Bangladesh
Bangladesh registers 5 more Covid-19 cases in 24 hours
Bangladesh reported five more Covid-19 cases in 24 hours till Friday morning.
With the new number, the country's total caseload rose to 2,037,959, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,445 as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity rate rose to 0.31 percent from Thursday’s 0.27 percent against the tests of 1986 samples.
The recovery and death rates remained unchanged at 98.47 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.
EPB, Portugal's AICEP sign MoU on trade, investment cooperation
The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) of Bangladesh and the Agência para o Investimento e Comércio Externo of Portugal (AICEP) or the Trade and Investment Agency of Portugal have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on trade and investment cooperation online.
The MoU, signed Thursday, will focus on strengthening economic relations between the two countries by promoting trade and industry as well as by bringing together business leaders from all sectors of the economy.
At the ceremony held simultaneously at two institutions, EPB Vice-Chairman AHM Ahsan in Dhaka and AICEP Chairman and CEO Luís Castro Henriques in Lisbon signed the MoU.
Through this MoU, the AICEP and EPB aim to collaborate on developing direct business relations between their respective business communities of the two nations.
Also Read: Portugal church sex abuse study: victims may number 4,800
It will also promote the exchange of economic, trade and business information and entrepreneurial experience between the two organisations and help them undertake actions to support each other in the development of fairs and symposiums, conferences and other events aimed at expanding the bilateral trade and economic cooperation, said the Bangladesh Embassy in Lisbon on Friday.
It is expected that both organisations will facilitate sending business missions between the two countries to examine the prospects for cooperation in industry and trade.
Also Read: Bangladesh seeks Portugal's investment, expertise in blue economy, wind power generation
Henriques hoped that both organisations of the two friendly countries would work closely for furthering business cooperation.
"This is only the beginning. My institution is ready to explore areas of cooperation under this framework. There is a huge untapped business potential between the two countries on which the two countries can work," he added.
Ahsan said this is the first cooperation MoU on business cooperation in the history of Bangladesh-Portugal bilateral relations.
Also Read: EU’s EBA Scheme for LDCs: Portugal terms Bangladesh best success story
He hoped that now business communities from both countries would get the opportunity to work closely which will "certainly in turn boost the bilateral trade and investment of the two nations."
Ambassador Tarik Ahsan congratulated both the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh and Agência para o Investimento e Comércio Externo de Portugal on this momentous decision to tie up for a partnership.
Referring to the historic linkage between the countries, Bangladesh Ambassador to Portugal Tarik Ahsan said the people of Bangladesh and Portugal have been connected since the early 16 century.
On the Lisbon side of the ceremony, Manuel António Gaeiras, director of external relations and foreign markets, Maria José Alvarenga, deputy director of external relations and foreign markets, Daniel Pontes, market manager of external relations and foreign markets, of AICEP and First Secretary of Bangladesh Embassy Alamgeer Hossain were also present.
On the Dhaka side, EPB Director General Mahbubur Rahman, Director General of the West Europe and EU wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Kazi Russel Pervez, and others attended the signing ceremony.
EC sues Jubo League leader for snatching EVM ballot unit in Chattogram:Official
The Election Commission has filed a case against a Jubo League leader on charge of snatching an Electronic Voting Machine’s ballot unit panel from a polling centre during the Boalkhali Upazila Parishad election in Chattogram.
Presiding officer of the centre, Sajal Das, filed the case with Boalkhali Police Station last night against Nirmalendu Dey Sumon, the joint general secretary of Sreepur-Kharandwip Union Jubo League and son of late Gaurang Dey of ward-9.
Confirming the case, Boalkhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Abdur Razzaque said, an investigation is underway regarding the matter.
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Earlier yesterday, the Boalkhali Upazila Parishad by-election was held. However, there was no voter turnout throughout the day. Almost all the centres were empty.
In the meantime, around noon, Sumon entered room-5 of Jaistyapura Ramni Mohan High School centre in Sreepur-Kharandwip union and took away the EVM ballot unit panel from the polling room.
