Bangladesh
6 more dengue patients hospitalised in 24 hrs
Six more people were hospitalised with dengue in 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
Of the new patients, three were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside it, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Twenty-two dengue patients, including 14 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
So far, the DGHS has recorded 894 dengue cases, 863 recoveries, and nine 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.
Covid-19: Bangladesh records 5 more cases
Bangladesh reported five more Covid cases in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,038,091, 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 dropped to 0.45 percent from Monday's 0.58 percent as 1,114 samples were tested.
The recovery and death rates remained unchanged at 98.40 percent and 1.44 percent, respectively.
Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and highest number of fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.
PM orders strengthening efforts to unlock potentials of blue economy
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasian has directed the authorities concerned to take strong efforts to unlock the potentials of blue economy in the vast sea area of the country.
She made the directive while chairing the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e Bangla Nagar area on Tuesday.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said the premier asked the authorities concerned to take cogent efforts to unlock the potential sof blue economy.
She also directed the authorities concerned to reduce the number of sluice gates gradually and not to construct permanent roads in Haors rather construct culverts in important places to pass flood water, said the minister.
The PM stressed the need for recognizing the contribution of women in the GDP for their household chores.
The Ecnec cleared 11 projects involving the overall estimated cost of Tk 13,655.98 crore.
Among these, seven are new projects, while the remaining four are revised ones.
Among the projects, Bangladesh Environmental Sustainability and Transformation (BEST)’ project got its nod with Tk 2,995.88 crore mainly to enhance the government’s capacity to check pollution and promote green investment.
Of the total estimated cost, Tk 10,526.11 crore – 77 percent -- will come from the external sources as foreign loans, while the rest Tk 3,129.87 crore will be drawn from the fund of Government of Bangladesh.
In terms of cost, the largest three fresh projects are ‘Sylhet-Charkhai-Shewla Highway Development’ project with the cost of Tk 4,257.07 crore; ‘Accelerating Transport and Trading Connectivity in Eastern South Asia (ACCESS)-Bangladesh Phase-1 (BLPA Component)’ project with Tk 3,457.15 crore; and ‘Bangladesh Environmental Sustainability and Transformation (BEST)’ project with Tk 2,995.88 crore.
As per project factsheet, ‘Sylhet-Charkhai-Shewla Highway Development’ project will be implemented in four upazilas – Sylhet Sadar, Dakkhin Surma, Golapganj and Beanibazar-- by December 2027.
The ACCESS-Bangladesh Phase-1 (BLPA Component) project will be implemented by June 2027. The Land Port Authority under the Shipping Ministry will execute the project.
The BEST project will be executed by June 2028 in 37 upazilas of 36 districts under eight divisions mainly to enhance the government’s capacity to check pollution and promote green investment through green credit guarantee scheme (GCGS).
The four other new projects are ‘Rehabilitation of the 2022 Flood-affected Rural Infrastructures with ADB Emergency Assistance’ project with Tk 1,123 crore; ‘Flood Management Reconstruction Emergency Assistance’ project with Tk 699.81 crore; ‘Emergency Assistance for Reconstruction of Flood-affected Water Supply and Sanitation System’ project with Tk 343.91 crore; and ‘Reinstallation of the 2022 flood-affected Sylhet Chhatakbazar Section (Meter gauge) of Bangladesh Railway’ project with Tk 241.59 crore.
The four old projects are ‘Construction of 34 Buffer Warehouse in the Country’s Different Places to Preserve and Distribute Fertilizers (1st Revised)’ project with additional cost of Tk 365.43 crore (now the total cost has risen to Tk 2,348.47 crore; ‘Export Competitiveness for Jobs (EC4J) (2nd revised)’ project with additional cost of Tk 93.15 crore (now cost is Tk 1,105.27 crore); ‘Development of Bangladesh Land Survey Education (1st revised)’ project with additional cost of Tk 61.43 crore (now cost is Tk 340.28 crore); and ‘Construction of Bangladesh Chancery Complex in Islamabad of Pakistan ( 4th revised)’ project with additional cost of Tk 17.56 crore (now cost is Tk 97.42 crore).
PM Hasina to visit Japan on April 25-28
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be on an official visit to Japan from April 25 to 28, at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.
A number of memorandums of cooperation are expected to be signed during the PM's official visit.
Both the governments of Bangladesh and Japan hope that this visit will further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries.
Japan wants to elevate the bilateral ties with Bangladesh to a "strategic" level, adding more elements like defence and security areas to the growing relations.
Read: 5th Japan-Bangladesh Public-Pvt Joint Economic Dialogue held online with calls for more investment
The two countries now have a comprehensive partnership and Japan intends to elevate it.
This will be the sixth visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan.
Earlier, she visited Japan in 1997, 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2019.
During her stay in Japan, the Prime Minister will be received by the Emperor of Japan.
Prime Minister Fumio will hold a summit meeting with the Bangladesh Prime Minister and then host a working dinner in her honour.
Read: Bangladesh to play vital role in Japan's vision for Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Ambassador
During the visit, the PM is scheduled to attend an investment summit and a community reception along with a few bilateral meetings.
