Bangladesh
Civil society voices crucial to upholding people’s right to freedom, dignity in every country: US
The United States has said civil society voices in every country are crucial to upholding people’s right to freedom and dignity.
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas hosted a dinner on Sunday night listened to the work of human rights advocates in Bangladesh.
Lu left Dhaka early Monday (2am) wrapping up his quick visit with a series of meetings.
Read more: Lu pledges US administration's continuous support, cooperation for all future efforts
3 motorcyclists die in bus-motorbike collision in Gaibandha
Three motorcyclists were killed and two pedestrians injured as their motorcycle collided with a bus on Dhaka-Rangpur highway in Palashbari upazila of Gaibandha district Monday morning.
The deceased were identified as motorcyclist Bidyut, 28, and his pillion riders Subhash, 27, and Sumon, 27, of the district.
Read more: Bangladesh 88th among 183 countries in road accident death rate: Minister
Masud Rana, officer-in-charge (OC) of Palashbari police station, said the Nilphamari-bound bus of ‘Al Baraka Paribahan’ crashed into the motorcycle coming from the opposite direction around 8am, leaving Bidyut dead on spot.
The two pillion riders succumbed to their injuries at Palashbari Upazila Health Complex while two pedestrians were undergoing treatment there, the OC added.
Read more: 3 motorcyclists dead in Jhenaidah road crashes
Police couldn’t seize the killer truck, he added.
SI stabbed by mentally-challenged youth in Brahmanbaria not out of danger: Doctor
A policeman, who was attacked by a mentally-challenged youth with a knife, in Brahmanbaria is still not out of danger, doctor said on Sunday night.
Dr Md Alauddin, a resident doctor at the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), said the victim sustained stab wounds in the chest, under his left arm and on the hand. He had to undergo an emergency surgery and he is still not out of danger.
Read more:
Sub-inspector injured in B'baria knife attack
On Sunday, the policeman was injured after a mentally-challenged youth attacked him with a knife in Sadar upazila of Brahmanbaria.
Police arrested the attacker, Saidul, son of Fazlul Haque in Behair village of Natai North Union of the upazila, from the spot.
The injured police officer was identified as Atiqullah, Sub-Inspector (SI) of Sadar Model Police Station.
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Md Shakhawat Hossain, superintendent of Brahmanbaria police, said Saidul locked his mother and father in a room and tried to set the house on fire. After receiving a 999 call, a police team along with the fire service went to the spot and rescued the confined parents. Later, when police tried to apprehend Saidul, he stabbed SI Atiqullah with the knife, leaving him seriously injured.
At one stage, police managed to take the knife from Saidul and caught him, he added.
Atiqullah was taken to Sadar Hospital and given first aid.
'One billion served by healthcare facilities with no or unreliable electricity'
Although electricity is critical to healthcare provision, nearly a billion people in poorer countries are served by health facilities with no or unreliable electricity supply, a UN-backed report launched Saturday revealed.
The study, published by the World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, International Renewable Energy Agency, and Sustainable Energy for All, presents the latest data on the electrification of healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries, and projects investments required to achieve adequate and reliable power.
"Electricity access in healthcare facilities can make the difference between life and death," Dr Maria Neira, WHO interim assistant director-general for healthier populations, said.
"Investing in reliable, clean and sustainable energy for health-care facilities is not only crucial to pandemic preparedness, but it's also much needed to achieve universal health coverage, as well as increasing climate resilience and adaptation."
Access to electricity is critical for providing people with quality healthcare, from delivering babies to managing emergencies like heart attacks, or ensuring children receive lifesaving vaccines, according to the report "Energizing Health: Accelerating Electricity Access in Health-Care Facilities."
Also, electricity is required to power the most basic devices – lighting, communications equipment and refrigeration, for example, or those that measure vital signs like heartbeat and blood pressure. It is also crucial for both routine and emergency procedures.
However, more than one in 10 health facilities in South Asia and sub-Saharan African countries lack any electricity access whatsoever, according to the report, and power is unreliable in half of all facilities in sub-Saharan Africa.Despite recent progress, approximately one billion people are served by healthcare facilities without reliable electricity supply, or none at all – a number that is nearly as large as the entire populations of the US, Indonesia, Pakistan and Germany combined.
