Bangladesh
Covid-19: Journalist Dalim ‘too young to die’
No one can be too healthy to beat the ruthless Delta variant of Covid-19 as it is killing the adults of all ages. The latest victim in Bangladesh is 39-year-old Ariful Islam Dalim, a dashing journalist of Chuadanga district.
Dalim, Chuadanga district correspondent of United News of Bangladesh (UNB), died of Covid-19 at Savar Enam Medical College and Hospital on Thursday.
Read: Chuadanga cattle trader 'commits suicide' over Covid stigma
Dalim, also the district correspondent of Jamuna Television and general secretary of Chuadanga Press Club, breathed his last around 2:40 pm at the hospital, said a source close to his family.
The journalist tested positive for Covid-19 on July 13 and was admitted to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital on July 23.
He was being brought to Dhaka from Chuadanga on Thursday morning for better treatment.
As his condition deteriorated near Aminbazar in Savar, he was taken to Enam Medical College and Hospital where doctors declared him dead, the source added.
A Facebook post from Dalim’s account yesterday said, “The condition of Dalim is critical. Arrangements are being made to take him to Dhaka. You all please pray for him…!”
Read: Sacrificial animals: Chuadanga goes online again
Dalim left behind wife and two sons and a host of relatives and friends to mourn his premature death.
The current Delta outbreak in Bangladesh and elsewhere in the world shows that young people are making up a greater proportion of patients being hospitalized compared to the previous waves of the deadly virus.
The young people should not take the highly contagious Delta variant so lightly as there is no margin of errors.
Govt job seekers may get a 21-month extension in age limit, says minister
The ministry of public administration has proposed to increase the maximum age limit to enter government jobs by 21 months from current limit of 30 years due to prolonged academic life caused by Covid-19 restrictions.
The proposal has been sent to the prime minister, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain told reporters at the Secretariat on Thursday.
Read: Age limit relaxed for govt jobs except BCS
He said, “We have taken several initiatives for people of different classes and professions to make up for the loss caused by corona. A new proposal for government job seekers has been sent to the prime minister. “
“We did the same last year. We relaxed the age limit allowing candidates who turned 30 after March 25 to apply for government jobs.”
Farhad also said those who turned 30 on March 25 last year (2020) will also get the benefit.
He said they will get age exemption up to 21 months. It's a big deal. If the Prime Minister approves, we will issue a notification in this regard.”
At present the age limit for entry into government service is 30 years, which is 32 years for the children of freedom fighters.
Read: Age limit in govt jobs likely to be eased for pandemic: Ministry
The government increased the age limit by five months in the first phase of the Covid-19 pandemic last year.
Asked what the government's next strategy would be if the corona infection situation deteriorates further, Farhad,” We will consider both strategies. We may impose a lockdown if needed but also brainstorm about how to restrict transmission without enforcing strict restrictions considering the economy and livelihood.”
Father of Awami League leader found dead in a Barishal house, police suspect murder
Police on Thursday recovered the body of a 70-year-old homeopathic doctor, his hands and legs tied, from a house at Chohotha in Barishal Sadar and suspected it to be a case of murder.
The deceased was identified as Prof (Retd.) Dr Md Manjur Morshed who was also a former principal officer of Agrani Bank. His son Jaglul Morshed is the general secretary of Awami League in ward 26 of Prince Nagar.
Read: Bodies of two youths found hanging from tree in Gaibandha
The family said Manjur Morshed was alone at home on Wednesday night. On Thursday morning when his family called him they received no response. They found the window at back of the house broken.
On information, the Airport Police went to the spot and found his body with his hands and legs tied.
Kamlesh Haldar, Officer-in-charge of Airport Police, said the body had bruises on his nose and eyes. They suspect it to be a murder.
Read: Dismembered body of principal found in Savar
He also said a CID team was on the scene in this regard.
Preparations are underway to send the body to morgue for an autopsy, said the OC adding a case will be filed.
Govt's crucial support helped RMG industry make a turnaround: BGMEA chief
President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Faruque Hassan has thanked the government for providing crucial support to the RMG industry during the difficult time of Covid pandemic that helped the sector "survive and make a turnaround".
He also thanked the government for bringing garment workers under the Covid-19 vaccination programme on a priority basis.
