Bangladesh
Second photo exhibition on life, legacy of Bangabandhu begins in Seoul
As part of the ongoing celebration of ‘Mujib Year’, a second photo exhibition on the life and legacy of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman began on Tuesday in Seoul, South Korea.
The Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul organized the four-day event in partnership with the Youngone Corporation at the cultural space of the Youngone Corporation in Seoul.
Bangladesh Ambassador to South Korea Abida Islam and Chairman of the Youngone Corporation Sung Ki-hak jointly inaugurated the exhibition by a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Officials of the Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul and Youngone Corporation and the members of the Bangladesh Community were present.
The Embassy organized the first photo exhibition on the life and legacy of Bangabandhu at the heart of Seoul in partnership with the Korean Culture Association on July 9-13 at the THEO Gallery, Gangnam.
READ: Photo exhibition on life, legacy of Bangabandhu inaugurated in Seoul
Ambassador Abida Islam paid profound tribute to the memory of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the greatest Bangalee of all time.
Highlighting the different aspects of Bangabandhu’s political activities and contributions, she said Bangabandhu’s enormous activities have been well reflected in the photographs displayed at the exhibition.
Rupganj factory fire: 45 DNA-matched bodies to be handed over from tomorrow
The bodies of the Shezan juice factory fire victims would be handed over to their families from Wednesday.
The identities of 45 workers killed in the factory fire have been confirmed through DNA tests, officials said Tuesday. These bodies were recovered in an unrecognisably charred state.
Also read: Rupganj factory fire: Claimants found for 40 bodies out of 48, after 56 families submit DNA samples
Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mostain Billah said some of the bodies were kept in Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) morgue.
It was learned that 24 bodies kept at Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue will be handed to families at noon Wednesday. The rest were kept at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital morgue to be handed over in the next two days.
Also read: PM monitoring developments after factory fire in Rupganj: Quader
However, identities of three of the 48 bodies recovered in the same state from the same floor could not be ascertained from DNA matches.
Deputy Commissioner Mostain Billah further said that the families of the listed 45 deceased will be given Tk 50,000 for the burial and funeral.
No movement without vaccine will be allowed after Aug. 11: Minister
Taking Covid jabs has been made mandatory for public movement from Aug. 11, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque said on Tuesday urging people to get vaccinated to avoid punishment.
The minister said this while talking to reporters about the government decision of extending the ongoing lockdown till August 10.
He said, “It has been made mandatory to take Covid jabs for public movement from August 11.
Read: BMRC clears Indian Covaxin’s clinical trials in Bangladesh
Any movement without being vaccinated would be considered a punishable offense.”
As per the government decision of reopening workplaces, local shops, factories and retail outlets along with public transports from August 11, people who didn’t get Covid jabs yet were instructed to get vaccinated within the remaining days of extended lockdown.
Read: Vaccine coproduction deal with Sinopharm ready for signing: FM
The government is set to launch a nationwide mass vaccination drive from 14,000 vaccine centres from August 7 aimed at giving shots to one crore people in one week. Once vaccinated, the certificate will be available to download on the website and it will work as the movement pass for people, he said.
The minister warned further that anyone over the age of 18 without a vaccine found on the street after the lockdown ends will face punishment.
PM congratulates Tigers on historic win
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday congratulated Bangladesh cricket team for its maiden win over mighty Australia in T20 format of cricket.
Also read: Tigers create history winning first T20I v mighty Australia
Tigers beat touring Aussies by 23 runs in the low-scoring first T20I of five at the Sher-E-Bangla Cricket Stadium.
BMRC clears Indian Covaxin’s clinical trials in Bangladesh
Bangladesh Medical and Research Council (BMRC) has approved in principle the clinical trials of Indian Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin in Bangladesh.
BMRC Chairman Prof Dr Syed Modasser Ali shared the information with UNB on Tuesday.
On July 18, Covaxin, a Coronavirus vaccine jointly developed by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), got the clearance for its clinical trials in Bangladesh, he said.
Read: Vaccine coproduction deal with Sinopharm ready for signing: FM
Contract Research Organization (CRO) icddr,b had applied seeking permission for the clinical trials of the Indian vaccine in Bangladesh a few months ago.
After the review of necessary documents, the vaccine got clearance from the BMRC, said Dr Modasser.
He, however, said the approval of the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) will be needed to start the clinical trials of Covaxin in the country.
Read: No Covid vaccine crisis in the country, says Quader
India has planned to facilitate its clinical trials in Bangladesh in a bid to enhance the recognition of indigenous coronavirus vaccine, Covaxin, according to Indian media reports.
India has not supplied any Covaxin doses to Bangladesh so far.
CTG mayor vows to resist building of hospital in CRB area
The mayor of Chattogram on Tuesday vowed to resist the planned construction of a hospital in Chattogram Railway Building (CRB) area, considered the port city’s hub of natural oxygen.
Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said this while exchanging views with members of Nagarik Samaj which has been protesting against the building a hospital at CRB area under a public-private partnership between the government and the United Hospital.
“We shall not allow construction of any structure, not only the hospital,” the mayor declared.
He said CRB, surrounded by hills and hundreds of trees, is a government-declared cultural heritage. “Any structure that destroys its natural beauty and damage the environment will be allowed here,” said the mayor expressing his solidarity with the protesters.
“The move to build a hospital in CRB is a part of an evil motive which will not be tolerated,” stated Mayor Rezaul adding “We all want hospitals but not in CRB.”
