Bangladesh
That's something concerning: UN on Rozina's arrest
The United Nations has said journalist Rozina Islam's arrest is obviously "something concerning”, noting that journalists need to be able to do their work free of any sort of harassment or physical threat anywhere around the world. "Look, I've seen…we've seen the press reports on the journalist that was arrested in Bangladesh. It’s, obviously, something that we’re looking at. It’s something that's concerning," said Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, in a regular briefing on Tuesday.
Read: Journalists demand unconditional release of Rozina Islam The spokesperson said their position has been clear and obviously that includes Bangladesh and every other country. "I think we’ve seen the very important work that journalists all around the world have done during the pandemic, and they need to be able to continue that work, wherever they may work," he said. A Dhaka court on Tuesday sent journalist Rozina Islam to judicial custody after rejecting the demand of police to take her on a five-day remand.
Read:Rozina’s arrest a black chapter in history of Bangladesh journalism: Editors’ Council
She was arrested in a case under the Official Secrets Act on Monday night.
Journalists demand unconditional release of Rozina Islam
Journalists on Wednesday formed a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding unconditional release of journalist Rozina Islam and punishment of those involved in harassing her at the Secretariat.
Dhaka Reporters Unity, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalist, Barishal Divisional Journalist Association, Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum, Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association and other organizations joined the human chain around 11 am.
Read:That's something concerning: UN on Rozina's arrest
They also demanded withdrawal of false case filed against Rozina.
Besides, Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) held a protest rally in front of its office demanding the same.
Rozina, senior journalist of Prothom Alo, was handed over to police on Monday night after being held at the Secretariat for over five hours.
Rozina was arrested for allegedly attempting to illegally “collect sensitive government documents and taking photos of them” from the Secretariat on Monday.
An FIR was filed against Rozina under the Official Secrets Act and sections 379 and 411 of The Penal Code on a complaint filed by the Health Services Division at Shahbagh police station.
Read: Journalist Rozina must get justice: Law Minister
Later, a Dhaka court on Tuesday sent Rozina, to jail after rejecting the police's demand for her five-day remand.
Rozina Islam was taken to Kashimpur Central Women's Jail on Tuesday afternoon after a Dhaka court rejected police’s remand plea.
Besides, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has formed a three-member probe committee to look into the confinement and later handover to police of journalist Rozina Islam at the Secretariat on Monday.
36 India returnees sent to Cumilla for institutional quarantine
As many as 36 Bangladeshi nationals, who returned from India through the Akhaura land port on Tuesday, have been sent to Cumilla to undergo institutional quarantine as all the isolation centres in Brahmanbaria are full, officials said on Wednesday.
The 36 Bangladeshis returned home from India on Tuesday after obtaining a 'no-objection certificate' from the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Agartala. Similarly, 27 Indian nationals have returned home through the land port.
Mohammad Nur-e-Alam, Upazila Nirbahi officer, said these 36 Indian returnees have been sent to Cumilla as all the institutional isolation facilities in the district are full. "Those who have completed their 14-day quarantine at the centres will be released soon," he said.
Read: Another India returnee dies in Jashore quarantine
So far, 718 Bangladeshis have returned from India through the Akhaura land port in the past three weeks.
Dr Mohammad Rashedur Rahman, Akhaura upazila health and family planning officer, said at present 346 people are staying at the nine quarantine centres of the district and of them three tested positive for Covid.
As India has been experiencing a new strain of Covid-19, the government has imposed restrictions along the border areas of Bangladesh. According to the World Health Organisation, the Indian variant has already spread to 60 countries across the world.
The Bangladeshi citizens currently travelling to India for treatment and having visas with validity for less than 15 days could enter Bangladesh only through Benapole, Akhaura and Burimari after taking permission from Bangladesh diplomatic missions in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Agartala and with a mandatory Covid-negative certificates done through PCR test within 72 hours of entry.
The highly contagious Indian variant of the coronavirus has been detected in three more samples of Bangladeshis who recently returned from the neighbouring country, Prof Iqbal Kabir Zahid, assistant director of the genome centre of Jashore Science and Technology University, said.
The three infected persons are currently under institutional quarantine at Jashore and Narail, he told UNB.
On Monday, the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) announced that the Indian variant was found in six Covid-19 patients in Bangladesh.
Read: 3 India returnee students test Covid positive
The Indian strain of the virus was detected in a sample test at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka and it has been published on Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), said chief scientific officer of IEDCR ASM Alamgir.
