Dhaka
Youth stabbed dead in Dhaka
An unidentified youth who was stabbed by some miscreants in the capital’s Jatrabari area died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in the early hours of Sunday.
The deceased, aged around 30, was found lying on a road in Dhabalpur area of Jatrabari.
A rickshaw puller, who took the victim to the hospital, said he found the youth lying on the road when he was going to Dhabalpur area with his rickshaw.
Also Read: Social Welfare employee stabbed to death in Agargaon
First, he took the victim to the Mugda Medical College Hospital and later he was shifted to the emergency unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). He died there at around 5 am on Sunday.
DMCH police camp in-charge Inspector Md. Bachchu Mia said the body has been kept at the hospital’s morgue for autopsy.
Convicted ‘Hizb ut-Tahrir member’ on the run for 11 years arrested from Dhaka’s Jatrabari
Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) have arrested a convicted member of the banned militant group Hizb ut-Tahrir from Dhaka's Jatrabari area.
The arrestee was identified as Tauhidur Rahman Tauhid, 32, an active member of the ‘Dawah’ and finance department of the militant group. He was sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment by an Anti-Terrorism Tribunal.
Read more: 12 militants, 14 KNF members arrested so far in anti-militancy drive in Bandarban: RAB
Tipped off, a special team of Rab-2 conducted a drive in Dhaka's Jatrabari on Saturday and arrested Tauhid, Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Md Fazlul Haque, senior additional director (Media) of Rab-2, said.
Tauhid was indicted in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at the capital's Hazaribagh Police Station. He has been absconding for the past 11 years and continued his involvement with the militant group, said the Rab official.
According to the Rab official, Tauhid was actively involved in anti-state activities -- holding meetings to conspire against the government and distributing leaflets and posters of Hizb ut-Tahrir to encourage madrasa and school students to be engaged in militancy.
Read more: 3 ‘members of new militant outfit’ held with arms, explosives in Bandarban
Efforts are on to nab his associates based on his information. Legal processes are underway against the arrestee, said the Rab officer.
Dhaka’s air ‘hazardous’, most polluted in the world this morning
Dhaka once again topped the list of cities around the world with the worst air quality this morning.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 315 at 8 am today (January 22, 2023), Dhaka ranked first in the list of cities with the worst air.
An AQI between 151 and 200 is said to be ‘unhealthy’ while 201 and 300 is considered ‘very unhealthy’, and 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
Read more: Dhaka tops global list of cities with worst air quality this morning
India’s Delhi and China’s Shenyang occupied the second and third spots in the list, with AQI scores of 313 and 245, respectively.
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.
Read more: Dhaka air 5th most polluted in the world this morning
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.
Cost of living in Dhaka increased by 11.08 percent in 2022: CAB
The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) said that the cost of living in the capital Dhaka increased by 11.08 percent in 2022.
The report released on Saturday said that around 17 products have directly contributed to the rise in inflation as well as the cost of living last year.
The urban lower-income group of people has compromised their diet chart and lifestyle due to the increase in the prices of essential commodities, fish and meat.
The report was presented on behalf of CAB by Mahfuz Kabir, research director of the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS).
Read More: Inflation report could show another month of cooling prices
According to the report, the cost of living in the capital increased by 6.88 percent in 2020 and 6.5 percent in 2019.
Dr Kabir has prepared the result, which was collected from 11 markets across Dhaka (Dhaka North and South City Corporation). It has covered 141 food items, 49 non-food items and 25 services.
Rice, flour, pulses, bakery products, sugar, fish, eggs, domestic poultry, edible oil, imported fruits, tea and coffee, local and imported milk, washing and personal hygiene items, and transport costs are included in the CAB price monitoring.
The CAB has proposed policy recommendations in the analysis of inflation trends. In the recommendations, the association said the government has increased support under subsidised food aid and social protection to reduce inflationary pressure on the poor and disadvantaged.
But the government should extend social protection schemes in urban areas to protect low and middle-income consumers from rising inflationary pressures.
Read more: Keep essentials' prices within reach: CAB
The government has significantly increased OMS activities during Covid-19, which has been extended further in 2022 to protect these consumer groups from the economic slowdown and inflationary woes.
But there is an inadequacy of food supply through OMS against extremely high demand and a lack of proper monitoring to ensure equitable distribution of OMS food products among low-income people.
The CAB recommendation has also opposed the decision to increase gas and fuel oil prices at the retail level as the bulk price hike of gas and oil would affect lower-income people.
CAB President Golam Rahman. Vice President SM Najer Hossain, General Secretary Advocate Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan, joint secretary Dr. Md. Shahnewaz Chowdhury, and Md. Qazi Abdul Hannan were also present at the press conference held virtually.
Read more: CAB urges govt to readjust edible oil prices
World Bank managing director to arrive in Dhaka Saturday
World Bank Managing Director of Operations Axel van Trotsenburg will arrive in Dhaka Saturday on his first official visit to Bangladesh.
During his three-day visit, Axel will join a public event in Dhaka on January 22 to mark 50 years of the partnership between Bangladesh and the World Bank Group and celebrate the country's "remarkable" development achievements, said a media statement.
"Bangladesh has shown the world what can be done to dramatically reduce poverty through successful innovations in human development, women’s empowerment, and climate adaptation," Axel said.
