Bangladesh
20-yr-old student dies after falling into open drain in Chattogram
A 20-year-old college student returning home with her uncle died after falling into an open drain in the Agrabad Badamtali area of the port city on Monday night, officials said.
The deceased was identified as Shehrin Mahmud Sadia, a student of Sadarghat Islamia Degree College and a resident of Halishohor in Chattogram city.
Read:2 girls die falling into drain during heavy rain in Chattogram
Eye-witnesses said Sadia slipped and fell into the roadside drain around 10pm when she and her uncle were returning home after buying a pair of eye glasses from the local market. It was drizzling at the time.
Her uncle immediately jumped into the drain but could not find her, said Double Mooring police sub-inspector Arnab Barua.
Read: Monsoon rains expose Cumilla's poor drainage network
Newton Das, deputy director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence, said that on information, divers rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation.
Around 3am on Tuesday, Sadia's body was found, officials said.
Global Covid cases top 232 million
The overall number of global Covid cases has now surged past 232 million, despite the ongoing mass inoculations in several countries.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count and fatalities mounted to 232,306,848 and 4,755,859, respectively, on Tuesday morning.
The US has recorded 43,116,407 cases to date while more than 690,426 people have died so far from the virus in the country, as per the university data.
Read: Biden, McConnell get COVID-19 boosters, encourage vaccines
With more than 40 million doses of coronavirus vaccines available, US health authorities said they’re confident that there will be enough for both qualified older Americans seeking booster shots and the young children for whom initial vaccines are expected to be approved in the not-too-distant future, reports AP.
The spike in demand — expected following last week’s federal recommendation on booster shots — would be the first significant jump in months. More than 70 million Americans remain unvaccinated despite the enticement of lottery prizes, free food or gifts and pleas from exhausted healthcare workers as the average number of deaths per day climbed to more than 1,900 in recent weeks.
Brazil which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since January, registered 21,366,395 cases on Monday. Brazil's Covid death toll has also risen to 594,653.
India's Covid-19 tally rose to 33,678,786 on Monday, as 26,041 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, as per the federal health ministry data.
Besides, 276 deaths were recorded since Sunday morning, taking the death toll to 447,194.
Read: Turkey working on developing national Covid vaccine
Situation in Bangladesh
Covid-19 in Bangladesh claimed 25 more lives and infected 1,212 others in 24 hours till Monday morning.
The fresh cases were detected after testing 27,287 samples keeping the daily case positivity rate at 4.36 percent, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
With this, the daily case positivity rate of Covid-19 in the country remained below 5 percent for the seventh consecutive day.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the daily case positivity rate of 5 percent or below for 14 days is considered safe for mass unlocking.
The fresh numbers reported on Monday took the total fatalities to 27,439 while the caseload mounted to 1,552,563, said the DGHS.
Read: Covid easing in Bangladesh, but it still kills 25 more
However, the mortality rate remained static at 1.77 percent.
The recovery rate remained unchanged at 97.43 percent, with the recovery of 1,202 more patients during the period.
So far, 1,512,681 people have recovered from the deadly virus infections in Bangladesh, the DGHS said.
World could return to normal within a year: Pfizer CEO
There will be a return to normal life within a year, according to Pfizer CEO and Chairman Albert Bourla.
To make that happen, it is likely annual Covid vaccination shots will be needed, he added.
"Within a year I think we will be able to come back to normal life," Bourla said in an interview with ABC.
READ: Dhaka to receive another 25 lakh Pfizer vaccine doses Monday
"I do not think that this means that the variants will not continue coming, and I do not think that this means that we should be able to live our lives without having vaccinations. But that, again, remains to be seen," he added.
Earlier, when asked for his estimate of a return to normal life, Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel told the Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung: "As of today, in a year, I assume."
READ: Bangladesh to get 71 lakh Pfizer, 18 lakh Moderna jabs: Shahriar
World should recognise us as leaders of Afghanistan: Taliban
A victory over terrorism is impossible without the outside world's recognition of the Taliban authority in Afghanistan, Abdul Salam Hanafi, deputy head of the temporary government formed by the group, said Monday.
"If the world wants the Taliban to successfully combat drug [trafficking] and terrorism, it should recognise the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," he told Afghanistan's Aamaj News agency. "The Taliban seeks to establish diplomatic ties with the US and interact with the whole world."
The Taliban launched a large-scale operation to take control of Afghanistan after the US declared its troop pullout earlier this year.
READ: Taliban hang body in public; signal return to past tactics
On August 15, Afghanistan's then-president Ashraf Ghani fled the country, while the Taliban swept into Kabul without encountering any resistance.
In early September, the Taliban declared that the entire territory of the country was under their control, and formed an interim government.
