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Government is modernising postal services: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the government is modernising and expanding the country’s postal services so they can even transport perishable goods to the doorsteps of the people amid growing online business.
“The online business and sale are booming particularly after the outbreak of coronavirus. So, it needs to introduce the service so that perishable goods _ food items, fruits and vegetables _ can be sent through the postal services,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while launching the newly constructed 14-storey eye-catching Dak Bhaban, the administrative headquarters of the Directorate of Posts, in the city’s Agargaon area, virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
She said the government is modernising and expanding the country’s postal services.
She said the government is not only digitizing the postal system, but also purchased 118 mail vehicles to extend services for the people.
Male and female workers are being trained to drive the vehicles, she said.
“We’ve already taken initiative to introduce cooling systems in the postal services to transport perishable goods from one place to another place. We’re taking measures to procure suitable vehicles so that the people can avail the (transportation) service of goods including fruits and vegetables through the post offices,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina said a person should get the service from the postal department to send even cooked food to his or her relatives or dear ones in a good condition. This is why, suitable cooling system or freezing system is required for the perishable goods, she added.
Noting that procurement of the vehicles would not be enough for transport of perishable items, she said now construction of warehouses equipped with cooling chambers in the postal cetnres continues.
The Prime Minister said the construction of 14 modern mail processing and logistic service centres equipped with chilling chambers to preserve the perishable items is about to be completed.
She said the government is working to provide such transport services to the divisional and district towns initially as the government has taken measures to construct 38 client-friendly model post offices equipped with modern mail processing, chilling facility, storage and digital facilities.
Sheikh Hasina directed the Directorate of Posts to design projects to extend the service to Upazila and Union level.
“I would like to tell the Directorate of Posts that you will undertake such projects for introducing such systems (warehouses with chilling chambers) in Upazila and Union level that means all post offices” she said.
In 2010, the government amended the Post Office Act, 1898 in order to make the century-old law a time-befitting one, she said.
The Prime Minister said some 8,500 post offices have already been transformed as digital ones across the country under a project.
Noting that the government earlier set up 5,227 digital centres in the country, she said now people can also avail different digital services from the post office like digital centres.
Focusing on different new postal services, Sheikh Hasina said her government introduced postal track and tracing and online enquiry system, postal call centre, e-commerce, electronic money transfer service/mobile money order, postal cash card, International electronic money order (IEMO) and mobile financial services.
On the occasion of launching the multi-storied Dak Bhaban, the Prime Minister also released a commemorative postal stamp.
The modern building, constructed in the shape of a letter box, is equipped with a library, modern postal museum, auditorium, work stations, cafeteria, day-care centre, medical facilities, fire-fighting system and other IT facilities.
Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar spoke at the virtual function from the premises of Dak Bhaban in Agargaon.
PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus conducted the function, while Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Md Afzal Hossain delivered the welcome speech.
Covid-19: Bangladesh sees 22 more deaths, 1,292 new cases
Bangladesh reported 22 more coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours till Thursday morning, pushing up the country's fatalities to 12,480.
Besides, 1,292 more people were found positive for Covid-19 after testing 15,915 samples during the period.
The daily positivity rate declined to 8.12 percent from Wednesday’s 9.11 percent, said the Directorate General of Health Services.
Read:AstraZeneca: Govt's desperate efforts yet to yield any good news
Health authorities logged 17 Covid-related deaths on Wednesday, the lowest number in 68 days.The country saw 16 Covid-19 deaths on March 18 last.
The fatality rate remained at 1.57% .
The recovery rate stood at 92.47% as 1,291 people recovered in the last 24 hours. The overall recovery number is 7,35,157 till date.
With the fresh cases, the country’s total caseload reached 7,94,985.
The country has carried out 58,87,268 sample tests since reporting its first cases on March 8 last year and the first death on March 18, 2020.
Vaccination drive update
Bangladesh launched its vaccination drive on February 7 with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses purchased from India's Serum Institute.
