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Udichi's Pahela Boishakh programme, statement 'unexpected and unfortunate': State Minister Arafat
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat on Monday said that the Bengali New Year programme that was organised by Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi defying the directives of the government followed by its negative statement was unexpected and unfortunate.
"Udichi Shilpigoshthi's programme defying the directives, issued by the government's security affairs agencies for ensuring the security of Pahela Baishakh, was an inconsiderate and unfortunate incident," he said while talking to journalists at his Secretariat office on Monday.
The government’s directive was that all programs should be completed by 6pm on Pahela Boishakh. Ignoring this decision, Udichi held a ceremony after 6pm on the day.
"The government got hurt and very much shocked at this approach of Udichi," Arafat added.
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“Who would take the responsibility if any accident occurred where Udichi held a programme defying the government's prohibition?” the state minister questioned.
"We think that those who will hold programmes without following rules or directives should take that responsibility," he said.
In the past, many people were killed and many others became paralyzed after being injured in bombings at Ramna Batamul in the capital and Udichi's programme in Jashore on Pahela Baishakh, he said.
He said several members of the police sacrificed their lives to prevent terrorist attacks at Holey Artisan, Eid Jammat at Sholakia Maidan and in Sylhet.
As the government remains always vigilant to ensure the safety of people's lives and property in every event, no terrorist attack or terrorist incident has occurred in Bangladesh in the recent past, he mentioned.
RAB ready to thwart any militant attack targeting Pahela Boishakh celebration, DG says
He said the government seeks everyone's cooperation in this regard.
"Under the leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter, all organizations having faith in the spirit of Liberation War including Bangladesh Awami League or we all had celebrated Pahela Baishakh in Suhrawardy Udyan," he said.
Noting that ensuring security is the duty of the government, the state minister sought cooperation from all as any joyous festival doesn't turn into a sorrowful incident.
Mentioning Pahela Baishakh is celebrated properly under the initiative of the Awami League government, Arafat said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government introduced an allowance for Bengali New Year for the celebration of the Pahela Baishakh.
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Besides, in response to the Cultural Affairs Ministry's appeal, Bangladesh's "Mangal Shobhajatra" was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2016, categorised on the representative list as a heritage of humanity.
Rickshawpuller injured in road accident dies at Dhaka hospital
A 30-year-old rickshawpuller, who sustained severe injuries after being hit by an unidentified vehicle in Dhaka’s Gabtoli area on Sunday night, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Dhaka hospital early Monday.
The deceased was identified as Rezaul, son of Ansar Ali of Uttar Katla village under Birampur upazila in Dinajpur.
Pedestrian Kazi Shamsuddin Habib, who brought the injured rickshaw puller to the hospital, said the unidentified vehicle hit Rezaul when he was crossing a road at Beribadh Sluice Gate of Dhaka’s Gabtoli area around 8:30 pm, leaving him critically injured.
At first, he was taken to Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where he breathed his last while receiving treatment around 12 am, said the DMCH police outpost In-Charge Md Bachhu Miah.
The body was kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy, he said, adding that the concerned police station was informed about the matter.
Though the rickshawpuller used to live in Dhaka, his family has been staying in Dinajpur’s village home, he informed.
COVID-19: Bangladesh reports 11 more cases in 24hrs
Bangladesh reported 11 more COVID-19 cases in 24 hours till Monday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total COVID-19 caseload rose to 2,049,739, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,493 as no new fatalities were reported during this period.
The daily case test positivity rate was 4.78 percent as 230 samples were tested, said the DGHS.
The recovery and death rates stood at 98.41 percent and 1.44 per cent, respectively.
34 more dengue patients hospitalised in 24hrs
No fresh death due to dengue was reported in Bangladesh in the 24 hours till Monday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, thirty-four patients were hospitalised across the country with viral fever during this period, according to the DGHS.
Of them, eight were admitted to several hospitals in Dhaka, while the rest were outside the capital.
So far, 1,865 dengue cases have been reported since January 1, 2024.
Last year, a total of 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record.
The DGHS recorded 321,179 dengue cases and 3, 18,749 recoveries last year.
Last year’s September was the deadliest month for the dengue outbreak, with 396 fatalities and 79,598 cases, according to DGHS data.
