Bangladesh
Biker killed in road accident in Dhaka
A 36-year-old biker returning home died after being hit by a truck in the Banasree area of Dhaka in the small hours of Tuesday, police said.
The accident occurred around 1am, and a critically injured Saiful Sardar was rushed to the emergency unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) by passersby.
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"He was declared dead at 2.30am," said inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of DMCH police outpost.
Deceased’s nephew Sohel Sheikh said that Saiful worked as a driver with a private firm. "As he was returning home on his bike, the truck hit him at high speed in the Banasree area, leaving him critically injured," he said.
Saiful was first taken to Banasree Faraji Hospital and then shifted to DMCH where he succumbed to his injuries, he added.
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Originally from Saptail Uttarpara village in Sadar upazila of Gopalganj district, Saiful was staying at Demra staff quarters with his family.
The body has been kept at the DMCH morgue for an autopsy, Bachchu said.
Dovetailing higher and technical education needed: Dipu Moni
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Tuesday pitched for the harmonisation of higher education and vocational training as National Parliament passed a bill for establishing a new science and technology university in Pirojpur.
Urging people to shed the misconception that vocational training is only for the "less intelligent" and those from the marginal families, she outlined her Ministry's efforts in working towards the development of technical institutes in the country.
"The Education Ministry is working towards establishing technical education colleges, vocational institutes and science and technology universities in important cities and districts to impart soft skills and technical knowledge on the youth," she said.
Also read: Parliament passes bill to set up science & tech university in Pirojpur
Dipu Moni introduced the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University Pirojpur
Bill, 2022, in Parliament and it was passed with a voice vote.
She also told the Parliament that vice-chancellors of public universities are appointed based on three criteria -- academic excellence, contribution in research, and leadership experience in teachers’ associations and administrative post-holding experience.
“Though we want highly qualified people in the vice-chancellor's post in universities, many refuse to hold the position considering the administrative burden,” she said. "Despite objections against the activities of some VCs of public universities, almost all are doing their duties properly."
Also read: Be ready to fight if enemy attacks peace-loving Bangladesh, PM urges armed forces
Earlier in the day, the Parliament session began with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair. After the bill was passed, the session was postponed till Wednesday 11am.
Treatment for burn patients to be taken to upazilas: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said her government is planning to introduce primary treatment services for burn patients at the upazilas for the benefits of rural people.
"We want to take this service for burn patients to the upazila-level so that the rural people can avail quick primary treatment there," she said.
Also read: Be ready to fight if enemy attacks peace-loving Bangladesh, PM urges armed forces
The prime minister said this while inaugurating the 6th international conference titled ‘PlastiCon 2022’ of Society of Plastic Surgeons of Bangladesh (SPSB) at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (SHNIBPS) through an online platform from her official residence Ganobhaban here.
She said the government is considering launching the treatment services at the upazila hospitals.
Hasina stressed the need for public awareness campaign over the use of flammable substances and the first aid in case of burn injury.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, former SPSB president and also Chief Coordinator of all burn projects Dr Samanta Lal Sen and SPSB Secretary General (in-charge) Dr Md Hedayet Ali Khan also spoke at the function presided over by SPSB president and SHNIBPS Director Dr Abdul Kalam.
The prime minister also opened Mujib Corner and Bangabandhu gallery set up in the Institute on the occasion of the Mujib Year.
Parliament passes bill to set up science & tech university in Pirojpur
National Parliament on Tuesday passed a bill which seeks to establish Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University in Pirojpur.
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni introduced the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University Pirojpur
Bill, 2022, in Parliament and it was passed with a voice vote.
The proposed university will be set up on the lines of the existing science and technology varsities for advancement of science and technology-based education.
The President would be the Chancellor of the university.
Govt panel to probe Rajshahi farmers' suicides
The Agriculture Ministry has formed a four-member panel to probe the deaths of two farmers in Rajshahi, who allegedly ended their lives for not getting irrigation water for their land.
The committee has been asked to submit its report within a week, the Ministry said in a notification.
