Bangladesh
Anti-dengue drive to continue throughout the year: LGRD Minister
Anti-dengue drive will be conducted round the year, said Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam.“We have decided to conduct drive to control dengue till December. The authorities have divided the seasons in two segments—peak season and lean season,” he said while talking to reporters after the first inter-ministerial meeting over dengue menace at the Secretariat.DGHS has recorded 875 dengue cases in Bangladesh from January till April 8 while the number of dengue cases in Philippines is 19,404, in Vietnam 15, 129, in Sri Lanka 14,989 , in Malaysia 17,388 and in Singapore 11,962 from January to March this year, he said.Compared to the six other countries, Bangladesh is in a better position and it has been possible only for regular monitoring, he added.
Also read: 5 more dengue patients hospitalised in 24 hrsDhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Nur Taposh, Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury and LGRD secretary Muhammad Ibrahim were present at the meeting.DSCC mayor Mayor Sheikh Fazle Nur Taposh, said, “We have taken plan to conduct drive throughout the year as the dengue spread to winter due to the climate change.”
People suffer as heat wave sweeps parts of country
People in different parts of country are experiencing a sweltering heat with the mercury soaring to 37.4 degree Celsius in the capital on Sunday.
Country’s highest temperature 38.5 degree Celsius was recorded in Chuadanga.
Day laborers, rickshaw pullers, farmers, and others who generally work outdoors are finding it increasingly challenging to continue working under the intense heat of the sun. Even animals and birds are restless and struggling in the scorching heat.
According to a Met office bulletin, mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal divisions and Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogura, Moulvibazar, Chattogram, Rangamati, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Cox’Bazar & Bandarban districts and it may continue.
Day and night temperature may rise slightly over the country, it said.
UNB Khulna correspondent reports: Khulna region is currently experiencing fluctuating maximum temperatures between 37 and 38 degrees Celsius, which is causing great discomfort to workers and animals alike.
As the day progresses, the temperature keeps rising, making it unbearable for people to move around in the scorching heat.
Water scarcity is also becoming a pressing issue in the coastal areas of Khulna, adding to the suffering of the people.
Ramadan has coincided with the intense heat, which is adding to the struggles of the low-income workers.
Md. Anisul, a day labourer, said, “I work for TK500 per day and find it difficult to do soil-related work in the extreme hot weather.”
Rickshaw driver Majnu said he is also facing similar difficulties.
His rickshaw does not have a battery and needs to be driven using foot pedals, which is very difficult to do in the scorching heat.
Despite this, he still has to take his rickshaw out to earn a living and provide to his family.
Pedestrians are feeling the discomfort of the heat. Due to their fasting, their throats are becoming dry, and the extreme heat makes them feel chilly.
The senior meteorologist at the Khulna Meteorological Office, Amirul Azad, said that the heat will persist for the next 3–4 days.
With the intense heat causing such discomfort, many people are flocking to electronic and hand-fan shops in the city to find some relief.
Politics today has become ‘a profession’, it used to be about passion: JP MP Firoz Rashid
Sangsad Bhaban, Apr 9 (UNB) - Jatiya Party MP Kazi Firoz Rashid today said politics has now become “a profession”, which used to be about passion.
“Earlier, politics was about passion, and now it has become a profession,” he said while participating in the discussion on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's proposal raised under Rule 147 on the occasion of the golden jubilee of Jatiya Sangsad.
He said that if anyone learns that a groom belongs to the ruling party, “they say Alhamdulillah.”
Firoz Rashid said that politics is the only way to change the lives of the countrymen. “Now it has become a profession. Earlier, politics was about passion and people put their lives at risk,” he added.
Read More: No one is starving in Bangladesh, people don’t want panta rice any more: AL MP Chumki
During the Pakistan era, he recalled, if a man was involved in politics, he did not get married as he would not get any job.
Firoz Rashid claimed that the parliament has many achievements along with weaknesses.
“Till date, it is not able to form a commission (on Bangabandhu's murder)… Because there was a major conspiracy behind the assassination of Bangabandhu. Dalim, Farooq, Rashid went and did it… it did not happen just like that. There was a conspiracy behind it, you didn't figure it out.”
Pointing to Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon and Jasad President Hasanul Haque Inu, the Jatiya Party lawmaker said that the names of extreme left and extreme right politicians cannot be uttered.
Read More: Inu proposes formation of parliamentary body to review constitution
“Because all have boarded the boat. You (Awami League) will ride the boat. You are the captain of the boat. They are on the boat and asking ‘how far?’,” he said.
Firoz Rashid said that the nation is now divided into two parts.
“There is no neutral person. Teachers, doctors, intellectuals, journalists are all divided. The entire country is now divided into two parts,” he said.
