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Golam Sarwar made Law and Justice Division Secretary
Md Golam Sarwar has been made secretary of the Law and Justice Division under the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
The Law Ministry issued a gazette notification in this regard on Wednesday.
He had been performing as the acting secretary of the Law and Justice Division since August 8, 2019.
Golam Sarwar joined the judicial cadre service through the 10th BCS examination.
He started his career at Dhaka district judge court as an apprentice assistant judge on December 11, 1991.
Also read: PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim gets another 2-year extension
Taskforce on road crashes wants ban on movement of inter-district motorcycles
The taskforce, formed to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the National Roads Safety Council to restore discipline on roads and highways, wants an end to plying of inter-district motorcycles to reduce road accidents.
Former shipping minister Shahjahan Khan and a member of the taskforce said this after the meeting of the taskforce at the Home Ministry on Wednesday.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal presided over the meeting.
Read: Restriction on motorcycle driving, ride-sharing for a week during Eid
Shahjahan said, “There will be no inter-district ride sharing. The matter was discussed in the meeting. We have taken the matter seriously as around 40 per cent of road accidents occur due to motorcycles. We have decided to control it.”
Shahjahan, also the president of the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation, said, “Many people are saying that motorcycles are being controlled due to the conspiracy of the bus owners. This is ridiculous. We have only suggested stopping long route ride sharing. The government will decide on the matter.”
Mentioning that the country has limited dope test centres for drivers, Shahjahan Khan said they requested the authorities concerned to increase the number of dope test centres and reduce dope test fees from the existing Tk 900.
The meeting also recommended increasing the number of employees at BRTA and recruiting more highway police personnel to maintain discipline on roads, he added.
Regarding the appointment letter of the transport workers by the owners, he said Road Transport or Home Minister will soon inaugurate the mass appointment letter handover ceremony all over the county through the virtual platform.
Dhaka taking IMF loan as a precaution, not for bail out: Kaikaus
Prime Minister’s principal secretary Ahmad Kaikaus on Wednesday said the current foreign exchange reserve of the country can meet all types of import expenditures for more than five months.
“We have import expenditure for more than five months in our reserve where as it is said that having more than three months of import expenditure is the symbol of strong economy. We do not have any risk,” he said.
The principal secretary said this while briefing reporters at his office on some misleading news in news papers and other media.
He mentioned that as per the prediction from various organisations like IMF, Word Bank, ADB and others the world is likely to have an economic turmoil in the coming days.
“We have given proposal to the IMF on how could we get possible fund from them as part of taking precautionary measures,” he said.
He said that he has strong objection to using ‘bail out’ words (in some media reports).
“Why bail out, is the country in a deep crisis so that we have to make the bail out?,” he asked.
He mentioned that using the terms like Bail Out is hitting country’s dignity as it is not in such kind of situation.
Read:Nothing wrong in economy as Bangladesh seeks IMF loan: Finance Minister
Kaikaus requested the media to check the matters with the IMF mission in Dhaka whether Bangladesh has fallen into a deep economic crisis like Pakistan or Sri Lanka.
“This was a regular discussion between the finance ministry and the IMF,” he said about the recent move of the government to get funds from the IMF.
He stated various types of fund assistance from the IMF by various governments of Bangladesh in 1993, 2003, 2012 and 2020.
“We are taking funds from IMF, ADB and World Bank on regular basis,” he said.
But he mentioned that Bangladesh is getting budgetary financing now, not the project financing, from them as they have trust on the country as it could utilise the fund more efficiently.
“This time we sought budget assistance, this is for meeting the deficit in balance of payment, not bail out. It is basically the money that we need as foreign currency to spend for our development activities,” he said.
Talking about the power situation, he said that the government is also concerned like others about the power so that it does not become a crisis in future.
“Thats why we are saving our power now for the coming days,” he said.
Regarding the misleading news of Indian Adani Group and Meghna Ghat power plant, he said it is just baseless.
“…why are you making horror stories. Tell the truth,” he requested the media.
