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“Put People Over Profit”: Bangladeshi youths join Global Climate Strike
Global Climate Strike 2022 was observed in Bangladesh with hundreds of young people turning out in front of Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka today.
ActionAid Bangladesh, with 72 countries, organized the Climate Strike in collaboration with Fridays for Future and youth groups.
The goal of the climate strike is to urge all nations to act immediately in support of climate justice — by sending a loud, yet nonviolent statement, according to a press release.
Read: PM to focus on peace & climate change in her UNGA speech: Momen
The youngsters demanded that the government declare a ‘Climate Emergency’ and that world leaders prioritize ‘people not profit’.
Dengue death toll rises to 50: DGHS
Two more dengue patients died in 24 hours till Friday morning, raising this year’s death toll from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 50.
During this period, 125 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever as cases have continued to increase, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The latest deaths were reported from Dhaka division raising the death in the division to 23.
The dengue death toll in Chattogram division remained unchanged at 23 and in Barishal division at four.
Of the new patients, 92 were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka and 33 outside it.
A total of 1,514 dengue patients, including 1,174 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
On June 21, the DGHS reported the first death of the season from the viral disease.
This year, the directorate has recorded 13,000 dengue cases and 11,436 recoveries so far.
Bangladesh reports another Covid death, positivity rate rises to 15.38%
Bangladesh reported another death from Covid-19 with 620 more cases in 24 hours till Friday morning.
With the new numbers, country's total fatalities rose to 29,347 while the total caseload to 2,020,768, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily case test positivity rate rises to 15.38 per cent from Thursday’s 14.13 per cent as 4,031 samples were tested.
The latest deceased was a man from Sylhet division.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45 percent while the recovery rate declined to 97.10 per cent.
In August, the country reported 32 Covid-linked deaths and 6,689 cases.
Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.
PM to focus on peace & climate change in her UNGA speech: Momen
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is due to deliver her speech in the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday afternoon (NY time) focusing on world peace, stability and impacts of global warming.
“The main focus of Bangladesh is it wants peace and stability. We will say that peace and stability are most needed for the well-being of the common people,” said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at a press briefing here in New York on Thursday.
“We will say that the best way to get out of any kind of conflict is through dialogue and peaceful resolution,” he added.
Her speech will also highlight the climate issue, said Momen adding that Bangladesh expects those responsible for global warming will share the responsibility of rehabilitating the victims of climate change.
Momen said the premier in her speech will also call for promoting multilateralism.
He said the PM will also highlight Bangladesh’s success in the management of Covid-19 becoming one of the top successful countries in the world in dealing with the pandemic.
The foreign minister said the Awami League government is gifting houses to the landless people across the country. "We are giving people a home and a life. We will show the world that we have done a very good job."
Dhaka's air quality turns 'moderate' again
Dhaka is no longer the world's most polluted city -- it's air quality has turned ‘moderate’ again.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 74 at 9am, the metropolis on Friday ranked 23rd in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.
An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’ with an acceptable air quality. However, there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Also read: Dhaka's air quality remains 'moderate'
South Africa’s Johannesburg, China’s Wuhan and Pakistan’s Lahore occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 163, 155 and 139, respectively.
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups.
Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
Also read: Dhaka's air quality 'moderate' this morning
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Global Covid cases top 619 million
The overall number of global Covid cases has now crossed 619 million amid a rise in new infections in parts of the world.
According to the latest global data, the total case count mounted to 619,122,512 while the death toll reached 6,536,669 on Friday morning.
The US has recorded 97,795,728 cases so far and 1,080,836 people have died from the virus in the country, both highest counts around the world.
India's daily Covid-19 caseload Thursday declined to 2,592 compared to 4,510 on Wednesday, according to data released by the federal health ministry.
With the reporting of fresh cases, India's total Covid-19 caseload is 44,555,634, while the active caseload currently stands at 48,934.
The country also logged 26 related deaths in 24 hours, pushing the overall death toll to 528,429 since the beginning of the pandemic, the ministry said.
