Bangladesh
Tackling Covid spread is not Health Ministry’s job: Minister
Preventing the spread of Covid-19 is not the job of the Health Ministry, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Monday.
“The Health Ministry’s responsibility is to ensure proper treatment. There are other ministries working to fend off the virus ”, he added.
Zahid said this while attending a virtual meeting with the government officers, public representatives, political persons of Manikganj and media on the ongoing Covid-19 situation.
Also read: Opposition MPs call Health Minister “shameless” over health sector “failures”
He said, for a year and half the country has been fighting this invisible entity and now “We have to be more careful than ever before.”
“Earlier rural people thought they wouldn't get infected by the virus but now the infection rate is highest in the rural areas”, said the minister.
He urged the union and ward monitoring committees to be more concerned to tackle the virus surge. “We are contracting the virus due to our carelessness,” he said.
Zahid said 50,000 health workers, including doctors, nurses and technicians, have been appointed across the country as worsening Covid-19 situation has made it impossible to treat the general patients at the hospitals.
Also read: Health minister hopes to get 11 crore vaccine doses by December
“Preparation to appoint more health workers have been completed too”, he added.
He said, already 90% of the hospital beds have been occupied, if we don’t become concerned now increasing hospital beds won’t suffice the crisis.
Regarding the vaccination, Zahid said, “We will get 1 crore vaccine doses this month and another 1 crore in the next.”
But maintaining health rules and wearing masks is mandatory as well as vaccination, he added.
The minister announced the 250-bed Manikganj General Hospital as a Covid-19 dedicated hospital during the meeting.
Covid vaccine supply: Gavi signs deals with Sinopharm, Sinovac for COVAX
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has signed advance purchase agreements (APAs) with China's Sinopharm and Sinovac to provide up to 550 million Covid-19 vaccines to the COVAX programme immediately.
The new deals include up to 170 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine and up to 380 million shots of the Sinovac vaccine, until mid-2022, Gavi said in a statement Monday.
"The agreements, which come at a time when the Delta variant is posing a rising risk to health systems, will begin to make 110 million doses immediately available to participants of the COVAX Facility, with options for additional doses," the statement read.
READ: Bangladesh hopeful of receiving 3.5 mln vaccine doses from COVAX this month: FM
"This is yet another example of Gavi's active portfolio management strategy, ensuring the Facility has options in the face of constraints such as supply delays. Thanks to this deal, and because these vaccines have already received WHO Emergency Use Listing, we can move to start supplying doses to countries immediately," said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi.
The Sinopharm APA enables Q3 supply, with Gavi committing to purchase, on behalf of the COVAX Facility, 60 million doses that will be made available from July through October 2021.
Also, Gavi has the option to purchase a further 60 million doses in Q4 2021 and 50 million more doses in the first half of 2022, if necessary.
This equates to a potential total of 170 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine that could be made available to self-financing participants of the Facility as well as participants supported by the Gavi COVAX advance market commitment (AMC).
READ: COVAX: US welcomes shipment of 2.5mn vaccine doses to Bangladesh
The Sinovac APA also enables Q3 supply, with Gavi committing to purchase, on behalf of the COVAX Facility, 50 million doses to be made available from July through September 2021.
Also, Gavi has the option to purchase a further 150 million doses in Q4 2021 and 180 million more doses in the first half of 2022.
In total, up to 380 million potential doses of the Sinovac vaccine could be available to both self-financing participants of the Facility and those supported by the Gavi COVAX AMC.
The COVAX Facility portfolio, administered by Gavi, currently consists of agreements related to 11 vaccines and vaccine candidates – AstraZeneca/Oxford, Clover, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Novavax, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sanofi/GSK, SII-Covishield, SII-Covovax, Sinopharm and Sinovac – providing participants access to a diverse range of vaccines suitable for use in varied contexts and settings and to mitigate against the risk of research and development failures, regulatory delays and supply constraints.
