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18 dengue cases reported in 24 hrs: DGHS
Eighteen more dengue cases have been reported in 24 hours till Monday morning.
Thirteen new patients were hospitalized in Dhaka and five outside it, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Seventy-eight dengue patients, including 72 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
Read: Remain alert as Covid cases rising: Health Minister
This year, the DGHS has recorded 589 dengue cases and 511 recoveries so far. The directorate has not yet reported any death from the mosquito-borne viral disease.
Dengue – a leading cause of serious illness and death in some Asian and Latin American countries – was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000 and claimed 93 lives. In three years, the fatality number almost fell to zero.
However, 105 dengue patients, including 95 in Dhaka division, died in 2021.
Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas.
Read: Dengue in Bangladesh: 20 new cases reported in 24hrs
About 4 billion people, almost half of the world's population, live in areas with a risk of dengue, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Each year, up to 400 million people get infected with dengue while almost 100 million get sick from infection, and 40,000 die from severe dengue, it says.
Because there are four different dengue viruses, a person can be infected by the virus up to four times in their life.
"There is no specific treatment for dengue or severe dengue. Early detection of disease progression associated with severe dengue, and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates of severe dengue to below 1 percent," according to the World Health Organization.
Remain alert as Covid cases rising: Health Minister
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday urged all to maintain health protocols as the number of Covid cases started to rise in Bangladesh.
“Covid has not yet been eradicated yet and the situation may take alarming turn any time although it is normal now,” said the minister at the secretariat after a meeting on automation of admission process in private medical and dental colleges.
He said Covid cases have increased a bit in the country with 109 people infected with the virus on Sunday.
Also read: Bangladesh reports 109 Covid cases, zero death
Many eminent personalities including ministers have already been infected. “Everyone must follow health rules and wear a mask,” he added.
Zahid also urged those who have not been vaccinated yet to get vaccinated immediately.
The proposed budget allotted for the health sector is around Tk 4,000 crore which more than the previous fiscal year, he said.
Also read: Covid-19: Over 1 lakh Rohingya children vaccinated in Bangladesh
Regarding the automation of students admission in private medical and dental colleges, he said the admission process will be transparent now.
Monsoon showers likely across country
The Metrological Department has predicted showers across the country in 24 hours commencing 9am on Monday.
“Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions,” according to a regular Met Office bulletin.
Also read: Rains likely amid sizzling heat
Besides, mild heat wave is sweeping over Rajshahi, Pabna, Jashore & Chuadanga and it may continue, it said.
Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.
The Met Office recorded the highest 57mm rainfall in Sylhet in 24 hours till 6am on Monday.
The mercury reached 36.8 degrees Celsius – the highest – in Rajshahi, while the minimum temperature was recorded 21.5 degrees in Sayedpur.
Meanwhile, the trough of low extended from Bihar to Gangetic West Bengal persists. Monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate over North Bay, added the bulletin.
Bangladeshi pilgrim dies in Saudi Arabia
A 59-year-old Bangladeshi man who went to Saudi Arabia to perform the upcoming Hajj has died in Mecca.
The deceased was identified as Md Jahangir Kabir, hailing from Chapainawabganj. His passport number is ‘A01012228’.
Also read:First hajj flight leaves Dhaka with 410 pilgrims
According to the Hajj management portal of the Religious Affairs Ministry, Jahangir Kabir died in Mecca on Saturday.
The cause of death couldn’t be known immediately, it added.
Global Covid cases near 541 million
The overall number of Covid cases are gradually approaching 541 million amid a rise in new infections in parts of the world.
According to the latest global data, the total case count mounted to 540,561,040 while the death toll from the virus reached 6,331,494 on Monday morning.
Also read: Covid-19: Over 1 lakh Rohingya children vaccinated in Bangladesh
The US has recorded 87,321,703 cases so far and 1,035,847 people have died from the virus in the country, the data shows.
India's COVID-19 tally rose to 43,222,017 on Sunday, as 8,582 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry's latest data.
Besides, four deaths from the pandemic were registered across the country since Saturday morning, taking the total death toll to 524,757.
Brazil has recorded 31,456,865 cases so far and 668,177 people have died from the virus in the country.
