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Global Covid cases surpass 427 million
The overall number of Covid cases has surged past 427 million as Omicron infections keep rising across the globe.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 427,358,056 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,904,723 Wednesday morning.
The US has recorded 78,642,385 cases so far and 938,938 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows.
India's Covid-19 tally rose to 42,851,929 Tuesday, as 13,405 new cases registered in 24 hours across the South Asian country, as per the federal health ministry's latest data.
Read: More virus rules fall as CDC hints at better times ahead
Besides, 235 more deaths since Monday morning took the death toll to 512,344.
Meanwhile, Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since January last year, registered 28,353,689 cases as of Wednesday, while its Covid death toll rose to 645,665.
Covid Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh logged 16 more Covid-linked deaths with 1,595 fresh cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning as the positivity rate and cases continue to decline.
The daily positivity rate further declined to 6.77% from Monday’s 6.94% after testing 23,422 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
On Monday, Bangladesh reported nine more Covid-linked deaths with 1,951 fresh cases.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,990 and the caseload to 19,36,837.
Read: Follow health guidelines strictly at educational institutions: Minister
Among the new deceased, seven were men and nine women.
Eight of the deaths were reported in Dhaka division, three in Chattogram, two in Rajshahi and one each in Khulna, Sylhet and Rangpur divisions.
Meanwhile, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.50%.
However, the recovery rate slightly rose to 91.47% with the recovery of 8,357 more patients during the 24-hour period.
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its earlier highest daily positivity rate at 33.37% reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths.
On December 9 last year, Bangladesh again logged zero Covid-related death after nearly three weeks as the pandemic was apparently showing signs of easing.
The country reported its first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.
Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.
Realme to launch world's fastest charging technology in MWC
realme recently announced the launch of the world's fastest smartphone charging technology on Feb 28 at the MWC 2022.
As one of the first to launch 125W charging technology, realme will make a step ahead to the future with world's fastest smartphone charging.
Under the go premium strategy, realme will invest 70% of R&D resources on innovation, and charging technology, said a media release.
Realme has been consistently invested for the fastest and most efficient charging experience possible. It believes that the new charging technology is the next step forward to charge smartphones in a shorter time.
BCL to hold RU hall councils after 6 years
Rajshahi University unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League is going to hold hall councils on March 14, said Golam Kibria, president of BCL Rajshahi University unit on Tuesday.
Earlier, the hall council was supposed to be held on February 5, 2020, which was postponed showing an unavoidable reason.
READ: Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar appointed as VC of Rajshahi University
Golam Kibria said to this reporter, the decision of holding hall councils came from the talk between the central unit of BCL and Rajshahi City Corporation mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton.
According to the BCL office sources, after announcing the date of the council, the candidates are summoned to submit their CV, while a total of 416 candidates from 17 halls submitted their CV for the councils.
Contextually, the hall councils of Rajshahi University BCL were held on November 22, 2015 for the last time.
Discussion on International Mother Language Day held at Russian House
Russian House in Dhaka hosted a discussion marking the International Mother Language Day jointly with Liberation War Academy Trust.
Director of Russian House in Dhaka Maxim Dobrokhotov paid deep respects to all language martyrs and young students from Dhaka University, who made on this day in 1952 their sublime sacrifice for establishing Bangla as a state language of the erstwhile Pakistan.
He also said that in recognition of the Language Movement in Bangladesh, UNESCO declared February 21 International Mother Language Day to promote linguistic and cultural diversity in the UN member-states.
READ: Russian House lauds growing presence of online journalism in Bangladesh
The declaration was made on November 17, 1999. He reminded that The Language Movement inspired the Bengali nation to fight against injustices and exploitation unto achieving national independence in 1971.
Language activist and renowned linguist Dr. ABM Amanullah highlighted that despite the status of the official language, Bengali is not still used as mother tongue properly in Bangladesh and often replaced by English and this is really shameful.
