Bangladesh
Photo exhibition begins in London marking birth anniversary of Sheikh Kamal
A weeklong photo exhibition has begun at Bangladesh High Commission in London marking the 72nd birth anniversary of valiant freedom fighter Captain Sheikh Kamal.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Zahid Ahsan Russel inaugurated the exhibition that will remain open for all till August 13. He also joined the virtual discussion held on Thursday.
Read: Walton gets Sheikh Kamal sports award
Bangladesh High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem presided over the function titled “Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal: Remembering a Valiant Freedom Fighter.”
Bangladeshi-born British writer, journalist, columnist, political analyst and poet Abdul Gaffar Choudhury, among others, spoke.
They paid homage to valiant freedom fighter Captain Sheikh Kamal who was assassinated along with Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most members of his family on the brutal night of August 15 in 1975.
The speakers highlighted the life and work of Sheikh Kamal and recalled his exceptional capacity to organize sports, art and music after the 1971 War of Liberation.
Read: New Delhi mission pays homage to Sheikh Kamal
The 72nd birth anniversary of Sheikh Kamal was observed with due solemnity through holding of discussions and placing wreaths at his portraits at home and abroad.
Doa was offered seeking divine blessing for Sheikh Kamal and his family.
Dhaka calls for ASEAN leaders’ concerted efforts to tackle regional challenges
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has emphasized on collective efforts by the ASEAN leaders in tackling challenges faced by ASEAN region.
He made the call while delivering his speech on Friday at the 28th Meeting of ASEAN Regional Forum, virtually held n Brunei Darussalam under the theme “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper”.
Foreign Minister Momen assured of Bangladesh’s continuous support to the ARF initiatives.
He appraised the forum how Bangladesh is playing role in dealing with climate challenges.
Momen called for united action by the leaders to accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement to advance global climate progress.
Momen and other Foreign Ministers had a substantive exchange of views on possible areas of collaboration and cooperation i.e. Rohingya refugee crisis, climate change, nuclear proliferation, cyber security and other regional issues.
He expressed hope that under the dynamic leadership of ARF, the developing countries of this region would come forward with good governance and stronger economy.
While presenting an overview of Bangladesh’s role in tackling Covid-19, he emphasized on vaccines to be a public good and its technology should be shared and available to all countries to produce it at an affordable price.
Read: UK becomes Dialogue Partner of ASEAN
Dr. Momen raised that although Bangladesh is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention nor its 1967 Protocol still Bangladesh is providing shelter to the 1.1 million Rohingya refugees considering humanitarian ground only.
Sacrificing 6800 acres of her sovereign forest land Bangladesh is not in a position to shoulder the burden for an indefinite period, he added.
Lockdown breaches: 239 arrested in Dhaka on day 15
Police arrested 239 more people in Dhakaon Friday for violating lockdown restrictions on the 15th day of the countrywide strict lockdown aimed at reducing the Covid-19 contagion risk.
The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for being out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Iftekharul Islam said.
Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk90410 in fines from 74 people.
Also, the Traffic Division collected Tk 699500 as penalties from 295 ehicles for violating lockdown restrictions.
Facing many challenges in containing the Covid-19 pandemic, Dhaka experienced a little of lockdown silence unlike the past few days due to thinner traffic on the city streets on Friday, thanks to the weekend.
As both private and public offices were closed and there was no vaccination due to the weekend, fewer private cars were seen on the streets of the capital.
However, some slow-moving rickshaws were seen plying VIP roads, an unusual scene during the normal days.
Visiting Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Moghbazar, Banglamotor, Farmgate, Bijay Sarani and Jahangir Gate areas, little traffic was seen on the roads. Still, the searching and checking people and vehicles at different points of the capital was going on, though loosely.
Read: People find 'easy excuses' to defy lockdown in Dhaka
The same scenario was seen in Gabtoli, Technical, Shyamoli, Asad Gate, New Market, Motijheel and Uttara areas and other parts of the city.
Akhter Hossain, a traffic inspector at Rajlakshmi point of Uttara, said fewer people and vehicles were seen on the roads in Uttara since morning as offices, courts, garment factories and all other export-oriented industries are closed on Friday.
