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Working to change the fate of people, reaffirms PM
Delivering the vision of reshaping Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday promised to bring smiles to the faces of the distressed people as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“The Father of the Nation wanted to bring smiles to the faces of the unhappy people. That’s our goal, too,” she said while chairing the celebration of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation and the Golden Jubilee of the Victory at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad.
President Md Abdul Hamid also spoke at the function as the chief guest, while Indian President Ram Nath Kovind as the guest of honour.
Also read: PM pays tributes to Liberation War martyrs
The National Implementation Committee for Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Birth Centenary Celebration arranged the event with the title of “The Greatest Hero of the Great Victory.”
Nation building is everyone's responsibility, says President Hamid
President Abdul Hamid on Thursday said responsibilty for developing the country does not lie only with the political leadership.
"The development of the country and the people is not the sole responsibility of the political leadership. As citizens of an independent country, this is the responsibility and duty of all of us," he said.
He made the remarks at the inaugural ceremony of a two-day special programme on the theme ‘The Greatest Hero of the Glorious Victory’ as a mark of respect to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The National Implementation Committee for the celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman oragsnised the programme on the Golden Jubilee of the Victory.
Also read: Bullets couldn’t wipe out Bangabandhu’s ideals: Kovind
Hamid delivered his speech as the chief guest in the programme while Indian President Ram Nath Kovind was present as the Guest of Honour at the the South Plaza of Bangladesh National Parliament in the evening.
Bangladesh reports 3 more Covid-linked deaths with 257 fresh cases
Bangladesh reported three more Covid-related deaths with 257 fresh cases in 24 hours till Thursday morning.
With the latest cases, the daily-case positivity rate declined to 1.02 per cent from Wednesday’s 1.05 per cent, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The total fatalities rose to 28,041 while the caseload mounted to 15,80,559 with the fresh ones.
Two of the latest deceased were men and one was a woman. Each fatality was reported from Dhaka, Chattogram, and Khulna divisions.
Also read: Covid booster doses to start within 7-10 days: Minister
Meanwhile, the mortality rate remained static at 1.77 per cent during the period.
The fresh cases were detected after testing 285,203 samples, said the DGHS.
Besides, the recovery rate stood at 97.76 per cent with the recovery of 181 more patients during the 24-hour period.
On December 9, Bangladesh again logged zero Covid-related death after nearly three weeks as the pandemic is apparently showing signs of easing.
The country reported this year’s first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.
Bangladesh reported the highest number of daily fatalities of 264 on August 5 this year, while the highest daily caseload was 16,230 on July 28 this year.
Also read: Covid kills 4 more in Bangladesh; positivity rate falls to 1.05%
So far, 4,41,62,695 people have fully been vaccinated in the country while 6,74,70,049 received the first dose as of Tuesday, according to the DGHS.
Among them, 2,70,304 students, aged from 12-17, have fully been vaccinated while 15,88,886 students received the first dose so far.
Goal of independence not materealised yet: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that the goal of the country’s independence has not been materealised yet.
“The spirit of independence was to establish a democratic state and a democratic society. The goal that led to the Liberation War has not been materialised even though 50 years have elapsed,” he said.
The BNP leader alleged that the current “authoritarian and “autocratic” Awami League government is eliminating the opposition to establish a one-party rule in the country.
He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after paying homage to the heroic martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar together with their party’s leaders and activists, marking the 51st Victory Day.
Also read: Khaleda’s condition worsens again in hospital: Fakhrul
Fakhrul alleged that their party chairperson was convicted and jailed in ‘false’ cases. “She has now been fighting for life at a hospital with critical diseases.”
He said they have taken a vow on this victory day to ‘restore’ democracy in the country by uniting the people of the country.
Later, the BNP secretary general along with the party senior leaders went to the grave of their party founder Ziaur Rahman at Shre-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital.
They also paid homage to Zia by placing a wreath at his grave on the occasion of the 51st Victory Day.
Later, talking to reporters, Fakhrul said the nation has lost everything it achieved after the Liberation War.