Seventy-seven percent of primary schools in Bangladesh do not have language martyr memorials to pay homage to them and so many students construct martyr's minaret on their own initiative, said Asif Mazhar, a linguistic expert and academician, quoting several dailies in Bangladesh.
Freedom fighter Md. Abdur Rauf Bhuiyan recalled that this year is a year of celebration of the 50th anniversary of friendly relations between Bangladesh and Russia and recited an emotional self-written poem on 50 years of friendship between the two countries, said a media release on Tuesday.
Liberation War Academy Trust Chairman Dr. Abul Azad also spoke on the occasion.
Prominent freedom fighters of the country, family members of freedom fighters, cultural activists and students of various educational institutions were present.
‘Nagad’ eases payment procedure of DMCH
The Mobile Financial Service Nagad has taken initiative to ease the payment procedure of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).
An agreement between Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Nagad, an arm of Bangladesh Postal Department has taken place recently.
Rahel Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nagad said, “Nagad has always been working to make daily lives easier and transactions more affordable for people. The collaboration between Nagad and Dhaka Medical College Hospital is a testament. The state-of-the-art services of Nagad are now easily accessible to thousands of people, which will be able to lessen their suffering at the hospital.
To reduce the long queue and health risks of people the both organisations have come up with the best solutions, from now on all types of payments of DMCH can be given by Nagad.
With this agreement, all kinds of fees including ticket collection to visit a doctor, medical and other service fees can be paid through Nagad. Hence, medical patients no longer have to stand in line at banks or cash counters to pay their bills. This service from Nagad will alleviate the sufferings of thousands of people who come for treatment every day from different parts of the country.
Besides, salaries and allowances of DMCH’s fourth class employees will be paid through the mobile financial service ‘Nagad’. As a result, the administrative work of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital will be much easier and hassle free. Moreover, the employees do not have to worry about the banking hours to withdraw their salary. They can withdraw money from their ‘Nagad’ wallet anytime-anywhere.
‘Nagad’ has set up merchant payment options at several counters in DMCH for the patients coming to the hospital. So this process will save time as well as reduce unwanted suffering for the patients in order to facilitate the payment procedure easier.
During the ceremony, Nagad’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rahel Ahmed, Head of Govt. Sales A B M Mannaf Parag and DMCH’s Director Brigadier General Md. Nazmul Haque, Assistant Director (Finance & Store) Dr. Md. Ashraful Alam, Assistant Director (Admin) Dr. Halima Sultana Haque and the other high officials from the both organisations were present at the event.
Celebrity astrologer, lyricist Kausar Ahmed Chowdhury passes away
Renowned lyricist and astrologer Kausar Ahmed Chowdhury passed away at Dhanmondi Clinic, Green Road in the capital on Tuesday night at the age of 75.
This was confirmed by his niece Shatila Ahmed Chowdhury. “My uncle, lyricist and astrologer, Kausar Ahmed Chaudhury passed away. May Allah grants him the highest place in Jannah, Ameen,” she confirmed through a Facebook post on Tuesday night.
Kausar Ahmed Chowdhury was admitted to the Palliative Center of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical University in the capital on February 9. The next day, on the advice of the family doctor, he was taken to Dhanmondi Clinic.
He got immediately shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on February 11 as his physical condition deteriorated.
The 75 years old celebrity astrologer was battling with multiple health complications for a long period of time, including kidney problems coupled with blood infection. Besides, he has suffered two strokes. He also got tested positive for Covid-19.
Kausar Ahmed Chowdhury became a household name for years as a celebrity astrologer, thanks to his regular horoscope features in the daily Prothom Alo and its weekly tabloid Chhutir Dine which earned him massive popularity among the readers.
As one of the popular and renowned lyricists in the country. Chowdhury wrote a number of popular tracks for many legendary bands and artists including LRB, Feedback, Miles, Kumar Biswajit, Samina Chowdhury, Lucky Akhand, Niaz Mohammad Chowdhury and more.
