bangladesh
Dhaka’s air quality worsens again
Dhaka's air quality worsened again, as it turned ‘unhealthy’ on Tuesday after remaining in the ‘moderate’ zone for the last four days.
The metropolis, with an air quality index (AQI) score of 113 at 11.05am on Tuesday, ranked 14th in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.
South Africa’s Johannesburg, Pakistan’s Lahore and Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh occupied the first three spots, with AQI scores of 166, 163, and 161, respectively.
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups.
Read: Global pollution kills 9 million people a year, study finds
Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, is used by government agencies to inform people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
A report by the Department of Environment (DoE) and the World Bank in March 2019 pointed out that the three main sources of air pollution in Dhaka "are brick kilns, fumes from vehicles and dust from construction sites".
Read: Effects of Air Pollution on Unborn Children, Neonates, Infants
With the advent of winter, the city’s air quality starts deteriorating sharply due to the massive discharge of pollutant particles from construction work, rundown roads, brick kilns and other sources.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Kushtia man, who set himself on fire outside Press Club, dies
A 45-year-old man from Kushtia who set himself on fire in front of the National Press Club on Monday to protest a company’s alleged refusal to pay his dues, succumbed to his injuries early on Tuesday morning.
Kazi Anis, a vendor on contract from Kushtia's Kumarkhali upazila, who was kept on life support at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery died at 6am, said Bacchu Mia, inspector in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police outpost.
Also read: Kushtia man sets himself on fire in Dhaka
Kazi Anis took the extreme step at 5pm on Monday "out of frustration" after Henolux, the company, refused to settle his dues of Tk1.26 crore, according to some journalists.
Journalists and law enforcers present at the scene poured water on him and rushed him to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in a critical condition.
Also read: N’ganj factory fire under control
Anis had suffered 85 percent burns, according to doctors.
Bangladesh sends help to quake-hit Afghanistan
Bangladesh has sent humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, where a strong earthquake claimed over 1,000 lives last month.
A C130-J aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force took off with emergency relief materials, including medicines, blankets, dry food and tents, on Tuesday and will hand them over to the Afghan government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a release.
Also read: Destruction everywhere, help scarce after Afghanistan quake
The powerful earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan on June 22, killing over a thousand people and injuring more than 2,000 others. The quake flattened hundreds of homes, triggering food, water, housing and medicine crisis.
Sylhet flood situation improves as rivers recede
The flood situation in Sylhet district improved slightly on Tuesday morning, with most of the rivers except the Kushiyara showing a receding trend.
However, flood survivors across the northeastern district continue to suffer from the deluge. While many have taken refuge in makeshift shelters, others are staying in tents on the highway and roads.
The Surma river was receding very slowly. As on Monday 6pm, the river was flowing 34 cm above the danger level after its water level dropped 8 cm in 24 hours, according to the district Water Development Board (WDB).
Also read: Flood in Bangladesh: Death toll stands at 107
However, the Kushiyara river was still flowing 84 cm above the danger mark at Amalshid point after rising 18 cm in 24 hours. At Sheola point, the river was flowing 20 cm above the danger level at 3pm Monday after rising 12 cm in 24 hours.
Global Covid cases cross 555 million
The overall number of Covid cases has now surpassed 555 million amid a rise in new infections in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
According to the latest global data, the total case count mounted to 555,233,865 and the death toll from the virus reached 6,362,437 Tuesday morning.
The US has recorded 89,567,321 cases so far and 1,043,372 people have died from the virus in the country, the data shows.
Also read: Covid: Bangladesh logs 4 months’ highest 12 deaths with 2,285 cases
With 14,224 new cases in 24 hours, India recorded 43,532,788 new Covid cases, data released by the country's federal health ministry showed on Sunday.
Besides, 31 deaths due to Covid since Saturday morning took the total death toll to 525,223.
Covid in Bangladesh
Bangladesh registered 12 more Covid-linked deaths with 2,285 cases in 24 hours till Monday morning amid a rapid surge in new infections.