“We’ve lost the democracy that we restored through the mass uprising in the 90s under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia. We also developed a system of holding the election under a neutral government. It’s unfortunate that it was revoked,” he said.
He said people now cannot exercise their right to franchise as the election system has been destroyed. “The people of the country can’t vote now. Poverty has increased while people have become from poor to poorer. A group of people backed by the ruling party has become rich,” the BNP leader said.
Also read: Sending Khaleda abroad essential for peace, stability: Fakhrul
He described the US sanctions on seven current and former officials of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and on the allegation of violating human rights as a major embarrassment in the 50 years history of the country.
"We think this is the biggest shame for Bangladesh as sanctions have been imposed on the officials of a state institution and it has been exposed to the world that we’re a state devoid of democracy. It’s unfortunate this situation has been created in Bangladesh today because of those who’re now in power,” the BNP leader.
BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, chairperson's advisory council members Aman Ullah Aman, Abdus Salam, Abul Khair Bhuiyan, senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretaries general Mahbubuddin Khokon and Khairul Kabir Khokon were, among others, present.
The party and its different units and associate bodies across the country also celebrated Victory Day through various programmes.
BNP also hoisted the party and national flag atop of its central office in Nayapaltan and in the district and divisional unit offices.
Will build Bangladesh as prosperous ‘Sonar Bangla’, nation renews vow
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday administered oath to the nation to build the country as a developed, prosperous and non-communal ‘Sonar Bangla’ being imbued with the ideology of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee (of the Independence) and the Victory Day in the Mujib Year, I take oath in glowing voice that I will not let the blood of the martyrs go in vain, I will love the country, I will use all my strength for the overall welfare of the people of the country,” she said in the oath words, urging the people of the country to join her vow afresh.
The Prime Minister conducted the nationwide oath at 4:30pm from the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad, which was broadcast live through Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar and other private TV channels.
Also read: PM pays tributes to Liberation War martyrs
People from the country’s eight divisional cities and different grassroots places took the oath together with the Prime Minister. Bangabandhu’s younger daughter, Sheikh Rehana, was present.
Dengue: 17 more hospitalized in 24 hrs
Seventeen new dengue patients were hospitalised in 24 hours till Thursday morning, but no death was reported, health authorities said.
Dengue claimed 101 lives so far this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Ninety-two people died in Dhaka division alone, three in Mymensingh division, two each in Chattogram, and Khulna divisions and one each in Rajshahi and Barishal divisions.
Also read: Dengue: 27 more hospitalized in 24 hrs
Twelve patients are undergoing treatment at hospitals in Dhaka while the remaining five cases have been reported from outside the division.
Some 160 patients who were diagnosed with dengue are receiving treatment in the country as of Thursday.
Of them, 99 patients are receiving treatment at different hospitals in the capital while the remaining 61 were listed outside Dhaka.
Also read: Dengue: 40 more hospitalized in 24 hrs
Since January, some 28,085 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue in the country. So far, 27,824 dengue patients have left hospitals after recovery, said DGHS.
Global Covid cases top 272 million
The overall number of coronavirus cases has surged past 272 million as scientists around the world race to learn about the Omicron variant’s transmissibility and severity.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 272,197,443 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,329,536 Thursday morning.
The US has recorded 50,374,543 cases so far and more than 802,510 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows.
Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since January, registered 22,201,221 cases as of Thursday, while its Covid death toll rose to 617,271.
India has registered 6,784 new cases of Covid-19 during a 24-hour period, bringing the total caseload to 34,710,628, as per the health ministry figures released Monday.
The ministry also reported 247 more deaths during the same period, taking the total death toll to 476,135.
Besides, India's total tally of the Omicron variant has surpassed 60 as the virus has spread to nearly 80 countries and regions, as per the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Meanwhile, the UK reported the first death of a patient infected with Omicron on Monday. Long lines formed Monday at vaccination centres across England as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect themselves against the variant.
The UK, as of Thursday morning, logged 11,073,455 Covid-19 cases, while the fatalities mounted to 147,249.
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh reported four more Covid-related deaths, with 297 fresh cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning.
