Bangladesh
Cholera vaccination campaign inaugurated among Rohingyas on Bhasan Char
Under the leadership of the Communicable Disease Control (CDC) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), icddr,b, and the Civil Surgeon Office of Noakhali, launched a cholera vaccination campaign in Noakhali's Bhasan Char Monday.
About 30,000 forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (FDMNs), commonly referred to as Rohingyas, will be vaccinated using an orally-administered vaccine through this campaign.
Dr Mohammad Nazmul Islam, director of Disease Control and Line Director Disease Control Program at the DGHS, and Dr Firdausi Qadri, acting senior director of the Infectious Diseases Division of the icddr,b, were present at the inauguration of the vaccination campaign.
Dr Masum Iftekhar, district civil surgeon of Noakhali, was also present.
Since December 2020, almost 32,000 Rohingya people have been relocated to Bhasan Char. Unfortunately, a diarrhoeal disease outbreak took place in Bhasan Char in 2021 that affected 1,500 people and killed four.
To prevent a similar outbreak from happening, the CDC, DGHS, icddr,b, the WHO, and other development partners have taken the initiative to carry out an oral cholera vaccination (OCV) program in Bhasan Char.
At the inauguration, Nazmul said: "The government has been undertaking various initiatives to protect the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals from infectious diseases. In line with that, we are undertaking an oral cholera vaccination campaign to keep them safe."
Read more: Prolonged presence of vast Rohingyas in Bangladesh "not tenable" in any consideration, Momen says in New York
Firdausi appreciated the collaborative vaccination effort and said, "icddr,b along with the Communicable Disease Control of the DGHS, other government agencies and development partners have successfully administered around five million doses of oral cholera vaccine to the Rohingya population since they fled persecution in Myanmar and arrived in Cox's Bazar in 2017.
The effort possibly prevented large epidemics and saved many lives. Encouraged by the success, we extended our efforts to Bhasan Char, which is susceptible to infectious diseases like cholera. Bangladesh's exemplary efforts in humanitarian settings should serve as a model for other parts of the world."
Starting on Monday, February 27, the first dose of the OCV campaign will continue until Wednesday, March 1, from 8 am to 5 pm through 25 centres in Bhasan Char. The second dose of the vaccine will be administered, possibly on March 19.
The two-dose Euvichol-Plus Cholera vaccine produced by EuBiologics of South Korea, which is given at least 14 days apart, will be administered to those who are above one year of age.
This vaccine is prequalified by the WHO and can be given to all except pregnant women and those who have received other vaccines within the last 14 days.
Body of Bangladeshi businessman murdered in South Africa buried at home
The body of a Bangladeshi businessman, who was shot to death by unidentified miscreants in South Africa on 22 February, has been buried at his family graveyard in Jagatpur village of Daganbhuiyan Upazila on Monday morning.
Earlier, the body reached Dhaka around two o'clock on Sunday night.
The deceased was Omar Faruq (Manik Azam Sazal), 43, son of late Nurul Amin and a resident of Feni's Daganbhuiyan upazila.
Md. Hasan Imam, Officer-in-Charge of Daganbhuiyan Police Station, said that the deceased Omar Faruq was a businessman in South Africa for the last 18 years and he was also former general secretary of the Bangladeshi community of the state.
Omar Faruq’s mother Kohinur Begum said that Faruq had a conflict with a local shopkeeper over some money transaction. Although it was agreed that Sajal would pay Tk5 lakh to the shopkeeper, he fell short by Tk10,000.
Sajal was killed by the shopkeeper for money, she alleged, demanding justice for the murder of her son.
Deadly shipwreck in Italy must trigger action to save lives: UN
The UN chief and agencies serving refugees and migrants urgently called for safer travel routes and bolstered rescue operations following the deadly shipwreck that left at least 60 dead on Sunday off the coast of Crotone, Italy.
“Every person searching for a better life deserves safety and dignity,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said. “We need safe, legal routes for migrants and refugees.”