Read:Netflix Movie: BGMEA protests derogatory remarks on Bangladesh RMG sector
Faruque Hassan had a meeting with State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian at the Secretariat on Wednesday and discussed the overall situation of the ready-made garment industry, the BGMEA said on Thursday.
Hassan apprised the state minister of the current state of the industry which is putting in all-out efforts to recover from the pandemic impacts and move ahead.
Read: No alternative to mass vaccination of apparel workers: BGMEA
“We requested the government to vaccinate garment workers on a priority basis as there is no alternative to mass vaccination of the workers to keep factories running," said the BGMEA president, adding that all the garment workers are being brought under the vaccine coverage.
BGMEA Senior Vice President SM Mannan (Kochi) was also present at the meeting.
Train derailed in Gazipur, disrupts rail communication
A Dhaka-bound train derailed near Dhirashram railway station in Gazipur on Thursday cutting off the capital city’s rail communication with the country’s northern region.
Dhirashram Railway Station Master Helal Uddin said the engine of the Computer Express train from Jamalpur derailed just before entering Dhirashram station at around 11:30 am. Train services between Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Rajshahi-Khulna have been disrupted.
Read: Intercity, freight trains also to operate from Aug 11: Ministry
Three other trains, Chapai Express, Agniveena Express and Ekota Express, were stranded at different stations on both sides of the spot.
He also said the train communication will resume after the derailed engine is pulled back to tracks by a rescue train from Dhaka.
Missing Chinese citizen found dead in Chattogram
A Chinese national, who had gone missing on Wednesday, was found dead in a water body near the southern part of the Banshkhali Thermal Power Plant in Chattogram district on Thursday.
The Chinese national, G Kingwan, 34, working at the thermal power plant in Banshkhali upazila, remained missing since Wednesday noon.
Read:Chinese worker goes missing in Chattogram
He was last spotted catching fish in the Bay of Bengal," said Safiul Kabir, officer-in-charge of Banshkhali Police Station.
Kingwan, along with his colleagues, went to the site adjacent to the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday morning to join a pipe-installation work. His colleagues informed the police about his disappearance around 2.30 pm.
Later, a GD was registered with the Banshkhali police station.
On Thursday morning, local people spotted the floating body of the Chinese man in the water body and informed the police, said Akter Hossain, sub-inspector of the police station.
Read:Reward announced for info on missing Chinese engineer
Police later recovered the body and sent it to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital for autopsy.
“We’ve no idea how the Chinese man died …police are investigating it,” said chief coordinator of the power plant Faruk Ahmed.
Public life at stake for mismanagement in vaccination drive: BNP
BNP on Thursday alleged that the mismanagement in the government’s Covid-19 vaccination drive has jeopardised the public life.
“There has been a complete mess in the vaccination campaign due to the government’s failure to face the pandemic,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Read: Frustration grows as chaos continues at Bangladesh’s vaccination centres
He made the remarks when he visited Banani Graveyard in the city to place wreaths and offer Fateha at the grave of Arafat Rahman Koko, the youngest son of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, marking his 52nd birth anniversary.
Fakhrul urged the government to collect adequate number of vaccine doses immediately and work sincerely for people announcing a roadmap to deal with the pandemic.
He alleged that the government has totally failed to manage corona. They (govt) shouldn’t be in power any more for its ill-planned lockdown and mismanagement in the vaccination drive. “This government should go right away.”
The BNP secretary general paid homage to Koko and recalled his role in the development of sports organisations and cricket.
Read:Mismanagement, politicization made vaccination drive a complete mess: BNP
BNP leaders Aman Ullah Aman, Abdus Salam, Fazlul Haque Milon, Syed Emran Saleh Prince, Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Aminul Haque and Rafiqul Alam Majnu, Jubo Dal leaders Saiful Alam Nirob and Sultan Salauddin Tuku, Swechchasebak Dal leaders Mustafizur Rahman and Abdul Kader Bhuiyan Jewell and Chhatra Dal leader Fazlul Ramna Khokon were, among others, present.
On January 23, 2015, Arafat Rahman Koko died of cardiac arrest in Malaysia at the age of 45.
Covid claims 21 more deaths in Sylhet
Sylhet division has logged 21 new Covid-related deaths in 24 hours till Thursday morning, as the ruthless Delta variant of coronavirus continues its spread across the country.