Assistant Presiding Officer Harunur Rashid protested, but the Jubo League leader did not pay heed to it.
Later, Union Awami League President Ratan Chowdhury recovered the EVM ballot unit panel and returned it to the centre.
Police detained Ratan for questioning in this connection and later released him.
8 arrested while trying to rob a RAB vehicle in Narayanganj: RAB
Eight members of a robbery gang have been arrested while trying to take over a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) vehicle in Narayanganj.
RAB 11 Company Commander and Deputy Director Monirul Alam confirmed the information at a press conference at its local camp in Kalirbazar area of the city this afternoon.
“Two teams of RAB 11 were on patrol duty on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in plain clothes last night. At that time, one team got stuck in traffic in the Char Bausia area under Gazaria Police Station in Munshiganj,” he said.
Also Read: Tk 11 crore robbery: Mastermind among 3 held with Tk 58 lakh
“A group of armed robbers, thinking the Rab vehicle to be a normal passenger car, surrounded it. At one stage, the robbers attacked the car, in return, RAB men in plain clothes chased and arrested eight people, including the leader of the gang,” said the RAB deputy director.
“Several locally-made weapons were seized from the robbers at the time. Legal action, including a case, is under way against them,” he added.
During primary interrogation, the arrestees confessed to committing more than 50 robberies on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in the last two years. There are also multiple cases against them at different police stations, said RAB.
Banganbandhu’s birth anniversary: 20 injured in Awami League’s infighting in Patuakhali
At least 20 people of the ruling Awami League (AL) were injured in a clash between two groups of ruling Awami League during celebration of the 103rd birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children’s Day here on Friday.
The injured were admitted to local hospitals. But their identities could not be known immediately.
Of them, Bauphal upazila unit AL General Secretary and Upazila Parishad Chairman Abdul Motaleb Hawlader was hospitalised at Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital with serious injury, hospital doctors said.
On the occasion of the Bangabandhu’s birthday, local,AL lawmaker ASM Feroz, Motaleb and district unit AL Joint General Secretary and Bauphal municipal Mayor Ziaul Hoque Jewel announced separate programmes.
Also Read: Bangladesh remembers Bangabandhu on his 103rd birth anniversary
Of them, Feroz and Motaleb called the programme at the same place and time.
A tense situation had been prevailing in the area over the matter for the last few days.
Auribindu, an upazila unit Juba League leader, told UNB that Motaleb and his followers brought out a celebratory procession around 11:00am.
Police obstructed the procession in front of upazila parishad gate when it was marching towards the party office, he said.
Also Read: AL destroys electoral system by “so-called” SCBA polls, says BNP demanding fresh vote
Suddenly, several hundred supporters of Faisal Ahmed Monir, nephew of the lawmaker and upazila unit AL President Feroz, attacked Motaleb and his men with sharp weapons when an altercation broke out between police and him, Auribindu said.
Law enforcers fired at least 7-8 rounds of rubber bullets to bring the situation under control, causing a panic among locals.
As of filing this report around 3:00pm, a tense situation has been prevailing in the area.
Al Mamun, officer-in-charge of Bauphal police station, said an additional number of police personnel have been deployed to ward off any unexpected incident further.
He said they were forced to fire the rubber bullets to disperse the infighting groups.
Md Al Amin, Bauphal upazila nirbahi officer, said both groups promised to hold their events in a peaceful manner but no one kept their words despite his request.
Biker killed as truck runs over him in Dinajpur
A 50-year-old biker was killed after police said a speeding truck ran over him in the Dosh Mile area Friday.
The deceased was identified as Anwar Hossain from the Bangibechaghat area of Dinajpur Sadar upazila, Sub-Inspector Noni Gopal of Dinajpur Highway Police said.
