Bangladesh
7.1mn people displaced by war in Ukraine: IOM
Over 7.1 million people have been internally displaced since the invasion of Ukraine, according to the second Ukraine Internal Displacement Report issued by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
This represents a 10 per cent increase in number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine since the first round of the survey on 16 March.
Also read: Ukraine says Russia preparing offensive in southeast
IOM conducted its second survey between 24 March and 1 April to gather insights into internal displacement and mobility, and assess needs in Ukraine to inform the overall humanitarian response.
“People continue to flee their homes because of war, and the humanitarian needs on the ground continue to soar,” said IOM Director General António Vitorino.
“Humanitarian corridors are urgently needed to allow the safe evacuation of civilians and ensure the safe transportation and delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid in order to rapidly assist those internally displaced.”
According to the survey, more than 50 per cent of displaced households have children, 57 per cent include elderly members, and 30 per cent have people with chronic illnesses.
Within the first month of the war, the income of displaced households dropped sharply.
While only 13 per cent of now displaced households reported a monthly income under 5,000 Ukrainian hryvnias (USD 170) prior to 24 February 2022, currently 61 per cent of them indicate that their household income has been lower than 5,000 hryvnias since the start of the war.
Over one third of displaced households indicate that they have had no income in the last month.
Cash and financial support, transportation, food, shelter, and hygiene items are among the most pressing needs for displaced people.
Access to medicines and health services remains the second most pressing need for both those displaced, and those staying at their places of residence.
Also read:Bangladeshi students caught up in Ukraine conflict offered opportunity to study in Russia
IOM teams on the ground continue to provide essential humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons and host communities, but more communities in need remain trapped.
Tangible support provided so far has included food, non-food and hygiene items, cash, mental health and psychosocial support, as well as information campaigns to help prevent human trafficking and sexual exploitation and abuse.
The cessation of hostilities in Ukraine is of utmost importance, to allow for humanitarian access to all affected populations.
Police instructed not to impede good-laden vehicles without specific reason or complaint
Field level police have been instructed not to stop or impede vehicles carrying goods on the highways or roads without any specific complaint or information.
The instruction was given to field level police officers during a virtual meeting on monthly crime review for the month of February, 2022 held at the police headquarters on Tuesday, with Additional IG (Crime and Operations) M Khurshid Hossain in the chair.
The meeting was attended by all the Metropolitan Commissioners, Range DIGs and District Police Superintendents.
Saying that Police are in a tough position to curb extortion during the holy month of Ramadan and the upcoming Eid, Additional IG M Khurshid Hossain said that "no vehicle carrying goods on the highway or road can be stopped without any specific complaint or information."
During the meeting, Additional IG M Khurshid Hossain also said that security of shopping malls and markets have to be strengthened with a focus on Ramadan and Eid.
ALso read: IGP urges police members to stay away from crime
He emphasized on strengthening traffic management to keep the traffic flowing normally.
The meeting emphasized bringing the police service to the doorsteps of the people by making the beat policing activities more dynamic.
At the meeting, AIG (Crime East) Md. Jalal Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury highlighted the overall crime situation for the month of February ,2022.
The meeting was informed that cases related to robbery, murder, speedy trial, riot, kidnapping, police assault, burglary and theft decreased in February, 2022 as compared to January , 2022.
However, the number of cases of repression on women and children increased in February, 2022 as compared to January, 2022.
On the other hand, women and child repression related cases are much less than in February, 2021.
Besides, the number of recovered related cases has increased in February, 2022 as compared to January, 2022.
It was mentioned in the meeting that the number of cases has decreased in the month of February 2022 as compared to the previous month of January, 2022.
Bangladesh reports 36 new Covid cases, no death
Bangladesh logged 35 fresh Covid cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, taking the total caseload to 19,51,867.
As per the latest government data, the country’s total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,123 as no death was reported during the period.
The daily positivity rate dropped to 0.52 per cent, lowest since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020, after testing 6,836 samples during the period.
Also read: COVID outbreak 'extremely grim' as Shanghai extends lockdown
On Monday, the number of infections was higher as 61 new cases were reported with one death, taking the positivity rate to 0.78 per cent.
Besides, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The recovery rate rose to 96.59 per cent with the recovery of 899 more patients during the 24-hour period.
Earlier on March 27, Bangladesh logged its lowest daily positivity rate at 0.54 per cent reporting 43 cases with zero death.
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.
Also read: Bangladesh reports one death from Covid-19, new cases 61
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.
Don’t evaluate Bangladesh by Sri Lanka model: Mannan
Planning Minister MA Mannan has said it is wrong to evaluate Bangladesh by Sri Lanka model considering the country's economic development.
Bangladesh does not take unnecessary projects in any circumstances, he said.
The minister was briefing reporters after the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday.
Also read:Government agencies need to be friendly to business: MA Mannan
A total of 12 projects were approved at the meeting where the Ecnec chair Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined through video conferencing from Ganobhaban.
Mannan said the ECNEC has given final approval for 12 projects at a cost of Tk1,2016.88 crore. Of this, government funding is Tk 7,990.14 crore, foreign funding is Tk 3,000.39 crore and funding from its own source is Tk 594.43 crore.
