bangladesh
PMO inks performance agreement with 6 agencies, 1 project
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Wednesday signed Annual Performance Agreements (APAs) of 2021-22 fiscal year with its six agencies and Ashrayan-2 Project.
PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus signed the agreements at a ceremony held at Karobi Hall in the PMO.
Also read: Bangladesh-India bilateral talks begin at PMO
PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah on behalf of the PMO and the chief executives of the six agencies and Project Director of Ashrayan-2 on behalf of their respective sides inked the annual performance agreements.
The six agencies are Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA), National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) and NGO Affairs Bureau.
Also read: Flood Management: PMO asks all to perform duties with sincerity
Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs) Zuena Aziz, BIDA executive chairman Md Sirazul Islam, BEZA executive chairman Paban chowdhury, CEO of PPPA Sultana Afroz, BEPZA executive chairman Major General Md Nazrul Islam, NSDA executive chairman Dulal Krishna Saha, NGO Affairs Bureau’s Director General KM Tariqul Islam and Project Director of Ashrayan-2 Md Mahbub Hossain were present.
BGMEA chief wants extension of Industrial Police zones
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has requested the Industrial Police chief to consider extending zones of the specialised unit of the Bangladesh Police to Uttarkhan, Dakshinkhan, Mirpur, Malibagh, Rampura and Badda where some apparel factories are operating.
Additional Inspector General of Industrial Police Shafiqul Islam and Faruque Hassan had a meeting at the BGMEA office Wednesday on the law and order situation in the RMG industry during the Covid-19 period and ahead of Eid-ul Azha.
Faruque thanked the Industrial Police for providing its support and cooperation to the readymade garment (RMG) industry by assuring security and a peaceful atmosphere in the sector through maintaining law and order.
The BGMEA chief also praised the role of the Industrial Police in maintaining harmonious industrial relations between factory owners and workers.
Shafiqul Islam said the Industrial Police has been working round the clock to maintain peace and ensure security in the industrial areas.
He also assured that the Industrial Police would extend all-out support and cooperation to the RMG industry.
BGMEA Senior Vice-President SM Mannan (Kochi), Vice-President Md Shahidullah Azim, Vice-President (Finance) Khandoker Rafiqul Islam and Vice-President Md Nasir Uddin and directors were also present at the meeting.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Industrial Police Md Mahbubur Rahman, Additional DIG AKM Awlad Hossain, Superintendent of Police (Operations and Intelligence) Shoaib Ahmed, SPs of Industrial Police-1, Ashulia Zone, Industrial Police Zone-2, Gazipur, Industrial Police Zone-4 and Narayanganj also joined the meeting.
Bangladesh to receive 2.5mn Moderna jabs from COVAX July 2-3: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said Bangladesh will receive 2.5 million doses of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine under the COVAX facility in two consignments on July 2 and July 3 respectively.
The Foreign Minister also said the first consignment of 2 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine will arrive soon.
“I think complexities over vaccine supply are eased,” he told reporters at Foreign Service Academy after a programme.
Dr Momen said huge money has been allocated and there is nothing to be worried about vaccine purchase. “We shouldn’t have faced any problem.”
Earlier, Deputy Chief of Mission at Chinese Embassy in Dhaka Hualong Yan said the first consignment of 2 million doses of vaccine as part of Bangladesh government's commercial purchase from China's Sinopharm are ready for delivery in Beijing.
READ: Individuals having appointments to be allowed to go to foreign missions during lockdown: FM
"China stands by our Bangladeshi friends in fighting the new wave of the pandemic," he said.
Bangladesh is likely to get 1.5 crore of Sinopharm vaccine doses from China while China says it is ready to supply more, if needed.
Earlier, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller tweeted saying Bangladesh will soon receive a gift of 2.5 million doses of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine from the American people via GAVI.
"As the largest contributor to COVAX, the U.S. is committed to increasing the country’s vaccine supply to beat the pandemic here and worldwide." Ambassador Miller said.
Bangladesh entered into a deal with the Serum Institute of India (SII) to purchase 30 million doses of a potential vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca for Covid-19.