"Jekhaney Shimanto Tomar," "Ei Rupali Guitar," “Kobita Porar Prohor,” "Aaj Ei Brishtir Kanna Dekhe" are some of his most popular songs. Besides, he has also written and directed several dramas for various television channels.
Bangladesh an attractive investment destination for Chinese investors: Envoy
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming has said the rapidly developing economy of Bangladesh is an attractive investment destination for Chinese investors.
He said the qualified Chinese enterprises with good corporate governance also will find their interests in the Dhaka Stock Exchange and bring returns to Bangladeshi investors.
READ: Chinese citizen dies after falling from a ship in Chattogram
"We hope to build a win-win partnership through capital & equity management cooperation between the two countries," said Ambassador Li while addressing the grand opening ceremony of "CBC Capital & Equity Management Ltd" virtually on Tuesday.
Dr. Shaikh Shamsuddin Ahmed, acting chairman, Commissioner, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission, Mahbub Uz Zaman, Ambassadors of Bangladesh to China and Liu Zhenhua, Economic and Commercial Counsellor, China Embassy to Bangladesh, Ke Changliang, President of Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh and Zhuang Lifeng, President of CBC Capital and Equity Management Ltd. attended the event virtually and in-person.
BGMEA, Amfori intend to collaborate to pursue sustainability in RMG sector
A delegation of BGMEA headed by President Faruque Hassan met with President of Amfori Linda Kromjong and Senior Legal Advisor – Trade and Customs Stuart Newman in Brussels on Tuesday.
This is for the first time any delegation from BGMEA visited the Amfori headquarters and held a high-level meeting with the leadership of Amfori which represents over 2,400 retailers, importers, brands and associations from more than 40 countries, said a media release.
BGMEA Vice President Miran Ali and Directors Asif Ashraf, Tanvir Ahmed and Abdullah Hil Rakib were present at the meeting.
READ: BGMEA for promoting RMG industry globally
They discussed possible areas of collaboration between BGMEA and Amfori to enable the RMG industry of Bangladesh to pursue more excellence in social and environmental sustainability.
The discussions covered a range of issues related to the textile and apparel industry, its challenges and opportunities.
They highlighted the success stories of the industry, especially its world-class standards in workplace safety and transparency.
The BGMEA leaders requested the Amfori’s support in its working with the European Commission with regard to the Everything But Arms facility for Bangladesh.
READ: Repair roads in industrial areas, reduce traffic jam, BGMEA urges RHD
They also urged Amfori to promote Bangladesh as a safe and sustainable apparel-sourcing destination among its members.
Criminal cases to be lodged in deaths of Safari Park zebras
The environment, forest and climate change ministry has decided to lodge criminal cases against those responsible for the deaths of zebras in Gazipur Bangabandhu Safari Park.
It also decided to file departmental cases for taking administrative action against those involved in the incident, said a press release of the ministry.
It also decided to implement the 24 recommendations of the probe body in phases.
It has taken the decision at a meeting with Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Md Shahab Uddin, in the chair.
READ: Zebra deaths: Safari Park project director shunted out
The probe committee report mentiined that the zebras died due to hazardous effects of nitrate associated with mixed bacterial infections in grass.
The committee also found negligence of the authorities concerned.
READ: Bangabandhu Safari Park: In-charge, veterinary officers removed in light of zebra deaths
Ten zebras died at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Parkin in a space of one month till January 31.
Fire breaks out at Nilkhet book market
A fire broke out at the book market in Nilkhet area of the city.
The fire started at 7:43 pm at Lovely Hotel on the second floor of the market.
Ten firefighting units are trying to bring the blaze under control, said Shahjahan Sikder, deputy assistant director (media cell) of the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters.
The fire is spreading to the other shops on the ground floor of the market, he said.
However, the origin of the fire could not be known yet, he said.