Bangladesh
Bangladesh reports 3 more Covid deaths, 296 cases
Three more people died from Covid, and 296 tested positive for the virus in Bangladesh in the 24 hours to Monday morning.
While the country's total fatalities reached 29,307, the new number took its caseload to 2,007,631, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily case positivity rate dropped to 4.99 percent from Sunday's 5.10 percent as 5,929 samples were tested.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.46 percent. The recovery rate rose to 97.06 percent from Sunday's 97.05 percent.
Read: Bangladesh receives more doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from US
Bangladesh reported its first zero Covid death Sunday after June 29.
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.
Bangladesh receives more doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from US
The US government has donated another 1.5 million pediatric doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to Bangladesh via COVAX to help the government of Bangladesh expand vaccination coverage to protect children ages 5-11 for the very first time.
This delivery marks the second shipment of US-donated vaccines for young children this week and brings the total number of all US vaccine donations to over 75 million doses, said the US Embassy in Dhaka on Monday.
More than two-thirds of all international COVID-19 vaccine donations to Bangladesh have come from the United States and the American people.
Also read: Covid-19 vaccine consignment for kids arrive in Dhaka
The United States continues to work closely with Bangladesh to support every facet of the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign, according to the US Embassy.
This includes training to over 51,000 healthcare providers and other workers on safely administering vaccines to support Bangladesh’s COVID-19 vaccination roll out across 64 districts.
The United States has also donated 18 freezer vans, 750 freezer units, and 8,000 vaccine carriers and helped transport 57 million doses of vaccines to remote areas – for direct administration of 47 million vaccinations.
In Bangladesh, the United States has contributed more than $140 million in COVID-19 related development and humanitarian assistance, said the US Embassy.
Also read: Bangladesh gets another 4 mn doses of COVID-19 vaccine from US
Globally, the United States has donated $4 billion to support the COVAX effort, which includes support for ultra-cold chain storage, transportation, and safe handling of COVID-19 vaccines, making the United States the world’s largest donor for equitable global COVID-19 vaccine access.
Proposal to double launch fares denied
The government Monday rejected the launch owners' proposal to double the existing launch fare amid the recent 42.5 percent hike, from Tk 80 to Tk 114 a litre, in diesel price.
Launch owners are seeking a 100 percent increase in fares in response to the new fuel oil prices set by the government.
"The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Passenger Carriers Association, an organisation of the launch owners, proposed to double the current fare. If their proposal is accepted, the fare will be Tk4.60 and Tk4 from the existing Tk2.30 and Tk2 per kilometre, respectively," Shipping Secretary Md Mostafa Kamal said.
Against the backdrop of launch owners' proposal for a steep fare hike, the shipping ministry formed a working committee to recommend new rates by taking into account the potential implications for all stakeholders.
The committee will submit its report within this evening, Mostafa said after a meeting with the launch owners in Dhaka.
Read: Students stage protest against fuel price hike at Nilkhet
"Launch fares will be increased reasonably through discussion. We hope to publish a gazette within August 10," he added.
In November 2021, after a 23 percent hike in diesel price, launch fares were increased by more than 35 percent. The minimum launch fare was raised to Tk25 from Tk18.
Dhaka seeks Washington’s support in Rohingya case with ICJ
Bangladesh has urged the United States to extend their support regarding the Rohingya case with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague brought by The Gambia under the genocide convention.
Bangladesh also thanked the US side as it has decided to extend their support to the Rohingyas now living in Bhasan Char.
“We thank them (US side) as they will extend their support to the Bhasan Char,” Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy while briefing about his discussion with US Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Michele J. Sison on Monday.
He said Bangladesh also thanked the US side recalling that they (US) in March determined members of the Myanmar military committed “genocide and crimes against humanity” against Rohingya following a rigorous factual and legal analysis.
“The issue of third country resettlement also came up in the discussion,” said the foreign secretary.
He said Bangladesh reiterated that repatriation of the Rohingyas to their place of origin in Rakhine State in a safe and dignified manner would be the key solution.
Read: Bangladesh receives more doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from US
Foreign secretary Masud said Bangladesh does not subscribe to any idea of long-term hosting of the Rohingyas in Bangladesh and urged the international community to focus on their immediate safe return to Myanmar.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has welcomed the ruling by the ICJ in The Hague on July 22, rejecting Myanmar’s preliminary objections to the case brought by The Gambia under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention).
Responding to a question on elite force Rab, the foreign secretary said Bangladesh keeps working for withdrawal of sanctions on Rab following their legal process.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and other officials are scheduled to attend the third United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit at the UN headquarters in New York on August 31-September 1.
Asked whether he will face any visa related problem due to US sanctions, the foreign secretary said they are yet to communicate and will try to know beforehand, noting that there are some exceptions.
Read: ASEAN Dhaka Committee celebrates 55th ASEAN Day
He said they are discussing the loopholes and any inconsistency in the Digital Security Act (DSA) for its further improvement in terms of application so that no one faces any problem.
Masud said they discussed multilateral issues to strengthen cooperation in a number of areas including food security, health and human rights issues and discussed events during the high-level week of the UNGA.
He said the US side was very amazed to see vaccination of such a large number of people in Bangladesh and the US side is keen to do an event on Covid front.
Sison said the US is committed to strengthening cooperation for the full implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Bangladesh.
She said discussion on cooperation and coordination with UN agencies in Bangladesh is critical to this effort.
Sison arrived here on Saturday evening as part of her tri-nation visit (India, Bangladesh and Kuwait) for consultations on a range of US multilateral priorities, including combating food insecurity, advancing global health, addressing human rights and humanitarian needs, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, and support for Rohingya refugees.
