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Load shedding crosses 1000 MW amid sweltering heat
The extent of load shedding in the country crossed 1000 MW on Tuesday in electricity supply against soaring demand.
This is first time in recent days the power shortage crossed such a level while the highest load shedding was recorded at 966 MW on Monday although the power generation set a new record with the figure at 16,233 MW.
Amid the sweltering heat, first working day starts with 966 MW of load shedding
According to the National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC) at the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), the country’s demand was recorded at 15,200 MW at 3pm on Tuesday, when the load shedding was 1049 MW.
On the other hand, the demand forecast for Tuesday evening was 16,800 MW and supply forecast was 16,530 MW.
According to official sources, maximum burden of the loadshedding was diverted to rural areas, as part of a policy to avert power outages in capital Dhaka and other large cities.
Gas supply situation slightly improves, load shedding continues
Reports from different areas said the extent of loadshedding is aggravating the plight of the rural people amid the sweltering heat this summer.
Meanwhile, state-owned Petrobangla’s official data shows that the country’s gas production was 3,056 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) against a demand for 3,760 MW.
Despite weekly holiday, Saturday starts with 1,636 MW of load shedding
It shows that a good number of power plants, specifically those using gas as their primary fuel, remained off generation due to gas shortage.
The power plants received a supply of 1330 MMCFD gas against their demand for 2316.9 MMCFD, the data shows.
DMP providing drinking water amid heat wave
Bangladesh police is organizing safe drinking water for daily wagers, rickshaw pullers and low-income people amid the ongoing heat wave that is sweeping across the country for the last several days, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman.
DMP kept arrangements of pure drinking water by setting up some trolleys of water in different parts of the city under 50 police station areas, he said while briefing to reporters at DMP Media Centre.
He also believed that Bangladesh Police has not only set an example in maintaining law and order situation but also in humanitarian issues.
Replying to a question about changing the uniform of traffic police, the DMP commissioner said so far there is no such thought but there is a norm to provide white umbrellas instead of black.
Besides, the police hospitals are kept ready to provide treatment to the sick policemen if they fall ill amid the heat.
DGHS issues directives to reduce risk of heat stroke
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Tuesday issued some directives to reduce the risk of heat stroke in extreme heat.
According to the DGHS Facebook page,
· It asked people to refrain from severe heat and keep rest in sheds occasionally.
· It also asks to drink plenty of safe water (2.5 to 3 litres for adults) and avoid having street food and beverage to avoid waterborne diseases like hepatitis A, E and diarrhea.
· It also asks people to take bath multiple times, if needed.
· The DGHS asks to wear loose and light colour dress and avoid from deep colourful dress amid hot temperature.
· It also asks to go to the hospital immediately and consult a doctor if any symptoms like stop sweating, nausea, severe headache, and rises in body temperatures, urination decreases, urinary irritation, seizures and occurrence of fainting are found in a person.
· To take medical treatments during extreme heat in any health issues like diabetics, kidney disease, high blood pressure and others.
· It also asks to take care of mental health and follow the directives and inspire others to follow it.
· Make a call to Health care service 16263 for health related issue.
Bangladesh reports 23 COVID-19 cases in 24hrs
Bangladesh reported 23 more COVID-19 cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total COVID-19 caseload rose to 2,049,897, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,494 as no new fatalities were reported during this period.
The daily case test positivity rate was 4.55 percent as 506 samples were tested, said the DGHS.
The recovery and death rates stood at 98.41 percent and 1.44 per cent, respectively.
11 dengue patients hospitalised in 24hrs
No fresh death due to dengue was reported in Bangladesh in the 24 hours till Tuesday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, eleven patients were hospitalised with viral fever during this period, according to the DGHS.
Of them, four were admitted in Dhaka hospitals, while the rest was outside the capital.
A total of 120 patients are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
So far, 2, 051dengue 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.
Seminar: All actors urged to work together to secure rights of migrants
Speakers at a seminar on Tuesday highlighted the emerging challenges of labour migration from South Asia and urged all actors to work together to secure the rights of the migrants.
Speaking as the chief guest, PM’s Economic Affairs Adviser Dr. Mashiur Rahman spoke about the contribution of labour migrants to the South Asian economy and highlighted Bangladesh’s enthusiasm for working together with other countries.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in collaboration with the Consortium of South Asian Think Tanks (COSATT) and Political Dialogue Asia Programme, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) organised the regional seminar on “Labour Migrants from South Asia: Issues and Concerns” at BIISS auditorium.
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Khairul Alam spoke as special guest.
BIISS Chairman Ambassador AFM Gousal Azam Sarker chaired the inaugural session while Director General of BIISS Major General Md Abu Bakar Siddique Khan and Convener, COSATT Dr. Nishchal N. Pandey delivered welcome remarks.
Regional Programme, Political Dialogue Asia, KAS, Singapore Andreas Klein Director also spoke.
The seminar was divided into two working sessions. The first working session was focused on “Labour Migrants from South Asia: Contemporary Challenges” which was chaired by Dr Tasneem Siddiqui, Professor and Chairperson, Department of Political Science, University of Dhaka.
Five presenters: Md Shariful Hasan, Programme Head, BRAC Migration Programme; Dr Mallika Joseph, Senior Fellow, WISCOMP, New Delhi; Mahesh Raj Bhatta, Research Officer, Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu; Shishir Khanal, Member of Parliament, Kathmandu and Col. Nalin Herath, acting Director General, Institute of National Security Studies, Colombo participated in the first session.
The second working session was concentrated on “Addressing Challenges: Regional Cooperation and Partnerships”.