Also Read: 2 high school students among 3 killed as bus rams three-wheeler in Bhola
"The accident occurred around 12:30pm as Anwar was on his way to a wedding. He fell on the road after being hit by a battery-run easy bike, he added. "Anwar died at the scene when the truck ran over him."
Bangladesh remembers Bangabandhu on his 103rd birth anniversary
The nation on Friday fondly remembered Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of independent Bangladesh, on his 103rd birth anniversary.
The day -- a public holiday -- is also being observed as National Children’s Day.
Read more: Birth Anniversary: President, PM pay homage to Bangabandhu
Marking the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to the Father of the Nation by placing a wreath at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32 in Dhaka this morning.
After placing the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of Bangladesh's independence.
Later, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to Tungipara, Gopalganj and paid tributes to the greatest Bangalee to be born in thousand years.
Flanked by senior leaders of her party, Hasina, also the Awami League President, placed another wreath at the Mazar of Bangabandhu on behalf of the party.
Later, First Lady Rashida Khanam along with her son Rejwan Ahammad Taufiq, MP, as well as the premier along with her family members paid tribute to Bangabandhu by placing floral wreaths separately.
Hamid and Hasina offered Fateha and joined a munajat seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu as well as other martyrs of the August 15 carnage.
Cabinet members, PM's advisers, parliament members and senior AL leaders were present.
PM Hasina also attended a programme on National Children's Day.
Meanwhile, Television channels and radio stations are airing special programmes marking the day.
Read more: Children in Bangladesh to be groomed as smart citizens: PM Hasina
On this day in 1920, Bangabandhu was born in Tungipara village. While studying at Islamia College in Kolkata, he got involved in active politics.
Both while in and out of jail, Bangabandhu led the Language Movement in 1952. When on February 21, 1952, several language activists were killed during a protest in Dhaka, Bangabandhu was observing a hunger strike in jail.
In continuation of the Language Movement, all major movements of Bengalis, including the general elections in 1970 and the War of Liberation in 1971, were led by Bangabandhu.
Through his dynamic leadership, Bangabandhu had organised the Bengali nation to fight against exploitation and repression by then Pakistani rulers. The movement culminated in independent Bangladesh through the nine-month Liberation War in 1971.
When Bangabandhu was moving forward with an aim to build a 'Golden Bangladesh' overcoming all obstacles, the defeated and anti-liberation war clique assassinated him, along with most of his family members, on August 15, 1975.
Peace, tolerance keys to stability, security, Momen tells OIC CFM
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said peace and tolerance are the keys to stability and security.
Momen was speaking at the 49th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Mauritania's Nouakchott Thursday.
The foreign minister, who is leading the Bangladesh delegation to the CFM from March 16-17, also reiterated the country's continued engagements with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the world's largest body of Muslim-majority nations, "which has always been guided by the principles of peace, prosperity, and development."
Read more: Bangladesh elected OIC Human Rights Council member
This year, the CFM is being held with the theme "Moderation: Key to Security and Stability" where several political, economic, social, cultural and security issues were discussed.
Momen highlighted Bangladesh's prudent navigation of the economy during the Covid-19 period under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
However, he expressed his deep concern at the lack of tolerance and surge of terrorism in various parts of the world together with the rise of Islamophobia.
Read more: Momen to attend UN Water Conference in US
The foreign minister particularly stressed the proactive role of the 57-nation OIC members and international actors to address the Rohingya issue and urged them to remain involved to put continuous pressure on Myanmar authorities to ensure the safe and dignified return of the Rohingyas to their homeland.
During this CFM, Bangladesh was unanimously elected as the vice-chair of the Bureau of the 49th CFM.
Bangladesh's nominated candidate Sheepa Hafiza won the election of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission commissioner from Asia Group together with Iran and Turkiye.
Children in Bangladesh to be groomed as smart citizens: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday urged the children to grow as smart citizens following the ideals of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
"The Father of the Nation Bangabandu sheikh Mujib is no longer with us, but he left his ideals for us to follow," she told a National Children's Day programme here.
