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Bangladesh reports 2 more Covid deaths, 253 cases
Two more people died from Covid, and 253 tested positive for the virus in Bangladesh in the 24 hours to Friday morning.
While the country's total fatalities reached 29,302, the new number took its caseload to 2,006,899, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily case positivity rate dropped to 5.06 percent from Thursday's 5.14 percent as 5,002 samples were tested.
Read: Covid forces suspension of production at Barapukuria Coal Mine for 15 more days
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.46 percent. The recovery rate rose to 97 percent from Thursday's 96.97 percent.
In July, Bangladesh reported 142 Covid-linked deaths and 31,422 cases, the highest monthly death toll and caseload since March this year.
The country reported its first zero Covid death on November 20 last year since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020.
Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.
PM offers Chattogram-Mongla ports for use by Nepal
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday reiterated that Nepal can take the advantage of using Bangladesh's Mongla and Chattogram seaports.
She said this when a visiting Nepalese parliamentary delegation, headed by Pabitra Niruola Kharel, Chairperson of International Relations Committee at House of Representatives of Federal Parliament of Nepal, paid a courtesy call on her at her official residence Ganobhaban.
The premier said Bangladesh is developing Saidpur airport as a regional airport which the neighboring countries can use, said a press release of the PMO Press Wing.
She said her government attaches great importance to maintaining good relations with neighboring countries, including Nepal.
Hasina expressed her gratitude to the leadership and the people of Nepal for supporting Bangladesh during its liberation war in 1971.
She expressed satisfaction that the delegation visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi and Bangladesh Parliament.
Read: PM: Multitalented Sheikh Kamal led very simple life
The Nepalese delegation stressed the two countries may further consolidate their cooperation in sectors like Power, Hydroelectricity, Tourism, Education, ICT, Connectivity, and People to People contact.
They noted with great satisfaction that Nepal and Bangladesh have been enjoying cordial relations over the years. They mentioned that this year holds significant importance for both countries as they are celebrating the 50th year of establishing diplomatic relations.
They emphasized high-level visits on a regular basis to strengthen the friendly ties.
The visiting team appreciated PM Hasina for her visionary leadership and the recent socio-economic development, which they termed as very impressive.
At the outset, the Nepalese delegation thanked the government for arranging an excellent programme for them.
The meeting ended with a goodwill gesture of handing over gifts from both sides.
Among other Nepalese delegation members, Chandtara Kumari MP, Dr Deepak Prakash Bhatt MP, Dev Prasad Timalsena MP, Lila Devi Sitaula MP, Narad Muni Rana MP, and Sarala Kumari Yadav MP, were present in the meeting.
The visiting team also met the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before travelling toTungipara through the iconic Padma Bridge on Friday.
PM: Multitalented Sheikh Kamal led very simple life
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday remembered her brother, heroic freedom fighter Sheikh Kamal, as a multitalented youth, and urged the young people to follow his ideals to build a dignified Bangladesh.
“Freedom fighter Sheikh Kamal had left us his principles, ideals, work procedures and guidelines. I think from our little children to young society would undoubtedly develop themselves following his ideals,” she said.
The premier said this joining the 73rd birth anniversary celebration of Freedom Fighter Shaheed(martyred) captain Sheikh Kamal and the distribution ceremony of Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award-2022 in city’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban.
She distributed the award among nine sports personalities and two organizations for their outstanding contribution to the country’s sports in seven categories. On her behalf, State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel handed over the awards among the recipients.
Also read: PM: August 15 conspirators are again out to oust my government
Hasina said she wants the country’s children to enhance the dignity of Bangladesh further at the international level or the world stage by flourishing their talents.
She said Sheikh Kamal, also her younger brother and the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had possessed many talents.
The PM said Kamal used to play hockey, football, cricket and sitar, participate in drama and get prizes for extempore speeches at the same time. He was also politically conscious and had foresight. He had been an active activist of Chhatra League since his admission into Dhaka College, she added.
“Kamal always used to lead a very simple life,” she said.
Noting that her father Bangabandhu taught them to lead a simple life, Hasina said their motto was ‘simple living and high thinking’ and they used to follow what her father had taught them.
Global Covid cases near 587 million
The overall number of Covid cases is fast approaching 587 million amid a rise in new infections in parts of the world.
According to the latest global data, the total case count mounted to 586,962,311 and the death toll reached 6,431,061 on Friday morning.
The US has recorded 93,739,666 cases so far and 1,057,881 people have died from the virus in the country, the data shows.