The fresh numbers took the country's total caseload to 1,980,974 and fatalities to 29,174, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The country last reported 13 Covid-linked deaths with 368 cases on March 5 this year.
The daily case positivity rate rose to 16.51% from Sunday’s 15.53% as 13,842 samples were tested during the period, said the DGHS.
Also read: Covid keeps surging: Bangladesh reports 2 more deaths with 1,902 cases
Of the deceased, nine were men and three were women. Of them, nine were from Dhaka and one each from Chattogram, Khulna and Mymensingh divisions.
Of the 22 deaths reported from June 27 to July 3, some 72.7% received vaccine doses against Covid-19.
On Sunday, the country recorded two Covid-linked deaths with 1,902 new cases.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.47%. The recovery rate declined to 96.36% from Sunday’s 96.44% as 482 patients recovered during this period.
'Hasina: A Daughter's Tale' screened in Greece
The Bangladesh Embassy in Athens, in cooperation with the first multilingual library in Greece, has hosted a screening of the documentary film "Hasina: A Daughter's Tale."
Held at the "We Need Books" library premises Sunday, the screening was attended by a good number of Bangladeshis, students, embassy officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and the local civil society.
The maiden screening of the docudrama in a country like Greece, the cradle of ancient and western civilisation, created a lot of enthusiasm and curiosity among the audience about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her family members and their role in the making of a modern, democratic, secular, and developing nation, said a media statement.
They were particularly amazed to see how Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had tried to cope with her most struggling time along with her only other surviving sister Sheikh Rehana following the brutal assassination of their father and all other members of their family.
The screening of the film was preceded by a short welcoming speech by the founder of the multilingual library Ioanna Nissiriou.
Bangladesh Ambassador Ashud Ahmed thanked the viewers for joining the screening of the documentary film organised as part of the Embassy's ongoing celebrations of the golden jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh.
He mentioned his embassy's plan to organise more such screenings in different corners of Greece in the coming days.
Ambassador Ashud hoped that Bangladesh would become a real Golden Bengal that would have prosperity, modernity, inclusivity, democracy and secularism as designed in Vision 2041 under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
Also read: Screening of 'Hasina: A Daughter's Tale' connects Kolkata audience
Provide security without distancing from the people: President tells PGR
President Abdul Hamid on Monday asked every President Guard Regiment (PGR) member to provide VVIPs security without creating any distance from the people.
"Keep in mind, your engagement is to ensure maximum security involving mass people, not by creating any distance from the people," he said.
He said it in the 47th founding anniversary of PGR at the Dhaka Cantonment, joining from Bangabhaban this afternoon virtually.
He said the main responsibility of PGR is to ensure comprehensive, integrated and perfect security for the VVIPs, but along with security, the VVIPs public relation issue also needs to be considered very seriously.
“You must remember that the sacred duty entrusted to you is as glorious as it is particularly important and sensitive. However, along with security, the public relations of VVIPs also needs to be considered very seriously,” he also said.
Putting emphasis on the advanced training for the PGR members in various fields, including information technology (IT) with strategic excellence to ensure the VVIPs security, he said "Every member of the PGR needs to be more vigilant and efficient so that they can deal with any adverse situation immediately and efficiently."
Also Read: Increase quantity, quality of scouts: President Abdul Hamid
Hamid said militant-terrorists around the world are changing the nature of their activities and crimes with the rapid development of science and technology while they are relying on technology for communication and crime prevention.
Lauding the role of this PGR member for fulfilling their responsibilities efficiently in the face of the global Covid-19 pandemic as well as in the changed circumstances of life and living conditions in Bangladesh, he said “Even in this situation, you are efficiently fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to you, which is very commendable. You have also performed your duties with dedication, skill and hard work in the Golden Jubilee of Independence and Victory and Mujib Centenary celebrations last year.
He also described the activities of this specialized force PGR as sacred, important, glorious and touching.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman established the 'President Guard Regiment' (PGR) on 5 July 1975 as an example of his foresight to ensure the security of the state’s most important personalities since independence.
