Bangladesh
Zanendra Nath Sarker made Petrobangla chairman
Zanendra Nath Sarker, an additional secretary at the Ministry of Industries, was appointed as chairman of Petrobangla, the state-owned oil, gas and minerals corporation.
Zanendra, an admin cadre service officer, will replace Nazmul Ahsan who was recently made the secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources.
Read: Ex-secretary Kamal made new NHRC chairman
The Ministry of Public Administration issued an order in this regard on January 1, saying that the appointment will be effective immediately.
Workplace accidents: 1034 workers died in 2022
A total of 1034 workers died in workplace accidents while 1,037 others were injured across Bangladesh in 2022, a new report said on Monday.
The report by the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), however, said that the incidents of casualties decreased by 2 percent last year compared with 2021.
It said a total of 135 workers died due to ‘repression” at work, and 155 others were injured.
There were 196 incidents of workers’ unrest, and of them 115 were in the apparel sector, the report said.
Also Read: Workplace accidents killed 538 workers in 2021
The BILS has prepared the survey report based on reports published in different newspapers in 2022.
According to the report, 499 casualties or 48 percent of the deaths, happened in the transport sector, which is the highest in a single-sector count.
Bangladesh registers 14 more Covid cases
Bangladesh registered 14 more Covid cases in the 24 hours till Monday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,037,156, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,440 as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity fell to 0.84 per cent from Sunday's 1.07 per cent as 1,667 samples were tested during the period.
Read: Lack of info on China’s COVID-19 surge stirs global concern
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45 percent while recovery rate slightly decreased to 97.58 percent, it added.
In November, the country reported 10 Covid-linked deaths and 1,345 cases.
Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.
Not worried about next election; it'll be held on time: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday said they are not that much worried about the next national election, noting that the election will be held timely and fairly.
"Election will be held at the time of election. We believe in people," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Momen said the government is committed to holding a "free, fair, transparent and inclusive" election.
He said it would be good if all the parties join the next elections, if not, that is okay.
Asked whether the government could assure the foreigners about a fair election, Momen said, “It’s not our headache, it is your headache. Why should I assure foreigners? If we work accordingly, they will understand.”
He said the next election is still far away and in other countries they see election-related events just two months ahead of the scheduled election. “Here we see election-centric noises one year ahead of the election. This is very sad.”
Momen said there is an ‘independent Election Commission with transparent arrangements’ to hold fair elections.
To greet the first day of the New Year, the top leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs virtually addressed the Heads of Bangladesh Missions abroad and senior officials on Sunday evening highlighting the government's foreign policy priorities and guidelines to be pursued in 2023.
Momen suggested the Bangladesh envoys abroad to find effective ways to learn lessons from those countries and their best practices to build a "Smart Bangladesh."
He said regional peace and stability must be ensured for sustainable development.
Momen said there is a need for ensuring peace and stability, and Bangladesh also needs to manage its resources in an efficient and effective way to achieve its goals. “We need peace and stability to make development sustainable.”
He suggested the Bangladesh envoys abroad respond to any misinformation against Bangladesh immediately with facts.
“Let us know – both good and bad things. There is nothing to be shy about. We are a team; our all missions are an extension of my ministry. As a team we should share both good and negative things. You should also take some responsibility,” he said, adding that they discussed what sort of strategies Bangladesh should take to deal with issues in the coming days.
Also Read: Hasina’s courage, sincerity, strong willingness helped implement metro rail: FM
Responding to a question on border killing, the foreign minister said they got assurance from the highest level to bring down the border killings to zero. “It is not our failure.”
Meanwhile, the government has decided to deal with "anti-government propaganda" at home and abroad in a "coordinated way" and fight against misinformation by presenting correct information.
Representatives from the relevant ministries and departments will sit regularly to find effective ways to present correct information about Bangladesh against fabrication and misinformation.
The decision was taken at a meeting held at the state guesthouse Padma on Sunday with the Foreign Minister in the chair.
Law Minister Anisul Huq, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and representatives from law enforcement agencies were present.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate the work.
"It's not a technical committee, it's a coordination committee," Momen said on Monday.
He said they had a similar coordination committee in the past and tried to reenergise that committee to have better coordination with the relevant ministries.
Momen said it is for everything, not just for fighting against propaganda. “It is a pretty wide spectrum, not specific for a single issue.”
Architect Mubasshar Hussein no more
Renowned architect Mubasshar Hussein passed away at a hospital in the city early Monday. He was 79.
Mubasshar, also a freedom fighter, breathed his last at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital around 1:35 am, said his family.
Born in 1943 in Brahmanbaria, Mubasshar graduated in architecture from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 1972. He served as the President of Institute of Architects Bangladesh.
