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Cyclone Yaas: BIWTA suspends river transports as a precaution
The operation of inland river passenger transports has been suspended as a precautionary measure against approaching Cyclone Yaas, the authorities said on Tuesday.
The suspension ordered by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) will remain in effect until further notice.
Also read: Cyclone Yaas: Low-lying districts flooded as water level rises
It comes just a day after the government eased Covid-19 curbs on movement of passenger launches after nearly seven weeks.
In a special weather bulletin, the Met Office said at 3 pm Tuesday, the severe cyclonic storm was centered about 520 kms Southwest of Chattogram port, 520 km Southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 425 km South-southwest of Mongla port and 420 km South-southwest of Payra port.
Also read: Cyclone Yaas: Maritime ports in Bangladesh asked to hoist signal No 3
It is likely to move north-westward further and may cross Odisha-West Bengal coast by Wednesday noon (26 may 2021).
Maximum sustained wind speed within 64 kms of the severe cyclone centre is about 89 kph Rising to 117 kph in gusts/squalls or squalls, the bulletin said.
Banks can open during local lockdown, says central bank
Bangladesh Bank has said that banks can operate in the metropolitan city and district during lockdown imposed by local administration to contain the spread of Covid-19.
In a circular on Tuesday, the BB said the bank authorities can conduct their activities in discussion with the local administration.
“The bank authorities have to inform the local administration about the transportation of the bank staffs”, it said.
Currently, banks have been operating from 10 am to 2:30 pm for doing transactions as per instruction of the central bank.
They can also keep open offices until 4 pm to do their necessary activities.
Earlier, in an another circular the central bank said banks can keep one non-AD branch open within 2km radius in the city corporation areas and at upazila level one branch of each bank can remain open on Thursday, Sunday and Tuesday.
Read: Bangladesh banks on preferential trade terms to boost export earnings
Banks have to take measures to provide transport facilities for the staff during the period.
The BB circular said during the banking transaction hours, banks have to ensure different kinds of services including clearing of cheques, withdrawal and deposits of money, money transfer, the release of remittance, encashment of different instruments and also receipt of the payments of bills of different utilities.
BB said banks have to continue services like disbursement of loans, incentives, payment of salaries of different industries and also the purchase of export bills, loan sanction and distribution.
Banks have to follow instructions in keeping the branches located in the port areas in discussion with the local administration and other authorities, as per the circular issued on August 5 last year, it said.
Banks have to operate with limited staff under a roster system.
They have to ensure operation of ATM booths to facilitate transaction through cards by supplying adequate cash in the machines while the evening banking and weekly holiday banking activities will remain closed until further order, said the circular issued on April 13.
Russia ships equipment for Rooppur nuclear plant
Russia has shipped an equipment _ Separate tank _ for unit-2 of the under-construction Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).
The Separate tank is designed to collect moisture separated in re-heater called MSR (1200), a press release from Rosatom, the Russian nuclear power agency, said on Tuesday.
The equipment weighs 41 tons and has a 50-year operating life, it added.
It has been manufactured by ZIO-Podolsk JSC , part of the machine building division of Rosatom - JSC Atomenergomash, according to Rosatom.
Atomenergomash JSC is a complete supplier of all the equipment for the reactor compartment and produces a significant part of the equipment for the turbine hall at Rooppur NPP with a VVER-1200-type reactor unit.
The division's enterprises create reactors, steam generators, pumping and heat exchange equipment.
Rooppur nuclear plant is designed and being built in the northern district of Pabna by Russia. The plant will have two power units with an electrical capacity of 1,200 MW each.
Bangladesh begins administering 1st dose of Chinese vaccine
Bangladesh on Tuesday began administering the first dose of Chinese Sinopharm vaccine, marking a major turning point in its fight against Covid-19 pandemic.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque inaugurated the inoculation programme at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.
On May 12, Bangladesh received 5 lakh China’s Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine doses, donated by the Chinese government.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, China and Bangladesh have been supporting and assisting each other in their fight against the pandemic.
