bangladesh
Covid fallouts, Russia-Ukraine war behind price hike: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday blamed the Covid-19 fallouts and Russia-Ukraine war behind the soaring prices.
“The prices of essentials have marked a rise not only in Bangladesh but also elsewhere in the world due to the Covid-induced recession in the global economy. That’s why the prices have increased in every country of the world,” she said.
Hasina said this while addressing a discussion marking the Historic March 7 Speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1971.
Awami League organised the discussion at its central office at 23 Bangabandhu Avenue. Sheikh Hasina joined the programme virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Besides, Hasina said, an unwarranted situation erupted when Russia attacked Ukraine. “The negative impact of that incident has struck the world and we’re also suffering from that.”
The Prime Minister said maybe the prices of some items are going up at the domestic market due to the impacts of the price hike on the international market.
“Naturally, the prices go up at the domestic market when that goes up on the world market as its impact falls everywhere,” she said.
Also read: New generations can’t be kept in darkness about true history of Bangladesh, asserts PM
Besides, she said, there are some people who always try to make money taking advantage of such a situation. “They want to make quick bucks through hoarding of goods.”
Hasina said the government has made arrangements for monitoring the market.
She urged all to utilise every inch of land for farming to avoid any kind of food scarcity in the country.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader delivered the welcome speech at the programme.
AL Presidium members Matia Chowdhury, Dr Abdur Razzaque, Shajahan Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, AL joint general secretary Dr Hassan Mahmud, AL organising SM Kamal Hossain, AL Secretary of Labor and Manpower Habibur Rahman Siraj, Dhaka South AL general secretary Humayun Kabir and Dhaka North AL general secretary SM Mannan Kochi also spoke on the occasion.
The Prime Minister said the aim of the government is to ensure all the basic needs of people. “And we're doing that successfully."She said the Awami League government has been able to bring a fundamental change in society in just 13 years. “We've been able to develop the living standard of the people of this country."Referring to BNP’s move to observe another programme instead of observing Historic March 7 speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina, also the AL chief, said there is no need to pay attention who actually observe the historic day or not.
Also read: PM releases postage stamp marking historic March 7“We've to consider that they're the vested quarter who never wanted the Independence of this country and are among the group who killed the Father of the nation, staged the August 24 grenade attack, burnt people alive,” she said, adding that people do not expect anything from them.She said that the leaders of BNP are convicted for corruption; they are fugitives and they have nothing to do except destroying the future of people.Hasina said taking advantage of Digital Bangladesh, the BNP fugitive leaders are engaged to destroy the achievements of the country from abroad.Briefly describing the various achievements of the government in the last 13 years, the Prime Minister said the aim of the government is to materialise the dream of the Father of the Nation.“We're doing whatever is needed to develop Bangladesh, we've to fulfil the dream of the Father of the Nation,” she said.Hasina said the historic March 7 speech still encourages all as each of its lines are meaningful; and it inspires people to move forward.“We've to march forward following the historic speech not just observing the Day,” she added.
FAO Asia-Pacific regional conference to kick off in Dhaka Tuesday
The 36th Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC) of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), hosted by Bangladesh for the first time, will begin on Tuesday.
The 4-day conference will be held in a hybrid format, said Agriculture Minister Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque at a press conference at the Secretariat on Monday.
He said the conference will continue till Friday.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, the main session of the conference will be held at the InterContinental Dhaka while the opening ceremony and country showcasing at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center.
Also read: Covid-19 pandemic swells number of hungry by more than 50 mn in Asia-Pacific: FAO-UNICEF Report
The meetings of senior government officials, agriculture secretaries and senior government officials will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday and minister-level meetings will be held on Thursday and Friday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the minister-level meeting on Thursday.
The Agriculture Minister said, “It is a glorious moment for us. We want to showcase our capabilities to the world by organising this conference successfully, so that other international organizations become interested in hosting conferences in Bangladesh in future," he said.
The current state of food and agriculture in Asia and the Pacific, what need to be done to develop climate-tolerant agriculture and food system in the region, accelerating the digitisation of agriculture value chain, prioritizing one-health approach, and economic cooperation and joint investment during Covid pandemic- will come up for discussion at the conference, said the minister at the briefing.
Apart from agriculture ministers and secretaries from 46 countries in Asia and the Pacific, top officials of government and non-government organizations will also take part in it.
Representatives of 43 member states, the Director General of the FAO, representatives of various UN bodies, development partners, NGOs and civil society have already registered to take part in it, said Dr Razzaque.
