Bangladesh
Teen worker dies in Bagerhat bakery fire
A teen worker was burnt to death as a fire broke out in a bakery factory on Saturday night.
The deceased worker was identified as Ajim Sheikh, son of Emdad Sheikh from Kondla village in Sadar Upazila.
The fire broke out around 10pm on Saturday at Sumon Bakery Factory in the city's Kachua Potti area.
Also read: 3 Rohingyas killed in Ukhiya fire
A fellow worker from the bakery, Rubel, said after having dinner Ajim went to the second floor of the factory for sleeping as others left.
Later they got to know about the fire and his death, he said.
Ajim’s mother said they sent their son to work in that factory three years ago due to poverty.
Also read: 10 Covid patients die in India hospital fire
Deputy-assistant director of Bagerhat fire service and civil defense Golam Sarowar said, a short circuit in the motor beside timber storage room on the second floor has caused the fire.
The fire may have caused Tk 2-3 lakhs worth loss to the owner, he said.
Additional superintendent of Bagerhat, Md Shafin Ahmed, said with the help of locals fire service staff contained the blaze after two hours of effort.
Also read: Rohingya camp fire: Death toll climbs to 11
The dead body was recovered after the fire was doused and sent for an autopsy, said the superintendent of police.
Women continue making amazing contributions in STEM fields: US
US Deputy Chief of Mission JoAnne Wagner has joined local STEM educators and students to inaugurate the 2021 “STEM Olympiad for Girls” competition and a discussion programme to encourage young women and girls to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineer, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
During the two-day virtual event, funded by the Embassy’s Public Affairs Section and in partnership with RoboLab, more than 200 middle school, high school, and undergraduate students from all eight divisions completed STEM challenges and quizzes, participated in mentor discussions with female Bangladeshi scientists and engineers, and celebrated their achievements in an awards ceremony held recently.
Read STEM education for girls: New project launched in Bangladesh
Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Death toll hits another new high of 102
Bangladesh saw its daily deaths from coronavirus shatter the local record yet again with 102 fatalities between Saturday and Sunday morning.
It was the third consecutive day that the country registered more than 100 deaths in a 24-hour period.
The latest fatalities pushed up the death tally to 10,385 with a mortality rate of 1.44 percent, according to a handout from the Directorate General of Health Services.
Data released by the government show a downward trend in tests and new cases as the number of deaths and recoveries rise steadily.
With fewer tests, the number of new cases remained low at 3,698 but the infection rate was at 19.06 percent, down from 21.46 percent on Saturday.
On Sunday, 19,404 samples were tested. The number was 34,630 on April 7 when the country recorded its highest single-day cases of 7,626.
Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8, 2020, and the first death on March 18 that year.
The country has so far confirmed 718,950 cases. But 614,936 people – 85.53 percent of all patients – have recovered so far.
Deadliest weeks
April has been the most devastating month so far, with 1,339 deaths and 104,182 new cases.
More people tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 20 days than in the last 10 months.
The virus claimed 568 lives in January this year, 281 in February and 638 in March.
Also read: South Asia fast becoming new global epicentre of Covid-19: IFRC
Last year’s months-long ‘general holiday’ helped curb the virus’ transmission and keep the fatalities low but people have since shown reluctance to adhere to health rules. The lackadaisical attitude has been blamed for the worsening coronavirus situation.
COVID-19 Enterprise Response Fund launched for entrepreneurs
The Ministry of Commerce with the support of the World Bank Group on Sunday launched a new funding window called Covid-19 Enterprise Response Fund (CERF) for entrepreneurs to get investment supports for meeting the demand and supply of Medical and Personal Protective Equipment (MPPE) products in local and international markets .
It is a program of US$7.5 million matching-grant where entrepreneurs will get investment supports under the Export Competitiveness for Jobs (EC4J) project being implemented by the Ministry of Commerce.
The CERF of the Export Readiness Fund (ERF) Program under the EC4J project was launched Sunday through virtual platform.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi was present at the virtual launching of the fund as the chief guest.
Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman and World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan Mercy Miyang Tembon joined the virtual launching as special guests.
Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Dr Md Jafar Uddin chaired the launching ceremony of the fund.
Speaking at the function Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said that the CERF is a very timely step by the Ministry of Commerce.
Mentioning that the Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected the global economy including Bangladesh, he said, "We'll have to take pragmatic steps to face this deadly virus.”
He said the purpose of producing these health and medical safety products for Covid-19 is not only for tapping the domestic market, but also the international market.
