Bangladesh
Rain hits “Cricket Celebrates Mujib 100” musical event
A sudden rain hit “Cricket Celebrates Mujib 100” musical event, which is being held to celebrate the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
The event is live on News24, a private TV station.
The rain came in around 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Due to the rain, the musical event was paused. It did not resume till 7:15 pm.
A few thousand spectators joined the event. The tickets for this event cost from BDT 1000 to 10,000 each.
READ: Top Performers of Bangladesh in the ICC Women's World Cup 2022
The holders of the Gold and Platinum tickets got a place on the ground, in front of the main stage. Almost all of the holders of the Gold and Platinum tickets got wet in the rain. Many were seen to use the chairs as their umbrella on the main ground of the Sher-e-Bangla.
Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina is expected to join the event.
The security around the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium has been beefed up.
Indian Academy Awards-winnings musician A. R. Rahman will perform at the event along with Bangladeshi stars including Momtaz Begum and the musical group Miles.
Woman killed in city road crash while dropping off children at school
A 31-year-old woman was killed after being hit by a bus in the capital’s Mirpur area Tuesday noon while dropping off her two children at school.
The deceased were identified as Sabina Yeasmin, wife of Rafiqul Islam, a resident of Bhasantek area.
Her two children received minor injuries.
Read: 3 die in Dhaka road crashes
Sabina’s elder daughter Humaira Yasmin Ohi is a class IV student of Bangladesh Navy School.
As there was an examination at Humaira's school, Sabina was taking her to school with her younger daughter Rahiya Yasmin Rahi at noon.
Deceased’s brother Md Mamun said when a bus of “Trust Transport” hit their rickshaw from behind in front of Bhasantek Navy Market on their way to school around 1pm Sabina and her two daughters fell off the rickshaw and suffered injuries.
Later, locals rushed them to a local Marks Hospital first and then to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) where doctors declared Sabina dead.
Read: 3 including SSC examinees killed in Manikganj road accidents
Md Bachchu Mia, in-charge (inspector) of DMCH police outpost, said Sabina and her two daughters were brought to the hospital at noon. “The two girls were given first aid.”
Electricity demand may reach 15,500 MW during Ramadan: BPDB
Officials of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) forecast that the demand for electricity may reach 15,500 MW per day during the ongoing summer and upcoming Ramadan.
Besides, the demand for gas to generate electricity may be 1,500 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD).
Read: 5 rental power plants with 457 MW get 2-year extension
They made the projection at an inter-ministerial meeting at the Power Division on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the BPDB official data shows the country’s maximum power generation was recorded 13,347 MW on Monday against an installed capacity of 22,296 MW while 2208 MW electricity could not be generated due to gas shortage.
It also shows there was no load shedding across the country on the day while 1105.40 MMCFD gas was supplied to the power plants for power generation.
Last month, a similar meeting forecast that the country’s power generation may go up to 14,500 MW this summer.
Power secretary Habibur Rahman presided over the meeting while Prime Minister’s Energy Advisor Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury was present as chief guest in it.
Analysing the overall situation, the meeting instructed the officials to keep the power and gas supply normal and not to resort to any load shedding during Ifter, Shehri and Tarabi prayers.
It also asked them to keep adequate number of transformers in their reserves to avoid any interruption in power supply due to technical faults.
The meeting instructed all the power distribution companies to remain alert so that any technical fault or interruption in power supply cannot take place while asked the gas production entities to increase the gas supply.
Read: BPDB set to retire about 4000 MW power by 2025: Official document
It asked the concerned entities to take punitive measures against the illegal electricity and gas connection holders and conduct mobile court operations against the illegal users of gas and electricity.
The meeting was addressed by senior secretary of the energy division Mahbub Hossain, BPDB chairman Belayet Hossain and Power Cell director general Mohammad Hossain.
Rohingya: Bangladesh seeks global community’s role to resolve crisis
Bangladesh has said the international community must not shy away from their responsibility to resolve the Rohingya crisis and relieve Bangladesh from the burden.
"Myanmar authorities are yet to demonstrate genuine political will to resolve the crisis," said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam during the virtual launching ceremony of the Joint Response Plan-2022 (JRP-2022) on Tuesday.
Read: UNHCR, partners call for sustained funding, support for Rohingyas
He said the displaced people are not expected to opt for return on their own unless a conducive environment in Rakhine is created and confidence building among the Rohingya is done.
"On our part, we remain ready to extend all kinds of support to any initiative towards the permanent solution to the crisis," said the State Minister calling upon their international friends and development partners to leave no stone unturned to ensure that Myanmar shows political will and invest in creating a conducive environment in Rakhine with their increased presence in Rakhine.
The State Minister expressed sincere appreciation to the international partners for their persistent humanitarian support to over 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.
"The question that repeatedly strikes our minds is how long we would have to bear the burden and how the international community sustains this level of humanitarian support for such a big number of over 1.1 population with around 30,000 newborns being added each year," he said.
Shahriar Alam called upon the partners and donors to continue and rather enhance their financial contribution for the activities envisaged under JRP -2022 to enable the UN continue their humanitarian operations smoothly.
