Bangladesh
Fill 29 vacant doctors’ posts in prisons soon: HC
The High Court on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to speed up recruitment to fill 29 vacant posts of doctors in prisons across the country.
A HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Mustafizur Rahman passed the order during a hearing.
Petitioner lawyer advocate JR Khan Robin said 112 doctors have been recruited against the demand of 141 in the prisons across the country and the court directed the jail authorities verbally to appoint doctors in the vacant posts soon as possible.
READ: HC orders investigation on assets and bank accounts of Rajarbagh Pir
In 2019, advocate JR Khan Robin filed a petition in the form of public interest litigation attaching news reports on the crisis of doctors in 68 jails across the country.
On June 23, 2019, the High Court issued a rule questioning why the failure to ensure the accommodation and health services for the jail inmates will not be announced illegal and directed the authority to submit a report in this regard.
The jail authorities then submitted report saying that there are 24 doctors in different prisons in the country and sought necessary directive to appoint 117 more doctors in prisons.
READ: HC grants anticipatory bail to 11 lawyers in a DSA case
Following the report, the court on January 20, 2020 directed the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services to appoint the 117 doctors in prison without any delay.
On January 17, the jail authorities in a report informed the court about 29 vacant posts of doctors in country’s prisons.
Bangladesh opens its first one-stop TB service centre
Health Minister Zahid Maleque, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R. Miller and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Mission Director Randy Ali on Tuesday inaugurated the country’s first one-stop tuberculosis (TB) service centre in the city.
US investment helped transform Shyamoli TB hospital into state-of-the-art health facility to test, diagnose and treat all forms of tuberculosis (TB) under one roof.
With USAID support, the National TB Programme will open four more one-stop TB service centers across the country in the next several years.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s National TB Programme has transformed the 250-bed TB hospital in Shyamoli into the premier centre to treat TB by equipping the facility with state-of-the-art testing and laboratory equipment.
USAID’s Alliance for Combating TB project also trained a specialized pool of doctors to detect and diagnose the disease—especially multi-drug-resistant TB, and to provide safe and effective treatment for all forms of TB to patients on site.
As a result, TB patients no longer need referrals to travel to another facility and are able to begin treatment regimens quickly and more easily following their diagnosis—improving their chances of beating the disease.
“We’re pleased to open the doors to this impressive one-stop TB centre and help protect the lives of many who’re fighting this disease,” said Miller.
He said this is part of their shared vision between the United States and Bangladesh in helping people across this country strive for healthier and more prosperous lives for themselves and their families.
“Improving access to critical testing and treatment services for all forms of TB—especially multi-drug-resistant strains of the disease—will help Bangladesh cure many more people through timely treatment while preventing new infections,” said USAID Deputy Mission Director Randy Ali.
Over the past 10 years, the United States has invested more than $100 million to advance tuberculosis control efforts in Bangladesh and donated 72 GeneXpert rapid TB testing machines to increase detection and treatment rates, and put positive cases under immediate treatment.
Through USAID, the US government has provided more than $8 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh since its independence, said the US Embassy in Bangladesh.
Covid’s daily positivity rate in Bangladesh falls below 5%
Covid-19 claimed 26 more lives and infected 1562 others in 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
The latest cases were detected after testing 33,375 samples showing a decline in the daily case positivity rate to 4.69 per cent from 5.67 per cent, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The case positivity rate is the lowest in around six months as the country last recorded 4.98 percent daily case positivity rate on March 8 this year.
Also read: Declining trend in Covid cases continues: DGHS
According to the DGHS, the fresh numbers took the country’s total Covid-19 fatalities to 27,277 on Tuesday while the caseload mounted to 1,545,800, said the DGHS.
Meanwhile, it said, the fatality rate remained static at 1.76 per cent.
Besides, the recovery rate also remained static with 97.34 per cent on Tuesday with the recovery of 1,603 patients during the 24-hour period.
So far, 1,504,709 people have recovered from the deadly virus infections, the DGHS added.
Among the new deaths, 15 died in Dhaka division, three each in Chattogram and Rajshahi, two each in Khulna and Sylhet and one in Mymensingh divisions. However, no death was reported from Barishal and Rangpur divisions.
Of them, 16 were men and 10 women.
Also read: Covid daily-death toll in Bangladesh falls to 26
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the daily case positivity rate should remain at 5% or below for 14 days before mass unlocking.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh eased its lockdown restrictions on August 11, even though public health experts warned of Delta variant spread.
On September 12, after nearly 18 months, primary, secondary and higher secondary schools in Bangladesh reopened with a slew of Covid-safety protocols in place.
