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Another ride-sharing biker sets bike on fire to protest “police excesses”
In the second such incident in about a month, a ride-sharing biker set fire to his vehicle as a traffic police ‘attempted to fine him’ at Palashi intersection in Dhaka on Thursday afternoon.
Confirming it, MM Morshed, officer-in-charge of Lalbagh Police Station, said that Ilias Mia, 30, set his bike on fire out of anger as a sergeant fined him for traffic rule violation.
After being fined, he drove to Kataban from Palashi and burned it around 2:45pm.
He was fined twice earlier, the OC added.
Read:Angry ride-sharing biker sets bike on fire in Dhaka
The OC informed, a police team rushed to the spot to talk to Ilias.
He said the man came to Dhaka a month ago and took up ride-sharing as a job after suffering heavy losses in business during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Earlier on September 27, another biker, Shawkat Ali, set his motorcycle on fire after a traffic sergeant "attempted to file a case" in Dhaka's Badda area.
Dengue: One more dies, 170 hospitalised
One more died and 170 patients were hospitalized with dengue fever across the country in 24 hours till Thursday morning.
The number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease this year stood at 84 with the latest death, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Among the new patients, 139 were undergoing treatment in Dhaka hospitals while the remaining 31 cases were reported from outside the division.
Also read: Dengue: 112 more hospitalized in 24 hours with no deaths
Of the deceased, 78 people died in Dhaka division alone, two each in Chattogram and Khulna divisions and one each in Rajshahi and Mymensingh division.
Some 792 patients diagnosed with dengue are receiving treatment in the country as of Thursday morning.
Of them, 624 patients are receiving treatment at different hospitals in the capital while the remaining 168 were listed outside Dhaka.
Since January, some 22,007 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue in the country.
Also read: Dengue claimed 1 more life in Bangladesh, 183 more hospitalized in 24 hrs
So far, 21,131 dengue patients have left hospitals after recovery, said DGHS.
In September, the country recorded the highest number of 7,841 dengue cases of the current year with 22 deaths.
CSOs demand inclusive process from govt to Strengthen Country Interest at CoP 26
Civil society organizations (CSOs) on Thursday called for an inclusive process from the government to strengthen country’s interest in the upcoming UN climate conference CoP 26.
In a virtual seminar on Thursday, they also opined that, as one of the Most Vulnerable Countries (MVC), Bangladesh should adopt a firm stance in support of a legally binding commitment under the Paris Agreement in order to secure additional funding for improved adaptation activities and to avoid recurrent loss and damage.
Read:'COP26 outcomes crucial for climate-vulnerable countries like Bangladesh
The online seminar titled “CoP-26: Government position and CSO perspectives” was jointly organized by COAST foundation, An Organization for Socio-Economic Development (AOSED), Centre for Participatory Research & Development (CPRD) Coastal Development Partnership (CDP) and Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) and Equity and Justice Working Group, Bangladesh (EquityBD).
Coast foundation also hosted an online session titled "CoP-26: Government Position and CSO Perspectives" during the seminar.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury MP and the Chair of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry was the Chief Guest, while Asheq Ullah Rafiq MP Cox's Bazar-2 was the Special Guest in the seminar moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD.
Syed Aminul Hoque from EquityBD presented the key note paper of the seminar.
Syed Aminul Hoque said that, the CoP 26 is crucial since it will take a main stocktake on newly submitted Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), establish the Loss and Damage Mechanism, and providing $100 billion in Green Climate Fund (GCF).
In this context, Bangladesh's government should play a critical role in safeguarding the country's interests, particularly in protecting vulnerable people and reducing the effects of regular loss and damage caused by climate change.
He addressed a number of demands to the government delegation, including, Continued revision of NDCs by developed and polluter countries based on their fair contribution and economic volume in order to keep global temperature below 1.5 degrees Celsius, Developed countries must secure additional funding beyond the GCF to mitigate and adapt to loss and damage.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury stated that Bangladesh will undoubtedly play an effective part in CoP 26 in order to divert the negotiation flow in the country's favour. ‘Apart from that, our prime minister will participate and speak out openly to encourage developed countries to adhere to realistic GHG reduction targets and to get $100 billion in GCF funding,” he added.
“We have drafted a country position for CoP 26 and are coordinating issues among government officials,” said Mirza Sawkat Ali, Director of Department of Environment,
He also said, “the government's position has primarily focused on finance and technology, and we will endeavour to reach a consensus to balance the GCF fund for adaptation by 50 per cent. CSOs should also be considered separately.”
Among others, Md. Shamsuddoha of CPRD, Rabeya Begum, Co-Chair of CANSA-BD, Md. Jahangir Hossen Masum of CDP, Mohan Kumar Mondal of LEADERS, Shamim Arefin of AoSED-Khulna, Hasan Mehedi of CLEAN, Kawser Rahaman of Janakhanta spoke on the occasion.
COP26 president-designate visited Bangladesh to see climate crisis firsthand
British politician Alok Sharma, set to preside over COP26, visited Bangladesh recently and discussed shared priorities with Bangladesh, which he said remains a "crucial" partner on the road to COP26.
