bangladesh
France keen to work together with Bangladesh for economic, social benefits
France is keen on strengthening cooperation with Bangladesh for mutual economic and social benefits overcoming challenges ahead, a French diplomat in Dhaka said on Wednesday.
“We now have to keep working together to combine our strength in order to consolidate mutual economic and social benefits and to face the numerous challenges to come,” said Chargé d’affaires at the French Embassy in Dhaka Guillaume Audren de Kerdrel in a message marking the French National Day that falls on July 14.
He assured that the French Embassy will continue to play an active role to further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries.
While Bangladesh is still facing the challenges of climate change, France commends the leading role of Bangladesh in the Climate Vulnerable Forum.
“France remains at the disposal of Bangladesh in this area as well as in the field of infrastructures, particularly transportation, access to clean water, energy and telecommunications,” said Kerdrel.
He said this year is a great and special year as France and Bangladesh celebrated on 14th February 2022 the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationships between both countries.
The diplomat described the year 2022 as a milestone in many ways for Franco-Bangladeshi cooperation as the two countries are also celebrating the 30 years of archeological cooperation and exploration of the large site of Mahasthangarh, north of Bogura.
"This archaeological cooperation is the longest standing cooperation between our two countries. With excavations being carried out jointly by French and Bangladeshi archaeologists, this endeavour stands as a perfect symbol of our two countries cooperating by sharing knowledge and resources to work together towards a common goal,” he mentioned.
Read:Argentina keen to exporting soybean, fertilizer to Bangladesh
In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the French diplomat said his country did display vaccine solidarity, in particular within the framework of the Covax facility with the support of the vaccination program of the French Development Agency.
The French Development Agency, which opened its Dhaka office in 2012, has become a key player in development cooperation in Bangladesh with projects in many different areas such as energy, water, transportation, health and finance.
On May 12th 2022, a host country agreement between the government of France and the government of Bangladesh was signed to legally seal the establishment of the AFD as a Development Partner of Bangladesh.
On this occasion AFD renewed its commitment in supporting green and inclusive growth in Bangladesh.
Since the beginning of the shared history, France has been a committed partner in its relationship with Bangladesh.
“Our country has heard the voice of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: in 1971, André Malraux relayed his call to support the freedom and independence fighters,” said the French diplomat.
Two years later, he was received with great honors in Dhaka by the President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
A recent publication in France, “Malraux and Bangladesh” retraces in detail this founding moment and the symbol of our friendship and this beautiful book is currently being translated into Bangla.
The official visit of the Prime Minister to France from November 9th to November 13th of 2021 has reflected the strong bond and the friendship between our two countries, said the CDA at the French embassy.
France and Bangladesh once again reaffirmed their determination to strengthen partnerships in the field of blue economy, defense and science in particular.
France celebrates its National Day in commemoration of the storming of the Bastille in Paris on the 14th of July 1789.
It remains the powerful symbol of the French revolutionary fight for emancipation from a then absolute monarchy, followed a few weeks later by the landmark proclamation of the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen”, opening the long and arduous way to the establishment of democracy and the rule of law.
Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 5 more deaths, 1,027 new cases
Bangladesh logged five more Covid-linked deaths with 1,027 cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning amid a surge in cases again in Bangladesh.
The new numbers took the country's total fatalities to 29,217 while its caseload to 1,992,058, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily case positivity rate increased to 13.79 per cent from Tuesday's 13.78 per cent as 7,523 samples were tested during the period.
Four of the deceased were men while another was a woman.
Four were from Dhaka while another from Rangpur division.
Read:Bangladesh reports 4 Covid deaths with 1,728 cases Positivity rate now 16.89%
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.47 per cent. The recovery rate rose to 96.25 per cent as 1,559 patients recovered during the period.
In June, the country reported 18 Covid-linked deaths and 20,201 new cases, according to the DGHS.
Bangladesh reported its first zero Covid death on November 20 last year since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020.
The country registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.
Three kids drown in Dinajpur, Kurigram
Three children drowned in Dinajpur and Kurigram districts on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In Dinajpur, two minors drowned in the Atrai River.
The deceased are Jitu 12, daughter of Jewel of Fakirganj of Nilphamari and Bhulanath, son of Bhupati Roy of Kachharipara village under Birganj upazila.
Khansama fire service station officer Talha Bin Jasim said Jitu drowned in the river while he was bathing Wednesday afternoon.
On information, firefighters conducted a drive and recovered the body of the teenage girl.
Jitu came to her maternal grandfather's house on Eid vacation, he added.
Read: 8 drown in 5 districts during Eid holidays
Earlier in the day, fishermen recovered the body of Bhulanath, who went missing in the Atrai river at Kalarghat on Tuesday.
He also came to his maternal grandfather's house.
In Kurigram, a child drowned in a hole filled with water which was dug for installing a tube well in Ulipur upazila of the district on Wednesday morning.
Relatives said Raihan Mia, son of Rezaul Islam, of Tabakpur union under the upazila, came to his maternal grandfather's house on Eid vacation. The child drowned while he was playing.
He was rushed to Ulipur upazila health complex where doctors declared him dead, said Maidul Islam, RMO of the health complex.
CU student killed in Kolkata road accident
A student of Chittagong University has been killed and her mother, a teacher of the university, severely injured in a road accident in Kolkata.
The deceased was identified as Shajmila Jismam Moon, a third year student of the department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) of CU.
The injured was Moon’s mother Dr Shirin Ara Chowdhury Doly, a Professor of Management department of CU.
Read: Two killed as bike ploughs into pedestrians in Ctg
According to family sources, Moon and her elder brother Lieutenant Safwan Jasir Chowdhury took their mother Doly to India on July 8 for health check-ups. They were schedule to go to Delhi on July 10.
