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History has forgotten those who tried to erase Bangabandhu, says Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Saturday said that history has forgotten those who wanted to erase Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from history after his assassination 46 years ago.
Quader was addressing virtually a seminar on 'Implementation of Bangabandhu’s Vocational and Technical Education Philosophy' at the IDEB auditorium from his official residence. The seminar was followed by distribution of relief among helpless people.
The programme was the Institute of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh on the occasion of National Mourning Day to be observed on Aug. 15.
Saying "Those who were involved in the conspiracy to assassinate Bangabandhu witnessed the same tragedy", He further said that murder brings murder and killing does not forgive anyone. History never bows to any dictator, he said.
Noting that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working day and night to address the many challenges of coronavirus, the AL leader said that in such a crisis, all political parties should have only one politics, which is to save the people and stand by them.
Read: No irregularity in providing govt incentives to be tolerated, warns Quader
The minister for road transport and ridges said that a skilled manpower suitable for the digital revolution and the fourth industrial revolution should be developed under the leadership of Sajib Wazed Joy, grandson of Bangabandhu and ICT adviser of the prime minister.
"We need to think now so that Bangladesh can take maximum advantage of the demand for trained manpower that will be created in the international arena in the future," he said
Quader trashed BNP leaders’ allegation that that the government is destroying the education system through a conspiracy. The BNP has earlier smelt conspiracy with vaccines, he said.
He said the government has kept the educational institutions closed to protect the lives of students from surging corona infections.
Quader said it has been a habit for BNP to see conspiracy in everything.
Read: Mask more effective than Covid vaccine: Quader
He said BNP is suffering from delusions and forgets their responsibility to the people.
He called upon political parties as well as professional organizations to follow Covid health rules and also motivate the people to get vaccinated.
Awami League Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Office Secretary Barrister Biplob Barua and IDEB General Secretary Shamsur Rahman and other leaders also spoke at the seminar chaired by IDEB President Engineer AKM Hamid.
Later, the leaders distributed relief materials among the poor.
Bangladesh records second highest 261 Covid deaths in 24 hours
With Coronavirus and its new variant posing a real danger to the public health in Bangladesh, the country came up with another shocking figure of 261 fresh deaths on Thursday.
This is the second-highest single day deaths from the viral disease in Bangladesh as Covid-19, fueled by the deadly Delta variant, continues to wreak havoc in the country.
The country has been reporting over 200 single-day fatalities for the last two weeks as it races to head off a surge in Covid-19 cases driven by the unrelenting Delta variant.
After weathering the first wave of the virus, Bangladesh's hospitals are almost overwhelmed.
The country registered 8,136 new cases on Saturday after testing 31,714 samples. It reported the highest daily Covid-19 fatality of 264 on August 5 and 16,230 infections on July 28.
As more people are falling sick with Covid-19 and dying, hospitals in Dhaka and other cities are running out of beds.
There have been 1,343,396 infections and 22,411 coronavirus-related deaths here since the pandemic began, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.
Meanwhile, the daily test positivity rate fell to 25.65 % from 26.25% on Friday, while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a 5% or below rate.
However, the recovery rate rose to 88.89 % from 87.81% with 16,383 patients recovering from Covid-19 during this time.
Also read: Covid vaccine seekers overwhelm Suhrawardy Hospital; chaos all around
Besides, the case fatality too increased to 1.67% in the last 24 hours.
Of the recent deaths, 101 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 since the pandemic began.
Covid vaccine seekers overwhelm Suhrawardy Hospital; chaos all around
A chaotic situation was created at the city’s Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital on Saturday as thousands of jab-seekers turned up overwhelming its medical staff.
Nearly 4,000 vaccine seekers, including men and women, were seen waiting in queues in the corridors of its first and second floors with the vaccination going on at a snail’s pace.
Outraged by the “mismanagement”, the vaccine seekers said the situation turned worse as there was no arrangement for women to stand in any separate queue.