Read: Sustainable solution of Rohingya issues lies on repatriation: FS
The Rohingya themselves are keen to return to their homelands, he said, adding that resolving this humanitarian crisis is a collective responsibility as its implication goes beyond borders. Delaying this crucial problem jeopardizes our collective security.
"The growing frustration over the lack of progress in repatriation entices many to get involved in criminal activities, and they are easy prey to extremist ideologies. This could potentially destabilize the entire region," he said.
Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Vitorino, Director General, International Organization for Migration, Dr. Eiko Narita, Country Representative, UNFPA Bangladesh, Farah Kabir, Country Director, ActionAid Bangladesh, Urbi Chakma, Centre Manager, NGO Forum for Public Health and Dominique Hyde, Director, Division of External Relations, UNHCR also joined the virtual launching.
4 to die for killing three-wheeler driver in Khulna
A Khulna Court on Tuesday sentenced four people to death for killing a three-wheeler driver in 2016.
Khulna Additional District and Sessions Judge SM Ashiqur Rahman handed down the judgment.
Read:4 to die for killing schoolboy in N’ganj
The condemned convicts are- Md Nur Islam, Jony Das, of Kishoreganj district, Md Rony Shikdar and Md Masud Rana Mollah, of Chattogram district.
The court also fined the four Tk 50,000 each.
According to the case statement, the convicts strangled driver Wahidur Rahman Ripon to death at Labanachara of the city on January 11 in 2016 to snatch his three-wheeler.
They stabbed Wahidur to confirm the death and fled with the vehicle.
Read: Man to die for killing wife in Feni
Later, the four people with the vehicle were arrested from Kashiani in Gopalganj district. Ripon's brother filed a case at Labanchara police station against them, said state counsel Kazi Sabbir Ahmed.
The accused gave statements before the court confessing to their guilt. On December 31, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Inspector Mir Atahar Ali, the investigating officer in the case, submitted a chargesheet against the four.
Covid-19: Bangladesh reports one death, 69 new cases
Bangladesh logged 69 fresh Covid cases with one death in 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total caseload to 19,51,432, while the death toll mounted to 29,120.
Read:Hong Kong’s COVID toll leads some to eco-friendlier coffins
On Monday, the number of infections was higher as 81 new cases were reported with one death.
The daily positivity rate declined a bit to 0.75 per cent from Sunday’s 0.86 per cent after testing 9,281 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The lone death was reported from Dhaka Division and the deceased was a man aged between 61-70.
Besides, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent.
The recovery rate rose to 96.32 per cent with the recovery of 747 more patients during the 24-hour period.
The country reported first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.
Read: 2nd round of mass vaccination against Covid for 1 crore people begins
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest daily positivity rate at 33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths.
Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.
Renowned teachers not keen to become VCs: Dipu
Many renowned academics are not interested in becoming vice-chancellors of universities of the country, said Education Minister Dipu Moni on Tuesday.
“We have very good teachers whom we would be proud to have as vice-chancellors. But many of them are not interested in taking this administrative responsibility,” the education minister said.
The minister was speaking on “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University of Science and Technology, Pirojpur Bill-2022” in Parliament.
Read: Dovetailing higher and technical education needed: Dipu Moni
She said that when a panel is formed for the appointment of the VCs, the first thing the government considers is their academic excellence and the second thing is their work on research.
“At the same time, we also see whether they have the ability to lead any organization,” she said.
Opposing the bill, opposition Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque Chunnu and BNP's Harunur Rashid slammed the government for alleged irregularities and corruption of VCs of different universities.
They demanded that the House withdraw the bill and send it to the select committee for taking public opinion.
“There was a time when people would bow their heads before the vice chancellors of universities to show respect to them. But now we feel ashamed because of vice-chancellors’ involvement in widespread corruption and irregularities,” Chunnu said.
He referred to media reports that VCs appointed their family members and relatives in different posts in their universities.
The JP secretary general demanded that VCs are appointed without party consideration.
Read: Focus on technical education to reduce unemployment: Dipu Moni
BNP's Harun complained that the vice-chancellors are doing whatever they want in different universities.
In response, the education minister said that there are criticisms about the activities of the vice-chancellors of some universities which are also true and action is being taken against them. But that does not mean that vice chancellors of all the universities are dishonest, she added.
Dhaka, Colombo for early conclusion of PTA to boost trade
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have laid emphasis on early conclusion of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with a hope that it will “widen” the bilateral trade significantly between the two South Asian countries.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and his Sri Lankan counterpart Prof. G.L Peiris had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 18th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting in Colombo on Tuesday.
Read:Dhaka undecided on Colombo's request for another $250m loan: Momen
They discussed areas of cooperation including diversification and expansion of the export basket.
The negotiations over the PTA are at an advanced stage, said Secretary (East) Mashfee Binte Shams, who attended the meeting.
Rector of Bangladesh Foreign Service Academy Asad Alam Siam and High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka Tareq Md Ariful Islam were also present.
The Sri Lankan foreign minister highly commended the great leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her policy against terrorism and violent extremism.