Evaly CEO remanded again, wife lands in jail
A Dhaka Court on Tuesday placed Evaly CEO Mohammad Rassel on a one-day remand in a case filed with Dhanmondi Model Police Station on charge of embezzlement and fraudulence.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Hasibul Haque passed the order when police produced him before the court after completion of his three-day remand in a case filed with Gulshan Police Station.
The court also sent his wife Shamima Nasrin, chairman of the company, to jail after expiry of her 3-day remand.
Police produced the duo before the court and sought seven-day remand for each in the case.
Also read: Owner of e-orange.shop, 2 others land in jail
Time to challenge what we know: Radwan Mujib
Policymakers need to revisit their assumptions and undertake a more detailed analysis of who and what makes Bangladesh tick as the country looks to emerge stronger from the global pandemic, says Bangabandhu’s grandson Radwan Mujib Siddiq.
“The story of Bangladesh is a complex one, with multiple layers and a rich cast of characters," writes Radwan, a trustee of Center for Research and Information (CRI) who edits WhiteBoard, the country’s first policy journal, in the quarterly’s editorial note.
With a caption “Hot off the press”, he posted the link on his verified Facebook page to allow readers free access to the content of the latest issue.
Referring to the government’s policy of inclusive growth with trickle-down effect to benefit the poorest, Radwan termed the developmental turnaround as “ remarkable” in his editorial note .
Also read: Bangabandhu’s grandson Radwan Mujib turns 41
Emphasizing the need for fresh perspectives to help the country meet future challenges, he said the global pandemic has shown that countries need nimble thought leadership to be truly adaptable. "Fresh perspectives, detailed analysis, and good data are essential.”
With a renewed call for participation from a pool of writers, he sought continued support of its readers, contributors and sponsors, to establish WhiteBoard as the premier space for the next generation of analysts, academics and professionals.
The 5th issue of the quarterly covered some crucial policy issues such as the importance and relevance of agriculture in the country’s march towards its middle-income status and the role of middlemen in labour immigration.
PM’s presence in UNGA important for critical issues: Dr Momen
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s in-person presence in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is very important to give an impetus to campaigns for equitable access to Covid-19 vaccine, climate change and food security amid the global pandemic, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
“One of the major reasons behind her in-person presence is that Covid-19 vaccine will be our big issue. The Prime Minister has been campaigning from the day one that the Covid vaccine should be public good and each country should get it without any discrimination,” he said while briefing reporters in New York.
He said the Prime Minister would strongly put emphasis on the vaccine issue in her speech in the UNGA.
Besides, creating a momentum to the climate change campaign is very important ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) to be held in Glasgow, Scotland from October 31 next, said the Foreign Minister, adding that Bangladesh is adversely affected by global warming.
He said around 30 million people would be displaced as some 17-25 percent of the country’s lands would submerge. “So, it’s a big problem for us, which should get focused in the upcoming COP 26. It needs to create a momentum for it and the Prime Minister’s presence in person is very significant,” he added.
Read:Vaccine should be a public good without any conditions: FM
Another reason is that there might be a food crisis in the future, he said, adding that the PM will focus on food security as well.
Describing the Prime Minister as a brave lady, he said she came here at this tough time amid risks. “She came for the welfare of the country’s people,” said Dr Momen, adding that she did not travel anywhere in the last 19 months and rather she attended some 1500 virtual events staying indoors.
Read:Hasina seeks SDGs roadmap for countries falling behind
Meanwhile, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley called on Sheikh Hasina at her hotel suite.
She presented a copy of Bangabandhu's ‘Unfinished Memoirs’ to her Barbados counterpart.
Two sisters found hanging on house terrace in Sylhet
Two sisters were found hanging from an iron rod on the terrace of their house in the Majumdari area of Sylhet city on Tuesday.
The deceased were identified as Rani Jamidar (33) and Fatema Begum (27), daughters of Kalim Ullah. Police suspect they committed suicide over a family feud.
BM Ashrafullah, additional deputy commissioner (media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, said that after Kalim's death, his wife and three daughters lived in the house and refrained from interacting with the neighbours.
Read: Another body washes ashore on Cox’s Bazar beach
The couple's other daughter relocated to the UK after her marriage.
Around 6am, neighbours found the bodies of the two sisters hanging from the iron rod on the terrace of the house and informed the cops.
A team from the local police station rushed to the spot and sent the bodies to the local hospital morgue for post-mortem.
"A probe has been ordered into the deaths," the officer said.
Global food systems must be changed: IFAD
Transforming global food systems to become more inclusive, fair and sustainable may seem an insurmountable challenge, yet there are concrete actions policymakers can take, says a new report on Tuesday.