Replying to a question he said “Considering the economic situation, do not compare Bangladesh with Sri Lanka. Some people are trying to do it. It is not right."
In response to a question whether unproductive projects are being taken in Bangladesh like Sri Lanka, the minister said, "We do not do unnecessary work. We do what is good for the people of the country. Sri Lanka and our context are not the same. Sri Lanka is our friend state. I will not comment on this.”
Also read:Lack of authentic data held back timely implementation of incentive package: MA Mannan
“We are researching, watching and listening. I repeat, the economy of Sri Lanka and the economy of Bangladesh are not the same,” Mannan added.
2 to die for 2017 underworld murder in Khulna
A Khulna court on Tuesday sentenced two people to death and two others to life imprisonment in a case filed over the murder of a man in 2017.
Khulna Public Safety Disturbance Crime Prevention Tribunal Judge Md Saifuzzaman Hero handed down the judgment.
The condemned convicts are --Sumon Mallik and Ashiqur Rahman Ashique while the lifers are identified as Kalu alias Choto Kalu and Md Taleb.
Also read:4 to die for killing three-wheeler driver in Khulna
Sumon, Ashique and Kalu were tried in absentia.
The tribunal also fined Kalu and Taleb Tk 10,000 each.
According to the prosecution, Shahidul and the convicts had long been involved in different criminal cases including mugging, robbery and drug running in Khulna city.
In the meantime, the convicts developed an enmity with Shahidul over controlling the illegal businesses.
As a sequel to the enmity, the convicts stabbed Shahidul indiscriminately near Joragate area of the city on July 11, 2017, leaving him critically injured.
He was taken to Khulna Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared him dead.
Also read:Man to die for killing wife in Feni
An FIR was lodged with Kotwali Model Police and police submitted chargesheet against seven people on August 22, 2017.
The court also acquitted three others as allegations brought against them could not be proved.
Parliament passes bill allowing foreign companies to form joint trade bodies
Parliament on Tuesday passed the Trade Organisation Bill, 2022 was allowing foreign traders to form joint-trade bodies in Bangladesh.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi moved the bill and it was passed by voice vote.
This will replace the Trade Organisations Ordinance, 1961.
Also read:Bill seeking end to discrimination tabled in Parliament
The legislation stated that some legal bases have been laid down for the women entrepreneurs in trade organisations through licensing.
A provision has been made for a joint chamber of commerce and industry (between countries) and a chamber of commerce and industry alliance.
The foreign traders will be able to form a joint chamber.
Opposition MPs slam Article 70 of Constitution
Opposition lawmakers on Tuesday came down heavily on the Article 70 of the Constitution saying they are unable to speak freely because of this provision.
A total of three Jatiya Party and BNP MPs raised the issue while taking part in the discussion on a bill titled “Chattogram Port Authority bill-2022.”
According to Article 70 of the Constitution, a person elected as a member of Parliament at an election at which he was nominated as a candidate by a political party shall vacate his seat if he –(a) resigns from that party ; or (b) votes in parliament against that party ; but shall not thereby be disqualified for subsequent election as a member of Parliament.
Read: Ecnec cleared 12 projects involving Tk 12,017cr
Speaking on this issue, Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque Chunnu raised a question whether the parliament has that much power.
“All power is in the hands of the leader of the majority party in Parliament. Does anyone have the power to say anything outside the decision of the party because of Article 70 of the Constitution? Will anyone be able to remain as an MP speaking against his/her party,” he said.
Chunnu, also secretary general of Jatiya Party said, said that as long as there is Article 70 of the constitution, the members of parliament do not have freedom.
He also said there is no participation of MPs in the budget discussion. There is no opportunity to speak freely.
BNP MP Rumeen Farhana said there were questions about the power of MPs due to Article 70 of the constitution.
Jatiya Party MP Shameem Haider Patwari said that he came to know from Dr Kamal Hossain, one of the framer of the country’s constitution that Article 70 was incorporated in the constitution in light of the experience of the Pakistan.
Read: Parliament passes legislation providing tough penalty for polluting port area
Shameem said MPs were sold out following the creation of Pakistan. From this experience Article 70 was included in Bangladesh’s constitution.
“But now the reality is that nothing can be said against the party let alone vote against the party. As a result, the hopes and aspirations of the people are not being reflected in the Parliament,” he added.
Gas crisis eases as production resumes at process trains in Bibiyana gas field
Gas supply situation has slightly improved as production resumed at one of the two affected process trains at the Bibiyana gas field.
Both the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources and the Chevron Bangladesh have confirmed the improvement in the gas production and supply levels.
According to a release of the ministry, the gas production at the Chevron gas field has increased to 1010 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) which had gone below 800 MMCFD following the technical fault at the process system.
Also read: Gas crisis persists as Bibiyana field yet to resume full production
It is expected that the production at the gas field will reach 1100 MMCFD by Tuesday evening against its actual capacity 1200 MMCFD, said the ministry.
“After the relentless work of our experienced engineers, we are slowly beginning to overcome the crisis”, it said, adding that different areas had to experience gas shortage due to the emergency repair works at the Bibiyana gas field following a technical glitch.