China has donated and is donating vaccine doses to 80 developing countries with urgent needs, and has provided support under COVAX for the emergency use of vaccines in developing countries.
Also read: Process to procure vaccine from China at final stage: FM
China has fulfilled its commitment to make the Covid-19 vaccine a global public good with practical actions, promoted the fair distribution of global vaccines and made China’s contribution to the realisation of vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries.
China says it will continue to make joint efforts with Bangladesh to make positive contributions to Bangladesh’s endeavour of protecting human lives and fight to win the battle against the pandemic, and together to build an even closer community of shared future and health for mankind.
Cyclone Yaas: Low-lying districts flooded as water level rises
The low-lying areas of the coastal regions in the country are being flooded as the rivers are inflating, causing three to four feet high tidal surges due to the effect of the impending cyclone Yaas.
At least 16 villages of Patuakhali district have been inundated as water is flowing through damaged embankments in Kalapara and Rangabali upazila of the district.
According to our local correspondent, water from the rivers in the district flowed 23cm above the danger level today during high tide.
Around eight thousand people are currently stranded at different villages of the district.
Local authorities including Rangabali UNO Masfakur Rahman and Kolapara UNO Abu Hasnat Md Shahidul Huq have assured UNB that necessary steps are being taken to rescue the stranded people.
Several villages in Satkhira including Gabura,Koikhali, Munshiganj and Padma Pukur Union of the district have already been flooded as water levels in the Chuna, Kholpetua, and Kopotakkho rivers adjacent to the Sundarbans have been on the rise since Tuesday morning,
The villagers are working very hard to repair the damaged embankments, reports our local correspondent.
Satkhira UNO ANM Abu Jafar Gibri told UNB that around 145 cyclone centres are ready to give place to 75,000 people in the district.
He said that necessary steps are being taken to bring people into the cyclone centers.
The district administration also decided to use 1,500 schools, colleges and madrasas to rehabilitate people if required.
Meanwhile in Bagerhat, the water level of rivers surrounding the district including Daratana and Posur at full tide was ranging from 2.60 -2.65 meters, which was significantly higher than normal times.
This resulted in flooding of lowland areas in the district leaving many families stranded at Chargram, Bargi, Sonatala and many other places, reports our local correspondent.
Bagerhat Additional Deputy Commissioner Khandaker Rizaul Karim said, “ We have build 344 cyclone shelters for the people in need. Besides, the district administration formed 85 medical teams, a group of 150 volunteers and established 10 control rooms across the district to coordinate rescue operations.”
Besides, our correspondent also reported that many areas of the Sundarbans have been inundated due to water level going up in rivers surrounding it.
However, no incidents of wild animals being affected have been reported so far.
The forest department has instructed the evacuation of its personnel, working in eight highly risky patrol outposts in Bagerhat in the Sundarbans .
The coastal residents adjacent to the Sundarbans in Khulna have started taking preparation to go into shelters .
Low lands in Barguna have also been flooded due to the impact of cyclone Yaas.
According to Barguna Deputy Commissioner Habibur Rahman, “ The concerned authorities have already started to repair damaged embankments. The district administration has prepared around 642 cyclone shelters ahead of the storm.’
Meanwhile, residents of the lowlands in Bhola of Barishal are also facing waterlogging over the same reasons.
Saiful Islam Badal, the Divisional Commissioner of Barishal has said that around 4,915 shelters are ready to provide shelter to 20 lakh residents of the district.
LGRD Minister urges all to be ready to tackle cyclone 'Yaas'
Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam on Tuesday directed the local government department to open a control room to tackle cyclone 'Yaas'. He also instructed the people's representatives and all government officials at the field level to be fully prepared.
He made the directives while addressing an emergency preparatory virtual meeting organized by the local government department to deal with cyclone 'Yaas' on Tuesday.
The minister said district councils, upazila councils, municipalities, union councils, people's representatives and other institutions of the local government department and other government institutions including district administrations play an important role in providing mental strength to the people in case of any calamity.