He also claimed that businessmen belonging to BNP got the most business during this period.
Read More: Bringing any party to election is not govt’s responsibility: Info Minister
Bangladesh Bank starts releasing new taka notes for exchange from today
Bangladesh Bank has started releasing new taka notes for exchange from today, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, at specific branches of scheduled banks.
The central bank in a notification said that until April 17 (except weekends and public holidays), these notes will be available through certain branches of banks in the Dhaka region and through the offices of Bangladesh Bank.
At this time, new notes of Tk 5, 10, 20, and 50 will be exchanged in a special system.
According to the central bank, the same person cannot receive new notes more than once. However, while withdrawing the notes, one can take any amount of metal coins from the counter against the money.
The new notes are available at these bank branches: Jatrabari branch of NCC Bank, Abdul Gani Road Corporate branch of Janata Bank, National Press Club Corporate branch of Agrani Bank, Mirpur branch of NRB Global Bank, Karwan Bazar branch of Southeast Bank, Bashundhara City branch of Social Islami Bank (Panthapath), Chak Bazar branch of Uttara Bank, Ramna Corporate branch of Sonali Bank, Uttara branch of Dhaka Bank, Gulshan branch of IFIC Bank, Mohakhali branch of National Bank, Mohammadpur branch of First Security Islami Bank, Rajarbagh branch of Janata Bank, and Sadarghat branch of Pubali Bank.
Besides, the new notes are available at Southeast Bank's Kakrail branch, One Bank's Basabo branch, BRAC Bank's Shyamoli branch, Dutch-Bangla Bank's SME & Agriculture branch in Dakshin Khan, Premier Bank's Banani branch, Bank Asia Dhanmondi branch, The City Bank's Begum Rokeya Sarani branch, Al-Arafa Islami Bank's Nandipara branch, Prime Bank's Elephant Road branch, Mercantile Bank's Narayanganj branch, Exim Bank's Shimrail branch, Islami Bank Bangladesh's Gazipur Chowrasta branch, UCBL’s Gazipur Chowrasta branch, Uttara Bank’s Savar branch, Mutual Trust Bank’s Savar branch and Trust Bank’s Keraniganj branch.
Rana Plaza owner Rana’s bail order stayed
The Appellate Division on Sunday stayed a High Court (HC) order until May 8 that granted bail to Sohel Rana, the owner of the ill-fated Rana Plaza that collapsed in 2013 leaving 1,138 RMG workers dead, in a murder case over the deadly incident in Savar.
Chamber Judge Justice Md Abu Zafor Siddique passed the order after hearing a petition submitted by the state seeking a stay order in this regard.
Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain and Assistant Attorney General Saiful Islam represented the state while former Food Minister Advocate Kamrul Islam stood for the accused.
On that day (May 8), the regular bench of the Appellate Division will hold a hearing upon a petition to be submitted by the state, Assistant Attorney General Saiful said.
Earlier on April 6, a High Court bench granted bail to Rana in the case.
The HC bench of Justice Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice Shahed Nuruddin granted bail to Rana declaring the HC rule in this regard valid.
Advocate-on-record Sufia Khatun, on behalf of the state, filed a petition seeking a stay on the Rana’s bail order on Sunday.
On April 24, 2013, Rana Plaza, an illegally-constructed building in Savar which housed five garment factories, came down crashing, killing 1,138 people and injuring over 2,000 others.
Read more: Rana Plaza Collapse: HC grants bail to prime accused Rana
Trial in the murder case filed over Rana Plaza collapse began officially on January 31, 2022 by recording statements of the witnesses.
On July 18, 2016, Dhaka District and Session Court Judge SM Kuddus Zaman framed charges against the accused and passed an order to begin the trial.
But it got barred as most of the accused appealed to the higher court challenging legality of the order.
On January 31 last year, after clearing the appeals, District and Sessions Court Judge AHM Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan recorded the statement of plaintiff, then Sub-Inspector of Savar police station Wali Ashraf.
Over the tragic incident then SI of Savar police station Wali Ashraf filed a murder case accusing the owner and others of dereliction and negligence in building construction.
On June 1, 2015, Assistant Superintendent of Crime Investigation Department (CID) of police Bijoy Krishna Kar submitted charge sheet in the case against 41 people including the building owner Sohel Rana.
A total of 594 people were made witnesses in this case.
No one is starving in Bangladesh, people don’t want panta rice any more: AL MP Chumki
Ruling Awami League MP Meher Afroz Chumki today (April 09, 2023) said no one in Bangladesh is now starving.
“People of the country do not want panta rice any more, they don’t go door to door and beg,” she said.