The ministry expressed its gratitude to its gas consumers for their patience during the crisis period.
Meanwhile, Chevron Bangladesh in a separate statement said it is making progress in returning the Bibiyana Gas Plant to full capacity, with production at one of the two process trains affected at the plant and four wells in the field already resumed.
The plant is running at a reduced rate after suspension of operations at two of its five trains and six production wells in the field on April 3 following the discovery of some technical anomalies.
Safety of workers, nearby communities and protection of the environment are top priorities for teams working to bring the second train and all remaining wells back online. The cause of the unplanned shutdown will be investigated.
Over 55% pass MBBS admission test in Bangladesh
The results of the 2021-22 admission test for the MBBS course at the country’s public and private medical colleges have been published.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque announced the results at a press briefing held at the health directorate on Tuesday noon.
Also read:MBBS admission test held Friday
A total of 79,337 candidates (55.13 per cent), 44,504 (56.09 %) girls and 34,833 (43.91%) boys, passed the test this year, nearly seven times the number of available seats.
There are a total of 10,839 seats, including 4,350 at 37 public medical colleges and 6,489 at 72 private medical colleges, across the country.
The results are available on the DGHS site.
Also read:HC turns down writ seeking cancellation of MBBS admission test results
A total of 139,742 aspirants took the admission test this year, held at 57 venues across 19 centers on April 1.
The successful candidates will get the chance to get enrolled first at public medical colleges and then at private ones on the basis of merit.
Ecnec cleared 12 projects involving Tk 12,017cr
The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved 12 projects, including Tk 3,398-cr one for the Infrastructural development of Gazipur and Cumilla cities as well as Cox’s Bazar municipality.
The approval came from the Ecnec meeting presided over by Ecnec chair and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who joined it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
The ministers and officials concerned joined the meeting from the city’s NEC conference room.\
Also read:5 projects to develop rural infrastructures get Ecnec nod
“The Today’s meeting approved a total of 12 projects with an overall estimated cost of Tk 12,016.88 crore (only additional costs of the revised projects were counted here),” said Planning Minister MA Mannan told reporters after the meeting.
Of the cost, Tk 7,990.14 crore will be borne from the government’s fund, while Tk 594.43 crore will be drawn from the own funds of the organisations concerned and the rest Tk 3,432.31 crore will come from the external sources as foreign loans, he said.
Among them, 10 are fresh projects and the remaining two are revised projects, said the planning minister.
According to the project factsheet, the ‘Urban Development and City Governance (UDCG)’ project will be implemented in Gazipur and Cumilla cities and Cox’s Bazar municipality by December 2027.
The Local Government Engineering Department will execute the project at a cost of Tk 3397.81 crore. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will finance Tk 2,215.56 crore as loan for the project and the remaining Tk 1182.25 crore will come from the government’s fund.
The main project operations include construction of five bridges, two overpasses, one flyover, 32 box culverts, 43 pipe culverts, 5-km RCC retaining wall, 37.6-km water drain, seven solid waste management units (including landfilling stations), nine deep tube-wells and water supply systems, 2.20-km walkway, 5,000sq km playground and three bus terminals as well as installation of 130-km street lighting.
In terms of cost, two other large projects are "Expansion and Strengthening of Electrical Infrastructure in DESCO Area in Dhaka" with the estimated cost of Tk 2,272.47 crore (to be implemented by March 2026) and "Essential Drugs Company Limited, Manikganj Plant Establishment" with Tk 1,905.26 crore (to be implemented by March 2027).
Other approved fresh projects include "Rural Infrastructure Development in Greater Pabna and Bogra Districts (Phase II)" project with Tk 1,400 crore; "Jhenaidah District Rural Infrastructure Development" project with Tk 500 crore; "President Md. Abdul Hamid Shilpakala Academy and Regional Cultural Center, Mithamin, Kishoreganj" project with Tk 59.56 crore; "Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (Phase II)" project with Tk 443.94 crore; “Rehabilitation of Coastal Dams in Tazumuddin and Lalmohan Upazilas (Bhola), Development of Drainage System and Protection of Banks (Phase I)” project with Tk 1096.60 crore; "Development of Irrigation and Drainage System in Purbadhala Upazila of Netrokona District" Project with Tk 205.94 crore; and "River bank protection work, wave protection and canal re-excavation in 10 upazilas of Kishoreganj district" project with Tk 654.26 crore.
Also read:Project to develop 5G network, 9 others get Ecnec nod
The two revised projects are “Construction / Reconstruction of Government Shishu Paribar (Orphanages) and Chhota Moni Nibas Hostel (1st revised)” project; "Irrigation Management Improvement (IMI) (For Muhuri Irrigation) (3rd revised) Project.
The cost of the Shishu Paribar project was increased to Tk 385 crore in the first revision from Tk 296.72 crore in its original design. Besides, the project deadline was extended to June 2024 instead of June 2021.
However, the cost of the IMI project was reduced to Tk 562.69 crore in the 3rd revision from Tk 580.14 crore in the second revision. In fact, the IMI project cost was Tk 457.36 crore in the original layout.