Bangladesh
Bangladesh attaches high priority on relations with Sri Lanka: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that Bangladesh and Sri Lanka can greatly enhance bilateral cooperation in the areas of investment, agriculture, fisheries, pharmaceuticals, maritime connectivity and higher education.
She said this when outgoing Sri Lankan High Commissioner Prof. Sudharshan D.S. Seneviraine made a farewell call on her at her official residence Ganobhaban, according to PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim.
The prime minister said that Bangladesh attaches high priority to its relations with the neighbours particularly with Sri Lanka which are based on historical bonds and multitude of commonalities.
She said that Bangladesh emphasises on maintaining good relations with the neighbours, including Sri Lanka.
Hasina said that 90 percent of the development programmes of Bangladesh are funded from domestic resources.
She mentioned that the development pace in the country was hampered by Covid-19 pandemic.
“Bangladesh is working hard to recover from this setback.” The spokesperson quoted the PM as saying.
He congratulated the high commissioner on his successful completion of his tour of duty in Bangladesh.
The outgoing Sri Lankan envoy highly appreciated the socioeconomic development of Bangladesh under the leadership of PM Hasina.
He said that the implementation of mega projects like Padma Bridge, Matarbai and Payra coal-fired plants will help Bangladesh become a hub of regional connectivity.
“Both put emphasis on blue economy,” Karim said.
The Sri Lankan high commissioner said that his country is keen to cooperate with Bangladesh in trade, tourism, deep seaport and pharmaceutical sectors.
He praised Bangladesh’s success in maintaining balance in its foreign policy.
Ambassador-at-large M Ziauddin and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Md. Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present during the meeting.
People to pay tribute to Dr Zafrullah at Shaheed Minar tomorrow
The body of Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury will be taken to the Central Shaheed Minar at 10 am on Thursday so that people from all walks of life can pay tribute to him.
Altafunnessa Maya, chairman of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, announced this at a press conference at Dhanmondi Gonoshasthaya Kendra Hospital on Wednesday.
He will be given guard of honor by the state on the premises of Central Shaheed Minar and then his first namaz-e-janaza will be held at Suhrawardy Uddyan in the city around 2:30 pm, he said.
Currently, Dr. Zafrullah's body is kept in the cold storage of Birdem Hospital.
His body will be taken to Savar's Gono Bishwabidyalay’s campus at 10 am on Friday.
After Jum’a prayers, the second namaz-e-janaza will be held on the university campus.
Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury passed away on Tuesday night at the age of 82.
IMF team due in Dhaka on April 25 to discuss 2nd tranche of $4.7b loan
A team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is due to arrive in Dhaka on April 25 to discuss the progress in the use of the first tranche of its US$4.7 billion loan programme for Bangladesh and the release of the second installment.
The Ministry of Finance sources told UNB on Wednesday that during its April 25 to May 2 visit the mission will hold meetings with the officials of the Ministry of Finance's Finance Division, Financial Institutions Division, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Bangladesh Bank, and National Board of Revenue (NBR).
IMF Asia and Pacific Division Head Rahul Anand will lead the team comprising three to four members, the ministry sources said speaking on condition of anonymity.
Read More: World Bank spring meeting begins in Washington today, announcement on $50bn allocation to face global crisis likely
Bangladesh received the first tranche of US$476.2 million of the $4.7 billion loan approved by the IMF on January 30.
The entire amount of the loan will be paid in seven installments in three and a half years until 2026. As such there are six more installments left.
A senior official of the ministry said the IMF usually reviews various aspects of compliance before disbursing each tranche. Accordingly, an IMF team will come next September to review the fulfillment of loan conditions before disbursing the second tranche.
Read More: Following IMF advice BBS to calculate inflation on a new base year from March
Usually before each budget announcement, an IMF mission comes to Dhaka to discuss budget assistance. Now that the loan programme is going on with them, besides the budget assistance, the issues of fulfilling the loan conditions will also come up for discussion, said the sources.
Attack on BNP’s programme: Complaint lodged against AL, Jubo League leaders in Natore
A complaint has been lodged at a court in Natore against 279 people including top leaders of the Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League for their alleged involvement in attacking a BNP programme.
Sabur Mahmud, Natore Sadar Upazila Jubo Dal general secretary, lodged the complaint at Natore Sadar Cognisance Court on Tuesday afternoon.
Judge Roshan Alam ordered the Natore Sadar police station to register the complaint as an FIR and inform the court on April 16, said the plaintiff's lawyer Advocate Abdul Quader.
The charges are vandalizing the stage of the BNP's sit-in programme on March 31st and April 1st, setting fire, attacking the programme in front of the party office, and injuring the leaders and
The complaint was lodged mentioning names of 29 people including Natore District Awami League Joint General Secretary Mortuza Ali Bablu, Pouro Awami League President Mostak Ali Mukul, District Jubo League General Secretary Ruhul Amin Biplab, District Chhatra League President, General Secretary, and 250 unnamed ones.
However, Officer-in-Charge Nasim Ahmed of the Sadar Police Station said that they have not yet received such court order.
The OC said action will be taken upon receiving the order.
Meanwhile, main accused, District Awami League Joint General Secretary Syed Mottuza Ali Bablu, said that they respect the law and that the matter will be dealt with legally.
Trader killed being hit by truck in Magura
A trader was killed as a truck hit his bicycle at Jagla in sadar upazila on Magura-Jeshore road on Wednesday.