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Md Abu Jubayer Hossain Bablu, a joint secretary of the ministry, has been made the convenor of the committee while Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Muhammad Shariful Hauque, representative of Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner, Md Sazzad Hossain, executive engineer of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Natore, and Md Shamsher Ali, executive engineer, Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), Naogao, are its other members.
As per the notification, the committee was formed based on two reports published by two media outlets on March 24 and 27, respectively.
On March 24, Rabi Marandi, 32, a Santal community member of Nimghatu village in Godagari upazila, and his cousin Abhinath, 30, consumed poison in front of Shakhawat Hossain, a deep tubewell operator of the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA).
They took the decision out of anger "as Shakhawat was not giving them a serial number for a long time to get irrigation water supplied to their fields in Iswarpur", according to their family.
Read: Verdict in Humayun Azad murder case on April 13
Abhinath died around 9pm after reaching home on March 24, while Rabi died two days later at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH).
Brigadier General Shamim Yazdani, director of RMCH, confirmed both the brothers died from consumption of poison.
Dhaka calls for joint efforts to build smarter BIMSTEC
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday called for renewing joint efforts at building a "more effective and smarter" BIMSTEC as a result-oriented regional organization.
"The 5th BIMSTEC Summit would revitalize the BIMSTEC process with a stronger political commitment and substantive directives and guidanceof our leaders to chart the future trajectory of the BIMSTEC towards a higher level," he said.
Foreign Minister Momen, who led the Bangladesh delegation, was speaking at the eighteenth ministerial meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in the Sri Lankan capital city on eve of the 5th BIMSTEC Summit scheduled for March 30.
Secretary (East) Mashfee Binte Shams, Additional Foreign Secretary (SAARC and BIMSTEC) Md. Shamsul Haque, Rector, Foreign Service Academy Asad Alam Siam, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka Tareq Md Ariful Islam, Director (SAARC and BIMSTEC) Md. Aminul Islam Khan, Director (FMO) Md. Emdadul Islam Chowdhury, among others, joined as Bangladesh delegation members.
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Sri Lanka Foreign Minister and Chairperson of the 18th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting delivered opening remarks highlighting enormous potential that BIMSTEC holds in vast areas and laid emphasis on stronger cooperation for the benefit of whole region.
Fuel supplies hit as tanker workers go on strike in Khulna
Fuel supplies to 10 districts in Khulna and five in Faridpur were disrupted on Tuesday, as oil tanker workers here launched an indefinite strike over an attack on one of their union leaders.
The strike began around 8am, as the tanker workers refused to refill or transport oil from Padma, Meghna and Jamuna depots, demanding the arrest of assailants who attacked their union leader on Monday.
Read: Be ready to fight if enemy attacks peace-loving Bangladesh, PM urges armed forces
Meanwhile, a case was filed against two men and 12 unidentified people at the Khalishpur police station in connection with the assault, following a complaint from the victim’s brother on Monday night, said Md Kamal Hossain, the officer-in-charge.
On Monday, around 12pm, some people attacked Al Amin, the line secretary of the Tank-Lorry Workers' Union at the Kashipur Banglar Mor area.He was subsequently admitted to Khulna Medical College and Hospital with severe injuries.
“The workers have vowed to continue the strike until the assailants are arrested and brought to justice. They are currently demonstrating in front of the union office,” said Mir Moksed Ali, president of Khulna division's Tank-Lorry Workers' Union.
Read: Indefinite bus strike in Sylhet from Tuesday
Around 1pm on Monday, the workers blocked the Notun Rasta intersection in the city in protest against the attack and dispersed only at 4 pm after getting assurance from the authorities, he said.
OC Kamal said that "we are conducting raids to arrest the accused".
Be ready to fight if enemy attacks peace-loving Bangladesh, PM urges armed forces
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked the armed forces to remain ever prepared to thwart any threat to the country’s Independence and sovereignty.
“We have to remain prepared. If enemy from outside attacks us we must resist that in a befitting manner,” she said while inaugurating the Sheikh Russell Cantonment at Jazeera in Shariatpur.
