Bangladesh
Dengue in Bangladesh: 20 new cases reported in 24hrs
Bangladesh registered 20 more dengue cases in 24 hours till Monday morning.
Among the new patients, nineteen were admitted to different hospitals of Dhaka and another was hospitalized outside the capital, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Eighty dengue patients, including 76 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
This year, the DGHS has recorded 446 dengue cases and 366 recoveries so far. The directorate has not yet reported any death from the mosquito-borne viral disease.
Also read: 15 more dengue cases reported
Dengue – a leading cause of serious illness and death in some Asian and Latin American countries – was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000 and claimed 93 lives. In three years, the fatality number almost fell to zero.
However, 105 dengue patients, including 95 in Dhaka division, died in 2021.
Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas.
About 4 billion people, almost half of the world's population, live in areas with a risk of dengue, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Each year, up to 400 million people get infected with dengue while approximately 100 million get sick from infection, and 40,000 die from severe dengue, it says.
Because there are four different dengue viruses, a person can be infected by the virus up to four times in their life. The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, aches and pains and a rash.
Also read: 17 more dengue cases reported
"There is no specific treatment for dengue or severe dengue. Early detection of disease progression associated with severe dengue, and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates of severe dengue to below 1 percent," according to the World Health Organization.
6 sentenced to death for double murder in N’ganj
A Narayanganj tribunal on Monday sentenced six people to death for killing a couple in 2009.
The condemned convicts are -Ariful Islam, 30, Jamal Hossain, 20, Sumon, 31, Md Sumon, Lokman and Shafique.
Of them, Md Sumon, Lokman and Shafique were tried in absentia.
Read: HC orders to set up information centre at SC within 60 days
According to the prosecution, Khadiza Begum, wife of Abdur Rahman of Ganganagar village in Rupganj upazila ,was found dead in a water body on August 11, 2009.
During investigation police came to know that Rahman had hired the six men at Tk 10,000 to kill his wife over family feud.
They took Khadiza to an abandoned place and violated her in turns. Later, they killed her and dumped the body in a water body.
The convicts killed Abdur Rahman too as he refused to give them the money and dumped the body there.
Read: Son gets life term for killing father in Khulna
Rupganj thana police registered a murder case after getting a complaint from Khadiza’s father.
After examining the records and 12 witnesses, Narayanganj Woman and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Nazmul Haque handed down the punishment.
Private companies to be allowed to import rice: Minister
To keep the rice market stable, the government has taken a decision to allow private firms to import rice, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said on Monday.
“A summary of the meeting with resolution will be sent to the Prime Minister for final decision,” he said while talking to reporters after a meeting of Food Planning and Containment Committee at the Secretariat.
During the meeting, discussion was held on duty-free rice import after ensuring that farmers and others concerned are not affected by the decision, he said.
Also read: Rice price coming down after anti-hoarding drive: Food Minister
However, the final decision will come from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Talking about the drives against illegal hoarding of rice, Sadhan said already people have started getting the benefits of the drives and the drives against illegal ricer hoarders will continue.
Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim and State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman were present at the virtual meeting.
Also read: Rice cannot be packaged for sale after buying those from open market: Minister
Depot Fire: UN for joint efforts in addressing “safety deficits” in workplaces
The United Nations has said the tragic accident at the BM Container depot in Chattogram is reminder of the need to work together towards effective industrial and enterprise safety frameworks and their enforcement.
The UN in Bangladesh on Monday called upon all parties involved to apply renewed vigor in addressing the safety deficits in workplaces across the country.
Also read: Ctg depot fire: DNA samples collection begin to identify deceased
The UN said they extend their assistance to continue to build a safer Bangladesh for all.
“We’re shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of lives and destructions caused by the devastating fire and blast at the BM Container depot in Chattogram,” said the UN in a statement issued by office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh.
The UNRC office conveyed their deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased including nine firefighters and the hundreds who are injured.
Also read: ‘Pray for me,’ fireman Shakil’s last words to mother
ILO calls for ensuring proper handling, storage of chemicals in Bangladesh
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has said the fire and explosion at BM Container Depot illustrates the urgent need to ensure proper handling and storage of chemicals.
The incident also illustrates the urgent need to ensure proper training for storage facility staff at awareness and operational levels, and effective crowd control during an emergency incident, it said in a statement on Monday.
Additionally, the UN agency said, the incident underscores the need for an effective industrial and enterprise safety framework and enforcement and training system to ensure a structured approach to mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery to all hazards.
This will require improved collaboration and partnership between government departments, employers and workers representatives, and civil society, it said on Monday.
Read: Operation to douse Ctg depot fire continues; Death toll stands at 50
The ILO says it is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life of at least 50 people including nine fire services professionals from a fire and explosion at BM Container Depot in Chattogram on June 4. “We extend our heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the families of the injured and deceased.”
Tackling this problem calls for action in a number of areas, says ILO, adding that, “These include a review of regulations and enforcement in the transport and logistics sector, the payment of adequate compensation and income support to injured and disabled workers and families of workers who lost lives in work-related accidents, and to conduct safety campaigns that target transport/logistic service providers as well as emergency-service personnel.”
Recently the government, employer and worker representatives have agreed to roll out a modern, comprehensive Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) in Bangladesh starting from the ready-made garment (RMG) sector, with the possibility of extension to other sectors.