He mentioned that these types of news will be harmful for he country and its possible investments from abroad.
The principal secretary said that the recent move by the government to save power through area-based load shedding has been effective and there is no need to increase it.
“We are saving 2000-3000 MW electricity and we are under our target,” he said.
Responding to a question regarding import of fuel oil from Russia, he said, if other countries can import, why can't we.
He also mentioned that the government is exploring new pockets for cheap fuel oil import.
Country has adequate stocks of petroleum fuel: Energy Division
The Energy and Mineral Resources Division has said that the country has adequate stocks of petroleum fuel.
In a clarification on Wednesday, it said the country has stocks of 431,835 metric tons of diesel for 32 days’ consumption while Jet-A1 fuel for 44 days’ consumption and furnace oil for 32 days’ consumption.
Requesting the people not to be misguided, it also said that a vested interest group is spreading false and fabricated information about fuel oil reserves, which is misleading the common people.
The entire petrol is locally produced while 40 percent of octane is also produced by the country, it added.
Read: Petroleum price may go up next month: Nasrul Hamid
The process of importing 6 months’ petroleum fuel is in pipeline.
“We strongly say that companies under the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation have sufficient fuel oil reserves. At present there is no shortage or crisis of petroleum fuel in the country. There is no fear of crisis,” it said.
In July 2022, the country has so far received some 255,000 metric tons of diesel from 9 vessels, about 43,000 metric tons of Jet-A-1 from 2 vessels, 24,677 metric tons of octane from one vessel and 53,358 metric tons of furnace oil from 2 vessels.
In August 2022, some 218,000 metric tons of diesel will arrive in 8 ships while 25,000 metric tons of Jet-A-1 in one ship and 25,000 metric tons of octane through one ship.
According to the import plan, these bulk fuels will arrive in Bangladesh in next 6 (six) months. Of these, 50 percent will be procured through G-to-G contract and the remaining 50 percent through open tender. There is no risk of shortage.
The Energy and Mineral Resources Division requested all to be cautious and economical in the use of fuel which is being supplied in subsidised rates.
13 people receive country’s first AIP awards
For the first time, the Agriculture Ministry gave away its ‘Agriculturally Important Person (AIP)’ awards to 13 individuals at a programme held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium here on Wednesday.
Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque handed over the awards as chief guest.
The minister said that the AIP award is a great effort to honor the people who are the driving forces behind the agricultural revolution that’s happening in the country.
“We want to make agriculture both a commercial and an honorable profession in the coming days. We want that more and more educated people will take part in agriculture. The AIP award will help us reach these goals,” Razzaque said.
The government drafted the AIP policy in 2019 to acknowledge the efforts of the farmers, the scientists, and the entrepreneurs and encourage them to continue contributing to the country’s agricultural sector.
The AIP award for the year 2020 was handed over today. The AIP-achievers will receive perks enjoyed by the Commercially Important Persons (CIPs’).
Read: 3 officials of Labour and Employment Ministry get ‘Integrity Award’
Nurunnahar Begum, an AIP award recipient, said that she had never thought of receiving an award for doing agriculture.
“I don’t want anyone to give me money for doing farming. But receiving an award is a different thing altogether. Such recognition makes our hard work count. I wholeheartedly thank the prime minister for such an initiative,” said Nurunnahar.
Md Shamsuddin Kalu, another recipient of the award, said that one of his friends who hailed from a reputed family didn’t join him in his fish business fearing the loss of honor.
“An uneducated, simple man like me receiving such an award shows that doing agriculture is a dignified profession. This award will inspire other people like me to value agriculture and take it up as a profession,” Kalu said.
The award-giving ceremony was presided over by Agriculture Secretary Md Sayedul Islam. Habibun Nahar, Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, spoke at the event as special guest while Wahida Akter, Additional Secretary of Agriculture Ministry, gave the welcome speech.
61 more dengue patients hospitalised in 24 hrs
Sixty-one more dengue patients were hospitalised across the country in 24 hours till Wednesday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Among them, 58 patients were hospitalised in Dhaka while the remaining three in other places, it said.