Read: Ctg lawyer files case seeking ban on building hospital at CRB
If the railway authority doesn’t allow any other land for building the hospital CCC is ready to provide land, he said.
Vice-Chancellor of Chattogram University, Prof. Dr Shirin Akter said the area is sacred as Liberation War martyr student leader Abdur Rab and many other martyrs were buried in CRB.
Building any kind of commercial establishment in the CRB will be like dishonouring the memory of the martyrs, she said.
The idea to build a hospital under Private Public Partnership in CRB was first broached at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on August 14, 2013.
But the project was finally approved in February 2020.
However, residents of the Port City got a rude shock when they came to learn about it on a signboard that appeared at the intended site some weeks ago.
The shock soon turned into a movement against the hospital planned at CRB, and it has kept gaining momentum.
On July 17, they held rallies, a tree plantation program, formed a human chain and even engaged in other forms of protests all day.
A legal notice was sent to concerned individuals including the Cabinet Secretary, Secretary of the Ministry of Railways, Director General of Bangladesh Railways and a few others by the Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation’ on behalf of the protestors to remove the hospital site elsewhere.
Over 1.6 million AstraZeneca doses received from Japan
Bangladesh has so far received 1,643,300 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine doses from Japan with the arrival of the third consignment of 616,780 doses under the COVAX facility.
“Japan will provide 3 million (doses of AstraZeneca) in total to Bangladesh and so far dispatched 1,643,300 doses,” said Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Naoki Ito after handing over the third consignment to Bangladesh.
The Ambassador said he is pleased that with the gift from the Japanese people, AstraZeneca’s second dose administering resumed on Monday.
Read: Third consignment of AstraZeneca jabs from Japan to reach Dhaka Tuesday
The Japanese government is providing the vaccine doses through the COVAX Facility to meet the urgent needs of the Bangladeshi people who have been long waiting for the second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine.
354 held for breaching lockdown rules on day 12
Police arrested 354 people in Dhaka for violating lockdown restrictions on the 12th day of the countrywide strict lockdown on Tuesday.
The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for coming out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam.
Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 1,77,000 in fines from 120 people.
Read: People find 'easy excuses' to defy lockdown in Dhaka
Besides, the Traffic Division collected Tk 1,12,3000 as penalties from 532 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
On the 12th day of lockdown, the streets of Dhaka flooded with vehicles bringing back its chaotic days.
Read: Covid kills 218 more in Bangladesh as its catastrophe continues
Everything except public transports were plying city streets and people wandering around with little or no regard to the health guidelines.
The government, meanwhile, has extended the current lockdown till August 10.
HC gives 15 days to settle fate of 18 imported Brahman-breed cows
The High Court on Tuesday ordered the customs to settle within 15 days a company’s appeal to handover to it 18 Brahman-breed cows seized at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport last month.
An HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim passed the order virtually after hearing a petition filed by Imran Hossain, owner of Sadek Agro Farm at Mohammadpur that claimed to have imported the herd from the US.
Barrister Ruhul Kuddus and Barrister Mehedi Hasan stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Bipul Bagmar represented the state.
Read: Special BCS: HC will not intervene in appointing doctors
Imran filed a petition seeking the release of 18 imported Brahman-breed cows seized by customs officials at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on July 5, to his custody.
On Monday, a writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking the release of the cows, which are now at Savar Dairy Farm under the care of Livestock Department.
Barrister Mehedi Hasan filed the petition on behalf of Imran Hossain.
Read: HC seeks govt decision on Covid jabs to pregnant women
“The cows were imported from the US and arrived on a Turkish Airlines flight. We seized them as the import of Brahman-breed cows is not legal in the country,” Md Abdus Sadek, deputy commissioner (preventive) of Dhaka Customs House said.
The market value of each cow is Tk 12-15 lakh.
Refugee Policy Review done by UNHCR following its framework
The World Bank on Tuesday said the Refugee Policy Review was done by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) following the Refugee Policy Review Framework.
UNHCR collected baseline information on the existing policies, practices, and programmes, said the global lending agency in a statement posted on its website.
The WB said the review does not make any country-specific recommendations.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen also said the it was for the countries which are hosting refugees.
On Monday, he reiterated the government position against any long term programme by the World Bank for integration of Rohingyas into Bangladesh but indicated some adjustments on the proposal.
Read: Bangladesh receives $590 million World Bank financing to tackle Rohingya situation
"We have dropped all ideas (from WB proposal) that doesn't match with our own philosophy that's repatriation," Dr Momen, adding that Bangladesh's priority remains repatriation of the Rohingyas.
The World Bank is helping Bangladesh address the needs of the displaced Rohingya population until their safe and voluntarily return to Myanmar, said the statement.
The World Bank is also supporting Bangladesh to minimize the impact of the influx on the host communities, it said.
The World Bank has committed $590 million for Bangladesh to address the health, informal education, safety net, water and sanitation, and basic infrastructure, including climate resilient roads, solar street lights, and disaster preparedness needs of both the displaced Rohingya and host communities in Cox’s Bazar.
The World Bank’s research and analysis are also providing insights for understanding the challenges and development priorities in Cox’s Bazar.
Read: Repatriation is the only solution, not integration: FM about Rohingya crisis
"The entire $590 million financing is on grant terms. This is not a credit," reads the statement.
The Refugee Policy Review aims to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the World Bank financing for the refugee and host communities, said the WB.
This review has been done in each of the 14 World Bank member countries that are currently hosting displaced population.