Bangladesh
PM Hasina remembers Bangabandhu at Tungipara on National Mourning Day
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday placed wreaths at the mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman paying homage to the great leader to mark the National Mourning Day.
The prime minister placed wreaths twice, first as the head of the government and then as the president of governing Awami League party.
After laying the wreaths, the prime minister stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the architect of Bangladesh’s independence in 1971.
Read: National Mourning Day: PM Hasina pays homage to Bangabandhu
Bangabandhu was gunned down by some disgruntled army men on the dreadful night of August 15, 1975 along with most of his family members. August 15 is observed as National Mourning Day.
A smartly turned out contingent drawn from the armed forces presented a gun salute on the occasion, while the bugle played the Last Post in remembrance of Bangabandhu, the greatest Bengali of all time.
The prime minister then offered fateha and munajat seeking eternal peace of departed souls of Bangabandhu, his wife Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib, their three sons and other martyrs of Aug 15 massacre.
Prayers were also offered seeking continued peace, progress and prosperity of the nation.
Flanked by senior Awami League leaders, Hasina placed a wreath at the grave of Bangabandhu on behalf of the party.
Leaders of different associate bodies of Bangladesh Awami League also placed wreaths at the grave.
Read: Cultural bodies observing National Mourning Day
The prime minister along with Cabinet members, party leaders and workers will also join a milad and doa mahfil on the mausoleum premises marking the National Mourning Day.
Earlier, Sheikh Hasina arrived in Tungipara, the ancestral home of Bangabandhu, by an Air Force helicopter after placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka as part of the national programme on the day.
The prime minister also went to the Banani graveyard and sprinkled flower petals on the graves of the martyrs of the Aug 15 carnage and offered fateha and joined a munajat there.
Dhaka’s air quality now 'moderate'
Dhaka's air quality continues to be in the 'moderate' zone, all thanks to intermittent monsoon showers.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 84 at 09:00am, the densely populated metropolis ranked 12th in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.
The United Arab Emirates Dubai, Peru’s Lima and Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 310, 155 and 151, respectively.
An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’ with an acceptable air quality. However, there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Read: Dhaka’s air quality remains 'moderate'
On the other hand, an AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups.
Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, is used by government agencies to inform people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
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.
With the advent of winter, the city’s air quality starts deteriorating sharply due to the massive discharge of pollutant particles from construction work, rundown roads, brick kilns and other sources.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
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.
Vast areas in Paikgachha of Khulna flooded as dam collapses
Vast areas in Sholadana union of Paikgachha upazila have been flooded following the collapse of a dam due to tidal surge at Bhangaharia of Khulna district on Sunday.
A 30 feet area of No23 dam of local Water Development Board collapsed on Sunday afternoon due to the tidal surge at Boyarjhapa of Bhangaharia.
Several hundred fish enclosures were washed away and a vast tract of crops land inundated.
Abdullah Al Mamun, a local UP member, said due to the inclement weather, the river water of Shibsha River was flowing above its danger mark.
Due to the tidal surge, a 30-feet area of the embankment collapsed, flooding a vast tract of land.
Read:Tidal surge inundates 18 Jhalakati villages
The river water also entered the houses, he said.
If the authorities concerned do not take any effective measures now, new areas will be flooded soon, he added.
Abdul Mannan Gazi, Chairman of the Union Parishad, said preparation has been taken to repair the damaged parts of the dam.
Raju Hawladar, assistant engineer of Water Development Board, said all preparations have been taken to repair the dam.
Mamtaz Begum, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Paikgachcha upazila ,assured of repairing the dam.
US Embassy pays tributes to Bangabandhu
The US Embassy in Dhaka on Monday paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
"On the 47th anniversary of the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Father of the Nation, the U.S. Embassy remembers his extraordinary life," said the Embassy.
Bangabandhu was one of the very first Bangladeshis to travel to the United States on the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program.
"We mourn this great loss," said the Embassy.
Read: 'BRAVEHEART’: Gallery Cosmos pays rich artistic tribute to Bangabandhu
76th Independence Day of India celebrated in Dhaka
The High Commission of India in Dhaka on Monday observed the 76th Independence Day of India at the Chancery premises of the High Commission.