Bangladesh was supposed to get five million doses of vaccine per month as the SII and Bangladesh’s Beximco Pharma signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for priority delivery of the vaccine doses.
Bangladesh has so far received only 7 million of Oxford-AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine doses produced by Serum Institute of India (SII) through its contract. Bangladesh also received 3.3 million doses of vaccine as a bilateral partnership gift.
Regarding the national budget he said, an “optimistic budget” has been passed despite bad days due to Covid-19 situation with an expansion of the social safety net. “It has been proved again that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is a friend of the poor.”
Responding to a question on use of Myanmar’s SIM cards in Rohingya camps, Dr Momen said the government stopped 4G services in the camps to stop criminal activities and trafficking in person.
He, however, said they reintroduced it amid desperate efforts from the UNHCR and rights bodies.
The Foreign Minister said the government has had no direct communication with the Myanmar government since the military took over power there. “We’re observing the situation.”
READ: S Asian nations should receive vaccines without any strings attached: FM
Earlier, Dr Momen along with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam spoke at the function marking the launching of Foreign Service Debating Club. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen was also present.
Khaleda has to seek presidential pardon to go abroad, says law minister
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has to first confess her corruption offense and seek pardon from the president before she can be allowed to go abroad for medical treatment, Law Minister Anisul Haq said on Wednesday.
Khaleda has no other alternative but to confess her guilt and seek mercy to the president if she wants to go abroad, the minister said in parliament.
This is the only legal way open to her, the lawyer-turned-politician said throwing a challenge that he will quit his profession if anyone can show another legal means.
READ: BNP’s efforts on to send Khaleda abroad: Fakhrul
Anisul was responding to allegations from two BNP legislators that the government is not allowing the former prime minister to leave the country for receiving better medical treatment because of political reason.
Speaking on the cut motion during the passage of the budget for 2021-22 fiscal, BNP lawmakers Harunur Rashid and Mosharof Hosen demanded that the government allows Khaleda to get treatment abroad.
The law minister said Khaleda’s family members had applied for her release to take her abroad for treatment.
“But in their application, they did not mention any provision of the law,” he said.
In this connection, he mentioned that the government considered an earlier appeal under 401 of penal code and suspended her corruption sentences and released her on two conditions.
The two conditions were that she will receive treatment at home staying in the country.
“They (Khaleda Zia's family) accepted it. They took Begum Zia home from jail,” he added.
Pointing to BNP leaders’ repeated appeal to send Khaleda abroad, the law minister said that once an application is disposed of, it cannot be reconsidered.
“They have applied and got her released abiding by certain conditions. Now they are saying that she has to go abroad and applied accordingly. That application is final (disposed of). No one else can do anything about it. That application has been disposed of under section 401,” the law minister said.
He also said that there are six sub-sections in the law.
“If you [BNP MPs] can show under those sub-sections that you will be able to apply again [to take Khaleda abroad], then I will not be in the legal profession anymore,” he challenged.
Pointing to provisions of the law to free Khaleda, the law minister said that any convicted person has to be released through the law.
READ: Send Khaleda abroad for treatment: Pro-BNP journos
“There is a way--they can apologise to the President or to the government admitting the guilt under section 401. If they ask for forgiveness, they can consider forgiving.”
Referring to Khaleda’s treatment, he said she was at Evercare Hospital where she received proper care.
The law minister urged the BNP to stop doing meaningless political stunt regarding Khaleda’s treatment.
Covid lockdown: Govt issues mandatory guidelines for offering prayers at mosques
The Ministry of Religious Affairs on Wednesday issued mandatory guidelines for offering prayers in congregation at mosques across the country during the seven-day tough lockdown from Thursday.The ministry, which also made wearing masks mandatory, directed the elderly people, children and the sick to abstain from going to mosques, said a notification on Wednesday.Besides, the notification said, each mosque should have enough soap, water and sanitizer to ensure health hygiene.The ministry urged devotees to perform Sunnah prayers and ablution in their respective residences.