The deceased is Sushanto Shiker, 60, a resident of the village.
Magura sadar thana officer-in-charge Jabbarul Islam said when Shushanto was heading to his shop at Jagla bazar on a bicycle a Jeshore-bound truck hit him, leaving him critically injured.
Locals rushed him to Magura sadar hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
A case was filed with Magura police station.
PM mourns death of Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder and freedom fighter Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury.
Sheikh Hasina in a condolence message on Wednesday said Dr. Zafrullah's contributions to the great Liberation War, pharmaceutical industry and public health sector will be remembered.
She prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Dhaka's air quality remains 'unhealthy' this morning
Dhaka’s air quality continued to be in the 'unhealthy' zone on Wednesday morning.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 189 at 9:45 am today (April 12, 2023), Dhaka ranked 7th in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.
Thailand’s Chiang Mai, China’s Shanghai, and Hangzhou occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 250, 222 and 200, respectively.
An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered “unhealthy”, while between 201 and 300 it is considered “very unhealthy”, and 301–400 is “hazardous”, posing severe health risks to residents.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Home Minister mourns Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury's death
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Tuesday expressed deep shock and grief at the death of Gonoshasthya Kendra founder and freedom fighter Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury.
In a message, the minister prayed for his departed soul and expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family.
Read more: Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury no more
Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury passed away on Tuesday night at the age of 81.
He breathed his last around 11 pm at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital, said GSK press adviser Jahangir Alam Mintu.
Earlier on Monday morning the veteran physician was put on life support at the hospital as his health condition deteriorated.
Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury had long been suffering from kidney-related complications.
Shahriar Alam bats for regional connectivity at India-Japan conclave in Agartala
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam has emphasized on deepening relations in the region for shared prosperity through regional connectivity where the Bay of Bengal is the common strategic interlocutor.
He was speaking at the ‘Third India-Japan Intellectual Conclave’, held at Agartala jointly organized by Assam-based influential think tank Asian Confluence, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Bangladesh Mission in Agartala and the Embassy of Japan in India.
The State Minister gratefully recalled the crucial role played by India particularly the people of Tripura during the War of Liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 that Bangladesh waged under the leadership of Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Shahriar Alam highlighted the transformative changes in the bilateral ties between Bangladesh and India in the recent years under the leadership of Prime Miniser Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always advocated regional and sub-regional cooperation.
With its advantageous geographic location between South and South East Asia, and the Bay of Bengal to the south, Bangladesh was working to establish itself as the regional hub of connectivity.
He said that implementation of the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity would be instrumental for further economic development in the region.
Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury no more
Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder and freedom fighter Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury passed away on Tuesday night. He was 81.
Dr Zafrullah breathed his last around 11 pm at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital, said GSK press adviser Jahangir Alam Mintu.
Read more: Home Minister mourns Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury's death
Earlier on Monday morning the veteran physician was put on life support at the hospital as his health condition deteriorated.
A medical board, led by Professor Brigadier General (Retd) Dr Mamun Mustafi, was formed on Sunday.
Dr Zafrullah had long been suffering from kidney-related complications.
Zafrullah Chowdhury was in the UK for his post-graduate studies in medicine when the War of Liberation broke out in 1971. Still barely 30 years old, he would return to set up, in collaboration with Captain Akhtar Ahmed, the Bangladesh Field Hospital, a 480-bed facility for freedom fighters and the refugees.
Run by a team of Bangladeshi doctors, medical students and volunteers, and women with no previous training in healthcare who were trained within days to help out the patients, it was the only one of its kind. The idea behind that revolutionary offering evolved into a philosophy for public health delivery after independence, when Gonoshasthya Kendra was born.
He was also the architect of the country's first National Drug Policy, adopted in 1982, that is still felt to be a central instrument in the country's success in the field of public health - an unforgivingly difficult task for the size of the population in Bangladesh.Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury was born on December 27, 1941. He spent his early childhood in Kolkata and later his family settled in Bangladesh. He founded the Gonoshasthya Kendra in 1972. The proposal was first presented in a concept paper in Dhaka titled "Basic Health Care in Rural Bangladesh."
Zafrullah was his parents' 10th child. After finishing his education at Nabakumar School in Bakshibazar, he attended Dhaka College. He became acquainted with communist political views while attending Dhaka Medical College to study medicine.
He completed his MBBS degree in 1964 and moved to the UK to pursue post-graduate studies in general and vascular surgery but returned to fight the war, using his background to set up the Bangladesh Field Hospital.
In 1985, he won the Ramon Magsaysay Award in Community Leadership category for his work on the Drug Policy 1982.
He received the Right Livelihood Prize in 1992 for his exceptional work for health and human development.
While constrained in scope, GK was a pioneer in the development of less expensive generic medications. A Rural Healthcare Insurance System was initially implemented in Bangladesh by Gonoshasthaya Kendra in 1973 under Zafrullah’s leadership.
He was recognised as an International Public Health Hero by UC Berkeley, one of the most reputed public universities in the US, in 2010.
Zafrullah Chowdhury endeared himself to the public by living a very simple life, yet never backing down from speaking his conscience in the public interest.
This meant although he was never directly involved in any political party, he was inevitably drawn into the political arena to talk about different political issues.
He did play a key role in the formation of BNP-led Jatiya Oikyafront before the 2018 election, and towards the end became known as a critic of the Awami League government.
But his overall life's work cannot be held to be partisan, and there were plenty of occasions when his views clashed with the BNP as well.