Also read: Mega Covid inoculation drive begins in Bangladesh
Tired of the long wait in the queue, the irate crowds got involved in quarrels with Ansar personnel and the hospital staff.
Some of them were seen trying to push each other to enter the vaccination rooms venting their anger amid chaos.
Inside the vaccination rooms, it was found that only two to three nurses were providing shots while another two or three medical staff checking vaccination registration papers. They had to struggle a lot to cope with the situation for lack of manpower.
About the situation, Prof Dr Md Shahadat Hossain, Vice Principal of the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital said the vaccine centre was originally designated for Bangladeshi expatriates before being selected for the mass vaccination, too. “As a result, the hospital had to face an extra pressure,” he said.
Also read: Bangladesh to procure 6 crore Sinopharm vaccine doses: Minister
He said the centre sent messages to 1,000 people inviting them to take vaccine shots. “But about 4,000 have come to receive that from this hospital. This hospital has also been dealing with 500 Covid-19 patients besides the vaccination. It’s a huge pressure”
He noted that the centre is providing different brands of vaccines like AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Moderna and Pfizer.
“So, we’ve to provide the shots very carefully choosing the right brands as some people are coming for the first dose while some are for the second ones,” he added.
Empowering youths: 5 lakh to get soft skills training in 5 years
The government is going to provide soft skills training to 500,000 jobseekers and employees within the next five years, aiming to improve their employability skills.
“The demand for soft skilled and trained people will substantially be increased over the next decades as huge jobs will be transformed by technology,” State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak said on Saturday.
He said the government in partnership with a reputed global organization will provide the quality soft skills training to students, jobseekers, employees, self-employed individuals and freelancers to enhance their personal ability to get and keep a job.
Also read: ICT division to digitize 73 libraries, says Palak
Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under ICT Division in partnership with Wadhani Operating Foundation (WoF), a US-based nonprofit public benefit corporation, will provide the training online under BCC’s training platform `www.bdskills.gov.bd’.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between BCC and WoF last week (1 August 2021) to complete the soft skills training programme by 2026.
Dengue surge in Bangladesh: 204 more hospitalized in 24 hrs
As the number of Dengue cases keep rising in Bangladesh, 204 new patients were hospitalized in 24 hours till Saturday morning.
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.
Of the new dengue cases, 194 were reported in Dhaka while the rest from outside the division, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Also read: Alarming Dengue surge: 264 more hospitalised in 24 hrs
According to the (DGHS), 997 patients are currently receiving treatment at different hospitals across the country. Of them, 958 patients were reported to be admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rests in other divisions.
Some 4,319 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January and 3,312 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 has been reviewed and confirmed yet, said the DGHS.
Also read: 3 new dengue patients admitted to Khulna hospital
Dengue fever was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000, claiming 93 lives that year. In the years 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.
4 members of teen gang ‘Gazi group’ held in Dhaka
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members arrested four members of a teen gang named ‘Gazi Group’ along with sharp weapons in the city’s Mohammadpur area on Saturday.
The arrestees were identified as Md Rubel,18, Md Shakil Khan,19, Md Nayeem,20, and Md Khairul Islam,20, said a press release of Rab-2.
Tipped off, a team of Rab-2 conducted a drive at Basila Tin Rastar More area around 1:15 pm and arrested the four members of the gang along with four knives and a mobile phone set.
Also read: 7 ‘teen gang members’ held in city
According to the investigation of Rab, the group members were involved in mugging, extortion and many crimes in the area.
Rab sources said the arrestees have many injury marks on their bodies which they sustained during clashes with other teen gangs in different times.
Process is underway to take legal action against them, said the release.
Also read: Man killed in attack by ‘teen gang members’ in Chattogram
Bangladesh to procure 6 crore Sinopharm vaccine doses: Minister
The government will procure six crore more doses of Sinopharm vaccine from China to ramp up the inoculation drive across Bangladesh, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Saturday.
