Bangladesh
Bangladeshi student’s body returns home from Canada
The body of Bangladeshi student Yeasin Mohammad Khan Fahim, who was found dead in his rented home in Montreal of Canada, returned to the country early Friday.
A flight of Turkish Airlines carrying Fahim’s body landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 5:04am
His maternal uncle Sayed Mostak Ahmed, a special correspondent of the Daily News Mail, received the body at 7:20am at the airport after completing all the necessary procedures.
The body of Fahim was then taken to his village home at Andiura village in Habiganj’s Madabpur upazila.
was buried at his family graveyard after his second Namaz-e-Janaza on the premises of a local mosque after Juma’ prayers.His first janaza was held at Islamic Centre in Montreal on Wednesday last.
Earlier on April 26, local police retrieved the body of Fahim from his apartment in Montreal’s Downtown. Fahim was living in Montreal for three years as he went there for higher studies.
Bangladesh seeks EU partnership on clean energy development
State Minister for Power and Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid on Friday sought partnership with the European Union (EU) in Bangladesh’s clean energy sector to boost the share of renewable energy in the national grid.
He said this at a round-table discussion on ‘The Economic Dimension of the EU’s Global Footprint’ organised by the EU in a city hotel on Friday.
He said Bangladesh’s power and energy sector would require around USD$ 65 billion investment in the next 15 years for achieving the target of renewable energy, LNG generation, setting up smart grid, smart distribution system, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure and strengthening institutional capacity.
Nasrul sought joint collaboration for clean energy, electric vehicle sector, technology transformation, academic experts exchange and research fund from the EU, as the strongest economic partner of Bangladesh.
Helena Konig, EEAS-Deputy Secretary General for Economic and Global Issues said that the EU has priorities for environment and climate issues, workers’ rights, gender equality, education and research issues.
She said the EU is committed to human rights, transparency, good governance, green development, working on new technology and skilled development activities.
Helena praised Bangladesh’s progress in primary education enrolment, and improvement of women education.
She, however, emphasised technology based and vocation education, where the EU can assist Bangladesh.
Among the academician professor Syed Munir Khasru, chairman, the Institution for Policy Advocacy and Government (IPAG), said the EU can help Bangladesh’s research sector development as the research fund here is much lower.
Bangladesh has promising students and academics, EU can utilize these potentialities through education exchange and funding for research, he said.
Khashru said the EU has scope of development in cyber security, green technology development and skilled human resource development in partnership with Bangladesh.
Professor Lailufar Yasmin of International Relation, Dhaka University said there is a lot of scope for the EU and Bangladesh collaboration in energy sector.
Though the EU is the largest economic partner of Bangladesh, only 6/7 countries’ offices or embassies are here, the students from Bangladesh have to go to India to get visas from many European countries, which is a barrier for education exchange.
In fact, China, the USA are giving visas for Bangladeshi students easily at their Dhaka offices, so the EU countries can set up their missions here to enhance collaboration in education for benefits of students of Bangladesh.
She also focused on branding Bangladesh among the EU countries as the country is the second largest apparel exporter in the world and there is a lot of indigenous innovation and traditional culture.
Charles Whiteley, EU ambassador in Bangladesh, Md, Saiful Islam, president Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, among others, spoke in the function. Major general (Rtd) ANM Muniruzzaman, president of Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Securities studies moderated the programme.
Economists, energy experts, and representatives of different financial institutes participated in it.
Over 570 Bangladesh citizens evacuated from Sudan
Over 570 Bangladesh nationals who were stranded in Sudan due to the ongoing conflict have been evacuated.
They have been evacuated with the support of the government of Bangladesh and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The evacuations began on May 8 and continued until May 12, when 262 migrants in two separate flights landed in Dhaka from Saudi Arabia.
More flights are expected, IOM said on Friday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its Missions in Sudan and Jeddah, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, and the IOM worked together to evacuate the affected Bangladeshi nationals.
Kabir, a returnee from Sudan, said, "I went to Sudan as a migrant worker, and I was doing quite well. Suddenly, the crisis erupted, putting my life in a grave danger. I struggled to meet even the most basic needs."
