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Faridpur road crash: Probe body finds bus driver’s drowsiness, over speed of bus, pickup
The 7-member probe body formed to investigate the road accident in Faridpur on April 16 that claimed 15 lives identified over speed of both the bus and the pick up van and drowsiness of the bus driver behind the deadly road crash.
The committee led by additional district magistrate Md Ali Siddique submitted the report to Deputy Commissioner Md Qamrul Ahsan Talukder on Sunday afternoon.
DC Qamrul said they will forward the report to the higher authorities concerned to take measures as per the report.
Probe committee head Md Ali said,”We talked to people from all departments concerned about the accident. I visited the spot and tried to find out why this tragic accident occurred, I tried to make some recommendations to prevent deaths in road crashes.”
The drowsiness of the bus driver due to long time driving after the Eid and over speed of the bus and the pickup van were blamed for the fatal accident, reads the report.
The report also put forward some recommendations to prevent such road accidents.
All those driving on the roads or highways should know and abide by the relevant law, set up a road divider or widen the road in the accident prone areas, drivers of vehicles should not drive without break, autorickshaws or small risky vehicles shouldn’t be allowed on the highways, said the report.
On April 16, at least 15 people including six women and two children were killed and 15 others injured in a head-on collision between the bus and the pickup van on the Dhaka-Khulna highway in Sadar upazila.
All the victims were passengers of the pickup van although carrying passengers in pickup vans or trucks is prohibited in the country.
The deceased included five members of a family.
Later, Rapid Action Battalion arrested the bus driver Khokan Mia from Jhenaidah.
A case was filed accusing the bus driver with Kotowali police station in this regard.
Very severe heat wave grips Pabna, Chuadanga, no respite from scorching heat for 5 days: BMD
Very severe heat wave is sweeping Pabna & Chuadanga districts, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
Besides, severe heat wave is sweeping Rajshahi, Tangail, Jashore & Kushtia districts and mild to moderate heat wave is lashing Rangpur, Barishal & Mymensingh divisions and parts of Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khluna divisions, Srimangal & Chandpur district, said a met office bulletin on Monday.
The heat wave condition may continue and no marked change in likely in five days commencing 9am on Monday.
Dhaka’s air quality again ‘unhealthy’ this morning
Country’s highest temperature was recorded in Chuadanga at 42.2 degree Celsius on Sunday and 56 mm rains were recorded in 24 hours till 6 am on Monday.
“Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely at one or two places over Mymensingh, Chattogram & Sylhet divisions with hails at isolated places. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country,” it said.
Day temperature may fall slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country during the period.
Due to increase of moisture incursion, the discomfort may persists.
Medical Tourism Conclave held with cross-border participation
The Medical Tourism Conclave-2024 was held at the Dhaka Club on Sunday.
The initiative by Byatikram MASDO, a socio-cultural organisation based in India's Assam, was supported by Bangladesh Assistant High Commission, Friends of Bangladesh, and Sampriti Bangladesh.
Specialists from various hospitals and institutes from both Bangladesh and India participated in the conclave, aiming to reduce healthcare disparities and enhance mutual cooperation in the field of health between the two countries.
Co-ordinator of the conclave, Prof. Dr Mamun Al Mahtab of Bangabandhu Sheikh Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), presented the keynote paper .
He hoped this conclave will work as the bridge in new scopes of assistance between the two country’s health sector.
Former state minister of foreign affairs, Shahriar Alam spoke as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony.
Shahriar Alam said currently the cooperation between Bangladesh and India has reached the highest level ever and emphasized more cooperation in the health sector. "If cooperation between Bangladesh and India in the health sector is increased to ensure better medical care for the people of the country, it will help save the country's valuable foreign currency, he said.
The participation of representatives from numerous governmental and non-governmental hospitals and pharmaceutical industries from Bangladesh facilitated discussions and exchanges to ensure universal healthcare services for the people of both countries.
UNDP urged to scale up support for accessing international climate financing
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud has urged UNDP to scale up its support for accessing international climate financing through capacity building of the concerned public and private sector entities.