READ: Russia says it’s in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban
100 kg Baghair fish on sale for Tk 1 lakh in Sylhet
A 100-kg Baghair (devil catfish) has been put on sale in Sylhet’s Lalbazar.
Fish trader Md. Alauddin who brought the giant fish to the bazar on Monday has put an asking price of Tk 1 lakh on the fish.
The fish was caught by fishermen from the Kushiyara river in Fenchuganj upazila, from whom Alauddin bought it for Tk 80,000, he said.
READ: 60kg Baghair fish on sale in Sylhet's Lalbazar
Meanwhile, people crowded to see the giant fish at the bazar.
Adding that eight people already showed interest to buy the fish in portions, Alauddin said he plans on selling each kg at Tk 1500-2000 on Tuesday, if the whole fish remains unsold on Monday.
READ: What a catch! Goalanda fisherman earns Tk 25,000 with one Catla
Health Ministry officials to attend WHO meeting in Geneva
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque will attend a World Health Organization (WHO) bureau meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
He will leave Dhaka in the early hours of Tuesday from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on an Emirates flight.
Additional Secretary of the Health Services Department Kazi Jebunnesa Begum, Private Secretary to the Minister of Health Kamrul Hasan, Deputy Secretary Md. Sadequl Islam and Health and Family Planning Officer of Tejgaon Health Complex in Dhaka Dr. Md. Mofizul Islam Bulbul will accompany the Minister.
READ: Covid testing at Dhaka airport to begin on Saturday, says health minister
After the WHO bureau meeting, the Minister will hold separate meetings with WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and member of the Global Fund Management Team and Coordinator of Scaling up Nutrition (SUN) Ms. Gerda Verburg on issues related to coronavirus treatment, medicines, population and nutrition.
READ: Vaccination of students aged 12-17 to begin within 20 days: Health Minister
First virtual human to join Huawei Cloud
The first virtual human, Yunsheng, will join Huawei Cloud, Zhang Ping'an, CEO of Huawei Cloud and president of Huawei Consumer Cloud Service, said at the ongoing Huawei Connect 2021.
Building on its digital content production line, Huawei Cloud created Yunsheng.
Technical innovations such as OptVerse AI Solver, Pangu drug molecule model, Blockchain Service, and the FunctionGraph function computing service have also been disclosed at the event.
READ: Huawei Connect 2021 begins
"Digitalisation is a wealth of opportunities, and we call on all to think cloud native, act cloud native," Zhang said.
Huawei Connect 2021 will continue until October 31. This year's event is focusing on the practical application of technologies like cloud, AI, and 5G in all industries and how they can make organisations of all shapes and sizes more efficient, more versatile, and ultimately more resilient as we move towards economic recovery, according to a media statement.
READ: Canadians released after Huawei CFO resolves US charges
School headmistress dies of Covid in Chattogram, confirms governing council member
A 50-year-old headmistress of a school died of Covid-19 in Hathazari of Chattogram Sunday evening, according to a member of the school’s governing council.
Ferdousi Ara, headmaster of Ali Muhammad Government Primary School in Chipatli Union of Hathazari upazila, was buried at Chattagram University Staff Cemetery after janaza last night.
Confirming it, Zia Haider, president of the school's governing council, said that the teacher was admitted to Chattogram General Hospital on September 21 after contracting Covid and died at the Intensive Care Unit of the facility on September 26.
She was suffering from shortness of breath and high fever during this time.
The school head was on duty before catching the deadly virus since reopening of the educational institution on September 12, according to her co-workers.
READ: PIB assistant professor Quamrun Nahar Ruma dies of Covid-19
Meanwhile, Sahina Akhter, assistant teacher of Hathazari Model Government Primary School, Sanchita Barua, headmistress of Uttar Madarsha Mahluma Government Primary School and Smriti Dutta, assistant teacher of Rashidia Government Primary School all tested positive for Covid-19 and are currently undergoing home quarantine .
Besides, 15 people including the headmaster, teachers and office bearers of Hathazari Model Government Primary School gave their samples at the Upazila Health Complex on Sunday morning as they were in direct contact with the affected persons.
Hathazari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahidul Alam said the conditions of the other infected teachers are currently stable apart of one casualty.
“We are running the school following the government instructions. If the situation deteriorates further, a decision will be taken after consulting higher authorities,” he said.
Last Thursday, an eighth-grader, who had been suffering from suspected Covid symptoms of fever, sore throat and shortness of breath, died in Manikganj Sadar.
Identified as Rodela, she died on Wednesday evening on way to Dhaka’s Kurmitola General Hospital.
She was a student of Surendra Kumar (SK) Govt Girls’ High School .
Rodela’s relatives said she had been suffering from fever and sore throat since her first day of school on September 15. She was undergoing treatment under a local doctor who prescribed medicine for sore throat.
