Bangladesh
Govt to vaccinate Rohingyas gradually starting with above-55s: Foreign Secretary
The government has decided to vaccinate the Rohingyas as part of an inclusive vaccination programme.
Although no start date was offered, a preliminary decision was announced that in the first phase, those who are above 55 years old will be considered.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, while talking to reporters on Tuesday, said the host communities around the Rohingya camps have frequent communication with the Rohingyas and the government wants to keep both protected.
READ: Covid-19: Govt to vaccinate 25 lakh people each month
He said the age bar will be brought down gradually in line with the supply of the vaccines in Bangladesh from different sources.
The Foreign Secretary said there will be no discrimination in terms of vaccination considering the “practicality" - the fact that no one is protected unless everyone is protected from a contagion.
Earlier, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, sought stronger global support for refugee vaccinations in Asia, including Rohingyas who are living in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.
The vaccination of refugees was scheduled to start by the end of March 2021. However, the date had to be postponed as the arrival of the COVAX vaccines was delayed.
Responding to a question on air-bubble with India, the Foreign Secretary said they are in discussion and a proposal regarding resumption of this special arrangement is in place.
READ: All adults to be gradually vaccinated: Health Minister
He hoped that the air-bubble arrangement would be resumed at a mutually convenient time in August on a limited scale as the situation in India is improving.
Paris Mission receives Public Administration Award
Bangladesh Embassy in Paris has received the Public Administration Award for its collective contributions in internationalizing the ideology of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at UNESCO.
The members of the Embassy team are Bangladesh Ambassador to France and Permanent Delegate of Bangladesh to UNESCO Kazi Imtiaz Hossain, Minister (Political) S M Mahbubul Alam, First Secretary and HoC Dayamayee Chakraborty and First Secretary Nirjhar Adhikary.
Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain received the award on behalf of the Embassy team.
The award was given in general category considering administrative and diplomatic efforts of the Embassy marking the Public Administration Day.
Read: Bangladeshi artist wins international award
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined (virtually) the function held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city on Tuesday .
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque who joined the function in person handed over the awards to a total of 35 individuals and institutions for the year in 2020 and 2021 on behalf of the Prime Minister.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain chaired the function.
The establishment of the “UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy” was unanimously approved by acclamation at the 210th session of UNESCO’s Executive Board.
Read: 6 receive Unsung Women Nation Builders Award 2021
Named after the Father of the nation of Bangladesh, the UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy will award, every two years, US$50,000 to an individual or organization with recognised excellence in nurturing entrepreneurship among young people in the cultural and creative industries.
The first iteration of the Prize will be awarded in the fall of 2021 during UNESCO’s 41st General Conference 9-24 November 2021 to mark the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development.
DGHS closes 11 private Covid testing booths in Rooppur due to irregularities
Citing unequal competition and irregularities among the 11 approved private Covid-19 testing booths in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project area in Pabna, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) announced them closed on Tuesday.
The 11 private organizations were mainly collecting samples of officials, workers of different organizations of the project and some general people of the district for testing of Covid-19.
The organizations were granted permission by a private organization named DNA Solution Ltd and by the Pabna Civil Surgeon office to conduct sample tests in the project area on certain conditions.
On July 18, the DGHS Director Dr Md Farid Hossain Mia sent a letter to the Pabna Civil Surgeon that said some of the organizations permitted by Dhaka based DNA solution and the Civil Surgeon Office are collecting samples from the area and taking them to test in Dhaka’s RT-PCR lab.
Read: DGHS to private labs: Suspend sample collection booths outside hospitals
Permission provided by private organizations for collecting samples has been banned by the DGHS as it is creating a competition among the organizations and resulting in many irregularities, the letter said.
Now these private organizations are facing a crisis as they have large dues owing from the organizations under the Rooppur project for Covid testing with them. Many samples the organizations collected through the 11 booths were also not tested.
Md Abdullah Khan, Director of one of the 11 private organizations called Famous Specialized Hospital, said that they were the first organization who got approval and they had been collecting samples for Covid-19 tests maintaining quality and rules.
“We never did any irregularity or rule breaking as our work was being monitored by the officials of the health department," he said.
Read: SAF launches Covid-19 testing booth for frontline doctors
If the DGHS provided them some time before issuing the orders they wouldn’t face such a big loss, he added.