He made the request when UNDP Country Representative Stefan Liller called on him at his office on Sunday.
The Foreign Minister acknowledged the importance of expediting and streamlining the internal approval processes for grants-based climate financing.
He underscored the need for UN system-wide scanning to assess the status of project approval for further inter-ministerial coordination.
Foreign Minister Hasab recalled his long association with the UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner and reiterated his invitation to the latter to visit Bangladesh this year.
He also expressed satisfaction at the recent successful visit by the UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.
The UNDP Country Representative appreciated Bangladesh’s role as the UNDP Board President in 2024.
He also thanked Bangladesh for being the only LDC among the top core budget contributors to UNDP.
He reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to support Bangladesh on its development pathway towards a smooth and sustainable LDC graduation.
The Foreign Minister welcomed UNDP’s offer to contribute further to capacity building for climate diplomacy, implementing Blue Economy strategy, and addressing trans-boundary marine and air pollution.
He commended UNDP’s support for digital innovation and public service delivery in Bangladesh.
The UNDP Representative observed that a number of such innovations are being replicated in other developing countries under the framework of South-South Cooperation.
Drug-addict uncle stabs nephew to death in Kamrangirchar
A drug addict uncle reportedly stabbed his nephew to death in the capital's Kamrangirchar area on Sunday.
The deceased Tanin Hossain Sifat, 22, was the son of Md Jamil Khan, a plastic trader of Kazi Pagla village of Louhajang upazila of Munshiganj district.
At that time, the victim's elder brother Tamim Hossain Shrabon, 23, sustained injuries who is receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital with stab wounds in the throat.
Currently, they used to live in a rented house with family in Keraniganj Amirabad.
Victims' maternal uncle Ripon Mia said the brothers were employed at his electric shop in Kamrangirchar.
Around 4pm, they came to our home and discovered that my younger brother, Rakib Hossain, was physically abusing my mother for money for consuming drugs.
"When they tried to restrain Rakib from assaulting her, he attacked them with a knife, leaving them injured" he said.
They were rushed to DMCH where doctors declared Sifat dead around 6:15pm, he added.
Ripon Mia said his brother Rakib is a drug addict and is unemployed
The body was kept at the hospital morgue for an autopsy, said Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) police outpost.
The matter was informed to the concerned police station, he added.
DB pursuing fake certificate syndicate in earnest, as raid in Mirpur yields new leads
Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) may question the chairman of Technical Education Board, in case he is found to be involved in any capacity with the fake certificate syndicate, which doesn't necessarily have to be incriminating.
The sleuths of the DMP recently raided a fake certificate manufacturing factory in the city's Mirpur area and also arrested two people from there. In the raid's aftermath, Shahela Parveen (54), the wife of Ali Akbar Khan, chairman of the Technical Education Board, was arrested from Uttara.
3 associates of ‘Chinese syndicate’ arrested in Dhaka: DB
DB will also interrogate Ali Akbar Khan if it deems it necessary in connection with this incident.
Additional Commissioner of the DMP, and also the DB chief, Md Haroon Or Rashid disclosed all this while briefing reporters at DMP Media Center on Sunday.
Harun said that Bangladesh Technical Board Chairman Ali Akbar Khan will be interrogated if found to be involved in any capacity to the fake certificate circle.
The DB chief said, "We will not spare anyone, no matter who is involved in this incident. We have not exempted anyone so far. If we find any evidence of the chairman's involvement, we will also question him. We will call him for questioning any time."
DB investigating BUET incident: DB Chief
He said that after the arrest of two people from Mirpur this month, according to the information given by them, two of the gang were arrested. Prof Mostafizur Rahman (48) of Kamrangirchar Hillful Fuzul Technical and BM College was arrested on April 18, and Md Maksudur Rahman alias Mamun (40), director of Dhaka Technical School and College, was arrested the next day on April 19.
Based on secret information, a team of the DB arrested Sanjida Akhtar Koli, director of Garai Survey Institute in Kustia district, from Sadar Thana area of the district on April 5. Later, Shehela Parveen (54) was arrested from Uttara.