With the latest cases, the daily case positivity rate declined to 1.05 percent from Tuesday’s 1.29 percent, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The total fatalities rose to 28,038 while the caseload mounted to 15,80,302 with the fresh ones.
Three of the latest deceased were men and one was a woman. The fatalities were reported from Dhaka, Khulna, Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions, respectively.
Meanwhile, the mortality rate remained static at 1.77 percent during the period.
The fresh cases were detected after testing 28,317 samples, said the directorate.
Besides, the recovery rate remained static at 97.76 percent with the recovery of 269 more patients during the 24-hour period.
On December 9, Bangladesh again logged zero Covid-related death after nearly three weeks as the pandemic is apparently showing signs of easing.
The country reported this year’s first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.
Bangladesh reported the highest number of daily fatalities of 264 on August 5 this year, while the highest daily caseload was 16,230 on July 28 this year.
So far, 4,41,62,695 people have fully been vaccinated in the country, while 6,74,70,049 received the first dose as of Tuesday, according to the directorate.
Among them, 2,70,304 students, aged from 12-17, have fully been vaccinated, while 15,88,886 students received the first dose so far.
President Hamid pays homage to Liberation War martyrs
Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid on Thursday paid homage to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War by placing a wreath at the National Memorial in Savar.
The head of state was, in fact, the first to place the wreath at the altar of the National Memorial around 6.30am, marking the 51st Victory Day, followed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
After placing the wreath, President Hamid stood in solemn silence for a while as a mark of deep respect to the memories of the martyrs of the Liberation War.
A smartly turned out contingent drawn from the Army, the Navy and the Air Force presented the state salute on the occasion, as the bugles played the last post.
The President also signed the visitors’ book kept on the memorial premises.
Sheikh Rehana, the younger daughter of country’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Prime Minister’s younger sister, was also present on the occasion.
PM pays tributes to Liberation War martyrs
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar marking the 51st Victory Day.
Sheikh Hasina placed floral wreaths at the altar of the memorial around 6:34 am to pay homage to the great heroes of the country.
She later placed the wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Bhaban in the city’s Dhanmondi-32 area.
The PM’s younger sister, Sheikh Rehana, was also present.
The nation is celebrating Victory Day with elaborate programmes paying deep homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the country during the Liberation War.
This year’s Victory Day has special significance as it coincides with celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the country’s Independence.
On this glorious day in 1971, Bangladesh was liberated as an independent country after the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered following a bloody nine-month war.
Read: President Hamid pays homage to Liberation War martyrs
Along with the government, different socio-political, educational and cultural institutions, and organisations have chalked out a series of programmes to celebrate the day.
The people of Bangladesh at home and abroad are celebrating the Victory Day, the most joyous day when the country was born at the cost of the supreme sacrifice of three million martyrs and the honour of nearly half a million women.
The Prime Minister also joined the military parade programme in the National Parade Square, when President Md Abdul Hamid took salutes and inspected the parade as the chief guest. She enjoyed the attractive march past, spectacular fly-past and aerobatic display there.
Later, Sheikh Hasina released a memorial postal stamp at Ganobhaban on the occasion of the 51st Victory Day.
She also unveiled a logo inscribed with ‘Mujib’s Bangladesh,’ the brand name of Bangladesh Tourism there and released another memorial postal stamp on the occasion of the birth centenary and the Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali and top officials concerned were present.
In the afternoon, the Prime Minister will administer an oath to the nation as part of the two great celebrations.
She will also attend the ceremony of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation and the Golden Jubilee of the country’s Independence at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad.
Gold bars worth Tk73 lakh seized at Shahjalal airport
Customs officials seized 10 gold bars weighing 1.16kg, worth Tk73 lakh, at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Wednesday.
The gold bars were recovered from a passenger arriving from Saudi Arabia.
Saddam Hussain, from Bogura, landed at the airport at 3:29pm by flight BG 4040 of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, an official of Dhaka Customs House said.
As he was passing through the green channel after completing the immigration formalities on arrival, his baggage underwent security scanning through the scanning machine.
Gold was detected inside Saddam's luggage during the scanning, the Dhaka Customs House official said.