He discussed the needs of countries most vulnerable to climate change, to ensure they are equipped to deal with its current and damaging effects ahead of COP26.
The COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference, hosted by the UK in partnership with Italy, will take place from October 31, 2021 in the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, UK.
Also read: Sundarbans plays role as a carbon sink: Alok Sharma
The COP26 President-Designate also welcomed strong climate commitments from Bangladesh during his visit.
“The next decade will be make, or break, for our planet, and effective global collaboration will be vital to tackling the pressing challenges the world faces. So I am delighted to have witnessed UK-Bangladeshi climate partnership in action, and heard such positive ambition from my Bangladeshi friends," he said.
“I am inspired by the innovative work I have seen here to address some of the worst effects of climate change, and hope that Bangladesh will continue to lead by example ahead of COP26 which is our best hope of building a brighter future.”
The COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma also visited Sundarbans on June 3 this year.
He visited the WildTeam Conservation Biology Centre (WCBC) in the Sundarbans.
The British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Robert Chatterton Dickson, and his other colleagues from the UK accompanied them.
Also read: COP26 outcomes crucial for climate-vulnerable countries like Bangladesh'
During his visit he came to know about WildTeam’s pioneering work with the Forest Department in Tiger Conservation through engaging the local communities. The tiger population has rebounded slightly - at least the decline has been halted.
The number rose to 114 in 2018, up from 106 recorded in 2015.
Mr Sharma met with the Village Tiger Response Team (VTRT) members, and the TigerScouts. In 2007 WildTeam formed the VTRT by engaging the communities for managing human-tiger conflict. WildTeam also formed BaghBandhus (tiger ambassadors) to improve community engagement and raise awareness within the community.
WildTeam, with the support from USAID's Bagh Activity, started Sundarbans Education Centres in five schools around the Sundarbans. With their support TigerScouts were formed with secondary school students from the Sundarbans villages, to educate school children to build an environment friendly future generation.
Mr Sharma, along with the TigerScouts, planted a 'sundari' sapling at WCBC's 'mini Sundarbans'. It is believed that Sundarbans has been named after the 'sundari' (Heritiera fomes) tree that propagates through the forest. The British High Commissioner also planted a sapling.
WildTeam built WCBC with the support of IUCN-KfW to engage the communities to manage the natural resources in a sustainable way. Due to increasing salinity, there is an acute shortage of drinking water in the area.
WildTeam, with the support from a philanthropist, built a desalination plant at WCBC premises. The VIP guest visited the plant, and witnessed how local people left containers to collect sweet water from this plant.
During his visit to Bangladesh Mr Sharma met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and other government ministers, and youths to discuss climate issues. A joint statement on UK-Bangladesh climate action was signed, which is a foundation for a long-term climate partnership. It is understood that the climate talks will be the biggest international summit the UK has ever hosted, bringing together over 30,000 delegates including heads of state, climate experts and campaigners to agree coordinated action to tackle climate change.
The COP26 president ended his 2-day Bangladesh visit by saying:
“The next decade will be make, or break, for our planet, and effective global collaboration will be vital to tackling the pressing challenges the world faces. So I am delighted to have witnessed UK-Bangladeshi climate partnership in action, and heard such positive ambition from my Bangladeshi friends.”
Provocation perhaps there behind Cumilla incident: Home Minister
Perhaps there was a deliberate provocation behind keeping a copy of the Quran at a temple in Cumilla, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Thursday.
“Everything was done in a planned way. The man, who had kept the Quran at the temple, might have done it as per others’ instruction…there might be provocation behind it. We’ll be able to know the motive after his arrest,” the home minister said after a meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
“All the incidents (of communal violence) including that of Cumilla were carried out separately with a motive. There’s no panic among people now. Everything is under control,” he added.
Read:Rangpur offenders must face action: Home Minister
He said after examining the CCTV footage of the surrounding area it has been ascertained that the man who kept the holy Quran at the Cumilla temple took it from a mosque.
“The man had been to Mazar mosque thrice that night. It was clear from the CCTV footage that the man took the Quran from the mosque to keep it at the temple,” he said.
Regarding the murder of Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah, Asaduzzaman Khan said, “We’ve arrested almost all the killers. Soon their motives will be revealed to the media.”
He added that security at the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar will be beefed up.
Read:Several identified, suspected instigators held over Cumilla imcident
The home minister said drives to stop drug smuggling in the areas adjacent to the Rohingya camps have been intensified.
Besides, steps are being taken to control childbirth rate at the camps.
Steps to transfer 1 lakh Rohingyas to Bhasanchar will begin by December next, he added.
Covid: 10 more die, 243 test positive
Covid-19 in Bangladesh claimed ten more lives and infected another 243 people in 24 hours till Thursday morning.
The daily-case positivity rate decreased further to 1.51 per cent from Wednesday’s 1.81 per cent.
Read:Covid kills 78 more in Bangladesh
With the fresh numbers, the Covid fatalities reached 27,801 while the caseload climbed to 1,566,907 in Bangladesh, according to the Directorate General of the Health services (DGHS).