He informed that the matching grants to be provided under CERF to the competitive firms ranging between $50,000 to $5,00,000 is a great milestone.
"We hope our producers will take advantage of the fund to successfully tap into a new product segment which is critical to face the COVID-19. I believe it (CERF) will work for the interest of the people and also for the world," the Minister said.
Private Industry and Investment Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Salman F Rahman said that the government of Bangladesh has taken various steps to face the pandemic while CERF is one of such pragmatic initiatives to build resilience of the domestic producers of such MPPE products in the ever-changing world.
"It will strengthen the government's plan to boost the export market.”
Noting that the CERF would strengthen the base of MPPE producers in the country, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce said that this would give safety to people from this deadly COVID-19 virus in one hand and also facilitate exports on the other hand.
Dr Jafar also urged the local entrepreneurs to come forward and thus apply for this grant on first come, first serve basis.
World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh Mercy Tembon said the Cov-19id has come before the world as a shock and the pandemic is hitting the poor severely.
Highlighting some salient features of the CERF supported by the World Bank, Mercy Tembon said the World Bank is committed to enhance the competitiveness of the country as well as would continue to help building a resilient economy and achieving a robust growth.
She mentioned that this CERF would boost production of MPPE products by the local entrepreneurs, increase domestic supply and thus increase exports.
With the rolling out of the COVID-19 vaccines in the country, the World Bank Country Director hoped that Bangladesh would bounce back better in the coming days.
She also hoped that the CERF would go a long way to the process of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Project Director of EC4J Project and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Md Hafizur Rahman, team leader of ERF management unit Dave Runganaikaloo, World Bank representative and private sector specialist Hosna Ferdous Sumi and deputy team leader of ERF management unit Emdadul Haque also present at the virtual launching.
The purpose of CERF is to support Bangladeshi businesses to repurpose and pivot their operations and build resilience in an ever-changing economic environment.
The CERF will support private enterprises to procure plant, equipment, materials and know-how for rapid repurposing of capacity to produce MPPE products on a sustainable basis.
CERF grants will be made available to private Bangladeshi firms from any industry sector, providing they are in the production or have plans to manufacture qualifying MPPE products.
CERF grants will range from US$50,000 (minimum grant size) to US$500,000 (maximum grant size) for supported projects. The contribution of the grant recipients will be 40% for SMEs and 50% for large enterprises.
Key product or service features supported by the CERF will include-Manufacturing of MPPE products including personal protective equipment, diagnostic equipment and clinical care equipment and MPPE product design, including, for example, modifications to technical specifications and packaging, buyers’ designs, etc.
The others are- Services for MPPE such as research, development, certification and testing, and support to new techniques to establish, diversify or extend a firm’s range of saleable MPPE products/services, or their introduction and adaptation.
Out of the total applications, about 50 applications will be accepted on competitive basis for this CERF.
The ERF was initially a program of US$10 million matching-grant program of the EC4J Project that provides financial support to eligible Bangladeshi firms in four targeted sectors (Leather and Leather goods, Footwear (Both Leather and Non-leather), Plastics and Light Engineering) to identify gaps, catalyse investment and improve Environmental, Social and Quality (ESQ) standards in efforts to enhance their competitiveness in the export markets.
The purpose of ERF is to integrate Bangladesh in the value chain of global export market. The Export Readiness Fund provides grant-based incentives to firms to support exports from Bangladesh.
A door of immense potentials has already been opened before Bangladesh amid the growing challenges for meeting the demand and supply of Medical and Personal Protective Equipment (MPPE) products in local and international markets to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
For this, the government has come forward to support the country's entrepreneurs to seize the opportunities.
Ex-MP Gazi MM Amzad Hossain Milon passes away
Former Sirajganj-3 MP and Tarash Upazila Awami League president freedom fighter Gazi MM Amzad Hossain Milon passed away on Sunday. He was 72.
He breathed his last at 11:30am while receiving treatment at a hospital in Siranjganj, said an AL release.
Also read:Ex-BNP MP dies of Covid-19 in Rajshahi
The valiant freedom fighter left behind wife, two sons, two daughters, and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of MM Amzad Hossain Milon.
In a condolence message, the Prime Minister prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul of Milon and expressed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.
AL general secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader also mourned the death of the president of Tarash Upazila AL unit, said the AL’s release.
Also read:Awami League MP Aslamul Haq dies
Milon was elected MP with AL’s ticket from Sirajganj-3 constituency in the 2014 general election.
