Bangladesh
3 killed by lightning strike in Jamalpur
Three people in Jamalpur’s Islampur upazila were killed by lightning strike.on Sunday afternoon
The incident occurred at around 3 pm in the Kandarchar village of the upazila.
Read: Panchagarh: 1 killed, 4 injured as lightning strikes tea stall
The deceased were identified as Sundar Ali Sarder, 65, son of Bhola Sarder; his grandson Rafiq Sarder, 14, and Mosharraf Hossain, 25, son of Mofazzal Hossain, all from Kandarchar.
It was learned that they were working in the field when they were struck by a thunderbolt, and Sundar Ali died on the spot.
Read:Lightning kills two in Kurigram
Critically injured Rafiq died at Kandarchar Hospital Complex, and Mosharraf was referred to Jamalpur Sadar Hospital but died on the way there, according to the OC of Islampur Police Station Mazedur Rahman.
Global Covid cases approach 235 million
The overall number of global Covid cases is gradually approaching 235 million amid the ongoing mass inoculation in different countries.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count and fatalities mounted to 234,894,793 and 4,801,312, respectively, on Monday morning.
The US has recorded 43,683,048 cases and more than 701,169 fatalities to date, according to the university data.
Read:Dubai's Expo 2020 reveals 3 worker deaths from COVID-19
Brazil currently has the world's second-highest pandemic death toll after the United States and the third-largest caseload after the United States and India.
Brazil registered 21,468,121cases. Brazil's Covid-19 death toll has also risen to 597,948 as it has been experiencing a new wave of cases since January.
India's COVID-19 tally rose to 33,813,903 on Sunday morning as 22,842 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, the federal health ministry's data showed.
Besides, 244 more deaths were recorded during the period, taking the death toll to 448,817.
Meanwhile, Russia on Sunday reported a record daily death toll from COVID-19, the fifth time in a week that deaths have hit a new high.
According to AP, the national coronavirus task force said 890 deaths were recorded over the past day, exceeding the 887 reported on Friday. The task force also said the number of new infections in the past day was the second-highest of the year at 25,769.
Read: US hits 700,000 COVID deaths just as cases begin to fall
Overall, Russia, a nation of 146 million people, has Europe’s highest death toll from the pandemic, nearly 210,000 people.
Situation in Bangladesh
Covid-19 claimed 18 more lives in Bangladesh with 617 new cases being detected in 24 hours till Sunday morning.
The number of daily fatalities is the lowest recorded since May 26 when the country reported 17 Covid-linked deaths.
The fresh cases were detected after testing 21,246 samples which lowered the daily case positivity rate to 2.90 per cent from Saturday’s 3.43 per cent, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily case positivity rate in the country remained below 5 per cent for the 11th consecutive day.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), if the daily-case positivity rate remains at 5 per cent or below for 14 days it is considered to be safe for mass unlocking.
The daily case positivity rate in Bangladesh reached its peak 32.55 percent on July 24 this year.
The fresh numbers took the total fatalities to 27,573 while the caseload mounted to 15,57,964, said the DGHS.
Read: Romanian hospital blaze kills at least 7 COVID-19 patients
However, the mortality rate remained static at 1.77 per cent.
The recovery rate slightly increased to 97.48 per cent with the recovery of 1,112 more patients during the 24-hour period.
So far, 15,18,754 people have recovered from the deadly virus infections, the DGHS added.
Mohib Ullah killers to face justice, security at camps to be heightened: Home Minister
The killers of Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah will be brought to justice soon, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has said.
The Home Minister said this on Sunday during a meeting on the Durgo Puja security arrangements at the ministry's conference room.
Read: 4 held over Mohib Ullah murder; 7-day remand sought for 2
Adding that an investigation was underway to find the cause of Mohib Ullah's murder, he said that the suspects will be brought to book soon.
Mentioning Mohib Ullah as vocal for the Rohingyas, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that he always spoke about their repatriation.
Read: Mohib's murder: FIR lodged, probe in full swing, say police
He said that the government has been investigating to find out whether any foreign agents were trying to make the situation turbulent in the refugee camp.
About increasing the security in the camps, he informed that barbed wire fence is being installed around the Rohingya camps which will be completed in a few days.Watchtowers at Rohingya camps are also being set to ensure high security, he added.
3 BCL men hacked with knives during AL infighting over extortion proceeds
Three Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists in Barisal’s Kalijira Bazar area were hacked with sharp weapons on Sunday morning during a clash between followers of the district Awami League's president and general secretary over extortion money.
It has been alleged that the district AL general secretary Solaiman Bappi himself was involved in the attack that saw three BCL men- Raihan Munshi, Rajib Mallick and Jubayer - hacked with sharp weapons
Kotwali Model Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Nurul Islam said he heard of fights in Kalijira market.
Read: AL politician hacked to death in Bogura
However, no party has lodged a complaint. Action will be taken on receipt of written complaint, he said.
It was learned that the injured three were the followers of district AL president Humayun Hawlader. Solaiman Bappi with his followers attacked them in front of the Ward 26 party office as they previously protested Bappi’s extortion money collection from the hawkers and shops.
The injured have been admitted to Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital after the incident.
Read: AL activist hacked dead in Khulna
Locals claimed that the AL general secretary and president had a long running dispute over extortion money collection from the roadside shops and the markets of the area.
However, general secretary Solaiman Bappi denied the allegations and said that there is no such dispute.
HC asks ACC to capture real money launderers instead of businessmen
The High Court on Sunday told the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to focus on capturing the 'real' big-scale money launderers instead of businessmen.