Meanwhile, district’s Civil Surgeon Monisor Chowdhury said none of the 11 banned organizations have their own labs to test the samples for Covid-19. They were taking the samples to Dhaka for testing which drew questions over the quality and results of the tests, and there was an environment of unhealthy competition of sample testing among them, he added.
The Civil Surgeon said only those who have their own RT-PCR lab in the area would be allowed to do the work of collecting samplesfrom now on, but none of the 11 prohibited organizations did.
UCB to organize free workshop on digital skills with Monash College Australia
Universal College Bangladesh (UCB), the exclusive partner of Monash College, Australia, will arrange a free student development workshop for Bangladeshi students.
The workshop titled ‘Digital Skills for a Great Career and Higher Education’ will be conducted on July 30, from 11 am to 12 pm and the attendees will receive a joint certificate of participation from Monash College and UCB. The virtual workshop on the zoom platform will be conducted by Dr. Shannon Rios, Manager, Education Strategy, Learning and Teaching, Monash College Diplomas, Monash College.
Read: Microsoft helps 60,000-plus Bangladeshis gain digital skills amid Covid-19
The facilitator will shed light on different topics such as digital literacy (adaptability and comfortability in digital space), higher education expectations (Moodle, online classes) and future digital skills (3D printing, app development, web design) etc.
This expert-curated online workshop is an endeavor from Universal College Bangladesh to enlighten the learners about myriads of digital skills that will help them excel in their careers and succeed in higher education.
Read: Guterres encourages girls to master digital skills
UCB is an STS Group venture. Dr. Sandeep, Group CEO of STS Group said, “This workshop will definitely be an exciting opportunity for those who want to remain ahead of the times by acquiring time-befitting digital skills.”
Registration for this limited seat-workshop can be done by visiting the link - https://tinyurl.com/UCB-SDP3. Details regarding it can be found on the website (www.UCBbd.org) and Facebook pages (facebook.com/MonashUCB).
Myanmar: Expert calls for “COVID ceasefire”; urges new UN resolution
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar has called on the United Nations Security Council and Member States to push for an emergency “COVID ceasefire” in light of an explosion of infections and deaths in Myanmar even as the State Administrative Council (SAC) escalates its attacks against health care workers.
UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews stressed the urgent need for Member States to use all the tools of the UN, including passage of resolutions demanding that the SAC immediately cease all attacks, especially against health care professionals who are desperately needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to devastate Myanmar.
“Too many in Myanmar have needlessly perished and too many more will die without action by the United Nations,” Andrews warned on Tuesday.
“The UN must act immediately to halt the military junta’s attacks, harassment, and detentions in the midst of a COVID-19 crisis.
“Member States of the United Nations cannot afford to be complacent while the junta ruthlessly attacks medical personnel as COVID-19 spreads unchecked. They must act to end this violence so that doctors and nurses can provide life-saving care and international organisations can help deliver vaccinations and related medical care,” Andrews said.
The junta has murdered at least 931 people and is holding at least 5,630 in arbitrary detention where they are in danger of being infected with the virus.
Also read: In Myanmar, the military and police declare war on medics
Another 255 people have been sentenced for trumped up crimes, with 26 of them - two of whom are minors - sentenced to death.
According to the UNHCR, there are 570,320 internally displaced persons currently living in Rakhine, Chin, Kachin, Shan, Kayin, Mon, and Bago states.
Junta forces have engaged in at least 260 attacks against medical personnel and facilities, claiming the lives of at least 18 people.
Over 600 health care professionals are currently eluding outstanding arrest warrants and at least 67 are being held by junta forces.
In February, the UN Security Council passed a strong resolution demanding ceasefires in all States experiencing conflict. Resolution 2565 demanded “all parties to armed conflicts engage immediately in a durable, extensive, and sustained humanitarian pause to facilitate the equitable, safe and unhindered delivery and distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations in areas of armed conflict”.
The Council further called for “full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access, without delay, for humanitarian personnel and medical personnel, their equipment, transport and supplies, in order to facilitate, inter alia, COVID-19 vaccinations, as appropriate”.
Also read: Human rights defenders in Myanmar under siege, say UN experts
It also demanded the “protection, safety, and security of such humanitarian and medical personnel…”
“This resolution represented a principled framework to address the outbreak of COVID-19 in States experiencing unrestrained violence. Given this escalating crisis, these demands must now be focused specifically on Myanmar. Doing so will save untold numbers of lives.”