Of the latest deaths, four were men and six were women.
The new cases were detected after testing 16,088 samples during the 24-hour period.
However, the mortality rate remained static at 1.77 per cent compared to the same period.
Besides, the recovery rate rose slightly to 97.65 per cent, with 534 more patients getting cured.
Shironamhin to feature in ‘Concert against violence’ at DU
Popular bands including Shironamhin will feature at 'Concert against Violence' in the TSC area of Dhaka University on Friday.
The culturally active students of DU have come together to organise the concert protesting the recent communal violence in the country.
Read:Country remembers the ‘Concert for Bangladesh' on its golden jubilee
The concert will kick off at 3:00 pm.
Bands like Shironamhim, Shohojia, Meghdol, Bangla Five, Shohortoli,,Gaanpoka, Gaankobi, Krishnopokkho, Kaal, Oblique, Orjon, Gonje Fereshta and Bunoful will be rocking the stage during this time.
Alongside music, mime and dance performances will also take part in the concert.
Hasina asks AL to strengthen vigilance to maintain communal harmony
Describing the recent incident in Cumilla as very unfortunate, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday asked the Awami League leaders and activists to intensify their vigilance to maintain communal harmony across the country.
“Communal harmony has to be maintained. Our leaders and activists should intensify their monitoring in every area,” she said while virtually opening the newly-constructed office building for Awami League’s Cumilla City Unit from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Sheikh Hasina, also the AL president, asked her party leaders and activists to take initiatives for holding ‘peace conferences’ and bringing out ‘peace processions’ so that no conflict can occur and people from all religions like Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Buddhists live in a peaceful life on this soil.
What happened in Cumilla, she said, is very unfortunate. “Islam never allows disgracing the religions’ others. Alongside respecting one's own religion, one has to respect others’ religions as well,” she said.
Read: WTO rules to help Bangladesh more after graduation: Hasina
The Prime Minister said if the religions of other communities are vilified, it ultimately demeans one’s own religion. “If we analyze the Cumilla incident, we would see our holy Quran was defamed while going to undermine other religions, which is very unfortunate.”
The Prime Minister urged people not to take law into their own hands. “If anyone commits an offence, the perpetrators would have to face justice, no matter who he or she is. Our government would try them.”
She said the Prophet (SM) asked not to do excesses over the religion. “Everyone must know, keep it in mind and follow it,” she added.
Hasina said those who sacrificed their lives in the great Liberation War are from all religions. The people from all religions shed their blood there. So, we all will have to keep it in mind that Bangladesh is of the people of all religions and castes.”
Referring to the recent incidents of breaking communal harmony, including in Cumilla and Pirganj of Rangpur, the Prime Minister said the government took all sorts of arrangements for the victims like providing them with dry and cooked foods, clothes and treatment.
“We’ll build houses for all the victims. We’ve already taken this step,” she said, adding that Awami League is always with victims.
When her government is taking the country forward in every sector, the Prime Minister said there is a section of people here who cannot tolerate the progress. They, particularly BNP-Jamaat and Khaleda, do not want Bangladesh to move on raising its head high with dignity because of their love for Pakistan.
Read: Hasina unveils state-of-the-art exhibition centre in Purbachal
Focusing on her government’s development activities for Cumilla, Hasina said she has decided to upgrade Faridpur and Cumilla into new divisions after the names of the country’s two major rivers – Padma and Meghna.
The PM said she will form Cumilla division after the name of Meghna’ while Faridpur after that of ‘Padma’.
LGRD Minister Tazul Islam, AL organising secretary Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon and local Awami League MP AKM Bahauddin and other local AL leaders joined the virtual the function from the new office building.
PM for formation of two new divisions as Padma, Meghna
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said she wants to upgrade Faridpur and Cumilla as two new divisions after the names of two major rivers – Padma and Meghna.
“I’ve decided to form two new divisions after two rivers- one would be named after Padma and another after Meghna,” she said.
Read:WTO rules to help Bangladesh more after graduation: Hasina
The Prime Minister revealed it while opening the newly-constructed office Bhaban for Awami League’s Cumilla City unit virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
She said if the division is formed after the name of Cumilla other districts might not be interested to join it.
Read: Hasina unveils state-of-the-art exhibition centre in Purbachal
The PM said she will form Faridpur Division after the name of Padma, another famous river of the country.
LGRD Minister Tazul Islam, AL organising secretary Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon and local Awami League MP AKM Bahauddin and other local AL leaders joined the virtual the function from the new office building.
Fire at Mugda Hospital doused; 4 burned
At least four people were injured in a fire that broke out at Mugda Medical College and Hospital on Thursday.
Duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defense Khaleda Yeasmin said the fire broke out on the fifth floor of the hospital around 12.30 pm.
On information, seven firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control.
Read: Fire at Dhaka University’s Sufia Kamal Hall
The fire fighters extinguished the blaze around 2:10pm.
Lima Khanam, duty officer at the fire service and civil defense headquarters control room, said at least four people were injured in this fire incident and they were sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.