It was chaired by Megha Sarmah, Programme Manager 2030 Agenda, KAS, Singapore.
The second session also had five presentations from Dr. Benuka Ferdousi, Senior Research Fellow, BIISS; Sugeeswara Senadhira, Advisor, the Prime Minister’s Office, Colombo; Hernaikh Singh, Deputy Director, Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore, Anu Maria Joseph, Research Associate, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, Dr. Anasua Bosu Ray Choudhury, Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata.
Senior officials from different ministries, diplomats, senior civil and military officials, media, academia, researchers, faculties and students from various universities, and representatives from international organisations participated in the seminar.
BASIS Election: BASIS hosts Candidates’ introduction meeting
The election of the executive committee for the 2024-26 of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) is going to be held on May 8.
A candidates’ introduction meeting was held on the occasion at the IDEB Auditorium in Kakrail on Monday.
Thirty-three candidates are competing to elect the 11-Member Executive Council, said a press release issued on Tuesday.
Among them eight candidates will be elected from General category and one each from Associate, Affiliate and International category.
BASIS researcher promotes '8 by 4 formula' for region in Kathmandu
TIM Nurul Kabir, Chairman of BASIS Election Executive Board, delivered the welcome speech at the program.
In his speech, he discussed about the code of conduct for BASIS elections and discussed various issues related to casting votes by displaying demo ballot papers.
At one stage, he organized the panel based candidate familiarization meeting through lottery.
Change of auditor firm in accordance with law: BASIS President
Syed Mamnun Quader and Nazim Farhan Choudhury, members of the BASIS Election Board, were also present on the stage.
All candidates are competing in this election divided into three panels. The names of these three panels are 'Team Smart', 'One Team', and 'Team Success'.
In the panel-based candidate orientation session, Team Smart first came on stage and gave a presentation, followed by One Team and finally Team Success.
Team Smart panel is led by Md Mostafizur Rahaman Sohel. Other candidates in General category of Team Smart are Dr. Muhammad Risalat Siddique, Liakat Hossain, Mir Shahrukh Islam, A.S.M. Rafiq Ullah, Monjurul Alam Mamun, Syeda Nawshad Jahan Promee, Niaz Morshed Elite and Arman Ahmed Khan (Associate category), Lutfi Haider Chowdhury (Affiliate category) and A H M Hasinul Quddus (Rusho) in (International category).
The One Team panel has been formed under the leadership of Russell T Ahmed. Other candidates in General category of this panel are Uttam Kumar Paul, Didarul Alam, M Rashidul Hasan, AKM Ahmedul Islam BABU, Iqbal Ahmed Fakhrul Hasan, M Asif Rahman, KAM Rashedul Mazid and Syed Abdullah Jayed (Associate category), Biplob Ghosh Rahul (Affiliate category) and Syed Mohammad Kamal (International category).
The Team Success panel is led by Mustafa Rafiqul Islam DUKE. The other candidates of this panel in general category are Taufiqul Karim Suhrid, Muhammed Aminullah, Md Shohibur Rahman Khan Rana, Farjana Kabir Ishita, Md Shofiul Alam, Imran Hossen, Syeda Nafisa Reza and NM Rafsan Jany Samir (Associate category), Abdul Aziz (Affiliate category) and Abu Muhammad Rashed Mujib Noman (International category).
Voting for BASIS election will continue on May 8 from 10 am to 5 pm at Gulshan Shooting Club in the capital.
The total number of voters in this election of Basis is 1464.
Among them 932 voters in general category, 389 voters in associate category, 134 voters in affiliate category and 9 voters in international category.
A Tauhid, Chairman of the BASIS Appeal Board, and two members Abdullah H Kafi and Nazneen Kamal were also present.
Fire on launch in Dhaka’s Shyambazar Terminal under control
A fire that broke out on the "MV Bangali" launch in Dhaka’s Shyambar Launch Terminal was brought under control on Tuesday.
Five firefighting units brought the fire under control at 1:45 pm on Tuesday, said Talha Bin Zasim Station Officer of FSCD headquarters media cell.
Earlier, the fire broke out at 12:55 pm.
No passengers were on the launch at the time of the fire, added the fire official.
Gas supply to stop for 12 hours in Savar Wednesday
Gas supply to all categories of customers will remain suspended at different areas in Savar for 12 hours from 9 am to 9 pm on Wednesday.
According to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited, the areas where gas supply will halt include Tongabari, Ashulia, Khejur Bagan, Gouripur, Khagan, Kumkumari, and Akran.
Country pushes against heat wave setting new record in power generation on consecutive days
The consumers in the adjoining areas may experience low pressure gas supply, said the Titas Gas regretting the temporary inconveniences of its customers.
Bangladeshi man injured in BSF firing along Cumilla border
A 26-year-old Bangladeshi man was injured after members of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire along the border at Burichang upazila of Cumilla on Monday night.
The injured was identified as Billal Hossain of Laribagh village of Rajapur union of the upazila.
'KNF man' killed, weapons recovered during anti-terrorism drive in Bandarban
According to locals, BSF men opened fire on Billal when he was unloading sugar smuggled from India at the Tetultala border area around 9:30 pm on Monday.
Locals rescued him and took him to the emergency department of Cumilla Medical College Hospital, where doctors referred him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for better treatment.
4 including 2 children dead after bus ran them over in Cumilla
Border Guard Bangladesh Sankuchail BOP Commander Faruk Kamal said, "Locals took the injured person to the hospital before we could reach the spot.”