The administration of the first dose remained suspended since April 26.
Also, the country, the prime recipient of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, has suspended the registration for Covid-19 jabs due to vaccine shortage amid a delay in the timely arrival of shipments from India.
However, the administering of the 1st dose of Chinese Sinopharm vaccine against Covid-19 began in Bangladesh on Tuesday.
Cabinet body okays procurement of 1.5 cr Sinopharm vaccine
The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on Thursday gave final approval to a proposal of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry to procure 1.5 crore Chinese Sinofarm Covid-19 vaccine.
Read:Cabinet body okays proposal to procure 1.5 crore Chinese Sinopharm vaccine
As per the approval, the Health Services Division of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry will procure a total of 15 million (1.5 crore) vaccine in the next three months—June, July and August.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the Cabinet body meeting.
“Each month 5 million doses of vaccine will be imported from the Chinese firm”, Dr Shahida Aktar, additional secretary to the Cabinet Division, told reporters while briefing on the outcomes of the cabinet body meeting.
5 of a family burnt in Chattogram gas cylinder blast
Five members of a family sustained burn injuries after a gas cylinder exploded at a house at Friport Kalshidighirpar in the port city early Thursday.
The injured are Mohammad Royel, 30, his wife Nazu, 28, their two children Lamia, 3 and Zihad, 6 and his brother Shipon, 30.
Zahirul Islam, in-charge of Chattogram Medical College and Hospital police camp, said the gas cylinder of the house went off with a big bang around 3 am, leaving five members of the family injured.
Later, they were taken to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital. The condition of three members of the family is stated to be critical, said doctors.
Cabinet body okays proposal to procure 1.5 crore Chinese Sinopharm vaccine
The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on Thursday gave final approval to a proposal of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry to procure 1.5 crore Chinese Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine.
As per the approval, the Health Services Division of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry will procure a total of 15 million (1.5 crore) vaccine in the next three months—June, July and August.
Read: Process to procure vaccine from China at final stage: FM
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the Cabinet body meeting.
“Each month 5 million doses of vaccine will be imported from the Chinese firm”, Dr Shahida Aktar, additional secretary to the Cabinet Division, told reporters while briefing on the outcomes of the cabinet body meeting.
Earlier on May 19, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its “in principle approval” to a proposal of the Health Services Division to import Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine.
Read: Bangladesh begins administering 1st dose of Chinese vaccine
The CCEA also approved “in principle” procurement of Covid-19 vaccine from Russia in a meeting on April 28.
But no specific proposal regarding the quantity and the cost of the Russian Sputnik-V is yet to come to the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase, which is responsible for giving the final approval.
PM launches special mango train on Chapainawabganj-Dhaka route
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday inaugurated a ‘special mango train’ on Chapainawabganj-Dhaka route via Rajshahi in order to transport mangoes at lower cost.
She opened the special train service through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban.
The West Zone of Bangladesh Railway has taken the initiative to transport mangoes at a lower cost for the welfare of mango farmers and traders amid the Covid-19 situation.
Read: Hasina seeks Commonwealth’s focus on minimising climate vulnerabilities
The train, having the capacity of 150 metric tonnes (MT) in its five wagons, will depart Chapainawabganj for Dhaka via Rajshahi every day and the transport cost is up to Tk 1.3 per kg and Tk 1,300 per MT magno.
The train will have stoppage for loading mangoes at 14 stations on the Chapainawabganj-Dhaka railway route. The train may make stoppages at other stations based on parcel booking and unloading.
In the function, the Prime Minister also virtually laid the foundation stone of Madhukhali (Faridpur)-Kamarkhali-Magura New Rail Line Construction Project.
Bangladesh Railway is implementing the project to build the 24.80 km broad-gauge track at the estimated cost of Tk 1,202 crore within 18 months.