Members of law enforcement agencies were seen making people wear masks and maintain health rules as per the government order.
Amid prevalent chaos and uncertainty over access to essential commodities, the national capital faces many challenges in containing the pandemic with its huge population and packed kitchen markets, let alone the congested slums.
As usual, the city lanes and by-lanes were stirred with the shouts of roving vendors selling kitchen items.
Meanwhile, highway police seized 40 long-route buses for ferrying passengers on the Dhaka-Tangail highway in Gazipur in violation of lockdown restrictions early Friday.
These long-distance buses were transporting passengers at three to four times higher of their original fares, defying the Covid lockdown norms.
Read: Covid kills 218 more in Bangladesh as its catastrophe continues
Mir Golam Faruk, officer-in-charge of Konabari Highway police station, said his fellowmen were having a strict vigil on the roads to curb the unnecessary movement of vehicles and people during the day.
"However, after dark, taking advantage of marginal relaxations, long-distance buses attempt to enter the city from the northern region," he said.
The government extended the current lockdown till August 10 amid a surge in the Delta variant of Covid-19 across the country, but allowed shops, factories and offices to be reopened from August 11. Public transport will also be allowed to ply roads by rotation on a limited scale once the lockdown is over.
Bangladesh has been under a lockdown since July 23 last, barring people from leaving their homes except for essential reasons and it is set to expire on August 5.
Take responsibility for Covid treatment of RMG workers: SKOP to owners
Leaders of the Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP), a platform of over a dozen labour rights bodies, on Friday demanded making arrangements for Covid treatment and priority-based vaccination for readymade garment (RMG) workers.
They also demanded proper compensation for the workers in case of Covid death, corona risk allowance and bearing extra-conveyance cost for them.
The SKOP leaders came up with the demands from a demonstration rally held in front of the Jatiya Press Club.
They harshly criticised the irresponsible decision for opening the mills-factories, keeping the public transport suspended.
Read: RMG industry earns global recognition for strides in safety, sustainability: BGMEA
The worker leaders demanded the punishment for the responsible persons who harassed the workers by forcing them to join work suddenly amid the countrywide Covid lockdown.
They claimed that the employers are plotting to cut off wages for the days when the factories were closed due to the Covid lockdown, and also hindering the workers from joining work in many factories. But these efforts will not be tolerated, they warned.
The leaders said any job cut or any curtailment in salary or overtime allowance would not be accepted during the corona period.
Read: Govt urged to protect RMG goods from highway theft
SKOP joint coordinator Shahidullah Chowdhury presided over the rally conducted by Ahsan Habib Bulbul, said a release.
President of Samajtantrik Sramik Front Razequzzaman Ratan, President of Jatiya Sramik Jote Bangladesh Saifuzzaman Badsha, President of Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation Nazma Akter, Convener of Garments Sramik and Shilpa Rokkha Jatiya Moncha Abul Hossain and General Secretary of Bangladesh Trade Union Sangha Chowdhury Ashikul Alam.
CVASU study confirms Delta has taken over as dominant strain
Ninety-three percent of current Covid patients in Chattogram are infected with the highly contagious Delta variant, according to a survey by the Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU).
Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Science University (CVASU) gave this information to the media on Friday after unveiling the findings of a genome sequencing study.
Recently, CVASU and Bangladesh Council of Science and Industry Research (BCSIR) have jointly conducted the research, that sequenced the genomes of 30 specimen samples.
Twenty-eight out of 30 samples were revealed to be the Delta variant of Covid-19. One of the remaining two was the Alpha variant (UK) and the other with the Wuhan variant of China.
The researchers collected 15 samples from Chittagong city and 15 samples from several other upazilas in the district. Among the 30 patients, 12 were men and 18 women.
Read: Bangladesh reports 248 more deaths as Delta variant keeps lashing
Researchers collected samples of 15 patients admitted to the hospital from July 1 to July 19 and 15 patients who did not come to the hospital.