READ: Govt lifts restriction on offering prayers at mosques
In its guideline, the ministry said, the devotees will have to bring their personal prayer mats as authorities will not be allowed to lay out carpets on mosque floors.Local administrations will take legal action against those who will violate the directives, the notification added.
Nationwide mass vaccination to resume Thursday
Amid a serious spike of coronavirus cases, the government is going to resume the countrywide mass vaccination campaign on Thursday through administering Sinopharm jabs.
Besides, the online registration process for those who are on the priority list for vaccination resumed today (Wednesday) after a long pause.
Dr Shamsul Haque, member secretary of the Vaccine Deployment Committee, came up with the announcement at a virtual press briefing arranged by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
He said the Sinopharm jabs will be administered at 40 centres in Dhaka city and at all district hospitals from 8am to 3pm every day as in the past.
Dr Haque said the vaccine will also be given at Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID) in Chattogram and Saiddpur Sadar Hospital during the same period.
READ: Mass vaccination expected to resume in July: Principal Secretary
He said those who got registered earlier but could not receive the vaccines will be given the Sinopharm jabs now while the medical and university students and those who are on the priority lists can get registered for the vaccine. “Everyone will get an SMS from a vaccination centre after the registration and all must receive the vaccine at that centre accordingly. “In this case, the vaccine card and NID card must be brought for receiving the vaccine.”
Dr Haque said the Covid vaccination centres will remain out of the purview of the lockdown. “Those who have vaccine cards will be able to go to the relevant centre showing it.”
He said the expatriate workers who stay in countries where the Sinopharm vaccine is accepted also can receive the vaccine at the centres both in Dhaka and outside. “But no one will get the vaccine without registration.”
Besides, Dr Haque said, the Pfizer vaccine will also be administered at seven centres--Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Salimullah Medical College and Hospital, Mugda Medical College Hospital, Shaheed Shuhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Kurmitola General Hospital, and Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital—in the capital.
He said the outbound expatriate workers who are not allowed to return to their workplaces without getting Pfizer vaccine can only receive the vaccine at the seven centres as per the list from the Manpower Export Promotion Bureau.
READ: Japan opens mass vaccination centers 2 months before Games
Dr Haque said those who are supposed to receive Sinopharm jabs from these centres will have to go to alternative centres.
Bangladesh sees record high daily Covid cases of 8,822; 115 more die
Health authorities recorded 8,822 more Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh in 24 hours until Wednesday morning, the highest figure since the pandemic hit the country.
During the period, the country lost 115 more lives to Covid, raising the death toll to 14,503, said a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The country’s daily positivity rate rose to 25.13 percent from Tuesday’s 23.57 percent.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Covid fatality rate remained static at 1.59 percent.
The new numbers pushed the country’s caseload to 9,13,258, said the DGHS handout.
READ: Covid-19: Bangladesh sees record 8,364 daily cases; loses 104 more lives
However, 8,16,250 people have recovered from the disease so far, putting the country’s recovery rate at 89.38 percent.
Bangladesh has been seeing an alarming spike in Covid-19 deaths and cases that prompted the government to decide to enforce a strict lockdown from Thursday.
The government has issued a notification imposing restrictions on the movement of people and other activities for seven days from Thursday.
The Cabinet Division issued the notification on Wednesday which will remain in force from 6 am on July 1 till 12 am on July 7.
According to the gazette, all the government non-government, autonomous and private offices will remain closed during the period.
READ: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports record 119 daily deaths
All modes of public transport, including those of road, river, railway and air, will remain suspended during the lockdown. All the shopping malls and markets will also remain closed.
Individuals having appointments to be allowed to go to foreign missions during lockdown: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said the authorities concerned will allow those to go to foreign missions in the city during lockdown considering the prior appointments including visa delivery issues.
He said the Police Commissioner has been advised to allow the students or others to go to the missions to get their visas and complete their relevant works.
“This is something which came up. Some of the students approached us. It has been resolved and a decision is taken,” Dr Momen told reporters after attending a programme at Foreign Service Academy.
READ: S Asian nations should receive vaccines without any strings attached: FM
Dr Momen and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam also spoke at the function marking the launching of Foreign Service Debating Club.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen was also present.