Also read: FAO launches training for nutrition master trainers
The first FAO Asia-Pacific regional conference was held in Bangalore of India in 1953. Bangladesh joined the organization in 1973.
Ex-finance minister Muhith’s health improves, says foreign minister
The health condition of former finance minister and Awami League advisory council member AMA Muhith has improved to some extent, the foreign minister said on Monday after visiting him at hospital.
Read: PM leaves Dhaka for Abu Dhabi Monday afternoon
“Muhith Bhai's physical condition is a bit better today (Monday),” said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen in a Facebook post seeking blessings from everyone at home and abroad for his brother’s complete recovery.
Youth stabbed dead over trifling matter in Kurigram
A youth was stabbed to death over a trifling matter at Harijan Palli near the old railway station in Kurigram town on Monday morning.
The deceased was identified as Rahul Bashphor, 18, son of Pradeep Bashphor of Kacharibazar area in Gaibandha.
Read: Teenager stabbed dead in N’ganj
Quoting locals, Kurigram Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge Khan Shahriar, said the wedding party of Roni Bashphor, son of Swapan Bashphor of Kacharipara area of Gaibandha district, and Antra Rani (18) Bashphor, daughter of Sumon Harijan was going on at Harijan Palli.
The bride and the bridegroom sides locked into an altercation around 8:30 am.
At one stage of altercation, Rahul Bashphor was hacked by one of the men of the bride party, leaving him critically injured.
Read: Woman dies after being stabbed, set on fire ‘by son’ in Laxmipur
Later, he was rushed to Kurigram General Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
At least 4 people were injured during the clash, he said.
No case has been filed yet in this regard, the OC added.
2 more Rampura godown fire victims die
Two more people who sustained burn injuries in a fire that broke out in a scrap warehouse in the capital’s Rampura area, died at a Dhaka hospital, raising the death toll from the incident to three.
The deceased were identified as Nader, 50, of Jamalpur district and Md Siddique, 50, of Rajbari district.
Read: Rampura godown fire: One dies at hospital
Nader breathed his last on Sunday night and Siddique died in the early hours of Monday while undergoing treatment at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said SM Aiyub Hossain, resident surgeon of the institute.
Siddique suffered 54 percent burn injuries and Nader 43 percent, the Surgeon added.
The bodies were kept at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) morgue, said Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of DMCH police outpost.
Read: 5 injured in Rampura godown fire
Earlier on Sunday noon, Helal Uddin, 50, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital where he was undergoing treatment with 85 per cent burn injuries.
On Thursday morning, five people sustained burn injuries after the warehouse near Bou Bazar Matir Mosque in Rampura caught fire following a cylinder explosion while loading goods in a truck.
PM leaves Dhaka for Abu Dhabi Monday afternoon
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka for Abu Dhabi Monday afternoon on a five-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates.
The prime minister is undertaking the visit at the invitation of UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Makdoum, who is also the ruler of Dubai.
Read:New generations can’t be kept in darkness about true history of Bangladesh, asserts PM
Bangladesh and the UAE seek to elevate their ties to a comprehensive partnership with deeper political engagement.
High on the agenda during the visit is trade and commerce; investment, manpower and cooperation in other potential areas including renewable energy.
A VVIP flight of state-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the PM and her entourage will depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 4:00pm.
The aircraft is scheduled to land at Abu Dhabi International Airport at 7:40pm (local time).
Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE Mohammed Abu Zafar and high-level delegates from Abu Dhabi will receive her there.
Then the prime minister will inspect a static guard at the airport.
During her visit, Bangladesh and the UAE are likely to sign four to five MoUs to further strengthen the bilateral relations.
On March 08, Sheikh Hasina will attend a high-level panel titled ‘Redefining the Future for Women’ at Dubai Exhibition Centre on the occasion of International Women’s Day. Then she will visit Bangladesh Pavilion and UAE Pavilion there.
Besides, the prime minister will have a meeting with UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Makdoum at the exhibition centre.
On March 09, the Bangladesh prime minister will have two separate meetings with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan and the Mother of the UAE (Nation) Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak in Abu Dhabi as well as join a dinner to be hosted by Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE Mohammed Abu Zafar.
Read: PM releases postage stamp marking historic March 7
On March 10, Sheikh Hasina will virtually attend the inaugural session of the ‘FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific’ and then join a business forum to be organised jointly by business communities of the UAE and Bangladesh.
On March 11, the PM will join a civic reception accorded to her by expatriate Bangladeshis living there and will lay the foundation stone of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Bhaban at Bangladesh English Private School and College in Ras Al Khaimah.