This year the independence day celebrations marked India’s 75th year of independence.
The celebrations were held with great fervor as part of the ongoing celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Also read: BARVIDA pays tribute to Bangabandhu
High Commissioner Vikram K. Doraiswami unfurled the national flag and read out excerpts from the President’s address to the nation.
A group of Indian community members led by IGCC teachers sang the national anthem and patriotic songs.
The event saw enthusiastic participation from Indian community.
Global Covid cases top 595 million
The overall number of Covid cases has now surged past 595 million amid a rise in new infections in parts of the world.
According to the latest global data, the total case count mounted to 595,168,628 and the death toll reached 6,454,572 on Monday morning.
The US has recorded 94,688,168 cases so far and 1,062,343 people have died from the virus in the country, the data shows.
According to India’s federal health ministry data released on Sunday, 14,092 new cases of COVID-19 were reported during the past 24 hours, taking the total tally to 44,253,464 in the country.
The cases reported on Sunday mark a decrease in comparison to the daily caseload of Saturday (15,815).
With the reports of the fresh cases, India's active caseload currently stands at 116,861.
The country also logged 41 related deaths during the past 24 hours, pushing the overall death toll to 527,037 since the beginning of the pandemic, the ministry said.
Read: Children aged 5-11 get Covid jabs on trial basis
Covid in Bangladesh
Bangladesh recorded one more Covid-linked deaths with 226 fresh cases in 24 hours till Sunday morning.
While the country's total fatalities reached 29,313, the new number took its caseload to 2,008,870, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily case test positivity rate rose to 4.32 percent from Saturday's 4.29 percent as 5,226 samples were tested.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.46 percent. The recovery rate rose to 97.14 from Saturday's 97.12 percent.
In July, the country reported 142 Covid-linked deaths and 31,422 cases, the highest monthly death toll and caseload since March this year.
Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.
Rail communication on Dhaka-Gazipur route restored after 11 hrs
Rail communications between Dhaka and northern parts of the country resumed on Monday after eleven and a half hours of suspension following derailment of several bogies in Dhirashram area of Gazipur district.
A five-member committee has been formed to probe the incident. The committee has been asked to submit its report within seven days.
Qudrat-e-Khuda, Chief Mechanical Engineer of Railway West Zone, said the rail communication between Dhaka and northern parts of the district came to halt around 9 pm as a number of bogies of Dhaka-bound ‘Drutojan Express’ from Panchagarh veered off the tracks.
Also read: Train derails in Gazipur
A number of trains got stranded due to the derailment.
Later, a relief train came to the spot and salvaged the train around 8 am on Monday, he said.
Nation observing Bangabandhu’s anniversary of martyrdom in a somber mood
People across the country are observing the National Mourning Day, the darkest chapter in the history of independent Bangladesh on Monday in a befitting manner.
On this day in 1975, the nation’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members were assassinated by a cabal of military men.
Eighteen members of Bangabandhu’s family, including Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, three sons – Captain Sheikh Kamal, Lieutenant Sheikh Jamal and 10-year-old Sheikh Russel, two daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, peasant leader Abdur Rab Serniabat, youth leader Sheikh Fazlul Haq Moni and his wife Arzu Moni, Baby Serniabat, Sukanta Babu, Arif and Abdul Nayeem Khan Rintu were, among others, killed on that fateful night.
Bangabandhu's Military Secretary Brigadier General Jamil was also killed. Several members of a family in the capital's Mohammadpur area were killed by artillery shells fired by the killers on the same day.
His two daughters – Sheikh Hasina, now the Prime Minister, and Sheikh Rehana – luckily survived the massacre as they were abroad at that time.
The government, various socio-cultural, political and professional organisations, including ruling Awami League and its associate bodies, chalked out programmes to observe the day.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to the nation’s Independence hero by placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 in the capital in the morning.
Also read: BARVIDA pays tribute to Bangabandhu
After placing the wreaths separately, they stood there in solemn silence for some time showing deep respect to the great leader.
A smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces gave state salute, while bugle played the tune of grief and somber to the last post.
A munajat was also offered seeking the eternal peace of the departed souls of the August 15 carnage.