"I am grateful and relieved the Government of Bangladesh and IOM facilitated our return home," he added.
The 262 Bangladeshi nationals who arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Friday were provided with hot meals, refreshments, and an onward transportation allowance to facilitate their safe return to their places of origin.
At the airport, Dr Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, Secretary, Minister of Expatriates' Welfare, said, "Our primary goal is to alleviate any inconvenience you may face during this difficult time. The government will provide all possible financial assistance, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will also offer support. "
Rear Admiral (Retd) Md. Khurshed Alam, Secretary (Maritime Affairs Unit) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "Our government is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of every Bangladeshi, no matter where they are in the world. The invaluable assistance and expertise of IOM have been instrumental in helping us bring our citizens home safely from Sudan during this challenging time."
Receiving the returnees at the airport, Abdusattor Esoev, Chief of Mission at IOM Bangladesh, said, "It's a great collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh to bring back Bangladesh nationals from Sudan. Our foremost concern is the protection and welfare of these individuals. We pledge our unwavering commitment to collaborate with the government, striving to guarantee a seamless and effective evacuation process."
Sarah Lou Ysmael Arriola, IOM Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, and senior officials from the Minister of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Civil Aviation, and Airport Authority were also present at the airport.
With no end in sight to the unpredictable situation in Sudan, the government of Bangladesh and IOM remain on alert, monitoring events and prepared to offer further assistance as needed.
3 children drown in Patuakhali pond
Three children drowned in a pond at Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali on Friday, police said.
The deceased were identified as Ruman (7) his sister Sharmin (5) and their cousin Mariam (8).
The incident happened at Zia colony area of Tiakhali union of the upazila at 12:30pm.
Police have been sent to investigate the incident, said Officer-in-charge of Kalapara Police Station Md Jashim.
The death of these three children has created an overwhelming atmosphere in the area.
According to police and local sources, the three children were playing around the house since Friday morning. At one point the children fell into the pond.
Locals found Sharmin floating in the pond during search operation, two others were found there too. All the three children were taken to Kalapara Hospital where doctors declared them dead.
Legal action is being taken in this regard, said the OC.
Covid-19: Bangladesh records 23 more cases
Bangladesh recorded 23 more Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours till Friday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,038,453 according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,446 as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity increased to 1.90 percent from Thursday’s 1.24 percent as 1208 samples were tested.
The recovery and death rates remained unchanged at 98.40 percent and 1.44 percent, respectively.
PM mourns death of Kalyani Kazi
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of eminent singer Kalyani Kazi, the youngest daughter-in-law of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.
In a condolence message on Friday, Hasina said the death of the famous Nazrul Geeti singer caused an irreparable loss to the music world.
The premier expressed her deepest sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Kalyani Kazi, the widow of Kazi Nazrul’s youngest son Kazi Anirudhdha, passed away at the age of 87 in Kolkata on Friday morning.
KCC Polls: 222 candidates -7 mayoral- collect nomination papers
With two days left to buy nomination papers, as many as 222 candidates, including seven for the mayoral post, have so far collected papers to contest in the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) elections slated for June 12.
The last date for submission of the nomination papers has been set for May 16, while the electoral symbols among the candidates will be distributed on May 26 after scrutinising the submitted nomination papers.
Eight candidates for councillor post have so far submitted the nomination papers while two women for reserved post.
Those who have so far collected nomination papers for the mayoral post are Md Shafiqul Islam Madhu from Jatiya Party, Md Abdullah Chowdhury Aguan-71, incumbent Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque from Awami League, Maulana Abdul Awal Islami Andolan Bangladesh, independent candidates Abdul Gaffar Biswas who is also a former lawmaker, SM Shafiqur Rahman, Engineer Syed Kamrul Islam.
Returning Officer Md Alauddin said seven candidates for the mayor's post, 175 for the general councilor's post and 40 for the reserved councilor's post collected nomination papers by Friday.
He said the candidates are advised to follow the electoral code of conduct and also instructed to remove promotional materials.