It revealed the Delta variant (B.1. 617.2) is equally spread in cities and villages. Of the 30 covid patients, 14 were infected with Delta variants in the city and 14 infected with Delta variants outside the city.
They are from Hathazari, Mirsarai, Rangunia, Satkania, Anwara and Sandeep upazilas. There are six from Hathazari, four from Rangunia, one each from Mirsarai, Satkania, Anwara and Sandeep.
CVASU Vice-Chancellor Prof Gautam Buddha Das said seven teachers took part in the study entitled 'Health Risk Assessment of Covid-19 patients' under his leadership. BCSIR researchers and Poultry Research and Training Center (PRTC) cooperated in the study.
The Delta variant, identified first in India, is now playing havoc in Bangladesh.
Read: Delta variant Covid patients account for 98% in Bangladesh: BSMMU
When the Delta variant infects someone, the virus can multiply very quickly in the patient's body. As a result, the infected person also sheds large amounts of the virus through sneezing and coughs, which can easily infect others, said Prof Gautam Buddha Das.
On Thursday, a BSMMU survey revealed that ninety-eight percent of the Covid patients recently detected in Bangladesh are of the highly contagious Delta variant while just one percent is of South African Beta variant ones.
Although the sample sizes for these studies are relatively small, in sum they confirm that Delta is now the dominant strain of SARS COV-2 in Bangladesh.
Detained Piyasha and Mou placed on remand again
A Dhaka court on Friday again granted remand for models Faria Mahabub Piyasha and Mariam Akter Mou for 7 days and 4 days respectively in a case filed under Narcotics Control Act.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court passed the order on Friday.
Piyasha was produced before the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court after a 3-day remand. Later, the investigating officer of the case appealed for a seven-day remand in the case with the Gulshan police station.
Besides, the investigating officer of the case appealed for another 10-days remand including showing arrest in Bhatara police station and 7-days remand with showing arrest in Khilkhet police station.
Read: Model Piyasha and Mou placed on 3-day remand
On the other hand, after the 3-day remand of the alleged Maryam Akhter Mou, the police produced her in court and again appealed for a 10-day remand.
After hearing both sides, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury remanded the accused Piyasha for seven days in three cases and Mou for four days.
On Monday, a Dhaka court placed models Faria Mahabub Piyasha and Mariam Akter Mou on 3-day remand each for questioning over a large amount of liquor, Yaba and lead found at their residences.
Detective Branch (DB) of the police arrested model and presenter Faria Mahabub Piyasha from her house in Baridhara and another model Mariam Akter Mau from Mohammadpur on early hours Sunday.
DB detains Chayanika Chowdhury
The Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Friday evening detained prolific television drama director Chayanika Chowdhury.
She was taken to the office of Detective Branch in Minto Road, sources told UNB.
However, concerned DB officials could not be reached for official confirmation despite repeated attempts.
According to witnesses, Chayanika was on her way home after attending a program at Somoy TV when the cops detained her from Panthapath area of the capital.
Read: Dhallywood actress Pori Moni detained from Banani residence
Allegations against the director were not clear, at the time of filing this report.
It is to be noted that the director stood beside Dhallywood actress Pori Moni, now herself in police custody, during her much talked-about press conference back in June when she first accused a businessman of attempted rape and murder.
Earlier in the day (Friday), DB Joint Commissioner Harun Ur Rashid told reporters that one of Pori Moni's female associates (without mentioning any name) and her costume designer Jimmy, who was the other person seen beside the actress when she first spoke publicly about her allegations, would be arrested soon for being involved in illegal activities.
Read: Nigerian couple detained for sneaking into Bangladesh
A graduate of the Chhayanaut Sangeet Biddayatan for Rabindra Sangeet, Chayantika then went on to Santiniketan. She comes from a family steeped in the arts and has directed over 300 tv dramas.
CPD-hosted intl conf to explore Bangladesh's multifaceted dev over 50 years
To celebrate the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) will host a virtual international conference to explore the country's developments in different dimensions – politics, economy, society and culture.
The conference will be organised in collaboration with the Cornell University of the US, and experts from across the world will join it.
The conference will try to deepen the understanding of Bangladesh's multifaceted developments over the last 50 years and explore the processes that led to these changes.