On November 11, 1949, Gazi MM Amzad Hossain was born at Magura Binod village in Tarash Upazila in Sirajganj district.
Inter-bank cheque settlement, e-fund transfer system resumed at BB
Inter-bank cheque settlement and electronic fund transfer system of Bangladesh Bank resumed on Sunday (April 18, 2021) morning after five days of suspension.
The system was suspended on Tuesday (April 13, 2021) last due to a technical fault in the optical fiber of Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL).
Also read: Inter-bank cheque settlement, electronic fund transfer suspended due to technical fault
“The Inter-bank cheque settlement and electronic fund transfer system resumed operation from the morning and there is no problem in this regard as it is working in full swing”, Sirajul Islam, BB spokesperson, told UNB.
According to official sources at the BB, one of the two servers, one located at the central bank and another at Bangladesh Bank Training Academy in Mirpur, became inoperative resulting in disruption in the electronic fund transfer inter-bank cheque settlement.
Read BB signs PAs with 12 banks, 2 FIs to operate Tk1,000 crore TDF
Technicians of both BB and BTCL were working to resolve the problem and finally they became successful in repairing the glitch.
Official sources said the glitch took place following an order from the central bank to stop operation of the system during the all-out lockdown. But after the change in the decision, when the clearing house was asked to resume the system, it started experiencing problems in the server, said a source at the BB.
Also read: Banks to operate from 10am to 1 pm for general transactions ...
2500 sued over Banshkhali incident
Two cases have been filed against 2500 people in connection with the clash at a coal-based power plant in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram that left five people dead on Saturday.
Shafiul Kabir, officer-in-charge of Banshkhali Police Station, said two separate cases-one on behalf of the power plant authority and another by police – were filed with the police station on charge of obstructing police from performing duties on Saturday night.
Some 2000-2500 unidentified people have been made accused in the two cases, said the OC.
Five workers of a coal-based power plant of S Alam Group were shot to death and 25 others injured in a clash between police and workers over payment of their dues in Banshkhali upazila on Saturday.
Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, Banshkhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), said police fired bullets on workers in self-defence as the workers went on rampage demanding payment of their dues.
But the workers claimed that police opened fire on them during their peaceful demonstration.
Workers said they were asking the authorities concerned to provide their salary regularly and set a new duty time for Ramadan.
Also read: Police firing in Chattogram leaves five workers dead
Besides, the authorities were forcing them to work 10 hours instead of eight hours and on Fridays.
The workers also placed their 11-point demand to the authorities but they showed reluctant attitude towards their demand, forcing the workers to staged demonstrations, they claimed.
“A tense situation was created between workers and the power plant authority over the salary and working hours. Local people also took part in Saturday 's demonstrations and set fire to vehicles and carried out vandalism that forced the law enforcers to take action,” said the UNO.
Besides, local administration has formed a four-member probe committee while police formed a three-member committee over the incident.
The power plant authorities have assured of providing Tk 3 lakh each to the families of the five deceased and Tk 50,000 each to the the injured victims.
Hefazat leader Mamunul Haq finally arrested
Joint secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam Mamunul Haq was finally arrested from a madrasah in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area on Sunday.
A joint team, comprising members of the police, Detective Branch and other forces, conducted a drive at Jamia Rahmania Madrasah at noon and arrested him, said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Media) Iftekharul Islam.
Also read: 2 more senior Hefazat leaders arrested from Dhaka
At a press briefing, deputy commissioner of DMP Harunur Rashid said, “Mamunul was arrested in connection with a case filed over vandalism with Mohammadpur Police Station in 2020.”
Ekushey Padak winning actor SM Mohsin dies of Covid-19
SM Mohsin, one of the renowned theatre activists who was conferred with the Ekushey Padak in 2020, died of Covid-19 on Sunday morning at BIRDEM General Hospital in the capital. He was 73.
The actor’s son Rashek Mohsin told the media that his father breathed his last at 9:30 am.
He will be laid to eternal rest after Asr prayers at the Azimpur graveyard in the capital, according to Directors Guild president Salahuddin Lavlu.
Read Bangla Academy Chairman Shamsuzzaman Khan loses battle with Covid-19
Upon tested positive for Covid-19 on April 5, SM Mohsin was admitted to Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital. He was then shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Impulse Hospital after his condition worsened.
Then he was taken to BIRDEM General Hospital, where he breathed his last on Sunday morning.
With a career spanning four decades, SM Mohsin cemented his legacy as a prolific persona in the arts and culture sphere of the country.