READ: COVAX calls for equal recognition of all approved vaccines
Gavi has recently published an updated Facility global supply forecast, which shows that thanks to several deals with manufacturers and donations from countries with excess supply, COVAX is on track to deliver more than 2 billion doses by early 2022. Of these, 1.8 billion fully donor-funded doses will be available for the 92 lower-income participants eligible for support by the Gavi COVAX AMC.
604 people held in city during lockdown
In their bid to strictly enforce restrictions police arrested 604 people in the capital for alleged violation of a 14-day lockdown on its 12th day Monday.
The arrestees were out on the streets violating restrictions, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam.
Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 2,63,900 as fines from 168 rules breakers.
READ: Govt likely to ease lockdown for 8 days from July 15 to July 22
During this time, the Traffic Division collected Tk 15,62,000 from 727 vehicles as penalties for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Bangladesh is currently under a 14-day lockdown imposed to tame an alarming surge in the Covid infections across the country.
Started on July 1 the nationwide strict lockdown will continue until July 14 midnight.
READ: Lockdown Breaches: 708 arrested, Tk 5.5 lakh fined on day 11
Meanwhile, both Covid cases and fatalities continue to rage across the country.
Bangladeshi students to get priority in returning to China: Hualong
Bangladeshis will get priority while international students are allowed to return to their educational institutions in China when the Covid-19 situation improves, Deputy Chief of Mission at Chinese Embassy in Dhaka Hualong Yan said Monday.
He also said the Bangladeshi students at Chinese educational institutions will get priority in receiving the Chinese vaccine.
Read Chinese firms working with Bangladeshi partners for vaccine co-production
The diplomat was responding to a question during a seminar held virtually to mark the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Association of Bangladesh-China Alumni (ABCA) organised the seminar.
Hualong said the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka remains engaged to facilitate the return of Bangladeshi students who have been studying at different universities in China.
Read Cabinet body okays proposal to procure 1.5 crore Chinese Sinopharm vaccine
He said no students from any country are being allowed to return to Chinese universities now, considering the Covid-19 situation. "Not just Bangladeshi students, students from India, the US and the UK are unable to return to China."
Dr Syed Anwar Hossain, supernumerary Professor of Dhaka University, presented the keynote paper at the seminar; Brigadier General (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hossain, the former Election Commissioner, joined as designated discussant.
Read Covid vaccine: China to send additional 6 lakh doses as gift
The meeting was presided over by Munshi Faiz Ahmad, former ambassador of Bangladesh to China and president of ABCA. AAM Muzahid, member secretary of ABCA, was also present.
Munshi Faiz said the ruling party of China – CPC – has been playing an important role in strengthening Bangladesh-China ties.
Read Govt approves proposal to import Sinofarm vaccine
"The CPC is playing a significant role in the socio-economic development of China and beyond, and Bangladesh remains China's important friend," he added.
Govt likely to ease lockdown for 8 days from July 15 to July 22
The ongoing ‘strict lockdown’ may be eased from July 15 to July 22, said a handout of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
The handout said the Cabinet division will issue a notification in this regard. However, the strict lockdown may be reinforced from July 23, it added.
A record rise in the number of Covid cases and fatalities in recent days prompted the government to go for the lockdown.
Also read: Train services to be on from July 15-22: Minister
The nationwide strict lockdown, first imposed for a week until July 7 midnight, has now been extended for another week until July 14 midnight as the Covid infection rate keeps surging across the country.
Also read: 604 people held in city during lockdown
Train services to be on from July 15-22: Minister
Bangladesh Railway is going to restore its passenger train services for eight days from July 15-22 across the country keeping 50% of the seats empty apparently to facilitate the movement of people during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
A notification in this regard with further details will be issued by the Cabinet Division soon, said Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujon on Monday.
READ: Special cattle trains ahead of Eid-ul-Azha
He said the train tickets will, however, be available online and not in any ticket counter.