Hasina is scheduled to return home at 11:30pm on March 12.
New generations can’t be kept in dark about true history of Bangladesh, asserts PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said in this era of technology the young generations can’t be kept in the dark about the real history of the country, its independence, the sacrifice of the Father of the Nation and the bloodshed of millions of martyrs.
“In the era of technology there is no scope to push them (new generations) to the regime of darkness again,” she said this while addressing a programme celebrating the Historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The Cultural Affairs Ministry organised the programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) while the prime minister joined it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Read: PM releases postage stamp marking historic March 7
She said that no one will be able to foil the independence of the country and no one can destroy the ideology of Bangabandhu.
“The world is very much open to the new generations, so they cannot be confused anymore,” she said.
She also mentioned that vested quarters was able to mislead the young generations for 21 years after the assassination of Bangabandhu.
“But that cannot be done now, this is my firm belief,” she said.
The PM said that Bangabandhu’s historic speech of March 7 will encourage the Bangalis decades after decades.
She recalled that after the assassination of the Father of the Nation the speech was banned by the killers so no one can broadcast and listen to it..
She said it was unfortunate that the speech that inspire the Bangalis to gain independence was banned. .
In this connection, she said that many leaders and activists of Awami League and Chatra League had been tortured and killed for playing this speech.
She mentioned that the anti-independence regime distorted the history of the Independence for long 21 years.
Read:Historic March 7: PM pays tributes to Bangabandhu
“There were attempts to erase the spirit of the Liberation War, bloodshed of millions of martyrs and struggle of the people from the history. Now this is proved that no one can erase the truth,” she said.
“This speech will remain as an eternal speech in the world,” she added.
“This speech still motivates us to go forward and free the country from oppression and deprivation,” she said.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs K M Khalid presided over the programme where Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, among others, spoke.
At the beginning of the programme Bangabandhu’s iconic March 7 speech was played.
Hasina also witnessed the cultural programme.
Mother, son killed in Barguna road crash
A woman and her son were killed when a pickup van hit them in Chunakhali culvert area on Amtoli-Patuakhali regional highway in Barguna district on Monday morning.
The deceased were identified as Nurjahan Begum, 40, her son Md Rakib, 16, of West Chunakhali village in Kukua union of Amtoli upazila.
Read: Father-son killed in Hajiganj road crash
Confirming the matter, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Amtoli police station AKM Mizanur Rahman said Nurjahan and her son were going to their relative’s house around 7:45am and when they reached Chunakhali culvert area a pick-up van hit them, killing both on the spot.
On information, police rushed to the spot and seized the pickup van, the OC added.
Read: Kushtia road crash claims two lives
However, the driver and his helper managed to flee.
Legal action will be taken in this regard, he said.
Global Covid death toll nears 6 million
The global death toll from Covid-19 is fast approaching 6 million as Covid pandemic has entered its third year.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 446,163,541 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,998,819 Monday morning.
Despite vaccine availability, the United States is nearing 1 million reported deaths on its own, the biggest official death toll in the world, reports AP.
The US has recorded 79,271,466 cases so far and 958,621 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows.
Read: Covid-19: Dhaka div sees highest mortality rate
India's COVID-19 tally rose to 42,962,953 on Sunday as 5,476 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry's latest data.
Besides, 158 deaths due to the pandemic since Saturday morning took the total death toll to 515,036.
Meanwhile, Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since January last year, registered 29,056,525 cases as of Monday, while its Covid death toll rose to 652,438.
Global vaccine disparity continues, with only 6.95% of people in low-income countries fully vaccinated, compared to more than 73% in high-income nations, according to Our World in Data.
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh reported eight more Covid-linked deaths with 529 fresh cases in 24 hours till Sunday morning.
The daily positivity rate slightly increased to 2.63 per cent from Saturday’s 2.11 per cent after testing 20,062 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read:France lifts Covid restrictions on Bangladesh
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 29,085 while the caseload to 19,47,266.
Meanwhile, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent.
However, the recovery rate rose to 94.66 per cent with the recovery of 3,340 more patients during the 24-hour period.
AQI: Dhaka’s air remains unhealthy
Dhaka's air quality was reported unhealthy on Monday morning as it occupied the third position in the latest list of world cities with the worst air quality.
The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 180 at 9 am.
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh and the UAE’s Dubai occupied the first two spots, with AQI scores of 238 and 190, respectively.
Read:Dhaka is world's most polluted city
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups.
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: Dhaka’s air quality remains ‘unhealthy’
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 a 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.