United News of Bangladesh

Authorities have intensified the screening of people returning from India through Benapole land port in a bid to prevent the spread of a new variant of Covid-19. Recently, the new cases of Covid have been reported in several Indian states, prompting the government to take precautionary measures. During a visit to the Benapole Checkpost Immigration, the UNB correspondent observed that officials assigned to the medical desk were rigorously screening incoming travellers. Hari Das, a passenger returning from India, said, “I went to India for treatment 10 days ago. I returned home today. Like in Bangladesh, there has been no testing or examination for Covid anywhere in India.” Another traveller, Monika Rani, said, “I returned home today after a month of treatment. I have not heard of any new spread of Covid in India. After coming back to the country, I see that they are conducting Corona tests.” Abdul Majid, a sub-assistant medical officer at the Immigration Health Department at Benapole Checkpost, said genetic sequencing tests in India have confirmed the spread of a new Covid strain in some regions of the country. “To ensure this variant does not spread in the country, we are carrying out health checks on all passengers returning from India as a precautionary measure from the health department,” he said. Death toll from Covid-19 officially marks 29, 500 in Bangladesh Any returning passenger shows the symptoms of Covid-19, they will be kept in isolation at the upazila health complex. To curb potential infections, health safety protocols, including screening, have been reinforced at all land and international entry points across the country. On June, the Director of Disease Control at the Directorate General of Health Services issued directives to this effect. FDA approves Moderna's new lower-dose COVID-19 vaccine India has witnessed a sudden rise in Covid cases since late May, more than five years after the virus was first declared a global pandemic. As of Thursday, there are 5,364 active cases in India, according to the country’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.    

Bangladesh reported three more COVID-19 cases in 24 hours till Sunday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total COVID-19 caseload rose to 2,021,742, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,500 as no new fatalities were reported during this period. Death toll from Covid-19 officially marks 29, 500 in Bangladesh The daily case test positivity rate was 75 percent as four samples were tested, said the DGHS. The recovery and death rates stood at 98.42 percent and 1.44 per cent, respectively.

The bullet-hit body of a trader was recovered from his house in Kushtia Sadar upazila on Sunday morning.  The deceased was identified as Abdur Rahman Ujjal, 35, son of late Osman of Tajmor area under Patikabari union of the upazila.  He worked as a distributor for a biscuit company and ran a photocopy shop at the local bazar.  Locals said he built a house on his own land a few yards away from his ancestral home due to family dispute the land and had been living there.  Around three months back, his wife went to her father’s housing with her son following dispute  with her husband.  Mother found dead with her two sons in Dhamrai village home Getting no response from the house for long on Sunday morning, neighbours entered his house and found the body lying on the bed.  The head bore marks of bullet injuries and a gun and a letter were found lying beside the body, they said.  Assistant Sub-Inspector of Patikabari Police Outpost Shamsul Haque said being informed they recovered the body and sent it to Kushtia General Hospital morgue for autopsy.  He assumed that Ujjal might have died by suicide over family feud.     

Rawhides from sacrificial animals continued arriving at the BSCIC Tannery  Industrial Estate in Savar on the second day of Eid-ul-Azha, as traders brought in truckloads from Dhaka and surrounding areas. Tannery workers were seen busy unloading and processing the rawhides on Saturday morning.  According to sources, the flow of rawhides began late Saturday afternoon on Eid day and has picked up since early Sunday. Traders said they will continue collecting rawhides for another day mostly untreated with salt.  A target has been set to collect over one crore rawhides during the Eid period in the estate which houses around 150 factories. Tanneries and storehouses have been stocked with adequate salt and necessary chemicals to preserve the skins, said tanners. Prof Yunus directs formation of high-level body to ensure fair price of sacrificial animals' rawhides They are preserving the rawhides with salt immediately upon arrival, said a tannery owner.  “The government has fixed the price of salted hides at Tk 1,400 each. Salting costs around Tk 300–350 which we deduct before purchasing the rawhide,” he said. Workers at the industrial estate were seen working tirelessly to handle the volume. Vendors bringing rawhides from city areas expressed satisfaction with the price and said they faced no hassle on the roads. “We got a fair price and faced no trouble on the road while bringing the hides,” said Md Anwar, a seller. Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and BSCIC officials said they are maintaining strict monitoring to ensure proper preservation of the hides nationwide under the guidance of the relevant ministry. According to DLS estimates, around 1.05 crore animals were sacrificed this year across the country, requiring nearly 1 lakh metric tonnes of salt for proper preservation.  Officials assured there is no salt shortage, as domestic production reached a record 24.37 lakh metric tonnes this season. Rawhides on Eid Ul Azha: DMP commissioner pledges strict action against extortionists Law enforcement and local administration are working to ensure that vehicles carrying hides can enter the leather estate without disruption, they said.  