She was rushed to Munnu Medical College and Hospital in Manikganj on Wednesday afternoon after she complained of shortness of breath. She was being brought to Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka as her condition deteriorated, but unfortunately could not make it.
Meanwhile, another student of class X of the same school has tested positive for covid-19.
The two incidents have sparked concern among the guardians.
Also, five students of classes IV and V have tested positive for Covid at a primary school in Thakurgaon sadar upazila on September 24.
READ: Another EC official dies of Covid in Mymensingh
This has prompted the authorities to suspend all classes of IV and V grades at Bahadurpara Government Primary School in Thakurgaon sadar upazila.
Ensure proper hygiene before reopening the campus, President Hamid tells DU administration
President Abdul Hamid on Monday called upon all university administrations to ensure proper hygiene in classrooms, dormitories, campuses and offices before resuming in-person classes.
The President made the call when a delegation led by Dhaka University Vice- Chancellor Akhtaruzzaman called on him at Bangabhaban to brief about the plan to reopen the university of which the President is the Chancellor.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Muhammad Samad, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor ASM Maqsood Kamal and Treasurer Professor Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed were also present at the meeting.
VC Prof Akhtaruzzaman informed the President that class would be started after all the students of the university get at least one dose of vaccine.
Students will be included in the classroom activities step by step, he added.
The university delegation also briefed the President about the preparations for the commencement of classroom physically and the overall activities of the university.
The delegation also informed the President about the preparations for the colourful event to be held on November 1, 2021 to mark the centenary of Dhaka University.
The President said that the students have suffered a lot due to the Corona situation. "If the situation is favourable, teachers and students should try to make up for the loss as much as possible by taking extra classes. But above all there must be hygiene," he also said.
He called upon the university administration to take steps for monitoring and immunization of all students in a short period of time.
PM Hasina’s 75th birthday to be celebrated Tuesday
The 75th birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Bangladesh Awami League, will be celebrated across the country on Tuesday.
Sheikh Hasina, the eldest among the five children of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, was born at Tungipara in Gopalganj on September 28, 1947.
Read: GM Quader greets PM on her birthday
Like previous years, Awami League and its affiliated organisations will celebrate the day through various programmes, highlighting her life and achievements.
The Prime Minister is now in the USA as she went there to join the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Marking her birthday, different programmes, including discussions, doa and milad-mahfil, special prayers and photo exhibitions will be organised in the capital and elsewhere across the country.
As part of the AL central programmes, a discussion meeting will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital at 10am on Tuesday.
Read: 80 lakh people to be vaccinated on PM's birthday
Besides, doa and milad-mahfil will be arranged in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and all other mosques throughout the country after Zahr prayers.
Special prayers will also be offered at International Buddhist Monastery (Bihar) at Merul Badda at 6:30pm, Christian Association Bangladesh (CAB) Mirpur Baptist Church at 12:01am, Jakmala Rani Church at Tejgaon at 6am and Dhakeshwari Temple at 5pm on the day. The AL central leaders will be present at the programmes, said a press release.
The birthday celebration programmes will be held with maintaining proper health protocol across the country, it said.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader also asked all the AL’s associate bodies, social and cultural organisations and their all-level leaders and activists to celebrate the day through different programmes including discussions, doa-mahfils and special prayers throughout the country.
He also asked the leaders of all AL units up to ward-level to celebrate the day, taking up similar programs maintaining the health codes.
Sheikh Hasina assumed the office on 7 January 2019 for the fourth time after her party Awami League-led grand alliance won the 11th Parliamentary election held on December 30, 2018.
Earlier, she served as Prime Minister for the first time in 1996-2001, second term in 2009-2013 and the third term in 2014-2018. Sheikh Hasina was the Leader of the Opposition in the 4th, 5th and 8th Parliaments.
Hasina spent much of her childhood in her ancestral small hamlet in Tungipara. When Bangabandhu was elected a legislator, his family moved to Dhaka in 1954. She graduated from the University of Dhaka in 1973.
Having a checkered political career, Hasina was elected vice president of the Students Union of the Government Intermediate Girls College when she contested as a candidate from Students League.
Later, she served as secretary and then as president of the college unit of Student League. She was also a member of Students League in Dhaka University and became the secretary of Rokeya Hall unit. She actively participated in all mass movements from her student life.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with the members of his family was brutally assassinated on the fateful night of August 15, 1975. Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana were the only survivors as they were in West Germany at that time.
Hasina was unanimously elected as president of Bangladesh Awami League in 1981 in her absence while she was in forced exile. She finally returned home on May 17, 1981 ending her six years in exile.
She faced the wrath of the then rulers on her return as she launched a movement to restore democracy in the country. Hasina was detained time and again, and at least 22 attempts were made on her life.