Earlier, the government closed the border with India for 14 days with effect from April 26 but cargo services were allowed to operate as usual.
On May 8, the government decided to extend the closure of border with India for another 14 days as the Covid-19 situation keeps worsening in India.
UN launches $943 mn plan to ‘safeguard well-being, dignity’ of Rohingyas
Under the leadership of the government of Bangladesh, the Organization for Migration (IOM) and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have launched a $943 million plan to “safeguard the well-being and dignity” of Rohingya refugees in the country and their host communities.
For the nearly 900,000 Rohingyass in Bangladesh, 2021 marks the fourth year since their mass displacement from Myanmar, which was preceded by decades of influxes triggered by systematic discrimination and targeted violence.
The 2021 Joint Response Plan joins Bangladesh with 134 UN agencies and NGO partners to “meet the needs of more than 880,000 Rohingya refugees and 472,000 Bangladeshis in the surrounding host communities in Cox’s Bazar District”, said UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic on Tuesday.
Although Bangladesh and the international community have been providing immediate life-saving assistance, the needs are immense, according to the UN News.
And complex challenges continue to emerge and reshape the nature of the response, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, which has compounded vulnerabilities for refugees and host communities alike.
Although the trajectory of the virus remains unpredictable, Bangladesh, with the support of the humanitarian community, has effectively managed the Covid-19 response and the spread of the disease in the large Rohingya camps and surrounding areas.
Also read: Rohingyas want to return to Myanmar; happy with Bhasan Char facilities
New layers of complexity include the ongoing crisis and political instability across the nearby Myanmar border.
Beyond physical safety
The needs of Rohingya refugees reach beyond subsistence and physical safety, they also require access to education and options for a decent life, according to the UN agencies.
To mitigate the risks of refugees taking dangerous onward journeys by land or sea to find a solution elsewhere, more must be done to provide hope for refugees sheltering in Bangladesh, and a realistic future back home.
“The search for durable solutions must remain focused on the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees to their homes in Myanmar, when conditions allow them to do so," they said in a statement.
Also read: Japan announces $1 million emergency aid for Rohingya camp fire victims
Meanwhile, it is critical to maintain the delivery of all humanitarian assistance and protection services.
“The international community must continue to advocate for sustainable solutions in Myanmar that would eventually facilitate what all Rohingya refugees have consistently voiced as their main concern – to return home”, said IOM chief António Vitorino.
Govt sets ambitious development target with huge ADP allocation
The National Economic Council (NEC) on Tuesday approved the Annual Development Programme (ADP) involving Tk 225,324 crore for 1,426 projects for the 2021-22 fiscal year with focus on transport and communications, power, housing, education and health sectors.
Among the approved projects, 1,308 will be investment ones while 118 will be of technical assistance.
The approval to the ADP was given at an NEC meeting held at its conference room. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who joined the meeting from her official residence Ganobhaban through videoconferencing, presided over it.
Planning Minister MA Mannan said Tk 11,469 crore also was allocated for autonomous entities.
Read: Govt upgrading ADP implementation capacity for growth acceleration
Of the Tk 225,324 crore, an amount of Tk 137,300 crore will come from internal sources while Tk 88,224 crore from foreign sources. Of the Tk 11,469 crore of the autonomous entities, the internal sources will provide Tk 6717 crore while the foreign portion will be Tk 4751crore. The Planning Minister said the number of development projects for the next fiscal year for autonomous entities will be 89.
The total number of development projects will be 1515 involving Tk 236,793 crore.
Transport sector will get Tk 61,631 (27.35%) while power sector Tk 45,668 crore (20.36%), Housing and Community facilities Tk 23,747 crore (10.54 crore), Education Tk 23,178 crore (10.29%), Health Tk 17, 307 crore (7.68), Local government and rural development Tk 14, 274 crore (6.34%), Environment, climate change and water Tk 8,526 crore (3.78%), Agriculture Tk 7,665 crore (3.40%), industries and economic services Tk 4,638 crore (2.06%) and Science and Information Technology Tk 3,587 crore (1.59%).
Local Government Division will get the highest allocation of Tk 33, 896 crore followed by road transportation and highways division Tk 28042 crore, Power Division Tk 25, 349 crore, Science and Technology Ministry Tk 20, 634 crore, Railways Ministry Tk 13, 558 crore, Health Service Division Tk 13, 000 crore, Secondary and Higher Secondary Division Tk 11, 920 crore, Bridges Division Tk 9,813 crore, Primary and Mass Education Division Tk 8, 022 crore, and Water Resources Ministry Tk 6,871 crore.