DB dismantles fraudulent loan scheme: Election Commission employee among 4 arrested
Earlier on April 1 this month, the detectives conducted a raid at a house in Pirer Bagh area of Mirpur of the capital and arrested the Bangladesh Technical Education Board's computer cell system analyst AKM Shamsuzzaman and the same organization's sacked and currently Shamsuzzaman's personally paid assistant Faisal. A large number of mark sheets, fake certificates and registration cards and admit cards were recovered from them.
ICDDR,B issues health guidelines centring heat wave
In an effort to minimize health risk due to the scorching heat, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and ICDDR, B issued some guidelines and urged people to follow it.
Health risks due to excessive heat
· Feeling uncomfortable
· Dehydration
· Severe headache
· Sleepless
· Body ache
· Muscle pain
· Aversion to food
· Skin lesions
· Kidney and lung problem
· Respiratory problem
· Heart problem
· Heat stroke
· Heat cramps
Those who are at highest risk
· Children
· Elderly person
· Disable person
· Daily wager, rickshaw puller, farmer, construction worker
· Person with overweight
· Person especially those who have comorbidities like heart disease, high blood pressure
What to do to control heat stroke
· To refrain from going outside, avoid sun
· Cover head with umbrella, cap or cloth as much as possible when in outside
· Wearing of light colour dresses especially made of cotton
· Drinking adequate pure water
· Try to eat foods that are easily digested and avoid eating stale, open foods
· Refrain from continuous exercise in day time
· Take bath multiple times or splash water, if possible
· Keep an eye on the color of urine continuously, if it is yellow or dark, then increase the amount of water drinking
· Keep in mind that the environment of the house is not overheated or vapour
· If you feel sick, consult the nearest doctor immediately
The DGHS also urged to make a call at 16263 to take telemedicine if they find any symptoms above these within 24 hours.
The whole country has been reeling under scorching heat as a very severe heat wave gripped parts of Bangladesh, with maximum temperatures ranging from 40 degrees Celsius to over 42 degrees Celsius in some areas.
“Very severe heat wave is sweeping Pabna, Jashore and Chuadanga districts and a severe heat wave is sweeping Dhaka and parts of Khulna divisions and Rajshahi district,” said a bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department on Sunday.
BALTWF urges govt to find out actual reasons for frequent road accidents
Bangladesh Auto-rickshaw Light Transport Workers Federation (BALTWF) in a statement urged the government to find out the actual reasons behind the frequent road accidents in recent days.
BALTWF present Abul Hossin and its founder general secretary Golam Faruk in a statement on Sunday said that some unauthorised vehicles like battery-operated Easybike, battery rickshaw, Nasimon/Karimon/Bhutbhuti are mainly identified by transport experts as main reasons for the road accidents.
All these vehicles are not allowed by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA). But some media outlets publish news of the accidents in a way that creates a perception in the public mind authorised three wheelers and light vehicles are responsible for the accidents.
"Actual reasons should be identified through proper investigation without blaming the drivers for any accident," the leaders said.
They also expressed deep sorrow for the loss of life and property in the road accidents, specially, during the recent Eid journey.
They said transport sector experts have been giving different opinions for a long time about the road accidents in Bangladesh which should be taken into account in identifying the reasons.
Hospitals instructed to be ready to deal with possible outcomes amid heat wave: Health Minister
The authorities concerned of the hospitals across the country have been instructed to be prepared to deal with adverse conditions amid a severe heat wave, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen on Sunday.
“Due to the severe heat wave, the hospital authorities have been asked not to admit patients under cold cases (those who are not emergency to provide medical treatment) and keep the hospital prepared,” he said while talking to reporters after talking with the directors and civil surgeons of the hospitals across the country.
Elderly persons and children are vulnerable due to the heat wave and we have to face the situation, he added.
Health Ministry to tackle medicine price hike: Minister Samanta Lal Sen
Referring to the oral saline, the minister said it is fully under control now and directions were given to inform me in case of an oral saline crisis.