She will also hand over the “Friends of Liberation War Honour” to a few Japanese nationals, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Prime Minister is likely to visit the US and UK after wrapping up her Japan visit but there is no official announcement yet regarding the US and UK visits.
The Prime Minister has been invited to attend the coronation of UK's King Charles III, to be hosted by the Buckingham Palace on May 6.
Read More: Pranay Verma highlights “deep bonds of friendship, cooperation” with Bangladesh
She is likely to travel to Washington DC to attend a programme on May 1 to celebrate 50 years of partnership between Bangladesh and the World Bank.
Two young lives lost on roads in Dinajpur
Two teenagers were killed in road accidents in Dinajpur’s Chirirbandar and Nawabganj upazilas on Tuesday.
15-year-old Prashanta Roy was killed after being hit by a truck at Ranirbandar in Chirirbandar upazila.
Prashanta, son of Alokdihi union’s Khenpara area’s Shyamol Roy, was a student of Alokdihi JB High School.
Locals said he was on his way to his tuition class riding a bicycle when the truck coming from the opposite direction lane hit him.
In another accident, a motorcyclist was killed and his pillion rider suffered injuries after their motorcycle was hit by a bus in front of Nawabganj Upazila Parishad.
The deceased was identified as Kabir Hossain, 19, son of Rangpur’s Mizanur Rahman and a student of Gopalpur Technical College.
Locals said they were on their way home after Eid shopping.
The bus was seized, said Jahidul Islam, SI of Nawabganj Police Station.
Sadarghat launch terminal to see 27 lakh passengers’ pressure during Eid: Nat’l Committee
Though the number of passengers heading to greater Barishal has reduced due to the Padma Bridge, the Sadarghat launch terminal of the Dhaka will face unusual pressure of homebound people during the upcoming Eid.
Around 30 lakh people from Dhaka and surrounding districts will leave for coastal districts on waterways. Among them, at least 27 lakh will pass through Sadarghat launch terminal with 3 lakh people on average daily in 9 days, according to a report of the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways.
Its president Mohammad Shahid Mia and its general secretary Ashis Kumar Dey on Tuesday published the summary of the report through a press release.
The National Committee has recommended raising the number of vessels in alternative way by the government to handle the pressure of additional passengers and ensure hassle-free and safe Eid journey.
The report said, about 1.5 crore people leave Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj during Eid-ul-Fitr each year.
Among them, 37.50 lakh (25 percent) travel on waterways. Almost cent percent of these passengers are from the coastal districts of Barisal, Pirojpur, Jhalkathi, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Chandpur, Shariatpur and Madaripur, it said.
The civic organisation said after opening the Padma Bridge in last June, the rate of waterway passengers of coastal districts, excluding Chandpur, has decreased by about 20 percent; which is 5 percent of the total Eid holidaymakers.
As a result, 30 lakh people (20 percent of the total passengers) will go by launch during this Eid and at least 27 lakh of them will go through Dhaka river port.
According to the report, the rush of home-bound people will start from April 13, the last working day of the previous week. All waterway passengers from greater Dhaka region will go home in 9 days from 13 to 21 April (the day before Eid).
As a result, 3 lakh people will pass through Sadarghat terminal every day and the remaining passengers will use Narayanganj river port.
Referring to the crisis of navigability, the report said that there were 41 waterways officially from Dhaka to various destinations.
However, at least 15 waterways have apparently already been abandoned due to navigability crisis and lack of passengers.
Quoting the shortage of vessels, the national committee said that a maximum of 70 launches regularly operat on the remaining 26 waterways. This number will increase to around 180 before Eid. Out of this, 90 vessels will depart from Sadarghat for various destinations and 90 will arrive from different places.
The civic organisation also said, if 3 lakh passengers are carried in 90 launches every day, one launch will carry almost 3 500 passengers on an average. But none of the launches has a capacity of more than 2,000 people. Even many launches have passenger capacity of less than 1,000. In addition, in three days before Eid, the crowd will increase one and a half times more.
Many launches carry double to triple passengers beyond the capacity to handle the pressure. As a result, additional passengers will be carried on roof and deck, the report said.
The organization stressed the need for taking appropriate measures by the authorities concerned to reduce the risks of waterway accidents and public sufferings.
It urged the authorities concerned, including the law enforcement agencies to ensure maximum surveillance and tight security on the waterways and the terminals.
BGMEA donates money, clothes, foods to Markazul Fiqhil Islami
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has donated money and clothes to Markazul Fiqhil Islami to support the education of its students.
The donation was made as part of BGMEA’s to commitment to social responsibility and community development.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan handed over the cheque of donation, clothes and foods at a program held at Markazul Fiqhil Islami in Uttara, Dhaka on April 10.
Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Trade Fair Mohammed Kamal Uddin and Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on UD-Woven and Knit Md. Nurul Islam was also present on the occasion.
Speaking at the program, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said Bangladesh is steadily moving along the path of development, and on one should left behind in the journey as development will only be sustainable if it is inclusive.