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will get the highest allocation in the next fiscal with Tk 18426.16 crore followed by Matarbari Ultra Super critical Coal Powered Power Project Tk 6162 crore, Primary Education Development Programme-IV Tk 5053.98 crore, Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-6) Tk 4800 crore, Padma Bridge Rail Connection (1st amended) Tk 3823.51 crore, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge Tk 3580 crore, Padma Multipurpose Bridge (2nd amended) Tk 3500 crore, Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated expressway Tk 3227.20 crore, Expansion and Strengthening of Power System Network under DPDC Area Tk 3051.11 crore and Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Expansion (1st phase) (1st amendment) Tk 2827.52 crore.
While briefing reporters after the meeting, minister Mannan said that the Prime Minister has given some directives, including one not to appoint foreign consultants indiscriminately to development projects.
Read:Ambitious ADP worth Tk 2.13trn on the cards
“Foreign consultants will be appointed as per requirement, not indiscriminately. We won’t appoint consultants blindly, they’ll be appointed as per need after scrutiny,” he said.
The minister said the Prime Minister asked the officials concerned to complete the projects that have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Stressing the importance of research, the Prime Minister directed all the ministries to utilise their funds properly that will be given for research.
In the next fiscal ADP, Tk 4,147 crore has been earmarked as block allocation against the new projects of which Tk 2,893 crore will be mobilised from local sources while Tk 1,254 crore as project loan.
Some 596 unapproved new projects have been incorporated in the new ADP without any allocation while 141 new unapproved projects have been included in the new ADP subject to the availability of foreign funds.
There are 88 projects to be implemented under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) while 356 projects have been earmarked for completion by June 30, 2022.
Besides, 73 projects that were supposed to be completed by June this year will be completed by the next fiscal year (FY22).
The Planning Minister said the economy of Bangladesh is performing well despite the shock of the pandemic due to the good performances in the agriculture sector and also for the domestic labour and the hard-earned remittances being sent by expatriate Bangladeshis.
Read:NEC approves Tk 197,643-cr revised ADP
Referring to the recent attainment of $2,227 per capita income, Mannan said the per capita income has witnessed a jump of 9 percent despite the pandemic and this shows the resilience of the domestic economy.
He also said the current size of the country's GDP is Tk 30,111 billion or $355.04 billion.
Replying to a question, the Planning Minister said the Ministry of Health has attained a very good capacity over the years in implementing development projects.
He said although there was a bit of sloth in the operation of the Health Ministry when the Covid-19 hit the country last year, it regained momentum in its operation and subsequently made a pick up within the next one or two months after the attack of the pandemic.
Bangladesh logs 30 more Covid-19 deaths; infection rate rises to 7.55 pc
Bangladesh registered 30 more coronavirus-related deaths in 24 hours until Tuesday morning, pushing up the total fatalities to 12,211.
Besides, 1,272 new cases were detected during the period after testing 16,855 samples, the Directorate General of Health Services said in a handout.
The daily infection rate rose to 7.55 percent from Monday’s 6.75 percent.
With the new cases, the total caseload reached 7,28,129 while the total number of recoveries stood at 7,24,209, including 1,115 in the last 24 hours.
Now the recovery rate stands at 92.59 percent.
The country has so far carried out 57,34,918 sample tests since reporting its first cases on March 8 last year and the first death on the 18th of that month.
Bangladesh has been seeing below 50 daily deaths from May 9 and the number stayed mostly below 60 from the beginning of May.
The country experienced a surge in Covid-19 cases in April, recording its highest single-day cases of 7,626 on April 7. It witnessed over 100 deaths during April 16-19 and on April 25.
Second dose of vaccine running out
The second dose of Covid-19 vaccine will run out within seven to ten days, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said Monday.
Also read: Administering of Chinese Covid-19 vaccine to begin on May 25/26: Health Minister
Five lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccine, donated by China, arrived in Dhaka last week.
The vaccine will be given to those who need it most, said the minister.
Administering of Chinese Covid-19 vaccine will begin later this month, he said.
“We talked to the US, China, Russia and the UK and some progress has been made. Hopefully you will get good news soon. As per contracts, we’ve got only seven million doses out of 30 million. We’re also worried about the second dose,” he added.
US to actively consider Bangladesh’s vaccine request
The United States has said it is actively considering the request made by Bangladesh over the supply of Covid-19 vaccine doses to meet the country’s immediate needs.