Situation in Bangladesh
In increasing incidence of the virus Bangladesh registered 109 new Covid cases in 24 hours till Sunday morning taking the country's total caseload to 1,954,115.
Also read: US lifts COVID-19 test requirement for international travel
The country's total fatalities, however, remained unchanged at 29,131 as no death was reported during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily test positivity rate increased to 2.06 per cent from Saturday’s 1.14 per cent as 5,330 samples were tested during this time.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent. The recovery rate also remained static at 97.50 per cent as 91 patients recovered during this period.
Honoured to compose and sing the official theme song for Padma Bridge grand opening: Kishore
The official theme song for the grand opening of Padma Bridge has been composed by renowned singer-music composer Kishore Das, who said that it was a great honour to be a part of the historic occasion.
On Sunday night, Kishore Das shared his expression of gratitude regarding the project through a Facebook post from his verified page, describing the workflow of the song.
“Marking the occasion of the inauguration of Padma Bridge, I had the wonderful opportunity to sing and compose the 'Official Theme Song' of the inauguration event,” Kishore expressed his excitement.
The video of this song was made by the initiative of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on top of the Padma Bridge, the singer-composer added.
The theme song goes like: “Tumi obichol, dreero protiggo - tumi dhumketu, Bangabandhu diyechhen desh, tumi dile Padma Setu.”
Alongside Kishore, legendary and prominent singers including Sabina Yasmin, Rafiqul Alam, Kumar Bishwajit, Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, Momotaz Begum, Dilshad Nahar Kona, Bappa Mazumder, Imran Mahmudul and Nishita Barua also performed in the song.
BNP lawmaker Harun asks govt to protest remarks against prophet
BNP MP Harunur Rashid on Sunday asked the government to summon Indian high commissioner and bring a motion of condemnation in Parliament for derogatory remarks by BJP leaders about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).The opposition MP made the demand during a discussion on the Point of Order in Parliament."We all know that the whole world is protesting against the insult to our Prophet (PBUH) in India. It is also happening in Bangladesh. Most worryingly, we as a Muslim-majority country and an important member in SAARC…we are noticing with concern that the government is yet to express any protest or give any reaction on this issue."
Also read: Ranga blasts Harun in parliament The BNP MP also said that parliament is in session at present. “A condemnation motion must be placed in parliament.“Harun said anti-Muslim activities in India have increased a lot in the last few years. A few days ago, controversy on hijab was created.
Also read: HC dismisses BNP lawmaker Harun's appeal against jail term, but reduces sentence“I think the Indian high commissioner needs to be summoned by the Bangladesh government and we should express strong protests.”
MPs slam amnesty to money thieves
Lawmakers from ruling and opposition parties on Sunday came down hard on the budgetary proposal to legalise laundered money only with 7 per cent tax.
They slammed Finance Minister Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal for making the proposal in the budget of FY2022-23.
Jatiya Party MP elected from Sunamganj Pir Fazlur Rahman demanded legal action against the money launderers.
He said legal action should be taken against those who looted and smuggled money abroad. Otherwise, there was no need for anti-money laundering law.
Also read: Law bars asking questions about laundered money: Finance Minister
“Money laundering has also increased. The finance minister has tried to save the lives of the people in the budget that he presented during this coronation period. On the other hand, thousands of crores of taka have been smuggled out of this country, which he could not stop.”
He said that steps have been taken to give impunity for those who stole money, embezzled money and smuggled it abroad.
“This is not supportable at all,” he said.
Fazlur said that the finance minister should have prevented money smuggling during the transition period. But he failed there."
He said that if laundered money is allowed to return to Bangladesh legally, then money laundering laws are not needed in Bangladesh.
He mentioned that people suspect that a large group of people are sitting around to smuggle money abroad and their ill motive will be successful.
“This will encourage the people to earn money through illegal means,” he added.
He said that if this amnesty given to the money launderers then they will become the highest taxpayers.
Another Jatiya Party MP elected from Gaibandha Shameem Haider Patwary asked the finance minister to rethink the matter.
He questioned about the fate of ongoing cases after passage of this amnesty.
“There should be a policy this amnesty can not be availed if there is any specific allegation of money laundering,” he said.
The Jatiya Party MP mentioned that such kind of amnesty was given in India that failed to bring any success.