His notable works include Proshika Bhaban, Grameen Bank Bhaban and Chattogram Railway Station.
Science and Technology Affairs Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman expressed deep shock at his death.
Jatiya Press Cub President Farida Yasmin and General Secretary Elias Khan condoled the death of the architect.
Elephant dies at Gazipur Safari Park
An elephant has died at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur.
Although the safari park authorities filed a general diary in this regard on December 22, last year, a day after the death of the elephant they did not disclose the matter to media until Sunday.
Imran Ahmed, project director of the park and forest conservator, said the elephant died after being hit by another elephant in the elephant shed of the park on December 21.
Read: Wild elephant carcass found in Chattogram ditch
“It was seriously injured and died from a stroke instantly,” he said.
After conducting an autopsy, the park's animal hospital's veterinary surgeon said the elephant died from a stroke, he added.
The elephant was about 47 years old.
The Forest Department has formed a three-member investigation committee, led by the divisional forest officer of Dhaka, to know whether the park authorities had any negligence in its death.
In January last year, 11 zebras and a tiger in this park died mysteriously.
New Japanese envoy exchanges views on bilateral interests with foreign secretary
Japan and Bangladesh on Monday exchanged views on bilateral issues and issues of mutual interest as the two countries celebrate many achievements together.
Newly appointed Japanese Ambassador Iwama Kiminori met Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen at his office at the Ministry on Monday afternoon.
"Since it's our first meeting, we exchanged views," the Ambassador told reporters after the meeting.
On December 26, 2022, Ambassador Kiminori presented his letter of credence to President Md. Abdul Hamid at a special ceremony at Bangabhaban.
"I feel honoured to start undertaking my responsibility as Ambassador in the year of 2022, which marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Bangladesh. Throughout the year, there must have been moments to look back at progress over the last half century," he said upon his submission of credentials.
Before coming to Bangladesh, he has learned that many Japanese have been involved and worked hard for the development of this country for 50 years as true friends of Bangladesh.
In particular, in recent years, many mega projects contributing to the improvement of economic infrastructure are going on under the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt initiatives (BIG-B). Given this situation, the importance of Japan, as a major and largest development partner of Bangladesh, has been prospering, he said.
In addition, Bangladesh's economy has been steadily growing and the country is to graduate from LDC by 2026.
"Due to this rapid economic growth, I am feeling that there are increasing expectations from the Japanese business circle to shift their interests from aiding to investing. As Ambassador, I would like to contribute to Bangladesh’s further economic growth by listening to and supporting Japanese companies interested in doing business in this country," he said.
Prisoner dies while undergoing treatment at Gazipur hospital
A prisoner who fell sick at Kashimpur Jail of Gazipur died at Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital in the early hours of Monday.
The deceased was Md Nehal Uddin, 65, son of Kanu Mia of Bagchapair village of Kaliakoir upazila of the district. He had been in Kashimpur Jail since November, 2022.
Nehal Uddin was arrested in a case filed against him under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act at Kaliakoir police station, said Amirul Islam, jail superintendent of Kashimpur Central Jail Part-2.
Also Read: 2 prisoners die at Chattogram jail
“He suddenly felt sick at Kashimpur Central Jail Part-1 unit around 11:30 pm on Sunday. First, he was taken to the jail hospital and later sent to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital for better treatment. A doctor of the hospital declared him dead around 2:30 am on Monday,” said Amirul Islam.
He said the body will be handed over to the relatives of the deceased after completion of the legal procedure.
Rail communications of Khulna with other parts of the country restored
Rail communications of Khulna with other parts of the country has been suspended following the derailment of a bogie of an oil tanker train in Doulatpur upazila of Khulna district Monday afternoon.
Shafiqul Islam, in-charge of Doulatpur Rail Police camp, said the bogie veered off the tracks around 2:30 pm while the oil tanker train returning to Khulna from Santahar after unloading oil in front of Doulatpur BGB headquarters.
Also read: Admission seekers’ blockade snaps Dhaka’s rail link with other parts for over 3 hrs
Already, a relief train from Khulna left for the spot removing the bogie.
Magura road accident leaves one dead
A man was killed and another injured in a collision among a motorcycle, a three-wheeler and an auto-rickshaw in Mohammadpur upazila of the district on Monday.
The accident occurred on Magura-Mohammadpur road in the morning when the motorcycle carrying the duo and two other vehicles collided, leaving the biker dead on the spot and pillion rider injured
Also Read: JUST student among 3 killed as truck rams rickshaw van
Police recovered the body and sent it to a hospital morgue for autopsy. A case was filed in this connection.