The UN refugee agency (UNCHR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in a joint statement, expressed condolences for the victims and called on countries to increase resources and capabilities to effectively meet their responsibilities.
Rescue crews searched by sea and air Monday for the dozens of people believed still missing from a shipwreck off Italy’s southern coast that drove home once again the desperate and dangerous crossings of migrants seeking to reach Europe.
At least 80 people survived Sunday’s shipwreck off the Calabrian coast, but rescue crews recovered 60 bodies, including those of several children and the corpse of a young man Monday morning. Dozens more were feared dead given survivor reports that the ship, which set off from Turkey last week, had carried about 170 people.
“It is unacceptable to witness such horrors, with families and children entrusted to unseaworthy boats,” said Chiara Cardoletti, the UNHCR representative for Italy, the Holy See and San Marino.
The boat had left Turkey, with many passengers coming from Afghanistan and Pakistan. In 2022, people from Turkey accounted for around 15 percent of total arrivals by sea in Italy, the UNHCR said, noting that nearly half of the people arriving along this route were people fleeing Afghanistan.
The agencies said European Union mechanisms for rescue operations are “urgently needed.”
To avoid tragedies like this, Cardoletti said, it is “more necessary than ever before to strengthen the rescue capacity, which is still insufficient.”
Read more: Rescuers find 60th body off Italy after migrant shipwreck
Laurence Hart, director of the IOM Coordination Office for the Mediterranean, said this shipwreck demonstrates how the phenomenon of migration by sea must be tackled by all European nations.
This requires humanitarian support and adopting an approach that considers the multiple drivers that are causing people to flee, she said.
The IOM Missing Migrants Project reported that at least 220 people, including those who perished on Sunday, died or went missing along the central Mediterranean route in 2023.
Bangladesh should go for PTA with Mercosur instead of FTA: Argentine minister
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has hoped that Argentina would support Bangladesh's initiative to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with the South American regional economic organisation Mercosur during its current presidency.
In response, Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship Santiago Andres Cafiero suggested that Bangladesh pursue a preferential trade agreement (PTA) instead of FTA.
Momen also requested Santiago to consider lowering the existing 35 percent duty imposed by Argentina on readymade garments (RMG) products and withdrawing $0.16 per kg anti-dumping duty on jute bags and sacks from Bangladesh to have greater market access.
A 34-member high-level Argentine delegation, led by the Argentine minister, is paying a two-day state-level visit to Dhaka.
Read more: Bangladesh attractive destination for business, investment: Momen tells Argentine delegation
The non-resident Argentine ambassador to Bangladesh, undersecretary of trade and chief of cabinet to the Argentine foreign minister, are also accompanying the minister.
Momen received his Argentine counterpart this morning at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Later, Santiago led a delegation to the Brac Foundation. The purpose was to learn from the Brac development programmes and success stories focusing on women's empowerment and rural women's financial inclusion.
Both sides agreed to collaborate to share knowledge on how to bring about financial inclusion in a responsible manner to pull millions of vulnerable women in rural and urban areas of Argentina out of poverty.
Read More: Reopening embassy in Dhaka a stepping stone to build better ties with Bangladesh: Argentina
Santiago had a meeting with Momen at state guest house Jamuna this evening. Momen expressed gratitude to the Argentine government for reopening its diplomatic mission in Dhaka.
The foreign minister showed interest in wider cooperation between Bangladesh and Argentina in agriculture, agro-processing, cattle and poultry industries, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, the ICT sector, heavy and light machinery and equipment.
Santiago and Momen emphasised the importance of enhancing close collaboration to increase bilateral trade and investment.
Read More: Argentina’s foreign minister in Dhaka to reopen embassy, deepen ties.
School teacher, van driver killed in Rajshahi road crash
A school teacher and a van driver were killed after a bus hit the van at Mohanpur upazila in Rajshahi district on Monday morning.
The deceased were identified as Mustafizur Rahman Uzzal, an English teacher at Nakheel Ideal High School, and van driver Mobarak Hossain.
