained and ailing leaders, and arranged their treatment,” she said.
Bangabandhu: Bangladesh’s liberator as proclaimer of independence
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque has said a vested quarter made evil efforts to outshine Bangabandhu’s long struggle for the country’s Liberation War with a false campaign about the proclamation of independence by Ziaur Rahman.
“This is unfortunate that a false campaign was carried out about the proclamation of the country’s independence after Bangabandhu’s assassination in 1975,” he said.
Read:History has forgotten those who tried to erase Bangabandhu, says Quader
Speaking at a webinar on Saturday night, the minister also said Ziaur Rahman had just read out the proclamation of independence on March 27. “But an effort was made to undermine Bangabandhu’s struggles of 24 years for the country's independence through it (false campaign about the proclamation of independence.”
Out of his 24 years’ struggle, he said, Bangabandhu had been in jail for nearly 14 years and he gradually created the ground for the Liberation War through different movements and programmes. “Who did give Zia the right to declare independence? People gave only Bangabandhu the authority, right and mandate to proclaim the independence through casting their votes in the 1970 general election.”
The virtual programme titled ‘Bangabandhu, Bangladesh and the Young Generation' was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Better Bangladesh Foundation (BBF) on Saturday night. BBF Founding Chairman Prof Masud A Khan moderated the webinar.
Mozammel said Bangladesh and Bangabandhu have become synonymous – a single identical symbol to people. “He engaged himself in serving people since his childhood. The day Pakistanis denied Bengali, the mother language of 56 percent of people of the country, the young student leader, Sheikh Mujib, realised that we got Punjabi exploiters after getting rid of the British rule.”
He said Sheikh Mujibur Rahman first thought of liberating the country through founding Chhatra League on January 4, 1948.
The minister said Awami League under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won the general election on December 7, 1970.
“With this election, the Bengali nation gave Bangabandhu the unilateral mandate to lead the country and raise voice in favour of them. He then prepared the nation and finally proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh in the early hours of March 26. People joined the war responding to his call and liberated the country through a nine-month-long battle,” he said.
Read:Second photo exhibition on life, legacy of Bangabandhu begins in Seoul
Mozammel urged the young generation to know the history and the objectives of the country’s Liberation War and work for materialising Bangabandhu's dream of building a hunger- and poverty-free 'Sonar Bangla'.
Bangladesh Bank’s former Governor Dr Atiur Rahman said Bangabandhu inspired the young generation to liberate the country under his able leadership. ”The average age of our freedom fighters was 21-22, and 78 percent of them were the children of farmers.”
He said Bangabandhu thought about the welfare of the young generation throughout his life. “He had great feelings for the youth. He was the leader who could transmit energy among the youth.”
Dr Atiur said Bangabandhu was the heart of Bangladesh and this heart was torn out on August 15, 1975, “The killers had thought the name of Bangabandhu will be eliminated through his assassination. But he returned among us very strongly and will always remain among us. Bangabandhu is an eternal name which will glitter always.”
He said Bangladesh has been progressing fast under the able leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina. “The country now needs to focus on skills development of its workforce to face the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). We also need to take initiatives for re-skilling and upskilling of our workforce involving the youths.”
Atiur said the government should focus on improving the ease of doing business for boosting the country’s progress and creating more employment for the young generation.
Read:Bangabandhu Corner to be established at Lovely Professional University in Punjab
Bangladesh Ambassador to Jordan Nahida Sobhan said Bangabandhu was active over the issues of people’s rights and he demonstrated his high leadership quality since his early student life. “He took the country towards the independence gradually by preparing the nation for the Liberation War.”
“So, I urge the young generation to know the life and works of Bangabandhu and get inspired to play a significant role in taking the country forward,” she said.