A record rise in the number of Covid cases and fatalities in recent days prompted the government to enforce a nationwide lockdown suspending all the public transport services, including passenger trains.
Now the nationwide lockdown, first imposed for a week until July 7 midnight, has been extended for another week until July 14 midnight as the Covid infections keep spreading across the country.
READ: Train services on several routes suspended
LGRD minister calls for public awareness to prevent dengue
Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam on Monday called for city dwellers’ cooperation in the drive against Aedes mosquito that causes dengue.
“The areas where Aedes mosquitoes can spread or breed have been identified and everybody knows how to destroy Aedes, Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes. There is no alternative other than creating more awareness to prevent dengue outbreak,” he said.
The minister was speaking at a virtual inter-ministerial meeting on action to prevent the mosquito-borne diseases across the country.
He said dengue must not be allowed to spread as the country is now struggling to rein the surging Covid infections.
“Mosquitoes know no border and the people of entire country can’t be allowed to be harmed due to the irresponsibility of one or two men. Everyone should work in a coordinated way and perform their duties with responsibility,” he said.
Responding to allegations of Aedes larvae being found in different establishments, Tajul said “It’s a major crime to be negligent in destroying the breeding centres of mosquitoes those found responsible for it will be penalised.”
READ: Govt to import German machine to clean up floating garbage: LGRD Minister
Besides, the two city corporations are conducting drives in this regard through mobile courts, he said.
Tajul also urged the authorities concerned of under-construction buildings to use larvicide or kerosene on stagnant water over the basement or building roof.
Committees will be formed after dividing each ward into ten sub zones and a councillor will lead the committee comprising members from the public, he said.
The committee can be engaged in dealing with relief distribution, mosquito killing, waterlogging problem and natural disaster.
READ: Government mulls National Water Grid Line: LGRD Minister
ILO spreads Covid-19 awareness among RMG workers
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched the "Behaviour Change Awareness Campaign" to identify and reduce the Covid-19 risks faced by readymade garment (RMG) workers in their workplaces and communities.
Launched in June in collaboration with Brac, the campaign targeted at least 5,000 households in the RMG-dense areas of Gazipur and Chattogram, covering a population of more than 20,000 people, with at least 60% of the beneficiaries being women.
Funded by Denmark and Sweden, the campaign is a part of the ILO's Social Dialogue and Industrial Relations project's Covid-19 response work, jointly with the Department of Labour, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Employers' Federation, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Workers Resource Centre.
The campaign was developed based on the findings of a pulse survey conducted on 300 apparel workers to identify the gaps in their understanding of Covid-19 risks and preventive measures.
For example, only 38.6% of the respondents recognised Covid-19 as a deadly disease, and over one-third of expectant and new mothers surveyed had the misconception that breastmilk can spread Covid-19. So, the survey findings suggested launching an integrated behaviour change campaign.
With the tagline "Keep Corona away by knowing and complying," the campaign aims to inform RMG workers, their families and communities about Covid-19 symptoms. Special emphasis has been put on Covid-19 health tips for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
"As the second wave of Covid-19 continues to impact Bangladesh's apparel industry, personal and occupational protection against the disease has become a key component in every effort to build back better from the pandemic," Tuomo Poutiainen, country director of ILO Bangladesh, said.
"The campaign will complement the ILO's ongoing support to the industry by creating awareness and providing advice to build safe and healthy practices that protect workers and encourage good public behaviour at large," he added.
Featuring a series of awareness-raising videos, posters, leaflets, door-to-door meetings and public service announcements, the campaign will run till the end of October this year.
Other features of the campaign are community-level engagements, distribution of hygiene kits, social media campaigns, and SMS and voice messages that are being disseminated through mobile phones.
MoU signed to set up “Bangabandhu Chair” at Delhi University
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Delhi University on Monday signed an MoU to set up ‘Bangabandhu Chair’ at the university to honour Father of the Nation and the greatest Bengali of all times Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The decision for establishing the chair was taken during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh in March 2021.