Such a system includes accident prevention, immediate and long-term compensation, and rehabilitation to return to work.
Read: Chinese ambassador Li visits Bhasan Char
The ILO continues to work closely with the government of Bangladesh, employers’ and workers’ organisations and development partners to improve working conditions in all industries expanding learning from the ready-made garment RMG industry since the Rana Plaza tragedy in April 2013.
Proper monitoring of industries by government to ensure that industrial and accidental risks are properly understood, addressed and prevented is essential to improving safe working conditions in Bangladesh, said ILO.
ILO and the broader UN system in Bangladesh hoped that this tragic accident will drive all parties involved to apply renewed vigour in addressing the safety deficits in workplaces across the country and we extend our assistance to continue to build safer Bangladesh for all.
BCL factions clash at DU over ‘occupying hall seat’
Two groups of Bangladesh Chhatra League(BCL) activists locked horns at Salimullah Muslim Hall of Dhaka University Sunday night allegedly over occupying a seat in the hall.
Sources said Masud Rana, former liberation war affairs secretary of BCL was expelled from the university for life in the beginning of 2020 on the charge of question leak and forgery in the admission test. Despite being expelled, he used to stay in room 22 in the hall illegally.
Recently, when Masud Rana left the hall, Chhatra League SM Hall unit president Tanvir Sikder asked a student to stay there.
Read: DU holds 'Kha' unit admission test
Around 10pm on Sunday, when BCL general secretary Mishat Sarkar along with his followers demanded the seat and wanted to give it to another one, which led to the clash.
When contacted, Tanvir Sikder alleged that a student from Joypurhat has been staying in Masud Rana’s seat for the last one week. But the followers of the GS are claiming it as their seat and tried to oust the student saying there now.
On the other hand, Mishat Sarkar said this seat was given to them when Masud Rana left the dormitory but Tanvir’s followers forcibly tried to capture it.
No one from the hall authorities came there to settle the issue, alleged some students.
“Nothing serious happened and the issue was resolved, “said provost Mujibur Rahman.
Son gets life term for killing father in Khulna
A court here on Monday sentenced a man to life imprisonment for killing his father in 2017 at Pithabhog village in Rupsha upazila.
The convict is Proshanto Biswas, son of Prafulla Biswas, of the area.
Also read: Chuadanga: Man gets life term for killing ex-wife's mother
Khulna Additional District and Sessions Judge-2 Tasnim Jahura also fined the convict Tk 10000, in default, he will serve two months more in jail.
According to the case statement, on January 17, 2017, Proshanto slaughtered his father Prafulla over a family feud.
Later, Sushant Biswas, the youngest son of the deceased, lodged a complaint against his elder brother Proshanto.
Based on his complaint, a case was filed at Rupsha Police Station against the accused.
Proshanto fled to India after the killing.
Also read: 4 get life term for 2008 deaths of two brothers in Sitakunda
Later, he surrendered to police upon his return and gave a confessional statement under section 164.
On October 12, 2017, the investigating officer in the case PBI Inspector AKM Mahfuzul Haque submitted a charge sheet against Prashant.
Chinese ambassador Li visits Bhasan Char
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming has recently visited Bhasan Char to meet the Rohingyas staying there temporarily and see the facilities there for them.
Ambassador Li also inspected two projects on the island undertaken by Chinese companies, said the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka on Monday.
Also read:Chinese ambassador greets Bangladeshis, wishes for global peace
Ctg depot fire: DNA samples collection begins to identify deceased
An expert team of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police has started collecting DNA samples to identify those killed in the deadly fire at BM Container Depot at Sitakunda in Chattogram, said police on Monday.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Chattogram Range Anwar Hossain said the family members of the deceased are providing samples for DNA test with the help of police.
Also read: Operation to douse Ctg depot fire continues; Death toll stands at 50
He said a total of 41 bodies were brought to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH). Among those, 22 were identified and handed over to their respective families till this morning.
Grief grips Noakhali village of firefighter Alauddin
A pall of gloom descended on the village of fireman Md Alauddin who was killed at BM container depot in Sitakunda upazila .
Alauddin, 35, hailing from Bansha village in Chatkhil upazila, returned to his workplace at Kumira in Chattogram Saturday morning after spending holidays at his village.
Also read:Operation to douse Ctg depot fire continues; Death toll stands at 50
Alauddin’s elder brother Zahir Uddin said Alauddin was the fifth of six brothers and four sisters in the family. He was father of six-year-old boy Taj Uddin Tahim.
“He joined his workplace at Kumira Fire Station Saturday morning after spending a seven-day holiday with his family at the village, the last holidays in his life,” he said in a choked voice.
Alauddin was the member of the unit that reached the spot first, Zahir said.
His family members received the news of his death from Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) authority.
Alauddin's body was sent to his village on Sunday and will be buried on Monday.
He joined the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense in 2007 as a fireman.
Also read: ‘Pray for me,’ fireman Shakil’s last words to mother
The death toll from the fire reached 50 till Monday afternoon and there were nine fire service members among the deceased, said Anisur Rahman, deputy director of Fire Service and Civil Defense.
Besides, twelve firemen still remained missing, Shahjahan Shikdar, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defense headquarters (media) on Sunday.