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100kph nor'wester brings rain relief for Dhaka
Dhaka residents on Tuesday experienced a relief after a long time as heavy showers drenched the city amid a scorching heat.
Along with the rainfall, the city residents also experienced nor’wester wind with speeds in excess of 100 kilometres per hour in some areas, the Met Office said.
Though home-bound people faced some hurdles to reach their destination due to rainfall, it yielded a relief for them indeed.
Md Shaheenur Islam, a meteorologist of the Met Office, told UNB that they recorded 19 millimeter rainfall in the capital from 6pm to 9pm.
The speed of wind during the nor’wester was 74 kilometer per hour (kmph) in Agargaon area while the speed was 102kmph in the airport area, he added.
Man dies from electrocution in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur
A man died after being electrocuted while installing an electric bulb in a rickshaw garage at Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area.
The deceased was identified as Md Hasan (21) – an easy-bike driver. The incident took place on Tuesday evening.
According to witnesses, Hasan was unconscious when he was rushed to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Later, on-duty doctors declared him dead at around 7:25pm.
Inspector Md Bachchu Mia, in-charge of DMCH Police Outpost said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue.
The matter has been reported to the concerned police station, he added.
Interbank dollar exchange rate hit another record high
The interbank exchange rate of the US dollar has jumped to Tk108.75, amid the foreign exchange crisis in the country.
Banks traded a dollar between Tk 108.50 and Tk 108.75 on Monday (May 22), down 24.28 percent from last month, Bangladesh Bank data revealed.
The interbank exchange rate increased almost every working day this month. The rate was Tk 106.80 for a dollar in the interbank platform on May 1.
Bangladesh’s domestic currency is facing depreciation for the last year due to higher import payments and slower export earnings and remittance inflow.
In the first nine months of 2022-23, import bills dropped 12.33 percent year-on-year to $53.93 billion.
As a result, the trade deficit, which occurs when a country's imports exceed its exports, declined 41.6 percent year-on-year to $14.61 billion in July-March.
UN seeks $42.1 million as urgent support after cyclone Mocha in Bangladesh
The United Nations and its partners in Bangladesh on Tuesday appealed for $42.1 million for the Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi communities in Cox’s Bazar who are facing the devastating impact of Cyclone Mocha.
The cyclone severely affected all 33 refugee camps and surrounding Bangladeshi villages, leaving thousands desperately in need.
The urgent appeal includes $36.5 million under the Rohingya Refugee Response to benefit refugees and Bangladeshi communities.
Additionally, the UN and its partners seek $5.6 million exclusively for Bangladeshi families in Teknaf.
The appeal focuses on the urgent needs to replenish contingency stocks, prepare ahead of the monsoon season, and use weather and fire-resistant materials for shelters and facilities that are critical in saving lives.
Cyclone Mocha struck the Bangladesh-Myanmar border on 14 May, bringing heavy rains and strong winds. Hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis and Rohingya were impacted by the cyclone.
TIB condemns Wasa chairman’s removal
Transparency International Bangladesh has condemned the removal of former Dhaka Wasa chairman Golam Mostafa, who had filed a written complaint against the organisation’s Managing Director Taqsem A Khan last week.
Professor Sujit Kumar Bala has been appointed as the new chairman of the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) Board.
“By removing the board chairman who had alleged irregularities, corruption, and arbitrariness on the part of the managing director, Dhaka WASA has set a worrying example of shielding the accused,” TIB said in a press release.
"This is in complete conflict with the government's declaration of zero tolerance for corruption from the top echelons of the government, as well as the legal obligation to protect those who report abuse of power and corruption," it said.
TIB has called for ensuring accountability of the accused – subjecting to a fair and transparent investigation – considering the allegations of the former chairman.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said: "The newly removed chairman of Wasa has remained in his post even after his tenure ended in October last year. A new chairman has not been appointed even after so long. However, the new chairman was appointed just five days after the chairman of the board submitted a written complaint to the ministry against the Wasa managing director.”
Although the LGED secretary has said the appointment of a new chairman is nothing but a coincidence, the anti-graft watchdog has said the decision has set a worrying example of 'Shoot the Messenger' practice.
TIB Executive Director further said: "The allegation made by the chairman of the board to turn Dhaka WASA into a sanctuary of arbitrariness, irregularities and corruption is a reflection of the results of the research report titled "Dhaka Wasa: Challenges of Good Governance and Ways to Overcome" published by TIB in 2019.
“The whole thing is a clear example of lack of institutional accountability,” he said. Despite court directives to conduct an investigation into allegations of corruption in Wasa, there has been no visible progress,” he said.
The organisation has urged the government to ensure effective accountability by conducting an investigation into the allegations made against WASA's managing director at different times.
College student injured in attack in city
A college student was stabbed and injured in an attack by miscreants in Khilgaon RailGate area on Tuesday.
The victim was identified as Kaisar Ahmed Shourav, 18, a class XII student of Siddheshwari College and resident of Shahjahanpur area.
Quoting Abu Hanif, father of Shourav Inspector Bachhu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital said, Shourav picked up a quarrel with some miscreants while he along with his two friends was returning to home in the afternoon.