She joined the programme virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
The prime minister said Bangladesh believes in 'friendship to all, malice to none', the foreign policy formulated by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“We do not want to fight with anyone. We will not engage in war, but we have to remain prepared,” she said.
In this connection, she said the government has taken steps to upgrade the armed forces through training and more resources.
Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed also spoke at the programme. Hasina listed the measures the Awami League government had taken after coming to power in 1996 for the first time in 21 years.
The government, she said, adopted the development and modernization plan of the Armed Forces and established National Defence College and Military Institute of Science and Technology in 1998 while Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training and Armed Forces Medical College in 1999.Besides, she said that the then AL government first recruited female officers in Army, Navy and Air Force in 2000.The PM said that after winning consecutive elections since 2008 the government has been implementing short, medium and long term plans to build a trained and up-to-date armed forces.
For this “Forces Goal-2030”has been launched on the basis of National Defence Policy-1974 formulated by Bangabandhu, she said.In addition, she said, the government established Bangladesh Peace Building Center in 2016 and formulated ‘National Defence Policy, 2018.She extended her gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff and members of Army for naming Mawa and Jazeera cantonments as “Sheikh Russell Cantonment”.
Brace for showers in 24 hours!
A bout of summer rain or thundershowers in the next 24 hours may bring the much-needed relief to people of seven divisions of Bangladesh.
Yes, according to the weather department, rain or thundershower activity is expected to occur at a few places over these seven divisions -- Sylhet, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Dhaka.
According to a Met office bulletin issued on Tuesday morning, showers might occur at a few places over Sylhet division and at one or two places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Dhaka.
However, the weather may remain mainly dry with partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) forecast.
Read: Warmer weather ahead as spring begins
Besides, a mild heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Faridpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Jashore, Chuadanga and Kushtia, and it may continue, said the weather office.
Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country.
The trough of westerly low lies over the sub-Himalayan West Bengal and adjoining areas. The seasonal low lies over the South Bay, according to the forecast.
Global Covid cases near 482 million
The overall number of Covid cases is fast approaching 482 million amid a rise in new infections in parts of the world.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 481,965,679 while the death toll from the virus reached 6,127,067 Tuesday morning.
The US has recorded 79,995,485 cases so far and 977,687 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows.
The number of new coronavirus cases globally increased by 7% last week, driven largely by rising infections in the Western Pacific, even as reported deaths from Covid fell, the World Health Organization said.
Also read: Much of Shanghai locked down as mass COVID-19 testing begins
There were more than 12 million new weekly cases and just under 33,000 deaths, a 23% decline in mortality, according to the UN health agency’s report on the pandemic issued late Tuesday, reports AP.
Confirmed cases of the virus had been falling steadily worldwide since January but rose again last week, due to the more infectious omicron variant and its subvariant BA.2, in addition to the suspension of Covid protocols in numerous countries in Europe, North America and elsewhere.
China has reported more than 56,000 confirmed cases nationwide this month, reports AP.
India's Covid-19 tally rose to 43,021,722 on Monday as 999 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry's latest data.
Besides, 94 deaths due to the pandemic were reported since Saturday morning, taking the total death toll to 521,098.
Meanwhile, Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since January last year, registered 9,923 cases and 86 more deaths from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 29,852,341 and the national death toll to 659,012, the Ministry of Health said Sunday.
Also read: Bangladesh reports first death from Covid after four days with 81 fresh cases
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh logged 81 fresh Covid cases in 24 hours with one death till Monday morning, after reporting zero fatalities for the last four days.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total caseload to 19,51,363, while the death toll mounted to 29,119.
On Sunday, the number was lower as 43 new cases were reported with no new deaths.
The daily positivity rate rose a bit to 0.86 per cent from Sunday’s 0.54 per cent after 9,397 samples were tested during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Besides, the mortality rate remained unchanged too at 1.49 per cent.
The recovery rate rose to 96.28 per cent with the recovery of 993 more patients during the 24-hour period.