Secretaries concerned, PGR commanders and senior military and civil officials were present on the occasion.
USG demands to protect heritage sites
Urban Study Group (USG) formed a Human chain rally in front of the National Museum at Shahabag demanding to protect 100 years aged heritage architectures of Old Dhaka.
They demanded to stop demolishing the traditional 'Nilam Ghar' of Old Dhaka which govt. has leased to Bar Association for one year.
But Bar Association has planned to make a six storied building breaking the law and verdicts of high court as it is prohibited to destroy such heritage sites.
"Bar Association has already broke a huge portion of the traditional Nilam Ghar though we protested it and informed it to the proper authorities to take urgent initiatives but authorities didn’t take any proper action," main executive of USG, Taimur Rahman said.
BRTC launches special ‘Eid service’ ahead of Eid-ul-Azha
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) has launched ‘Eid special service’ from Monday to ensure smooth and comfortable journeys for the homebound people ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, like the previous year.
The BRTC Eid special service will remain in force till July 12, said a handout of BRTC on Monday.
The selling of advance ticket for BRTC buses began on July 1 from Motijheel, JoarShahara, Kalyanpur, Gabtoli, Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Jatrabari, Gazipur and Narayanganj bus depot (Chashara) and other routes.
The BRTC buses will provide services on Dhaka-Khulna, Daudkandi, Dinajpur, Rangpur and Netrokona route and tickets of the routes will be available from Motijheel Bus depot.
Also Read: Job Circular in BRTC: BRTC will take 200 employees
The passengers can avail their BRTC tickets from Kalyanpur depot for using Rangpur, Panchagarh, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Kushtia, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Netrakona, Ranisankail, Thakurgaon and Dinajpur route.
The tickets for the buses on Dhaka-Aricha, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Aricha and Paturia and Jashore routes will be available at Gabtoli Depot while tickets for Dhaka-Poyshar Haat, Bishwa Road-Panchdona, Rangpur, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Tangail, Mymensingh and Bogura routes can be purchased from Joarshahara Bus Depot.
People can purchased their desired tickets from Mirpur Bus Depot for the route of Dhaka-Barishal, Rangpur, Kushtia, Bogura, Kurigram, Dinajpur, Mymensingh and Naogaon route while tickets for the routes of Dhaka-Shariatpur, Faridpur, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Bogura and Naogaon routes will be available at Mohammadpur bus depot.
Meanwhile, tickets for the route of Bishwa Road-Pachdona, Tangail, Netrakona, Mymensingh, Rangpur, dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Kurigram route can be purchases from Gazipur bus depot while tickets for Dhaka-Rangpur, Shariatpur route will be available from Jatrabari Bus depot.
Tickets for the route of Dhaka-Gosairhat, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Naogaon, Bogura, Gaibanhda and Pabna will be available from Narayanganj bus depot and Dhaka-Rangpur tickets will be available at Cumilla bus depot while Narsingdi-Madaripur, Charmuguria and Rangpur routes will be available at Narsingdi bus depot.
Besides, 60 buses will remain standby at different depots or terminals for providing emergency services, it said.
Bangladesh’s trade deficit rose to $30.81 billion in 11 months
Bangladesh’s trade deficit has widened to USD $ 30.81 billion in 11 months of current fiscal year (FY) due to hefty rise of import demand in post Covid-19 pandemic period.
Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Monday released this data ‘the current account balance’ after clearing foreign transactions. In the last FY 21, the trade deficit was $2.28 billion.
Bangladesh export has increased by 32.98 per cent in the July-May of the current financial year, while the import rose to 39.03 per cent, BB data showed.
Also Read: Bangladesh’s trade deficit widens to over $27bn in 10 months
Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, former governor of BB told UNB that the situation created as imports are increasing but exports and remittances are decreasing.
“If we want to reduce the deficit, we have to increase exports and remittances. Besides, luxury and unnecessary imports have to be reduced,” he added.
He also urged to increase vigilance on imported goods and containers that the goods against import LCs are really entering in the country.