Bangladesh
Girls’ education among 5 core issues in Bangladesh development: Study
Five core issues - reduction in child mortality, increasing girls’ schooling, access to electricity, population density and an aggressive nationwide investment in infrastructure – have played a key role in Bangladesh’s development momentum.
This has been revealed in a research conducted by Prime Minister’s Energy Advisor Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and Mahir A Rahman, a research associate at Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS).
The research findings titled: “Aspirational Momentum: The Development story of Bangladesh” were presented at a seminar, organised by the BIDS at city hotel on Sunday.
With BIDS Director General Binayak Sen in the chair, the seminar was also addressed by Prime Minister’ Economic Advisor Mashiur Rahman, eminent economist DrWahidudin Mahmud, Prof Barkat-e-Khuda and Prof Abus Sattar Mandol.
Making a joint presentation with Mahir A Rahman on the issue, Tawfiq Elahi said the development path of Bangladesh can be explained by focusing on family at the core decision-making.
He said when the family decision-making process is linked with the aspirational momentum of a nation this accelerates its development process.
Read: Shaping a "Bangladesh model" for development
“This happened in Bangladesh and it keeps us ahead of other similar nations”, he told the seminar.
Mahir said the research collected data from 26 countries where economic conditions were similar to Bangladesh and analysed their data.
Mashiur said though Bangladesh could not make good in employment creation, the public investment in infrastructures played a significant role in the development of the country.
Wahiduddin said Bangladesh’s development should not be explained only through basics of the traditional economic theory.
“Rather, its unique characteristics should be taken into consideration”, he said adding, the women came out of the home for employment, child mortality rate dropped, family planning was adopted, rural roads were developed and there was no communal conflict—these all yielded combined result in development.
Binayak observed that all the governments since independence continued some common policies in developments that played a vital role.
Healthy dietary habits can reduce hypertension-related health risks: Experts
Public health experts at a webinar on Sunday said the risks of various non-communicable diseases, including hypertension-related heart ailments and deaths, are increasing among the population of Bangladesh due to lack of healthy eating habits.
They also said unhealthy diets and lack of adequate physical activity are responsible for 30 percent of the world's non-communicable and preventable diseases and deaths, including the morbidity and mortality caused by hypertension.
Public health experts and heart specialists made the remarks at the webinar titled “Eating Habits, Hypertension and Heart Disease Risk and the Needful”, organised by research and advocacy organisation PROGGA with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), marking the World Food Day 2022.
World Food Day is observed in Bangladesh as elsewhere across the globe on Sunday to highlight the millions of people worldwide who cannot afford a healthy diet and the need for regular access to nutritious food. The theme for 2022 is ‘Leave no one behind.’
Speaking at the webinar, Professor Dr Md Abdul Alim, a member (Food Industry & Production), of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, said foods containing an excessive amount of trans fats increase the risk of hypertension. “The trans fat regulation passed by the government will be implemented within the stipulated time.”
Dr Tahmina Sultana, Director of Primary Health Care (PHC) and Integrated Thana Health Complex (ITHC) at the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), said that hypertension treatment is being provided in some community clinics, which will be gradually spread across the country.
Shamsun Naher Nahid Mohua, Head of Nutrition at the Department of Diet and Nutrition of BIRDEM General Hospital, said that the risks of hypertension and heart diseases can be reduced by avoiding foods containing excessive saturated fat, trans fat and salt.
Dr SM Mustafa Zaman, Professor at the Department of Cardiology at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), said the promotion of the DASH diet or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension and healthy dietary guidelines formulated by the government should be increased to control hypertension.
Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of Global Health Advocacy Incubator, said that GHAI along with its partners is doing advocacy with the government to spread hypertension treatment facilities at community clinics across the country.
The speakers also said one in every five adults in Bangladesh suffers from hypertension, which is very alarming. “There’s no alternative to ensuring the availability of medicines at the community clinic level to combat the prevalence of hypertension across the country and the necessary budget allocation also must be ensured in this regard.”
CCTV cameras installed in 108 buses in Dhaka
The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs on Sunday installed CCTV cameras in 108 buses plying on different routes in the capital city.
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira inaugurated the ‘Safe Journey of Women in Public Transport’ project at the Syed Nazrul Islam Convention Centre in Gabtoli.
Among the buses, 25 are of Rajdhani Super Service Limited plying between Demra and Staff Quarters, 25 are of Basumati Transport Limited plying between Gabtoli and Gazipur, 25 are of Prajapati Paribahan Limited between Mohammadpur and Abdullahpur, 25 are of Paristhan Paribahan plying between Ghatarchar and Abdullahpur and eight buses from Gabtoli Express plying between Gabtoli and Sayedabad.
The project is financed by the Ministry and implemented by non-government organization Deepto Foundation.
Speaking as Chief Guest, Indira said that CCTV cameras will make public transport secure and friendly for women.
“Women will feel comfortable as the cameras will make the passengers aware and careful about their actions. The government will gradually install CCTV cameras in all the buses of the country. The cameras will enable women to call 999 and 109 to lodge complaints. Besides, CCTV footage will also be used as proof in courts if any incident of harassment happens,” Indira said.
The event was presided over by Md Hasanuzzaman Kallol, Secretary of the Women and Children Affairs Ministry. Aga Khan Mintu, Member of Parliament from Dhaka-14 constituency, attended the event as Special Guest while other officials of the Ministry and representatives from the transport sector were present at the program.
Bangladesh, Brunei sign 4 bilateral instruments
Bangladesh and Brunei on Sunday signed four instruments, including an air services agreement, to elevate the bilateral relations to a newer height.