As many as 311 dengue patients including 238 in the capital are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
Read: Dengue numbers rising in Bangladesh: 2 more deaths, 53 cases reported
On Tuesday, this year’s death toll from the mosquito-borne viral disease rose to eight with another death reported from Cox’s Bazar. Among the deaths, five were reported from Cox’s Bazar while three from Dhaka.
On June 21, the DGHS reported the first death of the season from the viral disease.
This year, the DGHS has recorded 2,366 dengue cases and 2,047 recoveries so far.
Experts for strengthening primary care services to control hypertension, save lives
Stating that hypertension has become the third most common cause of premature deaths in Bangladesh, local and international health experts on Wednesday suggested strengthening primary care services to deal with the non-communicable disease and save many lives.
Speaking at a meet the press event at a city hotel, they also warned that the burden of hypertension in Bangladesh is expected to grow in the coming years due to an ageing population, rapid urbanization, increases in sedentary lifestyle, processed food consumption, and other socioeconomic and lifestyle factors.
The event titled "Bangladesh Hypertension Control Initiatives" was jointly organised by the NCDC Program of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress), the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh (NHFB), Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), and Resolve to Save Lives.
“In Bangladesh, one out of every five adults has hypertension,” said Dr Tom Frieden, President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives and former Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
He said many lives can be saved and heart attacks and strokes can be prevented through investment in strengthening primary care services to provide treatment to Bangladeshi adults suffering from hypertension.
Frieden said non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, are silent killers that are accounting for more premature deaths every year than all infectious diseases combined, mostly in low and middle-income countries.
Stating that Bangladesh has made real progress in tackling hypertension as it banned artificial transfat, he said, “That's a wonderful policy. It means you don't have to worry that some company has put something into your food that could give you a heart attack and kill you. So that is very commendable. We look forward to its full and effective enforcement.”
The ex-US CDC director also praised that doctors and nurses, and community health providers treating more than 100,000 patients suffering from hypertension.
He, however, said many people are dying prematurely from a preventable cause only for lack of awareness and early diagnosis.
Frieden appreciated the government for setting up community clinics across the country. The community clinics could be the key to transforming Bangladesh to become even healthier. But now you have a real challenge with non-communicable diseases, especially hypertension. And scaling up this program in addressing excess sodium intake can make a huge difference in reducing that.”
Read:Ensure safe food to reduce Hypertension risk: Speakers
National Professor Brig (Rtd.) Abdul Malik, Founder and President of the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh said there is an urgent need to improve control of high blood pressure. “Thirty percent of deaths in Bangladesh are from heart disease, but less than 5% of Bangladesh’s health sector budget is allocated to addressing the non-communicable disease.”
He said hypertension is a serious health concern and the government alone cannot solve this problem. “We need to prevent the disease with united efforts…for the first, we need to create awareness among people about the disease and media can play an effective role in this regard.”
“The hypertension control program piloted by NCDC DGHS, and the National Heart Foundation, in collaboration with Resolve to Save Lives, is succeeding by incorporating the principles of task-sharing and team-based care,” said Professor Md Robed Amin, Line Director, Non-Communicable Disease Control Program, Directorate General of Health Services.
“In the span of two years, the program has registered more than 100,000 patients—averaging more than 4,000 new patients a month—with a 58% blood pressure control rate, almost fourfold the national average.”
“You’ll be surprised to know that hypertension became the third commonest cause of morbidity in our country and diabetes become the sixth commonest cause within the sphere of the 10 years,” Robed said.
Referring to a survey report, he said some 67 percent of all deaths in the country are due to non-communicable diseases and 30% of mortality happens due to cardiovascular disease. “It means many people are dying from the stroke or heart attack or this kind of complication. So, it is a huge burden.”
Besides, he said there are around 20 million adult hypertension patients in Bangladesh. "The bad news is that hypertension is usually a symptomless disease. So whenever a disease becomes symptomless, it needs to be identified through a process of screening…We must put in extensive efforts to control hypertension.”