“Bangladesh is blessed with a young and vibrant population, and what we need is to turn our people into resources through imparting education and skills,” he said.
He added, “BGMEA is happy to make the financial donation to Markazul Fiqhil Islami to support the education of its students who has the potential to contribute to the development of Bangladesh.”
Faruque Hassan urged affluent people to come forward and support those who are in need in the society.
Not endorsing one political party vs another in Bangladesh: US State Dept says
While reiterating that any abuser of human rights should be held accountable, Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the US Department of State Vedant Patel has said, “Broadly, the U.S. supports the principle of free and fair elections in Bangladesh and around the world, but I’m not here to endorse one political candidate or party versus another.”
He was speaking at a regular briefing in Washington.
"It’s our immense hope that the Bangladesh Government does look into the contents of this article and video (DW documentary on RAB)," Patel said.
He said as per their assessment, the Digital Security Act is "one of the world’s most draconian laws" for journalists.
Read: US State Department ‘deeply concerned over use of Digital Security Act’
World Press Freedom Index ranked Bangladesh 162 out of 180 countries, a drop of 10 places from the previous year, Patel said.
"And we have made our concerns about this law quite clear. A free press and an informed citizenry are key for any nation and its democratic future," he said.
The US Embassy in Dhaka shared updates on the briefing today.
Read: PM Hasina to visit Japan on April 25-28
Petal said they want to and are looking forward to deepening their relationship with Bangladesh.
That’s why, he said, Secretary Blinken met Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
"We, again, are looking forward to deepening our relationship with Bangladesh as a whole," he added.
Read more; Pranay Verma highlights “deep bonds of friendship, cooperation” with Bangladesh
BRTC launches Eid special bus service
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) will launch ‘Eid special service’ from Friday (April 14, 2023) to ensure smooth and comfortable journey of Eid holidaymakers like the previous year.
The special service will continue till April 23, said a release of BRTC on Tuesday (April 11, 2023).
The selling of advance tickets of BRTC buses began on April 9 from Motijheel, JoarShahara, Kalyanpur, Gabtoli, Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Jatrabari, Gazipur and Narayanganj bus depots (Chashara).
Tickets of journey on Dhaka-Khulna, Daudkandi, Damudya, Dinajpur, Rangpur and Netrokona routes will be available from Motijheel Bus depot.
Read: Eid vacation extended by a day
The passengers can avail their BRTC tickets from Kalyanpur depot for using Dhaka-Rangpur, Panchagarh, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Kushtia, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Netrakona, Ranisankail, Thakurgaon and Dinajpur routes.
The tickets for the buses on Dhaka- Bhanga, Gopalganj, Barishal, Doshmina, Aricha, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Aricha and Paturia and Jashore routes will be available at Gabtoli Depot while tickets for Dhaka-Poyshar Haat, Bishwa Road-Panchdona, Rangpur, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Tangail, Mymensingh and Bogura routes can be purchased from Joarshahara Bus Depot.
People can purchase their desired tickets from Mirpur Bus Depot for journey on Dhaka-Barishal, Rangpur, Kushtia, Bogura, Kurigram, Dinajpur, Mymensingh and Naogaon routes while tickets for Dhaka-Shariatpur, Faridpur, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Bogura and Naogaon routes will be available at Mohammadpur bus depot.
Read More: Sadarghat launch terminal to see 27 lakh passengers’ pressure during Eid: Nat’l Committee
Meanwhile, tickets for the routes of Bishwa Road-Pachdona, Tangail, Netrakona, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Kurigram route will be available from Gazipur bus depot while tickets for Dhaka-Rangpur, Shariatpur routes will be available from Jatrabari Bus depot.
Tickets for the route of Dhaka-Gosairhat, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Naogaon, Bogura, Gaibanhda and Pabna will be available from Narayanganj bus depot while Narsingdi-Madaripur, Charmuguria and Rangpur routes will be available at Narsingdi bus depot.
Besides, 60 buses will remain standby at different depots or terminals for providing emergency services from April 18, it said.
Read More: Heavy traffic expected on Sirajganj highway if renovation work not completed before Eid
No respite from heat wave in 7 days: BMD
There seems to be no respite from the sizzling heat as Bangladesh Metrological Department (BMD) has predicted that the prevailing mild to moderate heat wave condition in the country will continue in the next seven days.
The BMD issued an alert message in this regard on Tuesday (April 11, 2023).
The people of the country continue to experience the scorching heat with maximum temperature recording 39.2 degree Celsius in Chuadanga and 16. 5 degree Celsius minimum temperature in Tentulia today. Dhaka’s temperature has been recorded at 37.5 degree Celsius.
Also Read: No possibility of rain this week: Met office
According to a Met office bulletin, “ Mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal & Chattogram divisions and Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Nertakona districts and it may continue.”
Day temperature may rise slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, it added.
The Department of Agricultural Extension has provided guidelines to protect crops and fruit amidst the ongoing mild heatwave across the country.
Read More: People suffer as heat wave sweeps parts of country.