Read more: 2 killed in Ctg road accidents
The accident occurred around 8:30am at Keshorhaat area of the upazila when the Rajshahi-bound bus coming from Naogaon hit the van, leaving the duo critically injured, said Selim Badsha, officer-in-charge (OC) of Mohanpur Police Station.
Locals rushed them to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital where teacher Uzzal succumbed to his injuries around 1pm.
Later, the van driver died around 2:30pm while undergoing treatment at the hospital, added the OC.
Police seized the bus, said the OC, adding that legal action will be taken in this regard.
Latin America-Bangladesh Chamber president meets Argentine business delegate in Dhaka
Md Anwar Shawkat Afser, president of the Latin America-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, met Franco Agustín Senilliani Melchior, head of the Economic and Trade Section of the Embassy of Argentine in India, at a Dhaka hotel Monday.
Latin America-Bangladesh Chamber board of directors also met the Argentine business delegate.
Afser highlighted trade and commerce between Bangladesh and Argentina as well as Latin America. He also mentioned that a high-profile business delegation from Latin America-Bangladesh Chamber will visit Argentina and Brazil from May 12 to 17.
Read more: Bangladesh attractive destination for business, investment: Momen tells Argentine delegation
The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Latin America-Bangladesh Chamber will organise the visit.
Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman will lead the delegation. The executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) will also be part of the team.
Afser, Latin America-Bangladesh Chamber Senior Vice-President Md Shahid Alam, Joint Secretary General and Director Md Sayem Faroky; directors Md Shakawat Hossain Mamun, Jobayer Ahmed, Razeeb Haider, Noafel Bin Reza, Md Kawser Hossain; Coordinator Biswajit Roy, Administrative Officer Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, and Assistant Secretary Mohammad Emdadur Rahman were present at today's meeting.
DScE seminar recalls Bangabandhu’s contribution to language movement
Speakers in a discussion said that Bangladesh was created by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman which started from the Language Movement.
They said this at a seminar on post language movement and international language movement day observed on Monday by Entrepreneurial Economists club, Dhaka School of Economics (DScE).
They argued that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is trying her best to improve the quality of Bengali Language and they recommended modification of Bengali dictionary.
The speakers also appealed to give Sadhinata Padak to late Professor Mobasher Ali, as a selfless fellow of the father of the Nation for his outstanding contribution in research, who wrote 43 very important books in his lifetime.
Mobasher Ali was awarded MTC award from India for literary contribution, Ekushey Padak and Bangla Academy Padak.
Prof Dr Anisul M Islam, Freedom Fighter and Prof of Economics, University of Houston, USA was present in the program as the chief guest. He praised Dr.Yasmin Ara Lekha of pro-VC of Uttara University, for contributing a research book on Prof Mobasher Ali.
Moazzem Hossain freedom fighter and Founder of the University of Skill Enrichment and Technology, speasent as special guest, designated discussant was Prof Dr Milton Biswas, Prof Dr Nurur Rahman Khan, Prof.Dr.Muhammad Mahboob Ali, Rehana Parvin, Assistant Professor of DScE and Shamim Ahmad , Lecturer, DScE also spoke on this occasion.
Bangladesh attractive destination for business, investment: Momen tells Argentine delegation
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday said Bangladesh made “significant strides” in improving its infrastructure, streamlining regulatory processes, and creating a conducive environment for foreign investment.
“Our strategic location, skilled workforce, and abundant natural resources make us an attractive destination for business and investment,” he informed his Argentine counterpart Santiago Cafiero, and the business entrepreneurs and investors of Argentina.
Momen said that the Bangladesh government is building one hundred specialised economic zones to attract private investments.
The two ministers had a bilateral meeting which was followed by a dinner in honour of the Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship.
“We had an extensive discussion—I should say a fruitful and productive one –in which we exchanged views and ideas on how to expand and consolidate the existing bilateral relations as well as explore new and emerging areas of cooperation,” he said.