Bangladesh will get a reply of the letter, sent to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken by Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, within the next couple of days, said State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam on Monday after his meeting with US Ambassador Earl Miller.
Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Monday, the United States will send an additional 20 million doses of US-approved Covid-19 vaccines overseas, reported AP.
The additional doses will put to 80 million the United States will provide to other countries by the end of June.
Also read: Bangladesh seeks at least 2 mln doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Canada
Vaccination drive
Bangladesh launched its vaccination drive on February 7 with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses purchased from India's Serum Institute.
The government signed an agreement with Serum for 30 million doses. But a record number of cases in India has made the delivery of the doses uncertain.
The administering of the first dose has remained suspended since April 26. Also, the country, the prime recipient of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, has suspended the registration for Covid-19 jabs due to vaccine shortage amid a delay in the timely arrival of shipments from India.
In the last 24 hours, no one received the first dose of the vaccine while 64,377 have received the second dose, said the health directorate.
Journalists boycott Health Ministry’s press briefing
The members of Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) on Tuesday boycotted a press briefing of the Health Ministry protesting the harassment and arrest of Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam.
The Health Ministry was scheduled to arrange a press briefing around 11 am at the secretariat.
BSRF came up with the announcement on Tuesday morning.
The next progammes will be announced after an emergency meeting over the issue, it said in a press release signed by Shamim Ahmed, general secretary of BSRF.
Read: Senior journo Rozina produced in court
Earlier in the morning, police produced in a court Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam, who was held in a case under the Official Secrets Act, and sought her custody for five days.
Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Ramna Division) Sazzadur Rahman said that Rozina was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jashim around 8 am. He said that the police have sought her remand for custodial interrogation.
Rozina was arrested for allegedly attempting to illegally “collect sensitive government documents and taking photos of them” from the Secretariat on Monday.
The Prothom Alo journalist has rejected all the allegations. "I was, in fact, harassed at the Secretariat," she claimed immediately after her arrest.
An FIR was filed against Rozina under the Official Secrets Act and sections 379 and 411 of The Penal Code on a complaint filed by the Health Services Division at Shahbagh police station, said Harun ur Rashid, additional deputy commissioner (Ramna Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
Read:Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina arrested under Official Secrets Act
Rozina was handed over to police around 9.45pm on Monday after being held at the Secretariat for over five hours.
Maidul Islam Pradhan, senior information officer at the Health Ministry, claimed that she had entered the room of the Private Secretary to the Secretary of Health Services Division between 3pm and 3.30pm “without permission”.
“She took photos of sensitive documents. Some of those were recovered from her by the staff of the Health Ministry, including the PS, Additional Secretary of the Ministry and police constable Mizanur Rahman,” he claimed.
Health Secretary Lokman Hossain has refused to comment on the matter.
'Over 58k tested for Covid at SUST lab in one year'
As many as 58,541 Covid-19 tests have been carried out at the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in the past one year. Of the suspected patients, 9,527 have tested positive.
Sources told UNB that the university has been getting samples of suspected Covid patients from hospitals and clinics across the four upazilas of the district and Sylhet city since it set up a specialised laboratory in May last year. "We also get samples of overseas returnees in Sylhet," sources said.
Researchers at the laboratory have also unvieled the genome sequence of Covid-19 after collecting samples from four districts of Sylhet division.
Last year only, they submitted 10 genome sequence to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Database (GISAID), which was published on December 31.
Read: SUST team's genomic data on Sylhet Coronavirus strains published by GISAID
Prof Dr Mohammad Shamsul Haque Prodhan, Head of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Department, said, “Like many developing countries, we are proud of providing necessary health services to the people of Sylhet. Our big achievement is ‘confidence and reliability’ and we assure hundred percent transparency. Till now, no faulty results have been published and the team is working relentlessly and even during holidays like Eid."
Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed, vice-chancellor of SUST, said, “The SUST laboratory is a reliable place for people of the north-eastern region. Those who work at the laboratory are dedicated researchers."
On May 18 last year, the specialised laboratory for detecting Covid-19 was inaugurated at the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) under the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology for providing health assistance to the people of the division.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen had inaugurated the laboratory virtually.
The government had earlier asked education authorities to set up RT-PCR test facilities at SUST, Dhaka University, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.
Situation in Bangladesh
Covid-19 claimed 32 more lives in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours till Monday morning, raising the number of fatalities to 12,181.
Read: Covid-19 claims 32 more lives in Bangladesh, new cases 698
Besides, health authorities found 698 more people corona positive over the same period after testing 10,347 samples.