Read: CPD dialogue calls for ensuring workplace safety at factories
The CPD Board of Trustees came up with the decision at its 57th virtual meeting Wednesday.
Also, the board appreciated CPD's research and outreach-related activities during January-June 2021.
It approved the CPD's plan for research, dialogue, publication and outreach-related activities for July-December 2021.
Read: CPD calls for discontinuation of Speedy Supply of Power and Energy Act
Presided over by CPD Chairman Professor Rehman Sobhan, the board meeting was attended by trustee members Khushi Kabir, coordinator of Nijera Kori; M Syeduzzaman, former finance minister; Syed Manzur Elahi, chairman of APEX Group; Advocate Sultana Kamal, former executive director of Ain o Salish Kendra; Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam, former professor of the Dhaka University's English department; and Parveen Mahmud, managing director of Grameen Telecom Trust.
CPD distinguished fellows Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Professor Rounaq Jahan, Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, and Executive Director Dr Fahmida Khatun also joined the meeting.
Dengue surge in Bangladesh: 214 more hospitalized
Some 214 fresh dengue cases were reported in Bangladesh in 24 hours till Friday 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, 211 were reported in Dhaka while the rest from outside the capital, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
READ: DSCC drive: Aedes larvae found in 5 buildings including DOM-INNO’s
According to the (DGHS), 1,010 patients are currently receiving treatment at different hospitals across the country. Of them, 972 patients were reported to be admitted to hospitals in Dhaka.
Some 4,115 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January and 3,095 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.
READ: Destroy aedes-breeding puddles or face penalty, warns LGRD minister
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.
Bustling Dhaka finally feels ‘lockdown silence’
Facing many challenges in containing the Covid-19 pandemic, Dhaka experienced a little of lockdown silence unlike the past few days due to thinner traffic on the city streets on Friday, thanks to the weekend.
As both private and public offices were closed and there was no vaccination due to the weekend, fewer private cars were seen on the streets of the capital.
However, some slow-moving rickshaws were seen plying VIP roads, an unusual scene during the normal days.
Visiting Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Moghbazar, Banglamotor, Farmgate, Bijay Sarani and Jahangir Gate areas, little traffic was seen on the roads. Still, the searching and checking people and vehicles at different points of the capital was going on, though loosely.
The same scenario was seen in Gabtoli, Technical, Shyamoli, Asad Gate, New Market, Motijheel and Uttara areas and other parts of the city.
Read: Dhaka grapples to enforce lockdown
Akhter Hossain, a traffic inspector at Rajlakshmi point of Uttara, said fewer people and vehicles were seen on the roads in Uttara since morning as offices, courts, garment factories and all other export-oriented industries are closed on Friday.
Members of law enforcement agencies were seen making people wear masks and maintain health rules as per the government order.
Amid prevalent chaos and uncertainty over access to essential commodities, the national capital faces many challenges in containing the pandemic with its huge population and packed kitchen markets, let alone the congested slums.
As usual, the city lanes and by-lanes were stirred with the shouts of roving vendors selling kitchen items.
Meanwhile, highway police seized 40 long-route buses for ferrying passengers on the Dhaka-Tangail highway in Gazipur in violation of lockdown restrictions early Friday.
Read: Dhaka’s traffic overload that never ends, not even in lockdown!
These long-distance buses were transporting passengers at three to four times higher of their original fares, defying the Covid lockdown norms.
Mir Golam Faruk, officer-in-charge of Konabari Highway police station, said his fellowmen were having a strict vigil on the roads to curb the unnecessary movement of vehicles and people during the day.
"However, after dark, taking advantage of marginal relaxations, long-distance buses attempt to enter the city from the northern region," he said.
The government extended the current lockdown till August 10 amid a surge in the Delta variant of Covid-19 across the country, but allowed shops, factories and offices to be reopened from August 11. Public transport will also be allowed to ply roads by rotation on a limited scale once the lockdown is over.
Bangladesh has been under a lockdown since July 23 last, barring people from leaving their homes except for essential reasons and it is set to expire on August 5.