Covid in Bangladesh
Bangladesh reported another death from Covid-19 with 678 more cases in 24 hours till Thursday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total fatalities rose to 29,346 and the caseload to 2,020,148, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily case test positivity rate dropped to 14.13% from Wednesday’s 14.73% as 4,798 samples were tested.
The latest deceased was a man from Dhaka division.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45% while the recovery rate declined to 97.11%.
Police-BNP clash in Munshiganj: Injured Jubo Dal man dies at DMCH
A Jubo Dal activist who suffered bullet wounds in Wednesday's clash between the BNP and police in Munshiganj succumbed to his injuries Thursday while undergoing treatment.
Md Shaon, 20, from Mirkadim municipality of Sadar upazila, breathed his last at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 8:40pm, BNP Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rafiqul Islam said.
Shaon was a three-wheeler driver and activist of Muktarpur ward Jubo Dal, his friend Nahid Khan said.
At least 50 people, including several policemen, were injured in a clash during a BNP rally in Munshiganj's Muktarpur yesterday.
Shaon, district BNP activist Jahangir Hossain, 40, and Chhatra Dal activist Mohammad Tareque, 20, were critically injured during the skirmish as police tried to stop the protest rally, Md Sami, a local BNP politician, said.
The injured were taken to DMCH Wednesday night, he added.
PM to US businessmen: Tap into Bangladesh’s liberal investment policy
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday invited US businessmen to invest in several sectors of Bangladesh and tap into its liberal investment policy.
“I would like to invite US investors to invest in renewable energy, shipbuilding, automobile, pharmaceuticals, heavy machinery, chemical fertilizers, ICT, marine resources, medical equipment, and COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing in Bangladesh,” she said.
The premier made the call while delivering a speech at the high-level policy roundtable arranged by the US–Bangladesh Business Council at Lotte New York Palace Hotel.
She said Bangladesh has a liberal investment policy, which includes foreign investment protection, tax holiday, remittances of royalty; unrestricted exit policy; full repatriation of dividends, capital on exit and other facilities.
“Distinguished business leaders, let us once again join our hands for a mutually inclusive partnership for sustainable economic growth,” said Sheikh Hasina.
She said Bangladesh is setting up 100 special economic zones (SEZs) and several hi-tech parks in different parts of the country. Having more than 600,000 freelancing IT professionals, Bangladesh is the right destination for IT investments, she added.
“Moreover, skilled human resources at a competitive wage is an added advantage in Bangladesh. Even if required, we would be happy to offer a dedicated ‘Special Economic Zone’ for US investors. I believe, US- Bangladesh Business Council can play a significant role in this direction,” she continued.
Noting that Bangladesh will graduate from LDC status by 2026, the PM said, the country needs adequate support to enhance global competitiveness and export basket. “I am sure that the United States can be our most robust partner in this challenging endeavor,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh is a pioneer in South Asia for regional connectivity. The strategic location offers tremendous potential to be an economic hub of the region.
““… Bangladesh is in the middle of a combined market of 4 billion people. Technology and innovation are the keys for fast-track economic growth. Thus, Bangladesh has become the second largest RMG exporter, third-largest producer of vegetables; fourth largest producer of rice; and fifth largest producer of inland fisheries in the world,” she said.
She said Bangladesh would consistently pursue economic diplomacy with its neighbors and global players, including the United States. “We’re continuously improving our physical, legal, and financial infrastructures and enhanced connectivity in the country,” she added.
The premier said completion of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge has enhanced both domestic and regional connectivity, while Dhaka Metro Rail is expected to open in December 2022, which would add faster domestic mobility.
She said Bangladesh achieved an exemplary socio-economic stride in the last 13 years, particularly in the fields of women empowerment, poverty alleviation, nutrition, maternal and child health, primary education, and ICT.
She said the Bangladesh government recognises the necessity of ensuring labour rights in the country. ILO Roadmap provides a clear plan of actions and timeline to address the concerns and suggests remedial measures in the labour sector.