“Moon and her mother were hit by a speedy bus while they were crossing a road on July 10. Both of them were rushed to Kolkata PG hospital where Moon breathed her last on July 12,” said Jashim Uddin Chowdhury, Moon’s father and former Vice President of AB Bank.
Jashim added that his wife is still in a critical condition and the process to bring Moon’s body back is underway.
SSC examinee’s throat-slit body found in Bhola
Police recovered the throat-slit body of a 17-year old SSC examinee from Ali Nagar union in Sadar upazila of Bhola on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Obaidur Rahman, of the upazila. He was an SSC examinee from Pashchim Ruhita Secondary School and used to work as an electrician.
Locals said Obaidur remained missing since Tuesday night.
Read: Bhola Clash: 20 including 7 cops injured
Locals spotted the throat-slit body of Obaidur from a betel nut garden near his house in Ruhita village this morning and informed police, said Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) (Sadar circle) Farhad Sarder.
The body was later sent to Bhola Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, he added.
Besides, processes are underway to file a case in this regard, said Arman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bhola Model police station.
PM: Create integrated education facilities for special children
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday called for ensuring integrated environment of education to help flourish merit and creativity of the special children with autism and neuro-development disabilities.
"Environment of integrated education is very much important to flourish merit and creativity of the special children," she said.
The premier said this while witnessing the architectural design of the 'National Academy for Autism and Neuro- Development Disabilities (NAAND) Complex' at her official residence Ganabhaban.
The international standard Complex is being constructed to ensure just and equal education for the autism and NDD children.
Hasina said that open and natural environment play an important role in physical and psychological development of the children with autism and NDD.
She reiterated her call to ensure cross ventilation in constructing any new residential buildings in the cities.
Read: PM Hasina urges the US to lift sanctions against Russia
She also put emphasis on creating new trainers and teachers apart from upgrading the training for the existing teachers for autism and NDD children.
The prime minister asked called for utilisation of daylight, ensuring open air or oxygen, preserving necessary reservoir, appropriate fire extinguisher and sufficient open space in designing the NAAND Complex.
Education Minister Dipu Moni, Deputy Minister for Education Muhibul Hassan Chowdhurry, PMO senior secretary Md. Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Secretary of Secondary and Higher Education Division Md Abu Bakr Siddique were present at the meeting.
Perform duties with new impetus: IGP
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed on Wednesday called upon the police members to perform their duties with new impetus after the Eid celebrations.
The IGP made the call while exchanging Eid greetings with police officers, members and civil staff working at the police headquarters on Wednesday.
Read: Police to help cattle traders transport their cash safely: IGP
Two killed as bike ploughs into pedestrians in Ctg
A housewife riding pillion on her husband's bike and a differently abled woman pedestrian died after the biker ploughed into two passersby in Chattogram district on Wednesday.
The identities of the deceased couldn’t be known yet.
The accident occurred in Sitakunda when the biker crashed into two pedestrians while trying to save his wife from falling off after he lost control of the speeding two-wheeler, police said.
The differently abled woman died on the spot, while the biker's wife died during treatment at a hospital.
The biker and another pedestrian also sustained serious injuries in the crash, and are being treated at Imperial Hospital, said Nazmul Haque, officer In-charge of Baro Auliya highway police station.
Read: Out on joyride, woman killed in bike accident in Dhaka
Dengue: 51 patients hospitalised in 24hrs
Fifty-one dengue patients were hospitalised in 24 hours till Wednesday morning amid a rise in the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Among them, 39 patients were hospitalised in Dhaka while the remaining 12 patients in other districts, it said.
As many as 169 dengue patients, including 126 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
The dengue cases are rising in the capital allegedly due to insufficient measures taken by the two Dhaka city corporations for preventing mosquito-borne diseases like dengue.
On June 21, the DGHS reported the first death of the season from the mosquito-borne viral disease.
This year, the DGHS has recorded 1,528 dengue cases and 1,358 recoveries so far.
Read: Dengue: 73 patients hospitalised in 24hrs
Although dengue – a leading cause of serious illness and death in some Asian and Latin American countries – was first reported in Bangladesh in 1964, the first epidemic occurred in 2000, claiming 93 lives that year. It has since become endemic in the country, with outbreaks recorded every year since. Although for a three-year period at one point, the number of deaths from the virus fell almost near zero, its most fatal year yet was in 2019, when 179 died experiencing the severe form of the disease.
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, it seemed to take a backseat, as only three deaths were reported from dengue that year.
However, 105 dengue patients, including 95 in Dhaka division, died in 2021.
Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas.
About 4 billion people, almost half of the world's population, live in areas with a risk of dengue, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Each year, up to 400 million people get infected with dengue while approximately 100 million get sick from infection, and 40,000 die from severe dengue, it says.
"There is no specific treatment for dengue or severe dengue. Early detection of disease progression associated with severe dengue, and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates of severe dengue to below 1 per cent," according to the World Health Organization.
Flood death toll stands at 118
The death toll from the devastating floods in Netrokona and Habiganj districts rose to 118 Wednesday morning, with the recovery of two more bodies in the past 24 hours.
These two victims had drowned in floodwaters, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Of the total deceased, 91 people drowned in floodwaters, 15 were struck by lightning, two died from snake bites, one from diarrhoea, and nine others due to other reasons.
Read:Flood in Sunamganj: Siblings spend 17 days on a tree
Of the deceased, 64 people died in Sylhet, 41 in Mymensingh, 12 in Rangpur and one in Dhaka division, the DGHS said.
Of a total of 70 flood-hit upazilas, 33 are in Sylhet division, 16 in Rangpur division, 20 in Mymensingh division and one in Chattogram division.
Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona and Kurigram are the worst-hit districts, with 13, 11, 10 and nine upazilas being affected by floods, respectively.