There are also stark disparities in access within the countries themselves. Primary healthcare centres and rural facilities are considerably less likely to have electricity access than hospitals and facilities in urban areas, according to the report.
The report stressed that the electrification of healthcare facilities "must be considered an utmost development priority."
A World Bank needs analysis, included in the report, showed that almost two-thirds of healthcare facilities in low and middle-income countries require some form of urgent intervention, such as a new electricity connection or backup power supply.
Nearly $5 billion is urgently needed to bring them to a minimal standard of electrification.The authors said decentralised sustainable energy solutions are available which would have a huge impact on health delivery, citing the example of solar photovoltaic systems which convert sunlight into electricity.Such solutions are cost-effective, clean and rapidly deployable on site, meaning there is no need to wait for the arrival of the central energy grid.
Healthcare systems and facilities are increasingly affected by the impacts of the climate emergency, the authors added.
So, making them more resilient calls for building facilities and services that can meet the challenges of climate change while improving environmental sustainability.
Stern action will be taken against Yaba traders: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said that stern action will be taken against Yaba traders after verifying the list which was recently published by an intelligence agency on Cox's Bazar's Yaba traders.
The Minister said this while talking to the reporters after attending the 26th meeting of the Standing Committee on Ministry of Home Affairs held at the office of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Cox’s Bazar on Sunday.
"We have heard about different crimes recently occurring in Cox’s Bazar. Steps must be taken over the incidents. None will get a chance of committing robbery, theft and abduction," he added.
On the different names including journalists, public representatives, politicians listed in Yaba smugglers, the Home Minister said, "We will first check them. If someone is guilty then we will take action against the person whoever they are.”
Before the meeting, the minister visited Shahpori Island in Teknaf on Saturday which is known as a hotspot for human and drug trafficking.
Besides, members of the parliamentary committee visited the disputed Ghumdhum border and Kutupalong Rohingya camp on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
Sub-inspector injured in B'baria knife attack
A policeman was injured after a mentally-challenged youth attacked him with a knife in Sadar upazila of Brahmanbaria on Sunday afternoon.
Police arrested the attacker Saidul, son of Fazlul Haque in Behair village of Natai North Union of the upazila from the spot.
The injured police officer was identified as Atiqullah, Sub Inspector (SI) of Sadar Model Police Station.
Md Shakhawat Hossain, superintendent of Brahmanbaria police said Saidul locked his mother and father in a room and tried to set the house on fire. After receiving a 999 call, a police team along with the fire service went to the spot and rescued the confined mother and father. Later, when police tried to arrest Saidul, he stabbed SI Atiqullah with the knife, leaving him seriously injured.
At one stage, police managed to take the knife from Saidul and caught him , he added.
Police officer Atiqullah was taken to Sadar Hospital and given first aid.
As his condition deteriorated, the doctor referred him to Dhaka for better treatment.
Later, a helicopter from Rab took him to Dhaka in critical condition at 8:30 pm.
Bangladesh elected IRENA Council member from Asia-Pacific group for 2023-2024
Bangladesh has been elected as a member of the 21-member Council of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) from the Asia-Pacific group for 2023-2024.
The Council members serve on a rotating basis to ensure the effective participation of both developing and developed countries and fair and equitable geographical distribution.
The responsibilities of the Council include facilitating consultation and cooperation among IRENA members and reviewing the draft work programme, draft budget and annual report.
The election was held at the 13th annual meeting of IRENA from January 14 to 15 at the intergovernmental organisation's headquarters in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, the Power Division said in a media statement Sunday.
A five-member Bangladesh delegation, led by Abu Zafar, Bangladesh ambassador to the UAE and permanent representative to IRENA, and senior officials of the Power Division and Bangladesh mission joined the meeting.At the meeting, the Bangladesh delegation highlighted the country's achievements in renewable energy and the future plans of the government in the field.
Also, Bangladesh urged IRENA to extend its technical and investment support to help the country achieve its renewable energy goals.