“We’ve signed a deal with China to receive 1.5 crore doses of Sinopharm vaccine. China has already started sending the vaccine doses. We’ll sign another agreement to collect six core more doses as the prime minister has approved it,” he said.
The health minister came up with the disclosure while inaugurating a covid field hospital at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
Also read: Mega Covid inoculation drive begins in Bangladesh
“Of the seven crore doses of Sinopharm vaccine, two crore doses will arrive in October and November each while some more vaccine jabs will come before the two months though those will be less in quantity,” he said.
BRAC gets regulatory nod to issue zero-coupon bonds
Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) has become the first non-governmental body in the country to receive approval from the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) to issue zero-coupon bonds worth Tk 1,350 crore.
Zero-coupon bonds, also known as discount bonds, don't generate periodic coupons or interest for investors like typical bonds. Investors get a lump sum on maturity.
Issuance of zero-coupon bonds by a non-governmental organisation is the first in the microcredit history of Bangladesh, according to a release.
Executive vice chairman of MRA, Md Fashiullah handed over the approval letter to chief financial officer of BRAC Tushar Bhowmik on August 5.
Read: Brac to work on protecting employees from exploitation, abuse
MRA executive director Laxman Chandra Debnath, directors Muhammad Mazedul Haque and Md Nure Alom Mahadi, and BRAC associate director Ashit Baran Das were also present.
Earlier on February 3, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) also approved the issuance of this zero-coupon bonds valued at Tk 1,350 crore.
The bond is unsecured, non-convertible, and fully redeemable with its tenure from one-and-a-half to five years. Institutional investors, corporates and high net worth individuals will be eligible to purchase this bond in multiples of Tk 10 million.
RSA Advisory Limited is acting as the lead arranger of this issue and MTB Capital Limited is the trustee to the issue.
“Client’s savings and bank borrowings was the main source of funds for BRAC Microfinance. Now Bond issuance also comes as an alternative source of funding for the microcredit institutions,” BRAC CFO Tushar Bhowmik said.
The CFO expected that the bonds would open up avenues for non-lender institutions to invest in BRAC's microfinance programme.
Read: Brac to launch antigen testing Saturday
He said that it is a great recognition for the microfinance sector and expressed gratitude to all regulatory bodies for the cooperation along the way.
BRAC expects that the bonds will help improve the livelihoods of people who need access to affordable financial solutions, especially in marginalised communities, in a more efficient way, the release said.
Rajshahi sees 12 more Covid deaths in 24 hrs
Twelve more Covid patients have died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) in 24 hours till Saturday morning, health officials said.
Four of the patients died of Covid-19 while five died with symptoms of the virus and the remaining three died with post-Covid complications, said hospital director Brigadier General Shamim Yazdani.
Besides, three of them were from Rajshahi district, one each from Natore, Naogaon and Sirajganj districts and two each from Chapainawabganj, Pabna and Kushtia districts.
Currently, 407 patients are undergoing treatment at the hospital which has 513 beds.
Read:19 more die of Covid at Rajshahi hospital
Of the admitted patients, 203 have tested positive for Covid-19, while 113 are with symptoms and 71 have post-Covid health complications.
Read:22 die of Covid at Rajshahi hospital in 24 hours
Kushtia logs nine more Covid deaths
Kushtia General Hospital on Saturday morning reported nine more Covid-related deaths in 24 hours.
Eight of the deceased were confirmed Covid-19 patients while the remaining one showed symptoms of the virus, said statistics officer of Kushtia General Hospital, Md Mejbaul Alam.
Besides, 75 people have tested positive for corona in the district in the past 24 hours. "Some 219 samples were tested during the period," he said.
The positivity rate currently stands at 34.24%.
Read: 7 more die of Covid at Kushtia hospital
A total of 227 people with Covid symptoms are currently undergoing treatment at the leading medical facility.
So far, 15,694 people have been infected with the virus in the district, while the death toll from Covid topped 608.
On the other hand, 11,979 people have recovered from Covid to date.
Read:Covid-19: 18 more lives lost in Kushtia