At one stage, he tried to run away but a miscreant stabbed him from behind with a knife, leaving him injured.
Later, he was taken to DMCH.
Joint operation to prevent crime, violence in Rohingya camps soon: Home Minister
Bangladesh's Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has said a joint operation will be conducted very soon to seize arms and drugs and to prevent terrorist activities in the Rohingya camps.
If necessary, the army will also be involved in this operation, he said.
The minister made the remarks while talking to reporters after attending a meeting of the National committee for coordinating, managing and maintaining law and order of Rohingyas at the Secretariat on Tuesday (May 23, 2023).
Also Read: Dhaka seeks global support in pilot Rohingya repatriation project
Highlighting the decision of the national committee on coordination, management and law and order of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals displaced, the minister said: "There is an increasing trend of violence in the Rohingya refugee camps. Terrorist activities are on the rise. In light of this, it was decided in the meeting to increase law enforcement patrols, checkpoints, and intelligence surveillance to stop Rohingya miscreants from committing acts of violence within the camp.”
Asaduzzaman Khan said the authorities will conduct a joint operation – based on intelligence – to prevent members of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and Arakan Army (AA) from entering the camps.
Also Read: Countries investing heavily in Myanmar should come forward to solve Rohingya crisis: Momen
"We have set up barbed wire fences and watchtowers to prevent Rohingyas from leaving the camp, and we conduct regular patrols," he said. “The security measures will be strengthened further so that they cannot escape. Members of law enforcement agencies are on high alert.”
Asked whether the army will be involved in the joint operation, the minister said, "If necessary, we will call the army."
“We will not allow drug trade. We will make sure that there is no more bloodshed.”
Meanwhile, the home minister said the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be instructed to stay on high alert on the border to prevent anymore Myanmar nationals from entering the country.
Also Read: Rohingya man shot dead at Ukhiya camp
Among other things, discussions were held to speed the diplomatic efforts to send Rohingyas back to Myanmar. Various issues including rohingya health, birth control were also addressed at the meeting.
The home minister said, "The decision to repatriate the Rohingyas is still active. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on it. We hope (repatriation process) it will continue. ’
When asked about the Rohingyas who are hesitant to go back to Myanmar, he said, "It’ll pass. How long will we keep them? We want them to go back to their country.”
The Home Minister said the registration process of Bangladeshi fishermen fishing in the Naf River is ongoing.
Read more: Norway announces $6.5 million support for Rohingya refugees
Proper preservation of onions to end instability, crisis: Agriculture Minister
Agriculture Minister Md. Abdur Razzaque on Tuesday inaugurated a model house for onion preservation and expressed hopes that its successful storage will address the instability and crisis of onions in the country.
“Although the country produces an excess amount of onions, one-third of it goes to waste, leading to onion shortage, abnormal prices, and the need for import from neighbouring India and sometimes India bans export. So we are emphasising onion preservation to tackle these challenges,” he said.
The inauguration ceremony was held at Purba Bangram in Sathia Upazila, Pabna, where the Directorate of Agriculture Marketing built the model onion and garlic storage house.
Also Read: Decision on onion import in 2-3 days: Agriculture Minister
The minister highlighted the perishable nature of onions, making them difficult to store and forcing farmers to sell them at low prices during the season. Towards the end of the season, importers, traders, and syndicates gain control of the onion market, said Razzaque.
To address this issue, the experimental onion storage facility was launched having the capacity to store onions for 4-5 months, he said.
The minister expressed optimism that this initiative would eliminate the onion shortage and potentially enable onion exports, reducing the need for imports.
Also Read: Use of air flow machines in storage transforming onion farmers' fortunes in Faridpur
Regarding the import of onions, Razzaque said that a decision would be made in the best interest of all stakeholders, including farmers, producers, and consumers.
He also mentioned that a letter has been sent to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources requesting consideration for subsidizing the electricity used in onion preservation model houses or the agricultural sector.
The onion and garlic storage model house features six exhaust fans in each room to ensure ventilation and prevent rotting. Each room, covering approximately 375 square feet, is equipped with a hygrometer to monitor temperature and humidity. The storage facility can hold 250-300 maunds (10-12 metric tons) of onions. The three-level storage structure is expected to last for at least 15-20 years.
These model houses are part of the "Modernization of Onion and Garlic Storage System and Development of Marketing Activities at the Farmer Level" project, scheduled from July 2021 to June 2026, with a budget of Tk 25 crore.
Three hundred houses will be built in 12 upazilas in seven districts, Pabna, Dhaka, Faridpur, Rajbari, Magura, Jhenaidah, Kushtia, and Rajshahi.
Eighty houses have already been constructed in the current year, each capable of storing 250-300 maunds of onion and garlic.
The country imported 6.65 lakh metric tons of onion in the fiscal year 2021-22.