Though the formal electioneering is yet to start, candidates and their supporters under several banners are on the field to woo voters.
leaders and activists seem indifferent in the field of the KCC elections but their main rival Awami League is active with many pledges to vote for the party for continuation of the development and completion of the incomplete works.A total of 5, 35, 528 voters under 31 wards are expected to cast their votes on June 12 from 8am to 4pm.
Rohingya man shot dead at Ukhiya camp
A Rohingya man was shot dead allegedly by miscreants at Ukhiya Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar, police said.
The deceased was identified as Mohammad Kabir Ahmed (28), son of Abul Hossain of Kutupalong registered camp.
The incident took place at Ukhiya Palangkhali Camp No 9 around 11pm on Thursday.
Ukhiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Mohammad Ali said a group of 20-25 masked men shot him and fled at around 11 pm. Later, he was taken to an MSF-run hospital where doctors declared him dead.
The body of the deceased was sent to Cox's Bazar District Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.
It was not immediately clear what led to the man's murder. A special operation is underway to nab those involved in the incident, the official said.
Hundreds of thousands to be evacuated as Bangladesh and Myanmar brace for severe cyclone
Authorities in Bangladesh and Myanmar prepared to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people Friday, warning them to stay away from coastal areas as a severe cyclone churned in the Bay of Bengal.
Cyclone Mocha is expected to hit land on Sunday with wind speeds of up to 160 kilometers (100 miles) per hour and gusts up to 175 kph (110 mph) between Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh and Kyaukpyu in Myanmar, India's Meteorological Department said.
Also Read: Cyclone Mocha intensifies into very severe cyclonic storm: BMD
Bangladesh, a delta nation with more than 160 million people, is prone to natural disasters such as floods and cyclones. The evacuation of nearly 500,000 people is expected to start Saturday with 576 cyclone shelters ready to provide refuge to those who are moved from their homes along the coast, said Bangladesh government administrator Muhammad Shaheen Imran.
“This is the first cyclone system in the north Indian Ocean this year,” said Rajendra Kumar Jenamani, a senior scientist at the Indian Meteorological Department. “The cyclone is severe and will likely affect millions of fishers and coastal communities in Bangladesh and Myanmar."
In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar with a storm surge that devastated populated areas around the Irrawaddy River delta. At least 138,000 people died and tens of thousands of homes and other buildings were washed away.
Myanmar authorities warned of possible flash floods and landslides in coastal areas as residents stocked up on essential supplies, said Hla Tun, a director at the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.
Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune city, said cyclones in the Bay of Bengal are becoming more intense more quickly, in part because of climate change.
The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported that emergency response exercises were being conducted in various regions. It said thousands of people living along the western coast of Rakhine state where the storm is expected to pass are being evacuated.
In Bangladesh, control rooms in cyclone-prone areas were ready for emergency support. Three ports were put on alert, Imran said.
He said the government has allocated dry food, rice and cash and organized thousands of volunteers for relief work under the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.
Cyclone Mocha is expected to hit coastal districts including Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali and Bhola in Bangladesh on Sunday.
India’s Meteorological Department said the storm was centered more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) southwest of Cox’s Bazar and 930 kilometers (580 miles) southwest of Sittwe in Myanmar on Friday and was moving northward at 9 kph (5 mph).
Fishermen and ships were advised not to venture into the southeastern Bay of Bengal and northern Andaman Sea, it said.
The department said it was expecting heavy to very heavy rainfall in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of India's remote northeast.
Climate scientists say cyclones can now retain their energy for many days, such as Cyclone Amphan in eastern India in 2020 which continued to travel over land as a strong cyclone and caused extensive devastation. "As long as oceans are warm and winds are favorable, cyclones will retain their intensity for a longer period,” Koll said.
Cyclones are among the most devastating natural disasters in the world, especially if they affect densely populated coastal regions in South Asia.
Bangladesh reports 5 more dengue cases
Five more people were hospitalised with dengue in 24 hours till Friday morning.
All the new patients were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Ninety-seven dengue patients, including 77 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
So far, the DGHS has recorded 1,196 dengue cases, 1,087 recoveries, and twelve deaths this year.
The country logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019. Also, it recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries last year.