Foreign minister Momen stressed on initiating regular commercial shipping lines and cruise shipping for enhancement of trade and people to people contacts.
He also pointed out that the high price of air tickets is creating barriers to promoting tourism between the two countries.
The Sri Lankan foreign minister emphasized and echoed the position of Bangladesh leadership for better utilisation of Colombo port for transportation of Bangladeshi goods for the benefit of both the sides.
Read:Dhaka, Kathmandu eye broader cooperation in key areas
Both the foreign ministers agreed to work together in various regional and multilateral fora for common benefits.
Momen thanked his Sri Lankan counterpart for the warm hospitality and congratulated for hosting the BIMSTEC Summit preceded by the ministerial meeting and the senior officials meeting.
The Sri Lankan foreign minister recalled his visit to Dhaka last year in November and his meeting with prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Dhaka undecided on Colombo's request for another $250m loan: Momen
Bangladesh is looking into cash-strapped Sri Lanka’s request for another loan of $250 million but no decision has been made yet, said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen here on Tuesday.
“They’ve made another approach and we’ll look into it. It’ll be another loan but it’s not decided yet,” he said while responding to a question on the island nation’s deepening financial crisis on the sidelines of the 18th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting.
Read:Dhaka, Colombo for early conclusion of PTA to boost trade
Regarding the global uncertainty, he said it is not clear how things will work out (after the current situation in Ukraine) and mentioned that Bangladesh mostly depends on imported energy. “So, we’re watching it and seeing how we can help each other.”
Momen said when Sri Lanka faced difficulties Bangladesh, for the first time, went for a $250 million currency swap. “Sri Lanka is still finding difficulties. So, we extended the time for the repayment.”
It was the first-ever loan to any country from Bangladesh under the currency swap agreement inked by the BB and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) on August 3 last year.
The island nation’s debt load is apparently becoming increasingly difficult to manage as it also struggles to pay for imports of fuel and other necessities, leading to power cuts and other shortages.
Read:3rd Bangladesh, South Korea FOC to be held in Dhaka
The South Asian country of 22 million people is struggling to pay for essential imports after a 70% drop in foreign exchange reserves in two years.
Sri Lanka has also sought an additional credit line from India to import essentials.
9 in 10 children below 14 suffer violent disciplining in Bangladesh: Unicef
Nine in ten children – accounting for 45 million boys and girls – below the age of 14 are subjected to violent disciplining in their homes regularly, United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) has said.
Violent disciplining, sexual abuse, child labour, child marriage and psychological punishment remain widespread in Bangladesh, putting millions of children at risk of harm every day, it said.
To identify these children and to protect them from harm and abuse, a well-planned, trained and supported social service workforce is critical, said a press release issued by Unicef on Tuesday.
Read:Keep schools open to avert learning catastrophe: UNICEF
More than half of girls, 51 per cent, are married before reaching their eighteenth birthday. Millions of children are living on the street, are out of school or trapped in hazardous child labour, said the release.
To adequately respond to the needs of vulnerable children, over 100,000 social workers are needed, but currently there are only 3,000 social workers in Bangladesh.
"The Government of Bangladesh, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been implementing social safety nets focused on vulnerable people. The Ministry of Social Welfare is distributing different types of allowances for the old age people, widow, destitute and deserted women, and persons with disabilities under social safety nets programmes, said Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed.
"We also provide shelter for the orphans and vulnerable children in our Shishu Nibas and shelter centres. UNICEF has been providing their support to ensure the safety, security and rights of every child in the country. I hope social workers around the country will work for the betterment of the lives of common people,” the minister added.
UNICEF has joined hands with the Department of Social Services (DSS), under the Ministry of Social Welfare to launch a year-long campaign calling for greater investment in the social service workforce promoting the critical role of social workers in protecting children and women.
“Professionally-trained social workers are at the core of every well-functioning child protection system that reaches every child in need of protection. We must recognize the importance of their work, and we must invest in them,” said Mr. Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh.
Already, dedicated social workers under the DSS, supported by UNICEF and the European Union (EU), are protecting children in urban and rural communities. These social workers reached over 200,000 children in 2021, providing them with psychosocial support, case management follow-up, and referral services. Since April 2020, they also facilitated the release of over 5,000 children from detention centres – known as Child Development Centres – and have supported these children to reunite with their families.
Read: Efforts underway to resume learning centres at Rohingya camp: Unicef
“Experienced and well-trained social workforces are key to enforcing the rights of children. The EU is keen to support building the capacity of the government officials, social workers, and other specialists working with and for children, through training and the development of child protection policies requirements. We should acknowledge the efforts of the social workers who are working in vulnerable communities to address child rights issues in Bangladesh,” said Charles Whiteley, Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh.
In 2015, with support from UNICEF, DSS established the Child Helpline 1098, a toll-free nationwide number. In 2021, the helpline responded to calls from over 120,000 children and concerned members of the public, providing counselling and referrals to legal aid, shelter, health and education services.
At the height of the pandemic, in 2020, the Child Helpline 1098 responded to over 180,000 calls.