We expect responsible role from stakeholders in dengue control: Mayor Taposh
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has said he expects a responsible role from all stakeholders to protect the people of Dhaka from the outbreak of dengue disease by destroying the breeding grounds of Aedes mosquito.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Taposh said this while addressing a meeting with stakeholders concerned on 'Prevention of Aedes Mosquito Borne Dengue and Chikungunya Disease' at Mayor Hanif Auditorium of Nagar Bhaban on Tuesday (May 23) afternoon.
Referring to the officials of different ministries, departments and agencies, DSCC Mayor said: “You must be aware that we find mosquito larvae in almost 100 per cent of the under-construction buildings. In particular, water accumulates in other infrastructure, including reservoirs. We want you to properly monitor those under-construction buildings and structures so that they do not become breeding grounds for Aedes.”
Mayor Taposh said the most effective way to tackle Dengue and Chikungunya is to eradicate the source of those diseases – which is the breeding ground of Aedes.
"Dengue and chikungunya are caused by Aedes mosquitoes which often lead to loss of life. That is why a large part of our mosquito control program is to prevent this dengue disease, prevent the spread of the Aedes mosquito.”
In the meeting, Taposh said that a four-month mobile court will be run from June 15 to control Aedes mosquitoes and a three-month-long central control room will be established from July 15.
Among others, Chief Executive Officer of The City Corporation Md. Mizanur Rahman delivered the welcome speech. Dhaka Divisional Medical Officer of Railways Dr Ripon Das, Rehab Vice President Sohel Rana, Assistant Proctor of Dhaka University Dr. Md. Hasan Faruk, Assistant Proctor of Jagannath University Newton Hawlader, among others, presented the initiatives taken by their respective organizations to control Aedes.
According to information provided by the Acting Chief Health Officer of the DSCC Dr Fazle Shamsul Kabir, of the total 1,487 dengue patients identified so far this year, 232 are from areas under Dhaka South City Corporation. That's less than 16 percent.
Stakeholders call for increased allocation for WASH in budget
In a joint press conference held by leading organizations including WaterAid, PPRC, UNICEF, FANSA, BAWIN, FSM Network, Sanitation and Water for All, and End Water Poverty, urgent calls were made for the allocation of funds targeting Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in the upcoming national budget for the fiscal year 2023-24.
The speakers emphasized the need to address spatial inequalities and promote community engagement within the WASH sector.
Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, an eminent economist and Chairman of PPRC, delivered a keynote speech on behalf of WASH sector stakeholders.
He emphasized the importance of prioritizing spatial inequality and community engagement in the allocation of funds. Dr. Rahman underscored the significance of focusing on underserved areas, such as chars, climate vulnerable areas, haors, and hilly regions, as well as addressing intra-urban inequities.
He emphasized the allocation of funds for Fecal Sludge Management (FSM) in secondary towns and urbanized villages, adopting a multi-agency policy approach to achieve the national targets of 100% Safe Drinking Water and 100% Safely Managed Sanitation, which align with the SDG goals.
A WASH Budget Analysis Study conducted by PPRC, with support from WaterAid, revealed a long-term upward trend in WASH ADP allocation. However, the proportionate increase in the preceding fiscal year (5.44%) was lower than the overall ADP size increase (7.4%).
According to the HIES 2022 findings, 92.32% of the population has access to improved toilet facilities, while open defecation remains at only 0.69%. The commendable projects by DPHE on WASH, DRR, and Fecal Sludge and Waste Management (FSWM) were also highlighted for building resilience through disaster risk communication and community engagement.
The press conference shed light on the persisting issue of intra-urban inequities in WASH allocation and proposed a more rational and equitable distribution of funds in the upcoming ADP allocations for 2023-2024.
It further called for increased ADP allocation for all four Water and Sewerage Authorities (WASAs) and urged policy-level resolutions to address remaining inequities among them.
The conference emphasized the need to address urban-rural inequities to achieve National Priority Targets (NPT) in the WASH sector aligned with SDG 6. Additionally, it stressed the importance of prioritizing environment, climate change, and disaster-related initiatives in the WASH sector.
Recommendations included scaling up successful projects on environmental sanitation, implementing more projects in climate vulnerable areas, and allocating funds for solid waste management and risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) in emergency situations.
Hasin Jahan, Country Director of WaterAid, expressed concerns over the inadequate allocation of funds for the WASH sector in the proposed budget, especially considering the increasing challenges posed by climate change in areas such as Haor, hilly, coastal, and char regions.
She emphasized that achieving SDG targets for water and improved sanitation goes beyond coverage, requiring funds for quality and safely managed WASH services, as well as technical expertise in project implementation.
In conclusion, the WASH sector networks jointly recommended the following for the FY2023-24 ADP Allocation in the WASH sector: better attention to hard-to-reach areas and intra-urban inequities, increased allocation for Fecal Sludge Management (FSM) to address emerging challenges, adopting a multi-agency policy approach, prioritizing environment, climate change, and disaster hotspots, and allocating funds for projects focusing on climate change, disaster resilience, risk communication, and community engagement.
The stakeholders' recommendations aim to ensure a more equitable and effective allocation of funds to address spatial inequalities and enhance water, sanitation, and hygiene services throughout the nation.