Gonoforum MP elected from Sylhet Mokabbir Khan demanded punishment to the top 12 corrupts of the country.
“By this we will be able to bring down 50 percent corruption in the country, otherwise I will resign from the Parliament,” he said.
Also read: Budget FY23: Laundered money to be legalized by 7-15 pc tax
He alleged that the government is taking actions against some small fries like clerk and driver.
“But the authority has no courage to touch the big corrupt people who earned thousands of crores of taka staying in the big posts,” he said.
Ruling Party MP elected from Cumilla Pran Gopal Dutta requested the finance minister to revise the proposal of giving amnesty to the money launderers.
“There is no positive impact of this matter, those who siphoned money abroad, if they were honest they would keep their money in the country,” he said.
He mentioned that the finance minister should keep in mind that thieves never listen to religious message.
Gang of bandits nabbed by DB
Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested four members of an inter-district bandit gang, including Master Aslam, from Mirpur embankment under Shah Ali Police Station in the capital on Saturday night. The detectives also recovered one Hayes microbus, one foreign made pistol, two sharp weapons, two sticks and three looted private cars from their possession.
Also read: 44 mugging, dope gang members held in Dhaka: Rab
The arrestees were identified as Master of the gang Md. Aslamul Haque alias Aslam, Maqbool Hossain Prakash alias Mangal Hossain Babu, Md. Rafiqul Islam and Md. Hasan Hawlader. Briefing reporters at the DMP Media Center on Sunday, Joint Commissioner (Cyber and Special Crimes and DB-North) of the DMP Mohammad Harun Aur Rashid said that Tejgaon Zonal team of DB (Tejgaon division) conducted a drive at Mirpur embankment and arrested the four bandits. They also recovered the Hayes microbus, one foreign made pistol, two sharp weapons, two sticks and three looted private cars from their possessions. About the tactics of the arrested bandits, Joint Commissioner Harun, who has been promoted to the rank of DIG, said they (bandits) basically give signal in front of the freight truck with laser lights. When the truck driver stopped the truck thinking it as a police signal, they fled with the truck, taking the driver and helper hostage at gunpoint, he said. During primary interrogation, the arrested bandits also revealed that their group leader is the most wanted robber of the present time, Aslamul Haque alias Aslam. The other robbers in the group call him Master, he said. Led by Aslam, they divided into different groups and carried out robberies in Chapainawabganj, Natore, Naogaon, Bogra, Sirajganj, Kushtia, Tangail, Jamalpur, Mymensingh, Manikganj, Dhaka, Narsingdi, Narayanganj, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Faridpur and Joshore.
Also read: Fake medicine gang busted by DB; 20 lakh pieces seized Later, they (bandits) left them in a secluded place on the way and resorted to looting paddy, rice, cows, fish food etc, which were carried by truck. The robbers then took the truck and robbed somewhere else. They also admitted that they had gathered at the embankment area on the day of the arrest to rob a moving truck. Two separate cases have been filed with concerned police stations against the arrested under the Preparation for Robbery and Arms Act at DMP's Shahali Police Station
BTRC fines 4 mobile operators Tk 7.65 crore
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has fined four mobile phone operators, including State-owned telecom operator Teletalk, Tk 7.65 crore on allegations of operating illegal VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol).
BTRC fined Teletalk Tk 5 crore, Robi Tk 2 crore, while Grameenphone and Banglalink were fined Tk 50 lakh and Tk 15 lakh respectively for disobeying the commission's directive and licensing conditions, said BTRC notification.
Also read:BTRC's spectrum auction: Govt earns revenue of Tk 10,645 crore
These operators have been instructed to pay the administrative fines by June 30.
The letter signed by BTRC Secretary Md Nurul Hafiz was recently sent to the mobile operators concerned, it said.
The BTRC fined these operators after hearing over the seizure of SIM (subscriber identity module) used in illegal VoIPs while conducting drives at various times.
Also read: HC forms committee to supervise BTRC’s activities to solve mobile service issues
The BTRC has also warned the operators to comply with some instructions.
The commission has seized 32,845 SIMs of Teletalk, 16,390 of Robi, 2,356 of Grameenphone and 753 of Banglalink, it added.