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Dhaka's air quality remains 'moderate'
Dhaka's air quality continued to be in the ‘moderate’ zone on Saturday.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 85 at 8.40am, the metropolis ranked 16th 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.
The United Arab Emirates' Dubai, Pakistan’s Lahore and Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 171, 152 and 151, 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.
Also read: Dhaka's air quality remains 'moderate'
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.
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.
What PM said on Russia-Ukraine war, Rohingya issue, climate action, terrorism at 77th UNGA
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday demanded immediate end to the Russia-Ukraine war and lifting sanctions for the sake of lives and livelihoods of people worldwide.
“We want the end of Russia-Ukraine war. Due to sanctions, and counter-sanctions, not a single country, rather the entire mankind including women and children is punished,” she said.
The Prime Minister made the call while delivering her statement at the 77th session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Also read: Hasina breaks down in tears while talking about everyday ordeals of Rohingyas
Like previous years, she delivered her statement in Bangla. The theme of this year's general debate is “A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges”.
She mentioned that the impact of Russia-Ukraine war does not remain confined to one country, rather puts the lives and livelihoods of the people of all nations in greater risk, and infringes their human rights. People are deprived of food, shelter, healthcare and education.
She said Children suffer the most in particular and their future sinks into darkness. “My urge to the conscience of the world community- stop the arms race, war and sanctions. Ensure food and security of the children. Establish peace,” she said.
Read Homelessness is a curse that impacts people everywhere: PM
“We share one planet, and we owe it to our future generations to leave it in a better shape,” she said.
“Dialogue is the best way to resolve crises and disputes,” she added.
In this context, she thanked the UN Secretary General for setting up the Global Crisis Response Group.
“As a champion of this group, I am working with other world leaders to determine a global solution commensurate with the gravity and depth of the current situation,” said the Bangladesh premier.
Read Dhaka-Washington: A thaw in the offing?
“This (war) has brought economies like ours under tremendous pressure. Inflation has gone up. We (Bangladesh) are taking various initiatives to overcome this situation,” she noted.
Rohingya crisis may affect regional stability and beyond
Talking about the forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar, Sheikh Hasina said, Last month Bangladesh witnessed five years of the 2017 mass exodus of Rohingyas to Bangladesh from their home country.
“Not a single Rohingya was repatriated to their ancestral home Myanmar, despite our bilateral engagements with them, discussions with partners in trilateral format and engagements with the UN and other partners to assist Myanmar to create necessary conditions for safe and dignified repatriation,” she complained.
Read UNGA lauds Bangladesh’s leadership in promoting culture of peace
In this connection, she said the ongoing political turmoil and armed conflicts in the country has made possibilities of Rohingya repatriation more difficult. “I hope the United Nations will play an effective role in this regard,” the PM added.
Talking about the prolonged presence of Rohingyas in Bangladesh, she said, it has caused serious ramifications on the economy, environment, security, and socio-political stability in Bangladesh.
“Uncertainty over repatriation has led to widespread frustration. Cross-border organized crimes including human and drug trafficking are on the rise,” she said, adding that this situation can potentially fuel radicalization.
Read Citing abstention at UNGA vote on Ukraine, Lithuania withdraws vaccine donation to Dhaka
“If the problem persists, it may affect security and stability of the entire region, and beyond,” she cautioned.
Promote inclusive climate action
Regarding the impact of climate change she said it is one of the biggest threats for humankind. “In the past, we have seen a vicious cycle of promises being made and broken. We must now change this course,” she said.
In Bangladesh, she mentioned that the government has led to many transformative measures to tackle perilous impacts of climate change consistent with implementing the Paris Agreement and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Read Fear grips border areas as Myanmar fighter jets fire towards Bangladesh
During Bangladesh’s Presidency of Climate Vulnerable Forum, it launched ‘Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan’, which aims to put Bangladesh on a sustainable trajectory from “one of vulnerability to resilience to climate prosperity,” she said.
“Our national plans and policies on climate change and natural disaster are gender responsive and take into account the critical role of women in adaptation and mitigation,” said Hasina.
She said Bangladesh is ready to support other vulnerable countries to develop their own prosperity plans. “I call on world leaders to promote inclusive climate action,” she said.
Read PM in NY: Rohingyas living in Myanmar’s Arakan since 8th century
Zero tolerance policy on terrorism and extremism
The Prime Minister reiterated Bangladesh’s stance of 'zero tolerance' to terrorism and violent extremism. “We do not allow our territory to be used by any party to incite or cause terrorist acts or harm to others,” she said.
She also called upon the UN member states to work together for the conclusion of an internationally binding instrument to tackle cyber-crimes and cyber-violence.
Bangladesh fully committed to protecting human rights
As a responsible member state, Bangladesh is fully committed to protecting and promoting human rights of its own people, PM Hasina said. “We have adopted a holistic and inclusive approach to ensure the political, economic, cultural and social rights of the people.”
Read Myanmar’s shelling inside Bangladesh “unintentional mistake”, Momen says in NY
She said Bangladesh is interested in looking for transformative solutions to poverty alleviation, mitigating climate change effects, preventing conflicts and finance, energy and fuel crises that the world is grappling with now.