The court said those who have built ‘Begum Para’ outside the country and siphon out money to countries abroad are the real money launderers and ACC should take actions against them.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and KM Zahid Sarwar said this to ACC lawyer during a hearing on the anticipatory bail petition of Dinajpur businessman and district Jubo League leader Khalilullah Azad in case of money laundering.
The court granted the accused 8-day bail on condition of submitting his passport and bar on leaving the country.
Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua presented the petitioner’s side during the hearing while lawyer Md Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for ACC. Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Amit Talukder stood for the state.
DAG Amit Talukder said a petition against the bail order will be filed with the appellate division.Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua said the Crime investigation Department (CID) of police filed a case against Khalilullah for laundering Tk 35 crore though ACC was supposed to file the case.
Moreover, according to the case complaint Khalilullah deposited more than Tk 14 crore in a Sonali Bank branch in Dinajpur and later credited the money in different times which does not actually exist, he said.
Khalilullah Azad was granted bail in 22 other cases.
On February 1, his family said in a press briefing that 16 cases had been filed against the businessman within four months when he was already behind the bars.
Govt preparing to vaccinate students aged 12 and above: Education Minister
Preparations are underway to vaccinate school students who are above 12 years old, said Minister of Education Dr Dipu Moni.
However, the vaccination drive for above 12-year-olds would not be conducted across the country but in the city corporation areas only, the Minister added.
During her visit to Chandpur Circuit House on Sunday afternoon at an event of the district Awami League, she said this to the reporters.
Read: Vaccination of students aged 12-17 to begin within 20 days: Health Minister
She said that the government is having discussion with the DGHS regarding this vaccination programme.
“Those who are over 12 years old can get vaccines but due to issues of technical assistance the vaccinations can’t be done everywhere.”
Read: Hasina’s birthday celebrated amid mass vaccination campaign
It would be possible to vaccinate students in the city corporation areas only, she said.
When and how the vaccines will be given can be ascertained once the decision with DGHS is finalised, she added.
AL show-cause Gazipur Mayor over comment on Bangabandhu
Awami League has issued a show cause notice to Gazipur City Mayor and the party’s metropolitan general secretory Jahangir Alam for his recent viral video of controversial comments on Bangabandhu and other local leaders.
AL office secretary Barrister Biplob Barua said a show cause letter signed by party’s General Secretary Obaidul Quader was sent to Jahangir on Sunday. He was asked to reply to the letter within 15 days, said Biplob.
The letter said Jahangir’s viral comments ruined the image and popularity of the political organization.
It is equal to going against the interest of the organization and breaking its disciplines which is a punishable offence according to the party’s constitution, it said.
Jahangir was asked to explain in writing why organizational actions will not be taken against him, said the letter.
Mayor Jahangir said he will reply to the letter within the deadline and will obey the Party’s president Sheikh Haasina’s decision in this regard.
The mayor said conspirators and anti-election groups have spread the technologically manipulated video as propaganda against him.
Meanwhile, anti-Mayor faction of the local AL continued their protests in Gazipur demanding action against him for his remarks.
PM condoles death of Awami league sub-committee member Gias Uddin
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Awami League Publicity and Publication Sub-Committee member Gias Uddin Ahmed.
She prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Also read: PM condoles death of Rahat Khan
Gias Uddin, 55, breathed his last today at a city hospital.
He left behind his wife, two daughters and a host of relatives and well-wishers.
Also read: PM condoles Rakhi Das’ death
Meanwhile, AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader also expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Gias Uddin Ahmed.
ACC raids CPP to investigate alleged corruption in hiring staff
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Sunday raided the office of Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) after allegations hiring staff without conducting written and oral examinations.
Deputy Director of ACC Public relation office Muhammad Arif Sadeq told UNB that an enforcement team headed by ACC’s Assistant Director Jabed Habib conducted the drive as part of the investigation.
The ACC team recorded the statements of the concerned officials, including the director (administration) regarding the complaint.
CPP informed the team that disaster management and relief Ministry has already formed an inquiry committee in the wake of the allegations and the investigation is continuing.
The investigation team has sealed the attendance books and application forms of the accused candidates for the purpose of investigation.
During the drive, the ACC team also asked for a copy of the attendance books and application forms of the candidates.
The ACC team will review it and submit a full report with recommendations to the Commission for taking effective action.
BB brings flexibility in dispatching export documents to buyers
Bangladesh Bank has introduced greater flexibility for banks in dispatching export documents to buyers.
A circular issued by the Foreign Exchange Policy Department said that to accommodate customary practice in export trade, it has been decided that authorised dealers (ADs) of designated banks may allow exporters to dispatch export documents (excluding original transport document of title to cargo) directly to importers or their agents abroad through secured media, subject to observance of certain instructions.
The instructions include underlying sales contracts/letters of credit provide for such direct dispatch of export documents while ADs shall be satisfied with the arrangement of realization of export proceeds within the statutory period.
Read: BB asks Union Bank to explain Tk 19 crore missing from its Gulshan branch
The ADs shall endorse original transport documents retained with them on receipt of payment against relevant export.
This is to clarify that export documents may also be dispatched by exporters against full export payment realized in advance, it said.
However, ADs shall obtain relevant export documents to adjust advance payment with related exports.
Read: BB to launch Tk 3,000 crore agriculture loan refinance scheme
In terms of FE Circular No. 17, dated April 23, 2019, exporters are required to report transport/shipping information immediately in Bangladesh Bank online reporting portal, and submit relevant documents within 14 days from the date of shipment, inter alia, the BB mentioned.