The report was released by the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
“We are living in a world of huge and unfair contradictions. There are 800 million hungry people and yet high obesity rates. Nutritious diets are expensive yet many small-scale farmers are poor. Current food growing practices are not good for our environment. It is clear that we need a revolution. A revolution so dramatic that previous versions of food systems are unrecognizable,” said Dr. Jyotsna Puri.
Read: Agroecology can address food systems failures: IFAD
Puri is the Associate Vice President of IFAD’s Strategy and Knowledge Department that leads the production of the Rural Development Report, IFAD’s flagship publication.
Puri sees this week’s UN Food Systems Summit as a watershed moment to commit to real change, with the Rural Development Report offering governments recommendations for concrete actions that can be taken.The Food Systems Summit on September 23 under the leadership of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, is intended to result in actionable commitments from heads of state and other leaders to transform global food systems.
It is a culmination of 18 months of engagement with governments, food producers, civil society and companies on how to transform the way we produce, process and consume food.
PR 58 RDR
The report, Transforming food systems for rural prosperity, stresses the importance of focusing investments and policy changes on rural food value chains so that all people can access adequate nutritious food in a manner that does not harm the environment, and so that food producers can earn decent incomes.
The majority of people in rural areas earn an income from working in small-scale agriculture, which is a vital source of national and global food. In fact, farms of up to 2 hectares produce 31 percent of the world’s food on less than 11 percent of the farmland.
The key recommendations of the report include:
Invest more in rural farms and local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that support activities after the farm gate, such as storing, processing, marketing and food distribution. A focus on local ownership and employment will increase job opportunities, particularly for women and young people, while giving small-scale farmers access to new and diverse markets.
Make available innovations (such as nature based solutions and agro-ecology) and affordable digital technologies to boost rural small-scale famers’ production so that farmers can be climate-resilient, using low carbon and sustainable techniques.
Read: 123 mln rural people reached as IFAD steps up fight against hunger, poverty
Develop and focus on pricing systems that reflect the full and true cost of production, including rewarding farmers for ecosystem services, such as maintaining healthy soil and regulating pests. Promote accessible and affordable nutritious food. At least 3 billion people cannot currently afford healthy diets.
Changing this requires focusing on nutrition education, empowering women to make nutrition decisions, and stronger government policies to regulate and steer market choices.
Governments can use market-based instruments, income support and public procurement to focus on nutrition-rich foods. Engage to rebalance global trade and governance to correct power imbalances.
The present concentration of power within food systems calls for rethinking regulations and trade arrangements so that rural people in developing countries can benefit.
Food markets need to be accessible to rural people, and on fair terms. Incentives need to be in place to reward nature-based practices and local, healthy diets.
“We know what needs to change to make the production, marketing and consumption of food fair and sustainable, which results in nutritious, affordable food for all. This report gives strong evidence and recommendations for specific actions. Now we need the investments and political will to take action,” said Puri.
Over the past 70 years, a focus on industrial farming and producing more calories at low cost has been accompanied by growing malnutrition, increased food waste, and a high environmental cost.
Food systems are responsible for 37 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and are also highly vulnerable to a changing climate.
Four to hang for killing Kushtia sub-registrar
A local court on Tuesday sentenced four men to death and another one to life imprisonment for the 2018 gruesome murder of Kushtia Sadar sub-registrar Noor Mohammad Shah.
Kushtia additional district and sessions judge Tajul Islam handed down death sentences to Saidul Islam (37), Faruk Hossain (38), Kamal Sheikh (40) and Mashiul Alam (40), and life term to Monowar Hossain Dablu (38), after holding them guilty of killing Nur Mohammad.
Read:2 get death penalty for killing college student in Barishal
All the five were present in the court when the judgement was pronounced around 11 am. Among the convicts, Monwar and Saidul were employees of the Kushtia Sadar sub-registry office.
Nur Mohammad (50) was hacked to death in his house in Kushtia town on October 8 in 2018. The following day, Kamruzzaman, the brother of the deceased, filed a complaint at the Kushtia Model police station against unidentified accused.
Later, the police arrested four people in connection with the murder and seized sharp weapons and ropes from their possession. The accused later gave a confessional statement in the court.
Case under DSA: BNP leader Hafiz gets bail
A tribunal in Barishal on Tuesday granted bail to BNP Vice-Chairman Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed in a case filed under the Digital Security Act(DSA).
Cyber Tribunal Judge Golam Faruk passed the order after hearing a petition in the case.
Read: HC grants anticipatory bail to 11 lawyers in a DSA case
According to the case statement, Faridul Haque, president of Badarpur union unit Awami League of Lalmohan upazila in Bhola district filed a case against seven people including the BNP leader on December 28, 2018.
The case was filed under the DSA as a phone conversation between the BNP Leader and Babul Hawladar, another accused in the case, was leaked where the BNP leader made derogatory remarks about the national election.