Dhaka to continue supporting Palestine
The premier said Bangladesh will continue to extend its support to the occupied Palestinian people.
She reiterated Bangladesh’s unequivocal support for the two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders and the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Read Helicopters attack school, village in north-central Myanmar, 7 children among 13 killed
Briefly describing the success of Bangladesh in controlling COVID-19, she said, as of August 2022, hundred percent of the eligible population of Bangladesh have been vaccinated.
Besides, in the 77th UN General Assembly 2022, Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina highlighted the economic progress of the country, its successes in different sectors including education, food security and health, and gender inequality.
Woman, grandchild killed in Tongi after truck ploughs into three-wheeler
A 50-year-old woman and her granddaughter were killed and two others injured after a truck rammed into a three-wheeler in Gazipur's Tongi Friday, police said.
The deceased were identified as Rowshan Ara Begum and her six-month-old granddaughter Raisa Islam. The injured were the child's mother Rita Akhter and three-wheeler driver Rubel.
The crash occurred in the Silmun area around 4:30pm when the speeding truck hit the three-wheeler, killing Rowshan and Raisa, who were going to Station Road of Tongi from Mirerbazar, on the spot, Ashraful Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Tongi East Police Station, said.
Rubel and Rita are now undergoing treatment at Catharsis Medical Centre, the OC said. 'The crash remains under investigation."
Fear grips border areas as Myanmar fighter jets fire towards Bangladesh
Within days of firing mortar shells, fighter jets of Myanmar army have fired bullets towards Bangladesh this time, which have created panic among people living at the border.
According to Dil Mohammad Alam, a local union parishad member of Tombru area under Naikhongchhari’s Ghumdhum union, Myanmar fighter jets fired 10-15 bullets between border pillar number 34 and 35 on Friday at about 10:45pm.
“Besides firing, sporadic sounds of explosions were also heard throughout the day,” Dil Mohammad said.
Amir Hamza, a local trader, said that although sounds of firing bullets and mortar shells between other pillars of Naikhongchhari remained suspended for the time being, this hasn’t been the case for pillar number 34 and 35.
Read: Unexploded mortar shells found near Bangladesh-Myanmar border
“It seems like the latest round of firing is taking a permanent shape with the passing of time. All of us living in this part of the border are fearing for our lives as the intermittent sound of firing isn’t showing any sign of stopping,” Amir said.
According to sources, the locals also heard the sounds of a total of four explosions at 8:00am, 5:10pm, 5:28pm and 6:00pm.
SSC question paper leak: Kurigram UNO show-caused
A show-cause notice has been issued to the Bhurungamari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Kurigram over the incident of question papers leak of SSC examinations at Nehal Uddin Pilot Girls' High School.
Kurigram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Rezaul Karim said on Friday that Bhurungamari UNO Dipak Kumar Dev Sharma has issued letters regarding the examination as per the rule.
“The matter is being looked into, whether there is any negligence in his duty,” said the DC.
DC Rezaul issued the show-cause notice to the UNO on Wednesday and asked for a response in three days.
“Further action will be taken after receiving the response of the show-cause,” he added.
He also said the three-member probe committee of Dinajpur Education Board returned today after the investigation here.
According to the investigation, Nehal Uddin Pilot Girls’ High School Headmaster and Central Secretary Lutfar Rahman and in-charge officer Upazila Secondary Officer Abdur Rahman put single question paper of Bangla 2nd paper, English 1st and 2nd paper inside the envelope of question papers of Bangla 1st paper while sorting question papers at Bhurungamari and sealed the envelope.
Read: SSC question paper leak: Three more held in Kurigram
It was later signed by Upazila Secondary Education Officer Abdur Rahman.
On the day of examination of Bengali 1st paper, Central Secretary Lutfar Rahman along with his associates brought the packet of Bengali 1st paper and took away the papers of Bengali 2nd paper, English 1st and 2nd paper.
Later, with the help of some teachers, the headmaster prepared the handwritten answer sheets of the leaked question papers and sold them to the students of that school at a price of Tk 15,000 to Tk 20,000, as per the investigation.
On Thursday, Bhurungamari Upazila Secondary Education officer Md Abdur Rahman was suspended but will receive a subsistence allowance.
On Wednesday, SSC examinations on four subjects under the Dinajpur Education Board were postponed due to question papers leak in Kurigram's Bhurungamari upazila.
Copies of English 1st paper and 2nd paper of the ongoing SSC examinations went viral on Facebook and WhatsApp on Monday and Tuesday.
So far, six people, including headmaster and secretary of Bhurungamari Nehal Uddin Pilot High School, have been held in Kurigram in this connection.
Read: Kurigram SSC examinees form human chain demanding probe into question leak
Dinajpur Board also formed a three-member probe committee headed by Professor Faraz Uddin Talukdar, college inspector of the Education Board.
The postponed SSC examinations on four subjects under the Dinajpur Education Board will be held from October 10 to 13.
The four subjects are: Mathematics, Physics, Agricultural Science and Chemistry.
Exams on other subjects will be held as per the schedule.
“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.