Citing a study report, the organiser said life-saving care for high blood pressure, also known as hypertension—the leading preventable risk factor for heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes—could be expanded nationwide in Bangladesh for about US$9 per patient per year.
Since 2018, they said the non-communicable Disease Control Program (NCDC), Directorate General of Health Services (NCDC DGHS) of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh (NHFB) have collaborated with Resolve to Save Lives, a global health non-profit organization, to implement a program strengthening the detection, treatment and follow-up of high blood pressure in primary care.
They also said the expansion of the highly successful initial project would save lives in Bangladesh by preventing heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and expensive hospitalizations for these conditions, and at an affordable cost.
Army training helicopter makes crash landing in Nawabganj, 2 pilots hurt
Two pilots were injured as a training helicopter of the Bangladesh Army made crash landing on a waterbody in Nawabganj Upazila of Dhaka district on Wednesday.
The pilots- Lt Col Ismail and Major Shams were shifted to Dhaka Combined Military Hospital by a helicopter, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Both the pilots are out of danger now, it says.
Read: Army man killed in Rangamati road crash
The accident occurred around 1:30pm due to mechanical fault when BELL-206 helicopter of the Army Aviation was practicing the emergency landing procedure as part of conducting routine training flights.
Local police are providing assistance for the security of the area and the helicopter.
Besides, security and rescue teams from Postgola and Mawa cantonments have left for the spot to salvage the helicopter.
Covid-19 in Bangladesh: 5 more die, 626 new cases reported in 24hrs
Bangladesh recorded five more Covid-19-linked deaths with 626 new cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning.
With the latest figures, the country's total fatalities reached 29,280 while the caseload 2,003,570, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily case positivity rate rose to 6.83 per cent from Tuesday's 6.14 per cent as 9,225 samples were tested.
The deceased included three men and two women. Four of them were from Dhaka, and another from Mymensingh division.
Read: Covid numbers rising in Bangladesh: 5 more deaths, 548 cases reported
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.46 percent. The recovery rate rose to 96.79 per cent from Tuesday's 96.78 per cent.
In June, the country reported 18 Covid-linked deaths and 20,201 new cases, according to the DGHS.
Bangladesh reported its first zero Covid death on November 20 last year since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020.
The country registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.
PM: We have forex reserves enough to meet up to 9 months of food imports
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said Bangladesh would be able to meet six to nine months of food import expenditures with the existing foreign currency reserves.
“We have money in our hands to import food grains and others (essentials items) for at least three months during any crisis. We’ll be able to import the food for six to nine months, not only for three months, with the reserve that we have now,” she said.
The premier was addressing the 28th founding anniversary programme of Bangladesh Awami Swechasebak League at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh auditorium in the city’s Farmgate area, joining it through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban.
She said despite having enough reserve, the government will have to take steps to grow more crops in order to save the foreign currencies and keep the forex reserve for any emergency.
Awami Swechasebak League, an associate body and the volunteer wing of Bangladesh Awami League, was founded on July 27 in 1994.
Noting that the reserve was some US$ 3.8 billion in 2006 during the BNP regime, the prime minister said her government was able to raise it to US$ 48 billion from US$ 7 billion in 2009.
She said Bangladesh had to spend huge amounts of foreign currencies from the reserve to import the materials for development works, capital machines for the industries as well as Covid-19 vaccines, testing kits and other Covid materials.
The people of the country would be benefited when the imported capital machineries go in operation, she added.
Taking a swipe at the critics of the government over forex reserve and energy, Hasina questioned why they don’t see the development activities of the government.
She said the government continues providing a huge subsidy, placed such a budget, raised the per capita income and has been able to keep the GDP growth.
The PM said her government pledged to reach electricity to every house and also kept this promise. But now many developed countries are taking austerity measures over the use of energy amid the global economic recession.
“We’ve also to take precautionary measures so that we will not fall in a great danger….we’ve taken steps for limited use of electricity. But it doesn’t mean that we don’t have any energy or it is running out,” she added.