Also read: Eminent film actor Wasim passes away
He was born in 1948 at Mirzapur, Tangail and completed his alma mater in Bangla and Journalism at Dhaka University. He later channeled his knowledge through becoming a faculty member of the Department of Drama and Dramatics at Jahangirnagar University.
In his esteemed administrative career, Mohsin also served as acting director-general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and also the first project director of the National Theatre. He became an honorary fellow of the Bangla Academy in 2018.
As an actor, Mohsin acted in many notable theatre productions including Rokte Bheja Shapla, Munier Choudhury-directed play Kobor and Chithi, other plays namely Dipantar, Subachan Nirbasane, Chup Adalat Cholchhe and more. He was actively involved with the theatre troupe Drama Circle. He made his radio debut performing in a play named Padakshep.
Read Eminent Rabindra Sangeet singer Mita Haque passes away
Mohsin garnered mainstream popularity as a television actor with his performances in dramas including Mohor Ali, Sakin Sarisuri, Gorom Bhat Othoba Nichhok Bhuter Golpo, Nilambari and others.
He also acted in films namely Chitra Nodir Pare, Brihannala and others. He completed his last film shooting for the movie Antaratma on April 2, starring Shakib Khan and directed by Wazed Ali Sumon.
Besides winning the Ekushey Padak for his contributions in the cultural sector in 2020, SM Mohsin received Meril Prothom Alo Award for Best Television Actor (2007) and Shilpakala Padak (2017), to name a few.
Also read: Kabori: The doyen of Bangladeshi cinema departs
More people, vehicles on Dhaka roads in defiance of lockdown rules
Despite an alarming spike in Covid-19 deaths in Bangladesh, people continue to defy restrictions on movement as a higher number of people and vehicles were seen on the streets in Dhaka on the 5th day of lockdown enforced by the government from April 14 to contain the spread of the virus.
No public transport is available on the roads but the number of private vehicles, rickshaws and auto-rickshaws are higher than the previous days as garment factories, banks and organizations providing emergency services resume operations after weekly holidays.
Rickshaws are dominating the roads as the movement of people has increased remarkably.
Police are seen checking people’s movement pass at different points and allowing those to go who have valid reasons for going out.
Members of the law enforcement agencies are seen putting up barricades at different parts of the capital for checking people with body-worn camera uniforms which can record any untoward incident.
Also read: Lockdown day 3: Dhaka streets largely deserted
Meanwhile, pressure of vehicles was seen on Uttara-Banani-Mohakhali road where in some places police were seen controlling traffic which was absent in the last four days.
Joint Commissioner Traffic (North) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Abu Raihan MD Saleh said, “Movement of public transport remained suspended and the law enforcing agencies are continuing regular activities at check-posts. People are seen passing with movement pass.In some cases, people have been facing fines or cases while failing to show any valid reason for leaving home.”
Though shopping malls and shops on main roads remained closed, some grocery stores in residential areas were allowed to operate for a few hours in the morning to enable people to buy their daily essentials.
Also read: Lockdown: Many in Dhaka ignore restrictions in open defiance
A surge in coronavirus cases prompted the government to go for a 8-day complete lockdown from April 14. On Saturday the country recorded 101 deaths for the second consecutive day and 3473 new cases.
The complete lockdown will continue till April 21 midnight.
Lockdown instructions
During the lockdown, all government, semi-government, autonomous, private offices and financial institutions will remain closed.
All modes of public transport, including those of road, river, railway and air, will remain suspended.
However, the restrictions will not apply to emergency services. Industries and factories have also been allowed to operate but on condition of maintaining health protocols.
The offices, staffers and vehicles of the organisations providing emergency services, including law enforcement, agricultural products (fertilisers, seeds, pesticides, machinaries), crops, relief distribution, health services, power, water, gas, fire services, port activities, media (print and electronic media) and postal services, have been kept out of the purview of the restrictions.
People’s movement will be restricted and no one will be allowed to go outside except for emergency needs (to purchase medicines, daily essentials, to take medical services and burial/ cremation of bodies, taking Covid-19 jabs etc).
Hotels and restaurants can operate with takeaway/online services only from 12 pm to 7 pm and from 12 am to 6 am.
The government imposed a 'loose' nationwide lockdown for one week from April 5 as part of its move to contain the spike in both coronavirus infections and fatalities.
But the government allowed the resumption of public transport in city corporation areas from April 7 as well as reopening shops and shopping malls for five days from April 9 in the face of protests against the lockdown.