From Dhanmondi, the prime minister went to Banani Graveyard where her mother Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib, brothers Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, and other martyrs of August 15 were laid to eternal rest.
The prime minister placed wreaths and spread petals on their graves.
She also offered Fateha and doa seeking the eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs of August 15.
She will pay homage to the Father of the Nation by placing a wreath at mazar of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj at 10 am. Apart from Honor Guard by the Armed Forces, fateha will be recited and munajat will be offered at Bangabandhu Mausoleum complex.
Special doa and munajat will be held in mosques across the country after Zohr prayers marking the occasion.
Marking this day, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages.
In his message, President Abdul Hamid, said,“Bangabandhu was uncompromising in establishing fundamental human rights and independence. He, even on the gallows, upheld the interest of Bangla and Bangalees. Ignoring the blood-curdling eyes of the then Pakistani rulers, Bangabandhu delivered a historic speech on 07 March in 1971 before a mammoth gathering at the then Race Course Maidan.”
“ Bangabandhu has made an outstanding contribution in establishing world peace along with equality, friendship and democracy throughout his life. He was a symbol of independence and ambassador of freedom for oppressed and exploited people in the world. “
The assassins killed the Father of the Nation but could not erase his principles and ideals, he said adding Bangabandhu will remain an eternal source of inspiration not only for millions of Bangalees in this country, but also for freedom-seeking people of the world.
In a message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said, “Under the visionary and strong leadership of the Father of the Nation, the Bangalee Nation broke the shackles of subjugation and snatched away our great Independence. The anti-liberation clique killed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib at a time when he was engaged in the struggle of building a Golden Bangladesh by reconstructing the war-ravaged country.”
Through the murder of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib, the defeated forces of the Liberation War made ill-attempts to ruin the tradition, culture and advancement of the Bangalee Nation, she said adding the aim of the killers was to break the state structure of a secular democratic Bangladesh and foil our hard-earned Independence.
“The anti-liberation forces involved in the carnage initiated the politics of killing, coup and conspiracy in the country right after the 15 August 1975. “
“Let's turn our grief of losing Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib into our strength. Let’s build a non-communal, hunger-poverty-free prosperous Golden Bangladesh as dreamt by the Father of the Nation through reflecting the glory and ideals of his long struggling life in our actions; this should be our firm pledge on this National Mourning Day,” she said.
National Mourning Day: PM Hasina pays homage to Bangabandhu
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, marking the 47th anniversary of his martyrdom and the National Mourning Day.
The prime minister placed wreaths at Bangabandhu's portrait at 6:30 am in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at 32 Dhanmondi.
After placing wreaths, she stood in solemn silence there for some time showing respect to the great leader and the architect of Bangladesh’s independence in 1971.
A smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces presented state salute, while bugle played the Last Post in remembrance of Bangabandhu.
Also read: PM pays homage to Bangabandhu on historic March 7
A munajat was offered seeking the eternal peace of the departed souls of the August 15 carnage.
From Dhanmondi, the prime minister went to Banani Graveyard where her mother Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib, brothers Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, and other martyrs of August 15 were laid to eternal rest.
The prime minister placed wreaths and spread petals on their graves.
She also offered Fateha and doa seeking the eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs of August 15.
Bangabandhu and most of his family members were assassinated on August 15, 1975 by a group of misguided army personnel.
His two daughters, current PM Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana survived the carnage as they were staying abroad at that time.
Bus helper electrocuted in Barishal
A 25-year-old bus helper was electrocuted in front of the central bus terminal mosque in Barishal on Sunday afternoon.The deceased Sajal Fakir was the son of Jahangir Fakir of East Maijpara area of Dasar upazila of Madaripur district.Kamlesh Chandra Halder, officer-in-charge of Barisal Airport Police Station, said that a Sakura Paribahan bus got stuck due to water accumulation at the Central Bus Terminal in Nathullabad.When Sajal tried to lift the bus with a hydraulic jack, he came in contact with a live electric wire and fell unconscious.
Read: Tiktoker held under DSA for making ‘derogatory remarks’ on PM, policeHe was rushed to the Barisal Sher-i Bangla Medical College Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.The body was sent to the hospital morgue. A case of unnatural death will be filed in this regard, added the OC.