Two minor children drowned in a pond in Mohammadpur upazila of Magura district on Saturday afternoon.  The deceased were Kulsum, 4, daughter of Nur Ali, and Tasim, 3, son of Kader Mandal of Ramdevpur village under Nayhata union of the upazila.  Locals said the children fell into the waterbody while playing alone  on Saturday afternoon.  Locals  rescued them and rushed to Upazila Health Complex where Tasim was declared dead. Two children drown in Narail As Kulsum’s condition worsened, he was shifted to Faridpur Medical College and Hospital where he breathed his last. Officer-in-Charge of Mohammadpur police station Abdur Rahman said two unnatural death cases were filed in this connection. 

Two people were killed and 30 others injured in a clash between two groups of villagers over establishing supremacy in Mollahat upazila of Bagerhat on Saturday night. The deceased were identified as Azizul Chowdhury, 40, son of Mosharref Chowdhury of Singati village, and his paternal uncle Mursalin Chowdhury, 30, son of Ershad Chowdhury. Police said the injured were receiving treatment at Mollahat Upazila Health Complex, Khulna Medical College and Hospital and Gopalganj Sadar Hospital. Locals said a longstanding dispute had existed between Ershad Chowdhury and his cousin Masum Chowdhury of Singati village over establishing dominance in the area. The two groups had clashed several times in the past over the issue.   Mother found dead with her two sons in Dhamrai village home On Eid day, an argument erupted between the groups over the distribution of sacrificial meat. Later in the evening, supporters of both sides engaged in a violent clash using locally made weapons, leaving 32 people injured. Azizul was declared dead upon arrival at Gopalganj Sadar Hospital, while Mursalin succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the same hospital around 10pm. Both were reportedly followers of the Ershad group. Md Shafiqur Islam, officer-in-charge of Mollahat Police Station, said they rushed to the spot upon receiving information and brought the situation under control. Additional police forces have been deployed in the area to prevent further violence, he said, adding that no written complaints had been filed as of yet. Efforts are underway to arrest those involved in the killings, the OC added.  

Despite a government-mandated price hike, the rawhide market failed to meet expectations during Eid-ul-Azha, frustrating traders who say they were forced to sell below the official rates yet again. The Ministry of Commerce had increased the price of cowhide in Dhaka by Tk 5-10 per square foot, setting the official rate at Tk 60-65. But, ptraders said the market reality fell short. Most cowhides were sold at Tk 55-60 per square foot, with some deals made at even lower rates. “We collected cowhides from sacrificers for Tk 750, but ended up struggling to recover costs,” said Hefaz Ullah, a trader from Uttara.  “The best quality hides in this area fetched only Tk 800-820. We couldn’t sell for more," he said.  Sirza, a trader from Badda, echoed similar frustration. “There was no demand for rawhide. We couldn’t sell at a fair price. After paying for van rental and two workers, we were left with almost nothing. The entire day’s effort felt wasted.” Govt fixes rawhide prices ahead of Eid-ul-Azha In Khilkhet, trader Mizanur said the lack of fair pricing by tannery owners continues to discourage seasonal traders. “Had I known this would happen, I wouldn’t have paid so much initially. Tannery owners always undercut prices.”  

Although Eid-ul-Azha was observed with the ritual slaughter of sacrificial animals from early morning, many residents of Dhaka were unable to perform Qurbani (animal sacrifice) on the first day due to a shortage of butchers caused by high demand. To avoid the rush, many city dwellers chose to postpone their sacrifices for the following days. 85% of sacrificial waste cleared by evening: DNCC Administrator UNB’s visits to Old Dhaka revealed scenes of this nature across several neighborhoods on Saturday. A man named Abul Kalam was seen sitting beside three cows. When asked whether he was selling them, he replied, "No, these are for sacrifice tomorrow. On the first day, butchers are so busy with work. So, we prefer to sacrifice on the second day." Another resident, Mohammad Hridoy, was found sitting beside two cows. He echoed a similar sentiment: "The first day is always hectic, and everyone’s busy. We prefer to do it in a more relaxed manner, so we’ll perform the slaughter tomorrow morning."

Abdel Wahab Saidani, the Ambassador of Algeria to Bangladesh, visited Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute in Dhaka on the occasion of Eid ul Adha. He was accompanied by his three children and diplomats from the Algerian Embassy. The visit was part of a gesture of goodwill and support towards the children admitted to the hospital. Upon arrival, the Ambassador and his delegation were warmly received by Professor Dr. Md. Mahbubul Haque, the Director of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute. The Ambassador, along with his children, took part in a special event organized to celebrate Eid ul Adha with the children currently receiving treatment at the hospital. As part of the Eid celebrations, Abdelouahab Saidani and his children distributed gift packs among the admitted children. A total of 271 gift packs were handed out, each containing essential items for the children. 

Hasnat Abdullah, chief organizer of the southern region of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has said that a level playing field must be established before the upcoming national elections. Hasnat made the remarks during a visit to Cumilla's Debidwar, where he met with families of the July martyrs on Eid-ul-Azha.