In this context, the Minister said, the people's representatives have a close relation with people of all classes and professions of the society. That is why public representatives play an important role in making people aware of disasters. It is possible to deal with any disaster if the people's representatives at all levels, the district administration and other government institutions sit together and prepare mentally.
Md. Tajul Islam said a control room has been opened in the local government department to take precautionary measures to deal with cyclone 'Yaas', to supervise and coordinate the preparations of the departments / agencies and local government institutions under the local government department (control room phone number- 9545415).
He directed the concerned authorities to keep in constant touch with this control room and other locally opened control rooms in the coastal areas to deal with any situation and cooperate.
Furthermore, he said there will be a severe water crisis in the coastal areas due to sudden tidal surges. Emergency water is to be supplied and the sanitation system is to be set ready in this regard. These activities are done generally by WASA, Local Government Engineering Department and Public Health Engineering Department. Therefore, these institutions have been asked to be ready to deal with the overall situation. Because these institutions play an effective role up to the grassroots.
The Minister also said the Department of Public Health Engineering has already prepared the necessary activities including a mobile water treatment plant, water purification tablets, and a sanitation system.
At the same time, he expressed hope that the country would reach the peak of development by tackling any disaster including cyclone 'Yaas'.
Senior secretary of local government department Helaluddin Ahmed, senior officials of local government department, mayors of Khulna, Chittagong and Barisal city corporations, deputy commissioners of coastal districts, chief engineer of local government engineering department and public health engineering department and managing director of Khulna WASA were present at the meeting and informed the minister about their preparations.
Huge fake drinks, beverages seized in Ashulia
Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) in a drive on Tuesday seized a huge quantity of counterfeit fruit drinks and carbonated beverages from Ashulia in Dhaka.
The BSTI conducted a mobile court at Group 50 Agro Foods and Beverage for manufacturing and marketing different items including fruit drinks and carbonated beverages without taking license from BSTI and using BSTI sign illegally.
The court also fined the manager of the company Tk 100,000 , in default, to suffer six months in jail.
The company has been manufacturing and marketing various products including lychee flavoured drinks, mango flavoured drinks, puffed rice, soybean oil, chili powder and chocolate, though it is mandatorily required to obtain BSTI license for all the items.
It didn’t take any quality certificate from BSTI for manufacturing and marketing the products and even didn’t apply for the certificate.
During the drive, the BSTI seized a huge quantity of packages and empty bottles of these products.
The company’s owner was fined and sued under the BSTI Act 2018. The mobile court also sealed off the factory, said a BSTI release.
Steps underway to tackle black fungus: Health Minister
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Tuesday said necessary steps are being taken to deal with black fungus and urged all to not be scared of the disease as it has not spread that much in Bangladesh.
“A few cases of black fungus have been detected in the country along with the Indian variant of Covid-19. But there’s no need to panic over the disease as it hasn’t spread that much,” the minister said while inaugurating a vaccination programme at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Pharmaceutical companies have been asked to increase the production of medicines that are used to treat black fungus infection, he said, adding that the department concerned has been instructed about the treatment of the disease.
The Health Minister also said discussions are underway over producing vaccines in Bangladesh. “Like medicines, it’ll be possible to export vaccines after meeting the domestic demand,” he added.
Two Covid-19 patients have reportedly been found infected with ‘black fungus’ at BIRDEM Hospital in Dhaka.
“Two patients, recovered from Covid-19 infections, have been infected by black fungus with one undergoing treatment at the hospital,” Prof Delwar Hossain, head of the Respiratory Medicine Department at the hospital, told UNB earlier in the day.
“Another patient who might have been infected by black fungus died three days back. However, we’re still not sure whether he died of black fungus but he died of Covid-19 for sure,” Prof Delwar added.
India has reported more than 8,800 cases of deadly "black fungus" in a growing epidemic of the disease, reports the BBC.
Normally a rare infection, called mucormycosis, has a mortality rate of 50%, with some only saved by removing an eye.