Read: Sylhet div logs 22 deaths in single day
Of the total deaths, 19 were reported in Sylhet district alone, said Dr Himangshu Lal Roy, director (health) of Sylhet.
According to the authorities, 567 new infections were detected in the division during the period. With the fresh figures, the total fatalities and cases in the division now stand at 865 and 47,578, respectively.
Read: Mass Vaccination Drive: Impressive numbers get jabbed in Chandpur, Sylhet city
Besides, 36 people have been admitted to the corona unit of Sylhet Osmani Medical College and Hospital in the past 24 hours.
Canada joins hands with Brac to support vulnerable people
Canadian Minister of International Development Karina Gould on Thursday announced CAD 45 million, over the next five years, to support increasing services to Bangladesh’s most vulnerable populations, including the hard-to-reach ones.
Canada is committed to investing in partnerships to support the most marginalized, including women and girls in Bangladesh.
Read: Dhaka seeks preferential trade facilities from Canada till 2030
“Our local, experienced partners know all too well the disproportionate impact the Covid-19 crisis has had on the world’s most vulnerable. Together, we must continue to push forward and seek out those hardest to reach, including marginalized women and children," said the Canadian Minister.
Canada remains committed to supporting Bangladesh in addressing the impacts of the pandemic and helping vulnerable populations respond and recover as fast as possible, she said.
Canada’s support will fund Brac-led multi-sector initiatives, including programming in skills and vocational training and public health outreach tailored to reach children and families that are unable to access the services they need.
It will also strengthen Brac’s interventions related to human rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, nutrition and ending gender-based violence against women and children, said a joint media release.
Programming will also focus on, and support, Bangladesh’s Covid-19 response and inclusive economic recovery.
With this contribution, Canada joins the Strategic Partnership Agreement, a long-term tripartite partnership with Brac and the government of Australia.
Read: Bangladesh seeks Covid jabs from Canada
Canada’s contributions to the partnership will expand Brac’s integrated healthcare, education, legal services, skills development and livelihood service delivery to hard-to-reach areas and the most marginalised populations.
This partnership is closely aligned with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and is built on Brac’s longstanding women-centred development approach which prioritises the empowerment of women and girls.
The announcement was made during Minister Gould’s virtual visit to Bangladesh.
Gould visited Bhashantek slum in Dhaka to see firsthand the impacts of Brac’s urban development programming, which will receive continued support through the partnership.
She also met young women engaged in skills training, health care workers supporting soon-to-be-mothers, and witnessed the Brac-led Covid-19 prevention and response activities in action.
Brac Executive Director Asif Saleh accompanied the minister on the visit, with both acknowledging the courageous frontline workers who continue to deliver key services in the face of ongoing challenges during the pandemic.
Read: BRAC partners with govt’s Covid-19 vaccination drive
"We’re delighted to welcome Global Affairs Canada as one of our strategic partners. This partnership couldn't come at a more critical time, as the Covid-19 pandemic has further aggregated inequalities in Bangladesh," said Asif Saleh.
He said Bangladesh needs resources to combat the impact of this pandemic and sustain the momentum of socio-economic growth. "This partnership will help us keep the country on the growth trajectory and continue our efforts in the pandemic response and the recovery process.”
Bangladesh allows resumption of all public transport services from Aug 19
To keep the wheels of the economy rolling during the ferocious second wave of the pandemic, the government Thursday allowed the resumption of all public transport services from August 19.
All tourist spots, community centres, resorts and recreation facilities can also reopen but with 50% capacity from August 19 and following all Covid-safety protocols, the Cabinet division said in a notification.
Read: Covid-19: Bangladesh announces new restriction rules
The latest directive will remain in force until further orders, according to the Cabinet division.
Earlier, the government had allowed only half of the public transport vehicles to ply on the roads, following all health protocols. Moreover, it was silent on the reopening of the tourist spots and community centres.
According to the latest notification, all modes of public transport, including those of road, river and railways can restart operations following all health protocols.
Use of masks and social distancing will be mandatory everywhere. And legal action will be taken against violators, be it individuals or organisations, according to the government. The authorities concerned have been asked to take necessary steps in this regard.
Bangladesh was put under the “strict” lockdown on July 23 barring people from leaving their homes except for essential reasons.
Read: Bangladesh eases lockdown, but Delta variant ready to hit freedom
Scheduled to end on August 5, it was later extended to August 10.