Andrews concluded: “Of course the best outcome would be for the junta to stand down so that a legitimate civilian government can lead a coordinated response to the COVID-19 crisis. But in the immediate term, the junta’s relentless attacks and detentions must end. For this to be possible, the people of Myanmar need the UN and its Member States to step up with strong, principled action.”
Aedes Larvae: Bombay Sweets among 23 buildings fined
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on Tuesday found Aedes mosquito larvae in 23 buildings, including one of Bombay Sweets company, and fined them during a drive.
After visiting 394 houses and under-construction buildings, 11 DSCC mobile court teams imposed fines totaling Tk 306,500 in 23 cases after finding a favorable environment for Aedes mosquito breeding in them.
The drive was led by DSCC Executive Magistrate Mahfuzul Alam Masum, Md Alamgir Hossain, Towhiduzzaman Pavel Md Hasnat Murshed Bhuiyan and others at city’s Shiddheswari, Azimpur, Maniknagar, Imambag, Jorbhita, Matuail, Elephant Road, Imamganj and Kadamtali.
READ: DSCC drive: Aedes larvae found in 5 buildings including DOM-INNO’s
Executive Magistrate of zone-10 Md Mamun Mia said, “We found larvae of Aedes mosquito in the basement of the Bombay Sweets’ building during the drive in Kadamtali area and fined them Tk 50,000.”
The officials said the DSCC anti-Dengue drive will be continued as the country is currently seeing a spike of the mosquito-borne disease due to the ongoing monsoon season.
READ: Destroy aedes-breeding puddles or face penalty, warns LGRD minister
Health authorities reported 143 new dengue cases in the last 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
Bangladesh has been seeing over 100 dengue patients for the last four days adding worries to the country’s health services, already overburdened with growing Covid cases and fatalities.
Don’t be hesitant about taking Covid test: PM to rural people
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged villagers not to be reluctant about taking Covid-19 tests and having proper treatment as the virus is highly contagious.
“Still, there’s a problem here. I receive news from rural areas that people there don’t go for Covid tests out of the fear that they’ll be treated as untouchables if their information of Covid positive spread around. They fear that no one will mix with them. This is not the right mindset,” she said.
The Prime Minister made the remark while addressing the 27th founding anniversary programme of Bangladesh Awami Swecchasebak League (BASL), joining it virtually from Ganobhaban.
BASL, an associate body of ruling Awami League, arranged the programme at the Awami League’s central office at the city’s Bangabandhu Avenue.
The prime minister said if anyone goes for Covid test, he or she would be able to receive medical treatment in addition to not infecting other with the virus.
“This is how will be able to save other’s lives. This attitude should be there among people,” she said.
READ: PM unveils commemorative stamp to mark Joy’s birth anniversary
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Awami League, asked the party workers and its associate bodies to convey this message to the common people to remove their reluctance about the Covid test.
She said her government has long been taking measures to bring 80 percent of the country’s population under the Covid vaccination coverage.
The PM said people will be able to get vaccinated with spot registration using their NID cards in rural vaccination centres.
Hasina also asked BASL leaders and activists to help and motivate people to get vaccinated as the government has taken an initiative to launch a massive vaccination drive at the grassroots level across the country.
Hasina said the Swecchasebak League always stood beside people, setting an example, and asked its members to continue their services to humanity.
Talking about the birthday of PM’s ICT Affairs Adviser and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, she recalled Joy’s contribution towards making Digital Bangladesh.
READ: All will get Covid vaccine shots, reassures PM Hasina
“Today’s Digital Bangladesh is his brainchild. He (Joy) always suggested to me what to do…. Today we’ve got Digital Bangladesh. Here everything has been done as per Joy’s suggestions,” she said wishing him a long life and good health.
Hasina greeted all the members of Swecchasebak League on its 27th founding anniversary.
A documentary on BASL activities in the last year and on the occasion of the birthday of Sajeeb Wazed Joy was screened at the function presided over by BASL President Nirmal Ranjan Guha.
Besides, the Prime Minister unveiled the cover of a book “One Year of Swecchasebak League,” that focuses on its activities over the last year.
AL joint general secretary and former president of BASL AFM Bahauddin Nasim also spoke as special guest at the function moderated by BASL general secretary Afzalur Rahman Babu.
Dhaka to work with New Delhi to develop infrastructure along border, says envoy
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran has hoped that Dhaka and New Delhi will continue to work together to develop infrastructure along the border.
The envoy held a meeting with Indian Land Ports Authority Chairman Aditya Mishra in New Delhi on Monday.