READ: Govt. life-and-livelihood policy has worked well in fighting pandemic: FM
The weeklong strict countrywide lockdown begins on July 1 and Dhaka Metropolitan Police said they are prepared to arrest anyone who will go out without emergencies during the strict lockdown.
Taposh blames development projects for city’s waterlogging
Mayor of South Dhaka Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has blamed management of development projects, including Metro Rail, for causing waterlogging in the capital and consequent public sufferings.
“Their lack of coordination and inability to consider the bigger picture is one of the reasons behind waterlogging in the capital,” he told reporters after inaugurating a playground at Tikatuli in Ward 39 of the city on Wednesday.
“ For example , the waterlogging problem in Sonir Akhra has not been solved even after recovering the Kajla canal of the area because of the metro rail project going on in that area.”
“ We are trying to coordinate with the development project runners and are hopeful to solve this problem very soon,” the DSCC Mayor added.
READ: Return to Dhaka after lockdown ends: Mayor Taposh
Besides, the city dwellers have not stopped indiscriminate dumping of wastes and plastic bottles which are blocking the drainage system, jeopardising all efforts in solving waterlogging problem, a disappointed mayor added.
"Dhaka South City Corporation is working to solve the problem of waterlogging. Once that is done, the city dwellers will gradually be relieved of the sufferings, "Taposh said.
On the issue of waterlogging in Motijheel area, the mayor said, "The contractor was not able to complete the project on time. Work is also underway to alleviate waterlogging on the Toynbee Circular Road in Fakirapul. Once these are completed, there will be no waterlogging. "
READ: Close shops by 8 pm: Mayor Taposh
Earlier today, the mayor inaugurated the Interim Waste Transfer Center at Muktangan in Ward 13 of the city and inspected development works and sewer cleaning activities from Fakirapul Junction to Motijheel Petrol Pump area. He later visited several waterlogged areas from Rayerbagh to Sonir Akhra.
He also inaugurated Azimpur Children's Park.
80pc people to be vaccinated by March: Zahid Maleque
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Wednesday informed the Parliament that 80 per cent of the country’s people will get Covid-19 jabs by March next year.
“We’ll be able to vaccinate 80 per cent of people within the first quarter of the next year,” he said, explaining how Bangladesh would collect the Covid-19 vaccines from several sources by this time.
The minister was speaking on a cut motion on his ministry in Parliament as the opposition Jatiya Party, BNP and Ganoforum MPs harshly criticised the health ministry for its failure to ensure vaccines for mass people.
He said some 25 lakh Covid-19 vaccines of Moderna will arrive within July 2 to July 3.
Vaccines purchased from China will also start coming by that time. Bangladesh has inked an agreement with Chinese Sinopharm to get 1.50 crore vaccine, said Zahid.
Bangladesh will get 6.30 crore vaccines within December under the Covax facilities… the country will have a total stock of 10 crore vaccine doses by December through which it will be able to inoculate five crore people, he said.
READ: University students to be vaccinated for reopening dorms: UGC
Besides, Bangladesh will get 7 crore doses from Johnson & Johnson in the first quarter of the next year and it will be able to inoculate seven crore people with this, he added.
BNP MPs Harunur Rashid, Rumeen Farhana and Mosharrof Hossain, Jatiya Party MPs Mujibul Haque, Pir Fazlur Rahman, Rustum Ali Faraji, Shameem Haider Patwary, among others, joined the discussion on cut motion during the passage of the national budget for 2021-22 fiscal.
They also came down heavily on the minister for allegations of widespread corruption, irregularities and mismanagement in the health sector.
The health minister, however, rejected these allegations and asked the lawmakers.
“You’ll have to say specifically where corruption took place. The wholesale allegation of corruption in the health sector is not acceptabe,” he said.
Zahid said that none could go abroad to receive the medical treatment amid the Covid-19 restrictions and they are taking services in Bangladeshi hospitals. “You are taking services since the hospital can render the services. You remain well,” he said.
READ: South Korea mulls dropping masks for vaccinated
The minister claimed that no corruption took place in procurement of masks. “The masks that MPs talked about were never purchased. No payment was made,” he said.