Under Vision 2041, Bangladesh has set a goal to generate up to 40 percent of electricity from renewable energy.Another high-level delegation consisting of the members of the parliamentary standing committee on the power, energy and mineral resources ministry attended various meetings, including the Legislative Forum and Public-Private Dialogue.
IRENA supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy.
The organisation promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.
IRENA's membership comprises 167 countries and the European Union. Bangladesh is a founding member of this organisation.
The members decide on the agency's strategic direction and programmatic activities, in line with the global energy discourse and priorities to accelerate the deployment of renewables-based energy transitions worldwide.
Mobile operators must pay their dues: BTRC chairman
Four private telecom operators-Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi and Airtel owe an amount of Tk2,413 crore to the government which remains due as VAT on 2G spectrum fees and licence fees, said the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
"Govt's money means public money, so operators must have to pay the money," Engr. Md. Mohiuddin Ahmed, chairman of BTRC said while addressing a press conference at the commission's office in the capital on Sunday.
BTRC is determined to take out the money, he added.
"All the laws and policies of the BTRC have been formulated for the welfare of the people. We want to make the telecommunication sector an up-to-date sector in the country,"he added.
Mentioning the recent apex court order to three major telecom operators on the payable amount, he said, "BTRC is working relentlessly to build smart Bangladesh".
Commissioner of Spectrum Department Prof Sheikh Riaz Ahmed, said the dues of nearly Tk 2,500 crore is govt's revenue and public money. Telecom operators must pay this money, he said.
Ashis Kumar Kundu, director general (Legal and Licensing Division) at BTRC, said as of 22 November last year, Grameenphone owes Tk1,163.85 crore, Banglalink Tk625.27crore, Robi Tk 565.58 crore and Airtel Tk59.05 crore.
The BTRC will get 100% of revenue from the operators and the 15% VAT cannot be added, he said.
BTRC will definitely get its dues from the operators because it did not demand the money illegally, said BTRC's lawyer Barrister Khandaker Reza-E-Raquib.
Among others, BTRC Director General (Systems and Services Division) Brig Gen Md Nasim Parvez spoke at the press conference, moderated by Director (Legal and Licensing) Tareq Hassan Siddiqui.
Islami Bank donates Tk4 crore to Ashrayan Project
Islami Bank Bangladesh has donated Tk4 crore for the construction of houses for homeless people under the Ashrayan Project.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the cheque from Professor Md Nazmul Hassan, chairman of Islami Bank, and Mohammed Monirul Moula, managing director and chief executive officer of the bank, Sunday.
Md Nazrul Islam Mazumder, chairman of the Bangladesh Association of Banks, was also present.Islami Bank is a joint venture public limited company engaged in commercial banking business based on Islamic shariah.
Set up in 1983 as the first Islamic bank in Southeast Asia, it is listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange and Chittagong Stock Exchange.
Flood responses: UN resident coordinator visits Sylhet to discuss lessons learnt
The UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh Sunday met with the authorities, NGOs, and UN agencies' representatives in Sylhet to discuss the lessons learnt from some of the key projects of the Flash Flood Humanitarian Response Plan implemented following the devastating floods that hit the region in summer of last year.
In support of the government, the UN and NGO partners launched the Flash Flood Humanitarian Response Plan in July 2022 to provide lifesaving support to vulnerable communities in the five worst-hit districts.
Among the themes discussed at the meetings were the implementation of the risk information and early warning system, information management, food security and livelihoods, and the protection of vulnerable people.
The Humanitarian Response Plan aimed to mobilise efforts to tackle the consequences of the floods has been produced by the Humanitarian Coordination Task Team jointly headed by the UN resident coordinator and Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Md Kamrul Hasan.
A total of $20.45 million have been provided for the essential needs of those affected by floods. And 468,408 people in five heavily impacted districts of Sunamganj, Netrokona, Sylhet, Habiganj, and Moulvibazar were reached, the UN said.
An estimated 7.2 million people have been affected by flooding and water congestion in the nine northeastern districts of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Netrakona, Kishoreganj, Brahmanbaria, Mymensingh, and Sherpur.
The extent of the flooding surpassed any in previous decades, including the ones in 1998 and 2004.