Addressing the function, the Prime Minister said the government has been working to expand rail networks throughout the country.
“We’re bringing the whole Bangladesh under the railway network,” she.
Sheikh Hasina said there is also a plan to construct a high speed rail line on Dhaka-Chattogram route. The government will construct the high speed rail line if the soil is found suitable for such a project following a feasibility study, she added.
Besides, the rail connectivity with neighbouring India on different routes, which remained suspended after the 1965 war, is now being restored and the connectivity on some routes has already been resumed, she said.
She said that there is a plan to extend the railway connectivity to Siliguri, India.
Read: Another cyclone coming, alerts PM Hasina
Talking about the Madhukhali-Kamarkhali-Magura Rail Line, the PM said the people of Magura will be benefited from the rail connectivity in a larger way once the construction of Padma Bridge is completed.
She directed the authorities concerned to expand the new rail line to Kushtia and Meherpur districts
Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan presided over the function joining the function from Magura.
PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus conducted the event while Railways Secretary Md Salim Reza delivered the welcome speech.
PM opens newly-constructed ‘Dak Bhaban’ for Directorate of Posts
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday launched the newly constructed headquarters of the Directorate of Posts, Dak Bhaban, in the city’s Agargaon area.
She opened the 14-storey eye-catching building through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban in the morning.
The Prime Minister also released a memorial postal stamp on the occasion of launching the multistoried building.
Read:Hasina seeks Commonwealth’s focus on minimising climate vulnerabilities
The modern building, constructed in the shape of a letter box, is equipped with a library, modern postal museum, auditorium, work stations, cafeteria, day-care center, medical facilities, fire-fighting system and other IT facilities.
Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar spoke at the virtual function from the Dak Bhaban in Agargaon.
State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Posts Telecommunications and IT Ministry AKM Rahmatullah, among others, were present at Dak Bhaban.
PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus conducted the function, while Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Md Afzal Hossain delivered the welcome speech.
Global Covid-19 cases hit 168 million
More than 168 million people have been found infected with the virus as Covid-19 pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world.
The total caseload reached at 168,181,146 as of Thursday morning while the death toll from the virus climbed to 3,494,001, according to the data compiled by Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
So far, 1,737, 293,414 doses of vaccines have been administered across the world.
The US, which remained the world’s worst hit country in both number of cases and deaths, has logged 33,190,016 with 591,947 fatalities.
India has been experiencing a staggering Covid-19 situation as in recent weeks the country has been counting deaths of more than 4,000 people a day.
Also read: US civil rights leader urges Biden To give 60 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to India
Amid worries over the reports of black fungus in India, the country has recorded 27, 157, 795 cases while the death toll from the virus mounted to 311,388 till date.
Brazil on Wednesday reported 2,398 more deaths from COVID-19, raising the national count to 454,429, the Ministry of Health said.
A total of 80,486 more infections were detected, raising the nationwide tally to 16,274,695, the ministry said.
Brazil has the world's second highest COVID-19 death toll, after the United States, and the third largest caseload, following the United States and India.
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh logged 17 more Covid-related deaths in 24 hours until Wednesday morning, the lowest number in 68 days.
The country saw 16 Covid-19 deaths on March 18 last.
Besides, 1,497 new cases were recorded taking the total caseload to 7,93,693, said a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Also read: India to begin clinical trials for Covd-19 vaccine in children
Health authorities recorded the new cases after testing 16,434 samples in the last 24 hours.
Vaccination drive
Bangladesh launched its vaccination drive on February 7 with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses purchased from India's Serum Institute.
The administration of the first dose remained suspended since April 26.
Also, the country, the prime recipient of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, has suspended the registration for Covid-19 jabs due to short supply of doses amid a delay in timely arrival of shipments from India.
However, the administering of the 1st dose of Chinese Sinopharm vaccine against Covid-19 began on Tuesday.