The premier said the country's children must grow up with human virtues and groom themselves smartly through sports and physical exercises.
“Every child will have to engage in sports and physical exercises, remain neat and clean, obey teachers and guardians, follow these rules, and must have human virtues,” she said.
The PM was addressing a discussion and cultural programme at Tungipara in Gopalganj, marking the 103rd birth anniversary of Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children’s Day-2023.
The Women and Children Affairs Ministry arranged the programme under the management of Gopalganj district administration.
This year the theme of the day is "Smart Bangladesher Swapne Bangabandhur Janmadin, Shishuder Chokh Somridhir Swapne Rangin (the birthday of Bangabandhu in the dream for Smart Bangladesh, Children need to be engrossed with dream for prosperity).”
The PM asked the children to be sympathetic towards the people with special needs or differently able persons.
Noting the children as the future of the nation, she said her government’s goal is to develop them as the abled citizens of the country.
Quoting from a poem of poet Sukanta Bhattacharya, she said her government will build a Bangladesh where no child will go hungry and all will have education and housing in a country suitable for their living.
The PM thanked the Women and Children Affairs Ministry for picking this year's theme, adding that her government wants to transform the country into a smart Bangladesh by 2041.
“Today’s children will be the smart community in future who will build Bangladesh properly,” she said.
Hasina said no child in the Smart Bangladesh will be deprived of the light of education and no person will remain homeless.
“We will build Bangladesh by fulfilling the basic needs of every person and they will not suffer from poverty,” she said.
Emphasizing sports and physical exercise, the PM said if children engage in sports, they can develop both their physical and mental health and thus all will finally grow up with self-confidence.
She said said doing something for the people, sacrificing for the people is a great work.
“The Father of the Nation had said that great achievements require great sacrifices,” she said, asking the children to follow his ideal.
Hasina also highlighted her government’s steps taken for the wellbeing of the children.
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira spoke on the occasion, while Women and Children Affairs Secretary Md. Hasanuzzaman Kallol delivered the welcome speech in the function, presided over by a child Sniha Islam.
Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Md. Khalilur Rahman and Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner Kazi Mahbubul Alam were on the stage.
Swapnil Biswas, on behalf of the children also spoke at the event, jointly moderated by two children Rubaba Toha Jaman and A.L. Sharfuddin.
A documentary titled ‘Bangabandhu and Children Rights’ was screened.
In the event, the premier unveiled the cover of an illustrated book titled “Shishuder Sheikh Mujib,” which was composed by Director General of Special Security Force (SSF) Major General Md. Majibur Rahman.
Cabinet members, members of parliament, political leaders and high officials were present in the programme.
The district administration arranged a competition among the children under several categories – painting, quiz on Bangabandhu’s books ‘The Unfinished Memoirs’ and ‘the Prison Diaries,’ as well as recitation on the Bagabandhu’s historic 7th march speech on the occasion of the Children Day-2023.
Thirty-two winners of the competition received crests from the premier.
Besides, 100 insolvent students received Tk 2,500 as financial donation on the occasion of the Bangabandhu’s birthday and the Children’s Day.
Blast in Science Lab area: Another person dies raising death toll to 5
The death toll from the explosion in a building in busy Science Lab area has increased to five after another person succumed to burn injuries.
Zahoor Ali (52), passed away at 7:20pm yesterday while undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, a hospital doctor said on Friday.
With this, the death toll from the March 5 blast in Shirin Mansion on Mirpur Road rose to five.
Zahoor, who was a clerk of Phoenix Insurance Company, had 44 percent burn injuries on his body, said SM Ayub Hossain, resident surgeon of the Institute.
His village is in Faridpur’s Alfadanga upazila. He lived with his family at Paikpara in Mirpur.
Earlier four people died and 11 others were injured when the three-storey building partially collapsed due to the explosion.
Among the deceased, Tushar and Shafikuzzaman were computer operators, and Abdul Mannan was an office assistant of a company that has its office on the building’s second floor.