Imran shared with Mishra his experience from recent visits to integrated check posts.
READ: Mission in New Delhi observes Genocide Day
He emphasized on maintaining regular communication between the two countries to facilitate the movement of passengers and import-export of goods.
Mishra briefed the high commissioner about the activities of his organization and the operation of the integrated check posts set up in the port area on the Indian side of the Bangladesh land border.
At these integrated check posts, all the concerned departments including immigration, customs and border guards work under one roof.
READ: New Delhi mission observes Bangabandhu's Joliot-Curie award anniversary
This facilitates passenger movement and transportation of goods, said Imran.
The Land Port Authority of India is a highly powered coordinating body under the ministry of home affairs.
Vaccination at union level to start on Aug 7: Home Minster
The Covid-19 vaccination programme at union level will start across the country on August 7, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Tuesday.
The minister announced the government's decision while talking to reporters after a meeting held at the conference room of the Cabinet division.
“The prime minister has ordered speeding up the vaccination drive. One can get vaccinated at the union level showing his or her NID card. Vaccination centres will be set up in unions across the country before August 7,” he said.
Also read:Covid fatality rate 90% among elderly villagers, says health minister
Those who do not have any NID will be vaccinated under a special arrangement, he added.
Covid-19: Bangladesh breaks its record again, reports 258 single-day deaths
As the country battles a brutal wave of pandemic, Bangladesh logged record-high 258 Coronavirus-related deaths in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, shattering the record of 247 single-day deaths a day before.
The country has been seeing nearly 200 deaths every day for the past two weeks and breaking records of daily cases and deaths almost every other day.
Besides, 14,925 more people came out Covid positive after the test of 52,478 samples, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The country saw the highest-ever 15,192 Covid cases on Monday.
With the new numbers, the death tally from Covid-19 reached 19,779 today while the caseload mounted to 1,194,752.
The country has been seeing nearly 9,000 cases on average every day for the past seven days.
Meanwhile, the daily test-positivity rate declined to 28.44% from Monday's 29. 82 % while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a 5% or below rate.
Read: COVID-19 vaccination gives 97.4 pc protection from coronavirus infection
Besides, the case fatality rate rose to 1.66% during the period after remaining unchanged at 1.65% for a few days, said the DGHS.
The recovery rate rose slightly to 85.58% from Monday’s 85.50 % with 12,439 patients recovering during the 24-hour period.
Dhaka, the worst hit division, recorded the highest 84 of the deaths today, followed by 61 in Chattogram, 50 in Khulna ,21 in Rajshahi, 13 in Barishal, 11 each in Rangpur and Mymensingh and seven in Sylhet divisions.
Of them, 138 were men and 120 were women.
As per their age breakdowns, two were between 11-20, eight between 21-30, 16 between 31-40, 31 between 41-50, 54 between 51-60 and 147 were above 60, the release added.
Of the deaths, 46.53% were reported in Dhaka division so far followed by 18.37% in Chattogram and 13.20% in Khulna, making them the three worst hit regions of Covid-19 in the country.
Read: All will get Covid vaccine shots, reassures PM Hasina
Vaccination campaign to gain momentum
The Covid-19 vaccination programme at union level will start across the country on August 7, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Tuesday.
The minister announced the government's decision while talking to reporters after a meeting held at the conference room of the Cabinet division.
“The prime minister has ordered speeding up the vaccination drive. One can get vaccinated at the union level showing his or her NID card. Vaccination centres will be set up in unions across the country before August 7,” he said.
Those who do not have any NID will be vaccinated under a special arrangement, he added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday reaffirmed her government's stance to ensure Covid-19 vaccine doses for all in any case.
Read: Vaccination at union level to start on Aug 7: Home Minster
The prime minister said she has already given directives to vaccinate the helping hands of a family, including housemaids and drivers, so that all of a family can remain protected.
The prime minister said 1.87 crore people have so far been vaccinated and all will be brought under the vaccination programme.
The prime minister said Bangladesh will produce vaccines in the future so that the people of the country do not suffer in any way.
The national vaccination campaign will now be accelerated at ward, union and upazila levels of the country as per directives of the prime minister, Maleque said while briefing reporters after attending the Cabinet meeting on Monday.
An initiative has been taken to vaccinate elderly people from the ward level as they are more reluctant about receiving it, the minister said, stressing the need for ensuring more Covid-19 tests of the samples coming from rural areas.