“My government is adequately engaged with the United States and other development partners for continuous improvements in this sector,” she said.
The PM informed that 121 million people received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccines in Bangladesh. “Thus, our economy has shown great resilience in the face of the pandemic,” she added.
She deeply appreciated the US government for donating more than 75 million COVID-19 vaccines to Bangladesh through COVAX.
Also read: PM Hasina invites US president to visit Bangladesh
BNP Facebook page fomenting communal hatred, running inflammatory campaigns: AL claims
The Awami League (AL) has claimed that the verified Facebook page of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is fomenting communal hatred and running inflammatory campaigns.
Although the BNP had complained that the AL men attacked a Buddhist family and looted their house in Chattogram's Raozan, the Upazila Buddha Oikya Parishad called it false propaganda, the AL said on its verified Facebook page Thursday.
The BNP has embarked on a multi-faceted propaganda campaign to establish Bidhan Barua, known as the "right-hand man" of Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, who was sentenced to death for war crimes, politically in Raozan, it added.
Bidhan Barua, a "top terrorist" listed by Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and police, was released on bail from Lakshmipur district jail on September 11, the AL said.
BIPSS roundtable: Bangladesh needs proper strategies to counter terrorsim
President of Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) Major General (Retd) ANM Muniruzzaman on Thursday stressed on the need for a comprehensive strategy to counter the threat of terrorism in the country.
He said that in the absence of a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy for Bangladesh, they are working with short term ad-hoc policies, which cannot give long term results.
“There is, thus, a need to work out proper strategies to counter the threat,” he said while speaking at the BIPSS-Dhaka Tribune roundtable titled, “The Changing Contours of Terrorism – A Threat Assessment.”
Muniruzzaman said terrorism is a hydra-headed monster. “If you cut off one head; two new heads keep growing up.”
According to him, terrorist activities are appearing in the terrorism space like ethno-religious terrorist: Saffron Terror, White Supremacist Terror etc.
He also mentioned that new and modern technologies are further giving newer capacities to terrorist groups.
Muniruzzaman cautioned against the revitalisation of AQIS, which will be a new threat to Bangladesh and the region.
Editor of Dhaka Tribune Zafar Sobhan, diplomats, scholars, security experts, and youth representatives from various disciplines joined the roundtable which highlighted that terrorism is one of the most extensively discussed issues all across the globe and almost no country has been immune from it.
Senior Research Fellow at BIPSS and Head of Bangladesh Centre for Terrorism Research (BCTR) Shafqat Munir started by highlighting the ever changing nature of this landmark.
He identified the various trends of terrorism and the current status of different militant groups’ existent in Bangladesh. He pointed out how nature has shifted in the span of the last 15 years.
Shafqat further talked about the absence of robust counter-terrorism prevention architecture, the presence of existing practices pertaining to terrorism (Lone wolf phenomenon, family as a terror unit, female radicalisation etc.), including the introduction of newer practices such as Cyber Radicalisation and Terrorism, Bio-terrorism and the Weaponisation of Utilities.
He stressed upon the necessity to include the prominent role of the armed forces, the significance of evolution and adaptation of relevant actors in compliance with the introduction of newer phenomenon and social resilience towards combatting terrorism and violent extremism.
Focusing on the roles of various actors in terrorism, the second keynote speaker, Dr. ASM Ali Ashraf, Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, illustrated the more academic aspect of this phenomenon.
He talked about the existing global trends, the presence of crime terror nexus and their reciprocal relation despite existing difference in terms of their objectives.
He also talked about the necessity of coordination to improve intelligence, existence of official channels of communication and de-classification.
He talked about the conventional definition of hard power, and how it might need minor alterations to cope with modern day global politics.
The speakers said this phenomenon has evolved significantly over the years, and with the introduction of a myriad of social and technological factors, it has become more complex and multifaceted in the contemporary world order.
Muniruzzaman mentioned that the terrorists are evolving in terms of their operational attributes and so should the relevant authorities.
He also stretched the importance of social resilience against this heinous practice and to ensure social cohesion and inclusivity and promote peace.