India reported over 20,000 new cases of Covid-19 and 53 deaths in 24 hours, taking the total tally to 44,087,037 in the country, according to federal health ministry data.
Read: Covid in Bangladesh: 2 more die, new cases 278
Covid in Bangladesh
Bangladesh recorded two more Covid-linked deaths with 278 fresh cases in 24 hours till Thursday.
With the latest numbers, the total fatalities reached 29,300 and the caseload 2,006,646, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily case positivity rate dropped to 5.14 per cent from Wednesday’s 6.53 per cent as 5,404 samples were tested.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.46 per cent. The recovery rate rose to 96.97 per cent from Wednesday’s 96.95 per cent.
Rains to drench Bangladesh
Brace for more showers in the next 24 hours.
"Light to moderate showers accompanied by temporary gusty winds is likely to occur at many places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions," the Met department said in its weather bulletin on Friday.
The department has also predicted showers "at a few places over Dhaka and Khulna divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country".
Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, as per the bulletin.
Read: Rain likely on Eid day
The Met office recorded the highest rainfall at 47mm in Sayedpur in 24 hours till 6pm on Thursday.
The highest temperature was recorded at 34.8 degrees Celsius in Dhaka, while the lowest temperature was recorded at 25 degrees in Nikli of Kishoreganj, Sitakunda, of Chattogram and Teknaf of Cox's Bazar.
The axis of monsoon trough runs through Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Gangetic West Bengal to Assam across central part of Bangladesh.
One of its associated troughs extends up to the Northeast Bay. Monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate elsewhere over the North Bay.
ICT & Digital Technology to rule in new-look education system
The government is giving priority in ICT, digital technology and research as it seeks to modernize the country’s education system and get optimum output, according to an official document.
The Innovation Team of the Department of Secondary and Higher Education is working to ensure maximum utilisation of ICT and digital technology in education management and education activities, according to the document obtained by UNB.
It said that in the last FY2021-2022 as many as 16,420 teachers were given training on ICT.
“In FY2022-23 a total of 16,300 ICT teachers will be trained in IT,” the document stated.
In addition, more than 62,000 contents have already been uploaded to the Teachers’ Portal with the aim of expanding the quality teaching activities, through which the teachers themselves can contribute to improving the content quality.
Sufferings of stakeholders concerned have been mitigated by ensuring online services for admission, registration, change of institution, publication of test results.
Correction of mistakes in certificates, renewal of recognition, and nomination of representatives are also being done online.
From the FY2018-2019, applications for special grants for educational institutions, teachers and students are being accepted online and money is being distributed through mobile banking.
Read: CRI's 'Let's Talk': Speakers back govt initiatives to shore up fuel security
The document said that implementation of the project titled ‘The Expansion of Science Education Opportunities in Government Colleges’ has begun to build 2,607 classrooms including multimedia classrooms, 200 language-cum-ICT labs, 1,000 science labs, 46 furnished hostels, - office equipment and ICT equipment in 200 government colleges across the country.
Once completed, the project will facilitate the admission of additional two lakh students.
The implementation of another project titled ‘Development of Government Secondary Schools’ that aims to enhance capacity development and quality improvement of education of 323 government secondary schools across the country by constructing new academic buildings and providing up-to-date expansion of multimedia classrooms and necessary equipment, books, sports equipment, scientific equipment, furniture and office equipment has also been initiated.
Once the project is implemented fully, opportunities of admission for further 3.29 lakh students will be opened up.
Three projects are underway for establishing Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University, conducting a feasibility study of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib University of Science and Technology and setting up Khulna Agricultural University.
In addition, 43 projects are being implemented for further development of various public universities.
In the last 2021-2022 fiscal, the document mentioned that the National Science and Technology (NST) Fellowship grant amounting to Tk.137.76 crore to 22,220 students and researchers and grants amounting to Tk. 189.10 crore to 6,362 research projects for cultivating science and for research and technology innovation have been awarded.
As part of the initiative for promoting research in medical education, the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) at the campuses of the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, National Chest Disease Institute and Hospital of Mohakhali, and Medical College Hospitals of Mohakhali, Pabna, Kushtia, Jessore, Cox’s Bazar, Gopalganj, and Satkhira and the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) at Mymensingh and Pet-CT scans with cyclotron facilities at INMP, Savar are going to be set-up.
Speaker urges UK parliamentarians to raise voices to stop global warming
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has called upon the UK parliamentarians to raise their voices at Westminster in favour of financing climate vulnerable nations such as Bangladesh, and advocate among G20 parliaments to arrest emissions and global warming.