The two countries signed a number of instruments – an agreement on exemption of visa for the holders of diplomatic and official passports, agreement on football cooperation and memorandum of understanding between the Foreign Service Academies in the field of diplomatic training.
“I am confident that signing of these agreements and MoU will greatly facilitate our enhanced engagement and lead to fruitful cooperation in other areas,” Momen said.
Argentina was one of the leading South American countries to recognize independent Bangladesh, on 25 May 1972.
“We attach great importance to our relations with Argentina. The relations between Bangladesh and Argentina have always been cordial based on shared values and friendship,” Momen said.
“I truly believe we have so much to offer and benefit from each other. We need to explore the untapped potentials,” he said.
“What never changed is our love for the great football of Argentina. I wish the bond we have through football will be felt in other sectors as well,” Momen said.
HC orders demolition of illegal brick kilns in 5 central districts within 2 weeks
The High Court on Monday ordered the authorities concerned to demolish all illegal brick kilns in five districts including Dhaka within next two weeks to reduce air pollution.
An HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Muhammad Ali passed the order after hearing a petition in this regard.
The court ordered the Director General of Department of Environment (DoE) to submit a report after evicting all the illegal brick kilns in Dhaka, Munshiganj, Narayanganj, Manikganj and Gazipur within the timeframe.
Expressing resentment to all government departments concerned over their failure to reduce the air pollution of the Dhaka, the court asked, “Why has the capital been ranking in the top or near the top in the list of the most polluted cities of the world for the past few days if effective measures were taken as per our directives?”
“We are not satisfied with your steps taken abiding by our directives,” the HC said.
The court said water is not sufficiently sprayed to reduce the air pollution along with the nuisance of the dengue mosquito.
The HC also asked the city corporations to take care of the problems.
Counsel Amatul Karim stood for the DoE; senior lawyer Manzil Morshed represented the writ petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar stood for the state.
Earlier in 2020, the HC gave a nine-point directive to address the air pollution. The directives are given below.
1. The trucks carrying sand and earth operate by covering with protection in the capital.
2. Contractors will have to cover the construction sites where works are on.
3. Steps will have to be taken to spray water in the areas where water is not spayed properly.
4. Apply the rules and regulations, terms and conditions in the areas where mega projects by roads and carpeting works are going on.
5. Seize the vehicles which emit black smoke.
6. Fix the economic life of the vehicles plying on the roads and impose embargo on the obsoleted ones as per the Road Transport Act-2018.
7. Submit report after demolishing the brick kilns which are running without licenses.
8. Stop burning tyres and recycling batteries without permission from the DoE.
9. The city corporations will have to remove the garbage from markets and shops after closing those.
Read more: Around 60 percent brick kilns are operating illegally: Minister
The lawyer Manzil Morshed filed a petition seeking directives to implement the nine-point order on January 30, this year.
On January 31, the HC wanted to know about what measures taken by the authorities concerned to reduce the air pollution.
Later, the DoE submitted its report on February 26 following the HC order. The court later gave two weeks to the DoE to execute the directives.
Barishal man gets life imprisonment for rape
A tribunal in Barishal on Monday sentenced a man in absentia to life imprisonment in two cases for abducting and raping a girl in 2012.
The convict was identified as Babul Matabbar, resident of Bahadur village under Mehediganj Upazila in the district.
Judge Yarab Hossain of Barishal Women and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal announced the verdict in the absence of the convict on Monday afternoon.
However, the court also imposed a Tk 20,000 fine on the accused and issued an arrest warrant as he was absent during the pronouncement of the verdict.
According to the prosecution, on 8 June 2012, accused Babul Matabbar entered the victim's house forcefully breaking the door and abducted her as the victim's family refused Babul’s wedding proposal to the victim.
On 10 June, the victim's father filed a case with Mehediganj Police Station.
On September 5 of the same year, the investigating officer of the case filed a charge sheet accusing Jasim and 5 accused persons.
After the testimony of 8 people, the judge gave the verdict.