Her meetings with senior government officials focused on opportunities to deepen their cooperation at the United Nations, and US support for the candidacy of Doreen Bogdan-Martin to become the next Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union.
The US Assistant Secretary exchanged ideas on how the United States and other countries can collaborate on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
She has already visited India and will go to Kuwait from Dhaka as part of her tri-nation visit that will end on August 10.
Bangladesh-India ties incomparable to any other relation: Hasan Mahmud
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud said the level of relationship between Bangladesh and India is incomparable to that of any other country and relation with any another country won’t affect it.
The minister said this while talking to reporters at the ministry on Monday.
Bangladesh inked several cooperation documents with China during the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister on Sunday.
Also read: Fuel prices lower than neighbouring countries even after hike: Hasan Mahmud
When asked whether the visit will affect ties with India he said, “Our relationship with India is written in blood. India and its people’s assistance during our Liberation War will remain as long as Bangladesh exists.”
He said China is a friendly country to Bangladesh and is country’s development partner.
“They (China) have assistance in our development projects and their officials work in our country. We follow our foreign policy of ‘Friendship towards all, malice towards none’ and as a friendly nation China can make any proposal they want,” he added.
Regarding BNP’s reaction on fuel price hike Hasan Mahmud urged the party to look at global situation and abstain from the politics of misleading people.
Also read: Hasan Mahmud to BNP: Don't play with people's lives
“Last year the government provided subsidy of Tk 53,000 crore in energy and power sector. It is not possible for Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) to provide Tk 100 crore daily subsidy anymore and it is impossible for any other country,” he said.
“It takes a month or two to see the result after prices of fuel decline in global market. After that we will readjust the prices in our country,” said Hasan Mahmud.
Dengue: 79 new patients hospitalised in 24 hrs
Another 79 dengue patients were hospitalised in 24 hours till Monday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Among them, 59 patients were hospitalised in Dhaka while the 20 in other places, it said.
As many as 360 dengue patients including 286 in the capital are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
On Sunday, this year’s death toll from the mosquito-borne viral disease rose to 15 with one more death reported from Cox’s Bazar.
Read: Mild heat wave sweeps parts of country
Among the total deaths, ten were reported from Cox’s Bazar while five from Dhaka.
On June 21, the DGHS reported the first death of the season from the viral disease.
In July, the country reported 1,571 dengue cases with nine deaths.
This year, the DGHS has recorded 3,263 dengue cases and 2,888 recoveries so far.
Dhaka mayors get minister status
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh have been given the status of minister.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the new status of the two mayors of Dhaka, said a handout on Monday.
Besides, the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy and Chattogram City Corporation Mayor (CCC) Rezaul Karim Chowdhury were given the status of state minister.
Also read: Ex-Barishal Mayor Kamal dies
The authorities concerned have been asked to issue a gazette notification in this regard.
Also read: DNCC Mayor wants to get rid of electric rickshaws
Fugitive death-row war criminal held in city
A team of the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU), a specialized unit of Bangladesh Police, arrested a fugitive death-row convict of war crimes from Dhaka's Shah Ali area on Sunday.
The arrestee is Md Nazrul Islam, 75, son of Nayon Ali Joardar of Noyaltola village in Khulna district.
Mohammad Aslam Khan, superintendent of police (Media and Awareness Wing) of the ATU, disclosed it at a press briefing on Monday.
Read: Students stage protest against fuel price hike at Nilkhet
Tipped off, a special team of ATU conducted a drive at Block-E of Mirpur's Shah Ali area and arrested Nazrul, the officer said.
On July 28, 2022, the International Crimes Tribunal of sentenced five people including Nazrul to death for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.
Nazrul was tried in absentia.
Students stage protest against fuel price hike at Nilkhet
Students from various educational institutions staged demonstrations in the capital’s Nilkhet intersection on Monday protesting the latest hike in fuel prices.
The students demanded lowering the prices of fuel to their previous rates within 48 hours, cancelling the decision of raising the fares of public transports, and ensuring half fare for students in public transports.
The prices of fuel were increased abruptly on Friday night following which the fares of public transports also shot up.
Also read: Students hold protest rallies in Shahbagh against fuel price hike
Ismail Samrat, Chief Coordinator of the Seven College Movement, said, “Anarchy is going on in the name of fares in the public transport sector. It must be stopped. Commuters have to pay two to three times more than the previously fixed fare due to the unbearable condition created by the transport owners."
After the programme, the protesting students went to Modhur Canteen to join another program called by the left leaning alliances to protest against police attack on their procession against fuel price hike on Sunday.
Also read: Police fired at Bhola rally to silence dissent: BNP
Writ petition challenges legality of raising fuel prices
A writ petition was filed with the High Court on Monday challenging the legality of the latest hike in fuel prices in the country.
Supreme Court Advocate Md Eunus Ali Akond filed the writ petition.
The writ petition sought the HC’s directive to stay the gazette issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources raising fuel prices.
The HC bench of Justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo may hear the writ petition on Wednesday.
Lawyer Eunus Ali said Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has the authority to raise the fuel price according to the law. But the fuel prices were increased through issuing a gazette by the ministry.
Read: Accidents at level crossings: Writ petition seeks judicial probe & compensation
According to that gazette, this decision was taken as per the order of the President. But the constitution does not give the president the authority to raise the fuel prices and for this reason the writ petition was filed, he added.
The government hiked the price sof fuel by a big margin on Friday.
Diesel price has been increased by Tk 34 to Tk 114 per litre while octane price hiked by Tk 46 to Tk 135 and petrol by Tk 44 to Tk 130.