The bilateral instruments were signed in presence of visiting Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister’s Office following the official talks between the two leaders.
The three other bilateral instruments are: ‘MoU on the Employment and Recruitment of Bangladeshi Workers,’ ‘MoU on the Field of Cooperation in the Supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and other Petroleum Products;’ and ‘MoU on the Recognition of Certificate Issued under the Provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 as amended.’
Brunei Minister of Finance and Economy Dr Amin Abdullah signed three instruments while its Home Affairs Minister Awang Haji Ahmaddin inked the rest one on behalf of their government.
Bangladesh’s State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali signed the Air Services Agreement, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad inked the MoU on Recruitment of Bangladeshi Workers, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid signed the MoU on the cooperation of LNG and other Petroleum Products and State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury inked the MoU on seafarers.
Brunei Sultan pays homage to Bangabandhu
Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah on Sunday paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
He visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhaka’s Dhanmondi 32 and paid homage by placing a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu.
Sheikh Rehana, younger daughter of Bangabandhu, received him at the Museum upon the Sultan's arrival there around 3pm.
The Sultan visited different corners of the Museum and signed the visitors’ book.
On Saturday afternoon, the Brunei Sultan went to the National Martyrs' Memorial, Savar from the airport.
There, he was received by the Liberation War Affairs Minister, State Minister Housing and Public Works and State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief.
The Sultan placed a wreath paying homage to the Liberation War martyrs, signed visitors’ book; and planted a sapling there.
He held meetings with President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen is scheduled to see off Brunei Sultan at the airport on Monday.
Bangladesh reports 6 more Covid deaths, 351 cases
Bangladesh reported six more Covid-19-linked deaths and 351 fresh cases in 24 hours till Sunday morning.
The country's total fatalities rose to 29,401 with the new deaths and the new cases raised the country's total caseload to 2,032,092, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily case test positivity rate dropped to 5.86 per cent from Saturday’s 7.78 per cent as 5,988 samples were tested during the period.
The latest deceased were three men and three women. Of them, four were from Dhaka division and one each from Chattogram and Sylhet divisions.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45 per cent and the recovery rate rose to 97.13 per cent.
In September, the country reported 40 Covid-linked deaths and 13,251 cases.
Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and its highest number of fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.
Dengue death toll rises to 94 as five more patients die in 24 hrs
Five more dengue patients died in 24 hours till Sunday morning, raising this year’s death toll from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 94.
During this period, 855 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever as cases keep rising, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Of the latest deaths, two were reported from Dhaka division and one each from Mymensingh, Khulna and Chattogram divisions.
The dengue death toll in Dhaka division stands at 53, in Chattogram division at 34 while it remained static in Barishal division at five.
Read: Two more dengue patients die in 24hrs
Of the new patients, 523 were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka and 322 outside it.
A total of 2,847 dengue patients, including 1,957 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
The Directorate has recorded 25, 181 dengue cases and 22, 240 recoveries so far this year.
Militants’ involvement with CHT’s KNF group being investigated: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan today said the involvement of militants with Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), an armed group in the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT), is being investigated.
“Different groups in the CHT including KNF, Shantu Larmar's JSS, and UPDF are trying to destabilize the situation along the borders,” he told reporters after the inauguration of modern fire equipment turntable ladders at the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters in Dhaka.
“We have engaged army and police forces in the three CHT districts. When necessary, police, BGB, Rab and army are taking action there as per need,” said the home minister.
Read: ‘We won’t interfere if BNP events are peaceful’: Home Minister
Regarding the turntable ladder, he said it will be able to extinguish fire up to 24 floors of a building.
He also termed the members of the fire service, who sacrificed their lives in Sitakunda depot fire, as ‘Agnibir’.
Bangladesh-Brunei bilateral talks under way at PMO
The bilateral talks between Bangladesh and Brunei have started at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is leading the Bangladesh delegation at the meeting while visiting Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah is leading his side. The talks began around 3:50pm.
Before the formal talks, the two leaders also had a tête-à-tête for some time.
Earlier, on his arrival at the PMO, the sultan was received by the Bangladesh prime minister at the Tiger Gate of the Prime Minister’s Office.
After the talks Bangladesh and Brunei are likely to sign three bilateral cooperation deals, including an agreement for introducing direct flights between the two countries.
Two other cooperation documents are on the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers and recognition of certificates for two countries’ seafarers.
Some 15,000 Bangladeshis are now working in oil-rich Brunei.
The Brunei Sultan arrived here by a special flight on his first state visit to Bangladesh on Saturday afternoon. President Abdul Hamid warmly received the Sultan at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport amid 21-gun salute.
In April 2019, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a historic visit to Brunei Darussalam, which marked a new milestone as the countries signed several MoUs for various types of cooperation, including in sectors like gas supply, fisheries, agriculture, livestock, youth and sports, and art and culture, said Haris Bin Othman.
Somoy TV regains control of YouTube channel after it got hacked
Private channel Somoy TV regained control of its YouTube channel soon after it was hacked on Sunday afternoon.
The YouTube channel was hacked at 12:30pm on Sunday, Salauddin Salim, Head of Broadcast and IT of Somoy TV, told UNB.
He said Somoy TV regained control of the YouTube channel within 10 minutes of the incident.
Read: DBC TV news producer found dead in city
“Somoy TV’s YouTube channel is now secure but the name given by the hackers, Ethereum 2.0, remains in place because there has been a directive from the YouTube support team not to make any change to facilitate investigation,” Salim said.
At the same time, he said the news portal of the Somoy TV, somoynews.tv, was also attacked by the hackers but it was immediately secured.