Despite Summit’s LNG terminal resuming, gas supply still lags as Bibiyana goes on maintenance
Despite resumption of the Summit Group’s Floating Storage and Regasification Unit, one of the country's two LNG terminals, overall gas supply failed to improve. Rather, it witnessed a further fall due to the start of the Bibiyana Gas field’s maintenance programme.
However, officials said the Bibiyana Gas field, one of the country’s largest gas supply sources, went into routine maintenance on April 13 and will come back to full production within three days on April 16.
Officials from both state-owned Petrobangla and Chevron, the operator of the Bibiyana Gas field, noted that they are hopeful of getting full-scale supply from Tuesday.
Petrobangla's official data shows that the production from BIbiyana gas field came down to 453 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) on Monday from its regular production of 1200 MMCFD.
Official sources said, the Summit Group finally became successful in commissioning its LNG terminal and resumed re-gasification of imported LNG on April 12.
The official data of state-owned Petrobangla shows that the supply of imported gas has increased by 162 million cubic feet (MMCFD) to 792 MMCFD from 630 MMCFD following the commissioning of the Summit Group’s LNG terminal.
“The gas supply has further increased to 936.30 MMCFD on April 14,” a senior official of the Petrobangla told UNB.
The country has two LNG terminals, set up by the private sector, in Maheshkhali having total regasification capacity of 1100 MMCFD. One is owned and operated by US-based Excelerate Energy having 600 MMCFD capacity while another one is owned and operated by Summit Group having 500 MMCFD.
The gas supply situation witnessed a fall when the Summit Group’s LNG Terminal went into a routine maintenance programme in the first week of March. It was scheduled to return to service and resume production on March 3.
“But initially it failed to come back to production as per schedule and finally it resumed production a few days later,” the Petrobangla official said.
Official data shows that the country’s gas supply was 2,345 MMCFD on Sunday and Monday against low demand of 3,632 MMCFD at the tail end of the Eid vacation.
Meanwhile, the official data shows that despite a low demand in the power supply, the country had to experience load shedding of over 300 MW on Monday during the day's peak period.
The PGCB Data shows the country’s load shedding was recorded to 305 MW at 10 am when the demand was 11,400 MW.
The evening peak demand was forecast to be 14,000 MW on Monday and the officials apprehend more loadshedding tonight.
Civil society group demands judicial inquiry into Sadarghat launch accident on Eid
Nirapad Naupath Bastobayan Jote (Safer Waterway Implementation Alliance) on Monday demanded a judicial investigation followed by punishment of those responsible for the death of five people in a launch accident that occurred at Sadarghat last Thursday, on Eid-ul-Fitr.
The alliance thinks the deaths were due to negligence and reckless behavior on the part of some people.
On the afternoon of Eid day on April 11, two launches were moored at pontoon number 11 of Dhaka Sadarghat.
Although there was not enough space between the moored launches, another launch recklessly tried to enter the pontoon through them. At this time, one of the ropes mooring the launch tore and thrashed the five passengers waiting on the pontoon, who died on the spot.
During Eid and other festive days, there is always extra pressure on the jetties, so extra surveillance and security measures were expected.
The alliance leaders called for an end to such undesirable instances in the waterways of Bangladesh, in a press release.
They raised the following demands for a secure Bangladesh's waterways:
(1) A high court judge should lead the investigation committee. (2) The committee should also have
experts and representatives of affected family members. (3) Reports of all past investigation committees
to be published immediately. (4) Adequate police force must be deployed under the Marine Magistrate
Court. (5) Launch owners must ensure insurance for all passengers and ensure a passenger list before
departure of every trip. (6) All those responsible for the accident should be brought under exemplary
punishment. (7) Additional inspectors and police force should be deployed at the jetty during Eid, Puja,
other festivals, and storms. (8) Immediate maximum compensation must be given to the families of
those who died in the launch accident on April 11, 2024.
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, chief coordinator of the alliance, said that waterways in Bangladesh are the most cost-effective and safe. We want the government to give utmost importance to securing this cost-effective waterway for transporting people and goods.
Since 2003, this alliance has been agitating to make Bangladesh's waterways safe, and they have regularly made these demands.
On July 8, 2003, MV Nasreen sank, resulting in the loss of many lives.