The development, however, coincides with the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence and Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations.
Director General of ICCR Dinesh K Patnaik and Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University Prof PC Joshi signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides at a ceremony at ICCR in Azad Bhavan in New Delhi in the evening.
READ: Bangabandhu Chair to be established at Delhi University
President of ICCR Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran witnessed the signing ceremony when senior officials of the mission and Indian Ministry of External Affairs were present.
Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla sent a message on the occasion. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami joined the programme virtually from Dhaka.
As per the MoU, a foreign visiting professor or a subject expert on Bangladesh is likely to be a person of Bangladeshi origin who will be occupying the “chair”.
The key focus of establishment of the chair will be on the shared cultural heritage of India and Bangladesh with subjects like Anthropology, Buddhist Studies, Geography, History, Music, Fine Arts and Political Science.
Speaking on the occasion, the ICCR President said: “We’re proud to establish ‘Bangabandhu Chair’ at Delhi University in memory of an undisputed leader like Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Muhammad Imran said there is no doubt that the establishment of ‘Bangabandhu Chair’ is a timely initiative.
“I hope that it will immensely contribute to broaden our scope for intellectual and academic exchanges and intensify people to people contact. It would hopefully bridge the gap of information about today’s Bangladesh and her people – the unique history, determination and struggle for emancipation and independence, the recent economic achievements, the emerging soft power, the secular ideology, and overall future of the country,” he said.
He said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is one of the most iconic 20th century politicians of the world. “We believe the coming generations would continue to find Bangabandhu, a towering personality, with rock solid determination like Himalayas, as compared by Fidel Castro to describe him.
READ: Bangabandhu Chair to be established in University of Brasilia in Mujib Year
Bangladesh and India are enjoying excellent bilateral relations which have reached an unprecedented height under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.
“We will be doing a lot but we wanted to start with an important country and what more could be important than Bangladesh particularly this year when we are celebrating 50th anniversary of the Independence of Bangladesh, 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 100th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.” said Mr. Dinesh K. Patnaik, Director General, ICCR.
“I am sure that this very important innovation catalyzes further sharing of knowledge and understanding, future growth of ties among institutions and more common face of work, I hope that we find the distinguished occupant for the chair at the earliest.” stated Mr. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Foreign Secretary, MEA in his speech.
"It is a historical moment to host this first-ever Bangabandhu chair, who was an ideal hero for all of us and was a symbol of liberty, democracy, and freedom," said, Prof PC Joshi, Acting VC, University of Delhi
“We will work closely with ICCR and Delhi University to ensure that all sides are satisfied with the selection of candidates that we hope to find.” said Mr. Vikram Doraiswami, High Commission of India Dhaka.
READ: Bangabandhu Chair to be established in University of Brasilia in Mujib Year
“This chair is the celebration of commonality in our world view, we stand for peace, fraternity, and equal respect to all belief systems," said Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, President ICCR.
Dhaka to host World Peace Conference Dec 4-5: FM
Bangladesh will host a two-day world peace conference on December 4-5, marking the ongoing birth centenary celebration of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of independence.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen shared the update while talking to a small group of journalists on Monday.
“We want to do it in-person. We hope there’ll be an improvement in the Covid situation by this time. Initially, we thought it would be hosted in November,” he said, adding that the government is planning to introduce the Bangabandhu Peace Award during the conference.
READ: Dhaka to host World Peace Conference in November
Dr Momen said the world peace conference will be organised with the participation of progressive personalities and intellectuals who are promoting peace in the world.
On the vaccine issue, the Foreign Minister said vaccine doses will come but the health ministry knows about the time and its exact quantity.
He said Japan, being a big friend of Bangladesh, will also send vaccine doses under the Covax facility while China says they have no problem providing vaccines.
READ: Role of MPs important in building world peace: President
The Foreign Minister expressed displeasure as people are not following health guidelines and the infection rate is on the rise. “There’s no alternative to maintaining health guidelines.”