With the latest figure, the total number of positive cases in the country has now climbed to 780,857, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
PM wants to take partnership with S Korea to new height
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has extended her warmest congratulations to Kim Boo-Kyum, newly elected Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, saying she looks forward to working together to take the partnership between the two countries to a new height.
In a message on Monday on behalf of the people and the government of Bangladesh, she wished that Kim will lead his country successfully towards greater peace and prosperity with his political acumen and stewardship and extended an invitation to Kim to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.
Read:Developing Bangladesh: PM says the glory came through struggles
Prime Minister Hasina reiterated that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and South Korea are evinced by shared values of mutual trust and respect, commonalities of history, conviction to peace, security, and prosperity for all.
She stressed that Bangladesh deeply values its close, friendly and multifaceted ties with the Republic of Korea which has further strengthened in recent years.
“I sincerely believe that our friendship and collaboration have vast potentials to be realised through greater trade, investment, human resource development and technical cooperation for the benefit of our two peoples,” said the Prime Minister.
She is encouraged by the increased Korean investment in the infrastructure and socio-economic development programmes of Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister took the opportunity to express deep appreciation for the continued participation of the government of the Republic of Korea in the development initiatives of Bangladesh as Bangladesh strives to build the “Sonar Bangla” – the Prosperous Bangladesh, as envisioned by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She expressed the willingness of her government to continue to work closely with Korea on regional and global issues.
In this regard, she underscored the importance of early, safe and sustained repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar which is vital for the peace, stability and security of the region.
The Prime Minister also mentioned that this protracted crisis has potential to destabilise the entire region.
Read:PM Hasina greets Assam’s new CM Dr Sarma
Bangladesh appreciates Korea’s continued engagements in various fora, including the UN, in resolving the Rohingya crisis, Hasina said.
She extended her firm belief that the existing friendly relation between our two peoples will further consolidate our cooperation during your term in the office.
The Prime Minister concluded by conveying her best wishes for Kim’s good health and happiness, and for continued peace, progress and prosperity of the friendly people of the Republic of Korea.
Bangladesh football team begins training for World Cup qualifiers
The training of the national football team for next month's Group E 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup joint qualifiers began Monday at Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Bangladesh will play against Afghanistan, India and Oman in their remaining three Group E qualifiers on June 4, 7 and 15 at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Qatar's Doha. The national side is expected to leave the capital on May 21.
All the 33 booters of the preliminary squad, except injured Bashundhara Kings defender Bishwanath Ghosh, joined Monday's training session under head coach Jamie Day and other coaches.
Also read: BPL Football: Arambagh KS pull off biggest upset outplaying Sheikh Jamal DC 3-1
Bangladesh team will also take the field for training Tuesday at the same venue.
Earlier last week, Bangladesh Football Federation initially picked 33 footballers to form a national team for the heavyweight meet.
All the 31 players, who earned a call-up to the national camp for the recently concluded tri-nation tournament in Nepal, except Tutul Hossain Badsha, were again recalled to the Qatar-bound preliminary squad.
Also, defender Topu Barman, Bangladeshi origin Finland booter Tariq Raihan Kazi and winger Mohammad Ibrahim returned to the team.
A maximum of nine players from champions Bashundhara Kings made it to the squad.
Preliminary squad
Anisur Rahman Zico, Rimon Hossain, Topu Barman, Masuk Miya Jony, Biplu Ahmed, Mahbubur Rahman Sufil, Matin Miah, Mohammad Ibrahim, Tariq Raihan Kazi (Bashundhara Kings)
Shahidul Alam Sohel, Sohel Rana, Saaduddin (Dhaka Abahani), Rahmat Miya, Riadul Hasan,Yeasin Arafat, Jamal Bhuiyan, Abu Shahed, Imran Hasan Rimon, Faisal Ahmed Fahim (Saif SC), Mehedi Hasan, Mehedi Hasan Royal, Mohammad Emon (Muktijoddha SKC)
Also read: BPL Football: Baridhara taste 2nd victory crushing Brothers 3-0
Ashraful Islam Rana, Mohammad Abdullah (Sheikh Russel), Manik Hossain Mollah, Rakib Hossain (Ctg Abahani), Habibur Rahman Shohag, Atiquzzaman (Mohammedan), Rezaul Karim (Sheikh Jamal), Mitul Marma, Sumon Reza (Uttar Baridhara) and Mohammad Jewel (Police FC)