Read more: Bangladesh wants low-interest loan from World Bank amid economic woes
"The World Bank is proud of its 50-year partnership with Bangladesh and being part of the country's remarkable development journey. I look forward to my visit and to seeing these achievements firsthand."
Axel will meet with the prime minister, finance minister, senior government officials, civil society representatives, and development partners, and visit the World Bank-supported projects.
World Bank to provide US$300 million to help Bangladesh’s pandemic responseHe will be accompanied by Martin Raiser, World Bank vice-president for South Asia.
Read more:
Dhaka’s air ‘hazardous’, most polluted in the world on holiday morning
Dhaka has once again topped the list of world cities with the worst air quality on Friday morning.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 317 at 8am today, Dhaka ranked first in the list of cities with worst air.
An AQI between 151 and 200 is said to be ‘unhealthy’ while 201 and 300 is considered ‘very unhealthy’, and 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
Read more: Dhaka keeps grappling with ‘hazardous’ air
India’s Kolkata and Mumbai occupied the second and third spots in the list, with AQI scores of 196 and 189, respectively.
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.
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.
Read more: AQI: Dhaka’s air remains ‘very unhealthy’
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.
DPP being reframed to build Turag and Keraniganj townships: Sharif Ahmed
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (RAJUK) is working to reframe development project proposals (DPPs) to develop two townships in Turag and Keraniganj as part of step to reduce the growing pressure of population in Dhaka city.
State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed said this in Parliament on Thursday, replying to a tabled question from Awami League MP Mohammad Habib Hasan (Dhaka-18).
Read more: Rajuk on its way to redevelop centuries-old Old Dhaka
In the scripted answer, Sharif said the initiatives were taken to undertake two projects titled ‘Conservation of Flood Flow Zone of Turag River and Compact Township Development Project' and 'Waterfront Smart City Project’ in Keraniganj.
He said the feasibility studies on the two projects have been completed. “In line with the recommendations of the feasibility studies, the reframing works of DPPs of the two projects now continue,” he said.
Besides, the implementation works of a satellite town project continue to reduce the pressure of population in the capital, said the state minister.
The infrastructural development and plot allotment of the project titled ‘Purbachal New Town’ has been completed, while the construction works for other civic facilities are near completion, he added.
Read more: RAJUK lauches work on deep tube wells for Purbachal New Town project
In reply to a scripted question from AL lawmaker M Abdul Latif (Chattogram-11), the state minister said the National Housing Authority has a plan to construct some 3,816 residential flats under seven residential flat construction projects in order to provide the residential facilities at low cost in Dhaka.
Besides, the authority has already implemented 10 residential flat construction projects in Mirpur and Mohammadpur in Dhaka and constructed 4,358 flats, he said.
The construction of 3,611 residential flats under seven other projects continue in the capital city, said Sharif.
Dhaka air 5th most polluted in the world this morning
The air quality in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka is deemed 'unhealthy' this morning (January 19, 2023).
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 194 at 9:10 am on Thursday, Dhaka ranked fifth in the list of world cities with worst air quality.
India’s Delhi and Mumbai occupied the first and third places with AQI of 250 and 199 respectively. Kyrgyzstan’ Bishkek ranked second in the list with AQI of 209.
Read more: 2022 was fifth or sixth warmest on record as Earth heats up
An AQI between 151 and 200 is said to be ‘unhealthy’ while 201 and 300 is considered ‘very unhealthy’, and 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
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.
Read more: Ozone layer slowly but noticeably healing: UN
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.
'Introduction of Bangladesh to Italian students to help boost Dhaka, Rome ties'
The Bangladesh mission in Rome recently made a presentation at the Liceo Galileo Galilei School at Macomer in Italy's Sardinia as a part of the First Step (Meet the School) of Embassy Adoption Programme.
Thanking the Bangladesh embassy for introducing the country to the Italian students, Giancarlo Dionisi, prefect of Macomer, and Antonio Onorato Succu, mayor of Macomer, said the initiative would help create greater understanding and bondage between the two friendly countries.
The embassy has been participating in the Diplomacy Education Programme coordinated by Global Action, Italy, since 2021. But this is the first time the mission joined it in person at the adopted school outside Rome.
At the programme, Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy Shameem Ahsan briefed the young learners about the country, its history, Liberation War, culture, economy and achievements.
The programme is a part of the Bangladesh embassy's ongoing public diplomacy drive to project and brand the country positively to the wider audience in Italy.
Read more: Dhaka, Rome eye stronger economic partnership
Dhaka air 4th most polluted in the world this morning
Dhaka's air quality remains in the ‘unhealthy' zone this morning. With an air quality index (AQI) score of 192 at 9:20 am today (January 18, 2023), the capital of Bangladesh ranked fourth in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.
An AQI between 151 and 200 is said to be ‘unhealthy’ while 201 and 300 is considered ‘very unhealthy’, and 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
Kyrgyzstan’s Bishkek and Pakistan’s Karachi and Lahore occupied the first three spots with an AQI of 236, 233, and 205 respectively.
Read more: Dhaka's air quality stays 'unhealthy'
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.
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.
Read more: No respite from 'unhealthy' air in Dhaka