Almost 15 years after this incident, the alliance has presented various recommendations to implement safer waterways every year. In 2006, the alliance published research outlining the root causes of maritime accidents and recommendations for remedial measures. In a press conference on February 25, 2015, the coalition demanded the appointment of additional magistrates and police at the jetties during the Eid and Puja holidays and storm seasons.
Health Minister stresses keeping houses clean, coordinated work to prevent dengue
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen on Monday urged all keep their houses clean and directed the authorities concerned to work in a coordinated way to prevent dengue.“We have directed the hospital authorities to take measures as the physicians are well aware of dengue treatment. This year there will be no saline crisis as we have had a meeting regarding the issue,” he said while talking to reporters after exchanging Eid greetings at his office.Replying to a question about the responsibility of the physicians during Eid vacation, the minister said “I tried my level best during Eid. Even before becoming a minister, there was no Eid and Durga Puja that I have not been to the hospital. First I used to go to the hospital and then to the festival.”
8 more dengue patients hospitalised in 24hrs“Earlier, I used to visit one hospital but this year, I visited different hospitals to inspire the on-duty doctors and nurses so that they serve their best,” he said.This year, food was provided to the on-duty doctors, nurses and staff through an administrative order as most of the shops and restaurants remain closed during Eid holidays, said the minister.
5 more dengue patients hospitalised in 24hrs
Dhaka still in holiday mood
Dhaka city is still to get its usual look though the city dwellers have started returning to the capital after holidays for Eid-ul-Fitr and Pahela Baishakh.
The bustling capital looked empty with most of the roadside shops, shopping malls closed and few public and private vehicles plying the streets in the morning.
The government, semi-government, and private offices including banks and financial institutions opened today but there was a low presence of employees.
Officials and staff were seen exchanging Eid greetings with colleagues by embracing each other.
A small number of buses and private vehicles were seen plying the streets in Malibagh, Shantinagar, Gulshan, Firmgate , Dhamondi, Mirpur and Shahbagh areas in the morning.
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Md Yousuf, an employee of a private bank, said, “Still a festive environment is prevailing in the city. There is no traffic jam or chaos on streets. It took me only 6 minutes to reach Gulshan from Rajarbagh area by car that usually takes 30 to 40 minutes on the other regular days due to traffic congestion. It’s a temporary relief for Dhaka dwellers.”
On the occasion of Eid, April 10, 11, and 12 (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) were public holidays. After Eid, there was a weekly holiday on Saturday, April 13, and a Bengali New Year holiday on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh on Sunday, April 14.
However, many of the government and private sector workers who went outside Dhaka to celebrate Eid took optional leave.
As a result, it will take a few more days to start the proceedings in full swing in the offices, courts, banks, and stock market.
Besides, schools and colleges will also open next week. Then the capital will return to normal.
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Youth found dead in Hatirjheel lake
A 23-year-old young man was found dead at Hatirjheel lake in the capital on Monday.
The deceased was identified as Foyez Quader Chowdhury, son of Fazlul Quader Chowdhury of Shahjahanpur area.
Local people spotted the floating body of Foyez and informed police in the morning.
Youth jumps into Hatirjheel lake to end life
Police recovered the body and sent it to the local hospital morgue for autopsy, said Awlad Hossain, officer-in-charge of Hatirjheel Police Station.
According to Foyez’s family, he left home around 11 pm and did not return home.
However, police suspected that Foyez might have committed suicide after jumping into the lake.
Biker dead after motorcycle skids off road at Dhaka’s Hatirjheel
Export-import resumes through Benapole port
Export and import activities between India and Bangladesh through Benapole land port resumed on Monday morning after a five-day holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr and Bangla New Year.
Earlier, import and export with India through this port remained suspended from April 10 to 14 on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and Bangla New Year.
Crocodile with satellite transmitters released into Sundarbans from Bagerhat
Sajedur Rahman, general secretary of the Benapole C&F Staff Association, said export and import activities through the port resumed this morning.
Kamruzzaman Biswas, officer-in-charge of Benapole Check Post Immigration Police, said the movement of passengers between the two countries was normal despite the suspension of trade for holidays.
Benapole Port director Rezaul Karim said after the end of holidays, workers will work for extended hours at the port if necessary for loading and unloading of goods.