The MP said this during a discussion on the 50th anniversary of the National Parliament.
Chumki said that poverty has disappeared from Bangladesh.
Read More: Poverty forces Thakurgaon day-labourer to put 7-month-old baby girl up for sale
“We don't deny that prices have been going up. People are suffering all over the world. They are spending money after a lot of consideration. But is there any person in Bangladesh without food? We can proudly say that the people of Bangladesh are not going without food. People do not want panta rice any more, today they want good food and clothes. The country is self-sufficient today,” she said.
Saying that Sheikh Hasina is one of the top global leaders in women's empowerment, Chumki added that the prime minister has appeared for question and answer in parliament for bringing accountability.
Expressing determination to move forward while facing conspiracy, Chumki said this is not 1975, this is 2023. “Country is on track to become Smart Bangladesh in 2041. No one can get away with conspiracy here. We will move forward.”
“Why do we need to seek votes? Because, after killing Bangabandhu, a generation grew up in Bangladesh with wrong and distorted history. They do not know the history of Bangabandhu, they do not know the history of this country,” she said.
Read More: Bangladesh Poverty Watch Report 2022 launched; regular monitoring of progress emphasized
She mentioned that some intellectuals have forgotten that on the eve of victory, intellectuals were killed by the Pakistani army and their collaborators so that this country fails to move forward.
The ruling party MP said that with “false information and exploiting a child by paying him just Tk 10, a section of people have mocked the independence of the country.”
3 dead in Jamalpur after truck collides with pickup van
Three people were dead after a truck collided with a pickup van in Betmari area of Jamalpur’s Melandaha upazila today, police said.
The deceased were identified as Shah Alam (45), son of Karim Uddin, and Kajol (32), the driver of the pickup van and son of Hanif Uddin of Jamalpur Sadar Upazila, and Chanchal Barman (27) of Kurigram’s Ulipur upazila.
Md. Delawar Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Melandaha police station, said a Jamalpur-bound truck hit a pickup van at around 7 am this morning, leaving 3 people dead on the spot.
On information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies and sent them to Melandaha Upazila Health Complex, he said.
Later, police sent the bodies to Jamalpur General Hospital morgue for autopsy.
The truck was seized from the spot. However, the driver fled the scene of the accident.
90-year-old woman dies as truck hits auto-rickshaw in Sylhet
An elderly woman was dead and two people were injured when a truck hit a cng-run auto rickshaw at Shatmail point area in Sylhet last night.
The deceased was identified as Tahera Begum, 90, resident of Bishwanath upazila.
The accident occurred around 8:15 pm last night.
The injured are Mahdia, 14, and Dudu Mia, 60.
According to locals and police, the truck hit the auto-rickshaw at Shatmail area of Dakshin Surma upazila, leaving the elderly woman dead on spot.
The two injured were rushed to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College in a serious condition.
Shamsuddoha, officer-in-charge of Dakshin Surma Police Station, said the truck driver fled the scene.
Dhaka’s air quality remains unhealthy this morning
Dhaka's air quality is “unhealthy” this morning.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 158 at 9:15 am, Dhaka ranked 9th in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.
India’s Delhi, Thailand’s Chiang Mai, and Pakistan’s Lahore occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 306, 250 and 212, respectively.
An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered “unhealthy” while between 201 and 300 is “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.
Clash between two groups leaves 1 dead, 25 wounded in Habiganj
A man was killed and 25 were wounded in a clash between two groups, allegedly over establishing supremacy, in Baniachong upazila of Habiganj yesterday evening.
Police have so far detained six people in connection with the incident. A tense situation has been prevailing in the area since yesterday.
The deceased was identified as Jahangir Miah, 45, while identities of the injured could not be known immediately.
Police and locals said there had long been a dispute between former union parishad member Azam Ali and Kachham Ali of Kushiyartala village under the upazila over establishing dominance.
People of both groups locked into an altercation over income earned from properties when arbitration was going on at the village on Saturday afternoon, they said.
Read more: Panchagarh clash leaves 2 killed and at least 50 hurt
At one stage, the groups attacked each other with locally made lethal weapons, leaving Jahangir dead on the spot and 25 injured. They are now undergoing treatment at Habiganj Sadar Adhunik Hospital.
Jahangir belonged to the Kachham Ali group, locals said.
Ajoy Chandra Dev, officer-in-charge of Baniachong Police Station, confirmed the death, saying that police fired 20 rounds of bullets and used 2 rounds of tear gas to bring the situation under control.
Six people were detained from the spot after the incident while members of law enforcing agencies have been patrolling the area to ward off any violent incident further, he said.
The body was sent to the Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, the OC said, adding that no case has so far been lodged in this connection.