But, in recent months, India saw thousands of cases affecting the already recovered or recovering Covid-19 patients.
Doctors say there is a link with the steroids used to treat Covid. Diabetic patients are at particular risk.
Doctors have told the BBC it seems to strike 12 to 18 days after the recovery from Covid.
AL general secretary seeks cordial relation with the media
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said he does not want to see any hostility between the government and the media.
“I don’t want any confrontation and I want to see a cordial relations with the media," Quader said in reply to a question after a meeting with a group of journalist leaders at the Secretariat.
Quader, who doubles as Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said he met the leaders in his capacity as the general secretary of the ruling party.
He said the leaders raised with him some issues regarding the newspaper industry, withdrawal of a case against journalist Rozina Islam, media rights and some other demands.
Talking about Rozina’s case and other demands Quader, said “A ministry concerned is there to settle the issue. Besides, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Home Ministry and Law Ministry are there and some special things related to the issues have to be informed to the Prime Minister.”
“They have raised the problems and I will place these to the prime minister,” he said.
Replying to a question whether the case filed against Rozina should be withdrawn; the Minister said “The case is now in the court. We have to discuss the matter with Law minister and others and after an overall consideration and discussion with all I can tell about this.”
Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam was sent to jail on May 18 in a case filed under the Official Secrets Act and the Penal Code by the Health Ministry.
She was freed from Kashimpur Women's Central Jail on May 23 after a Dhaka court granted her an ad-interim bail until July 15.
Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Positivity rate crosses 10 pc again; 40 more die
Bangladesh witnessed a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases and fatalities as it recorded 40 more deaths and 1675 cases in 24 hours until Tuesday morning.
The Covid positivity rate rose to 10.08 percent again during the period after maintaining it below 10 percent since May 15.
Read: Bangladesh reports two ‘black fungus’ cases, one suspected death
The country had been seeing below 40 deaths since May13.
Health authorities registered 1,675 new cases after testing 16,624 samples during the 24-hour period.
Besides, the mortality rate remained static at 1.57 percent, said a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
With the latest figures, the total caseload reached 7,92,196 and the death tally climbed to 12,441.
Bangladesh’s recovery rate now stands at 92.50% with 1,279 recoveries during the period.
As of now, 7,32,810 people have recovered from the disease.
Eighteen of the 40 deaths recorded today were from Chattogram division while from Dhaka division. Four died in Rajshahi, three each in Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur and one in Sylhet divisions.
Bangladesh so far carried out 58,54,919 sample tests since reporting its first coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and the first death on March 18, 2020.
Worst coming in June-end
With Covid cases keep soaring in frontier districts apparently because of the highly contagious Indian variant, experts fear that Bangladesh may face the worst outbreak of the deadly virus at the end of June next.
They said if the B.1.617, known as the Indian variant, can make its way into other areas from the bordering districts, Bangladesh is likely to witness more than 20,000 cases a day in early July, raising the fatality rate sharply.
Lack of necessary oxygen supply and other healthcare facilities may aggravate the situation, according to the experts.
Terrifying scenario along border
Though the country’s average Covid positivity rate was below 10 percent till Monday, it was very high in different districts along the Indian border.
Chapainawabganj was the worst-hit district with 55 percent infection rate, forcing the local administration to enforce a 7-day strict lockdown from today.
Besides, the positivity rate was over 40 percent in Rajshahi.
The infection rate was also high in some other frontier districts like Satkhira, Jashore, Jhenaidah, Dinajpur, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Sylhet and Moulvibazar.
Talking to UNB, DGHS spokesman Robed Amin said, Covid patients with Indian variants were found in bordering districts, including Chapianwabganj, Rajshahi and Jashore. “It’s alarming news. As this variant spreads fast, the infection rate may continue to surge seriously, if people show apathy to masking up and abiding by health safety rules.
Vaccination
Bangladesh launched its vaccination drive on February 7 with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses purchased from India's Serum Institute.
The administration of the first dose has 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.