Shirin was delivering her speech as chief guest at the interactive dialogue "Bangladesh Rising" with British parliamentarians organised by the Bangladesh High Commission in London Wednesday.
The speaker emphasised strengthening institutional collaboration between Bangladesh and the British parliamentarians – especially on strengthening parliamentary democracy and good governance, delivering on Agenda 2030, climate change, women empowerment and the protracted Rohingya crisis.
She also highlighted that Bangladesh has been sheltering and protecting the 1.1 million Rohingyas fleeing from Myanmar for five years now, and the only solution to the Rohingya crisis lies in the safe and sustainable return of the persecuted Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar.
Shirin urged the British parliamentarians to play a leading role globally in resolving the crisis.
The speaker also highlighted the contributions of the four British-Bangladeshi parliamentarians and one House of Lords member of Bangladeshi origin in strengthening Bangladesh-UK friendship.
She invited all the MPs and the members of the House of Lords to visit Bangladesh during the historic 50 years of Bangladesh-UK diplomatic relations.
The dialogue, chaired and moderated by Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem, was attended by prominent British parliamentarians, including Lord Sheikh of Cornhill, vice-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh, Lord Evans of Watford, member of the House of Lords Committee on SME, Baroness Thornton, shadow spokesperson (equalities and women's issues), Baroness Manzila Pola Uddin, the first British-Bangladeshi peer at the House of Lords, Stephen Twigg, secretary general of the CPA, and Sam Tarry MP, former shadow minister for transport.
Read: Speaker for intensified inter-parliamentary communication to share experiences
CRI's 'Let's Talk': Speakers back govt initiatives to shore up energy security
Speakers at a discussion have opined that measures taken by the government to shore up the economy in the face of the ongoing energy crisis will stand the country in good stead in the future.
They appealed for time to see the results of the initiatives.
The speakers made the remarks at the 'Let's Talk' programme organised by the Centre for Research and Information (CRI) on Thursday when the Russia-Ukraine war pushed the global energy situation into a turmoil with Europe is shutting down lights and cold water for baths.
Indian dancer comes to Barishal to meet 'girlfriend,' but fails
An Indian youth named Premkanto came to Barishal, the southern division of the country to meet his so-called girlfriend and was rejected by his desired lover.
Premkanto and the girl loved each other through social media.
The incident came into the spotlight recently as the lover has already been rejected by his girlfriend and tortured by another boyfriend of the girl.
Being cheated and tortured, Premkanto went to the local police and described his ordeal.
The youth from Tamil Nadu of India came to Bangladesh on July 24 to meet his lover. The following day they met each other at Barishal Govt College. Later they met several times at various places. At one stage, Premkanto was informed about the second lover of the girl.
Read: Bangladeshi woman's quest for love lands her in Indian jail
Hearing the news of Premkanto, another lover of the girl beat the Indian youth up on July 27.
Premkanto alleged that he complained to the police. But police have yet to take action about the matter.
Later, the Indian High Commission to Bangladesh picks the youth and sent Dhaka to India.
Saman Ali finally watches 'Poran' at Star Cineplex wearing lungi
After being denied tickets at Star Cineplex Mirpur for wearing lungi, Saman Ali Sarkar finally got to watch the recently released film "Poran" Thursday with his family at the same branch.
Star Cineplex shared Saman's photo with his family on its Facebook page. The Cineplex's Sony Square branch had invited them to watch the film.
Earlier, a video, in which Saman said the Cineplex had refused to sell a ticket to him as he was wearing a lungi, took social media by storm. The film fraternity also took a swipe at the authorities.
The Cineplex later apologised for not allowing the elderly customer to enter its cinema hall.
"Star Cineplex does not discriminate against customers based on anything, least of all a person's attire. No such policies exist at our organisation that would deny a person the right to purchase a ticket because of them choosing to wear a lungi," Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, Star Cineplex's senior manager of media and marketing, said.
Read: Mim, Razz want to watch ‘Poran’ with elderly person denied entry to Cineplex for ‘lungi’
"The incident being circulated through social media is most likely the result of an unfortunate misunderstanding. We are deeply shocked to see such an event take place and grateful to the relevant parties for bringing it to our attention. We would like to warmly invite this person alongside his family to our Sony Square branch to watch Poran. Furthermore, we are investigating this incident as we speak to ensure no such misunderstandings take place in the future."
Poran lead actors Bidya Sinha Saha Mim and Sariful Razz took to Facebook, saying they want to watch the film with Saman.