Cyclone Yaas: Rebuilding effort on, impact yet to be fully assessed
Cyclone Yaas made landfall in eastern India on Wednesday morning but its impact is not over yet as a slight drizzle has been sweeping Satkhira district since Thursday morning.
A vast tract of low-lying land has been inundated, forcing people of different upazilas of the district to take shelter in a safer place.
Besides, hundreds of shrimp enclosures have been washed away by the tidal surge triggered by the Cyclone Yaas, incurring a huge loss to the farmers.
Read:Cyclone Yaas impact: 27 upazilas affected by storm surge
However, the local administration is yet to ascertain the loss caused by the cyclone.
Meanwhile, 44 points of an embankment including 24 points in Shyamnagar upazila, 12 points in Ashashuni upazila, five points in Kaliganj upazila and one point in Debhata upazila have been damaged by the tidal surge as tidal surge went up to to 8-9 feet above the normal tide.
The local people are still working to repair the embankment on their own initiative to save their lands and households.
Koikhali, Gabura, Padmapukur, Burigoalini, Munshiganj, Ramjannagar of Shyamnagar upazila, Pratapnagar and Sreula union of Ashashuni upazila are the worst affected areas as many areas have been flooded by the tidal surge on Wednesday.
Read: Cyclone Yaas: Unusual tides destroy Saint Martin's jetty
Already some 2500 people have taken shelter in 28 cyclone shelter centers as most of them have lost their dwelling houses.
SM Mostafa Kamal, deputy commissioner of Satkhira district, said “The work to repair the damaged embankment is going on in full swing from Wednesday afternoon and many more workers will join today to complete the work immediately.”
Already Tk 2.15 core cash has been disbursed and 163 metric tonnes of food are in stock to distribute among the cyclone-hit people, he said.
Maritime ports asked to hoist local cautionary signal No 3
The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal number three as the cyclonic storm “Yaas” weakened into a deep depression over north Odisha and adjoining Jharkhand area on Thursday morning.
It is likely to move north-north-westwards further and weaken gradually, said a Met Office bulletin.
The bulletin said a steep pressure gradient persists over north bay and coastal areas of Bangladesh. The Sea will remain rough.
Read: Cyclone Yaas impact: 27 upazilas affected by storm surge
Under its influence, Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Jhalakati, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Bhola, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and Chattogram districts and their offshore islands, and chars are likely to experience wind speed up to 50-60 kph in gusts or squalls.
The low-lying areas of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Bhola, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and Chattogram districts are likely to be inundated by 02-04 feet height above normal astronomical tide under the influence of steep pressure gradient and the full moon phase.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter until further notice.
Bold, coordinated support measures required to ensure sustainable graduation: Dhaka
Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Rabab Fatima has said they need bold, innovative, improved and coordinated support measures from the development partners, United Nations system, and other international and regional organizations to ensure the sustainability of the graduating and the graduated countries.
She was speaking at the virtual thematic discussion on LDC5 PrepCom entitled, ‘Towards Improved Support to Graduating and Graduated Countries’ as the Chair held in New York on Wednesday.
The discussion event was jointly organised by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh, the United Nations Committee for Development Policy (UN-CDP) and the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and the Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS).
Highlighting the tremendous challenges faced by the graduating and the graduated countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda during the Covid-19 pandemic, Ambassador Fatima said, “It’s highly important to ensure Sustainable Graduation Support facility (SGSF), especially in trade, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and financing for those LDCs.”
She urged the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to try hard and come up with some concrete ideas for SGSF to ensure the sustainability of the graduation and to prevent any slide back on this trajectory.
Ambassador Fatima, Co-Chair of the LDC5 PrepCom, expressed her hope that the ongoing PrepCom will play a pivotal role in the lead-up to the LDC5 Conference in Qatar in 2022.
She said the international community and development partners should take appropriate supportive measures for the graduating and the graduated countries especially in view of the additional challenges brought on by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Also read: Bangladesh to seek LDC benefits for 5 years after graduation