Replying to a question about the condition of Shishu Hospital, the minister said “I have visited the Sishu Hospital and asked the authorities concerned to keep adequate arrangements at hospitals.”
Asking whether there is a possibility to extend the holiday of educational institutions, Samanta said “Observing the overall situation, if we think, we will definitely extend the holiday. Children should not be put at risk.”
Expanding healthcare access to marginalized communities: A pledge by Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen
Failure to communicate rationale behind consolidation in banking sector driving panic among customers, employees
Depositors are gathering at different banks to withdraw their hard earned money, as a kind of panic has spread in the entire banking sector centring the process of mergers taking place between strong and weak banks, or the private and public sectors.
The mergers are necessary to fill the central bank's objective of initiating a process of consolidation in Bangladesh's highly-fragmented banking industry, aimed at reducing the number of banks in the country, which for a number of years now has been far too high.
In a sense, the government is trying to rectify its past mistakes - in particular the overly laissez-faire approach to handing out banking licenses.
For example, just based on the five merger proposals so far received by the central bank, if all of them were to succeed, or at least be approved, the number of banks in Bangladesh would come down by 6 - almost 10% of the number of bank currently in operation.
But there has been no effort to explain this to the public in these terms. Rather they are seeing a string of random (to them) mergers being announced, where the decisions to merge often don't make sense on the surface, in a landscape where such mergers are unprecedented.
The sense of knowing something is happening, but not knowing what it is, has driven the sense of panic among the public, who feel some decisions of Bangladesh Bank are being forcefully imposed on the sector, while Shapla Chattor's decision to impose a ban on beat reporters entering the central bank, alongside whatever purpose it served the decisionmakers, has also raised people's doubts about the authorities' intentions to remain transparent.
BASIC Bank to merge with City Bank in strategic consolidation move
That in turn could only exacerbate the sense of panic, which hsn gotten to the point of people withdrawing their deposits from certain banks, said sources at some respected banks.
They said most of the depositors are suffering from the dilemma of whether or not to keep money in the bank. Some are withdrawing money from the bank due to fear.
This list also includes some institutional depositors. A Shariah-based private bank has received 12 deposit refund applications in the last week. Each is a capital FDR. Already, Basic Bank has lost more than Tk2000 crore of deposits recently at the news of merging this bank with private sector City bank.
About Tk100 crores have been withdrawn from BDBL. The situation is almost the same for other banks in the list of mergers.
When asked to know, the Acting Managing Director (MD) of BASIC Bank, Abu Md. Mofazzal told UNB, "Since 2015, BASIC Bank is also a state-owned bank like Sonali and Janata."
Top execs of merging bank cannot hold posts at acquiring entity: Bangladesh Bank
He explained that various government institutions and organizations have deposited money in BASIC Bank. With the news of merger with private sector players, these institutes have started withdrawing the money.
“Various institutions have already withdrawn more than Tk2000 crore of deposits. Because they think that BASIC Bank is going to become a private bank,” BASIC acting MD pointed out.
He said for this reason, the board of directors decided BASIC Bank would send a letter to the government to merge with a government bank.
A senior official of National Bank told UNB on condition of anonymity that it is becoming difficult to retain deposits, ever since the old board was dissolved and a new board was formed.
The new board should be given at least six months’ time. A decision to merge now will not be good for the bank, the official said.
The top management of UCBL is saying the same thing, which bank is scheduled to merge the National Bank.
A senior official of the bank said, like other banks, there is panic in UCB. Because, the depositors are seeking money back.
BDBL to merge with Sonali Bank while BKB with RKUB
Meanwhile, Basic Bank does not want to merge with the private sector City Bank. They want to merge with a government bank. The board of directors of the bank has given an official letter to the government stating this.
However, the BB spokesperson and other officials working on bank mergers have not agreed to comment in this regard.
The panic among employees of these banks (that are in line for merger) is driven by a sense of uncertainty over their futures. Many apprehend being made redundant once the merger process is completed. It means many of the mid-to-lower ranked employees are already fishing for new opportunities, although these are relatively scarce to come by. Nevertheless their search is on.