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Govt relaxes conditions for returnees from India through Benapole
Government has relaxed the existing conditions for Bangladeshi passengers returning from India through Benapole.
A circular signed by Director (disease control) of the Directorate General of Health Services(DGHS) professor Nazmul Islam was sent to the immigration department at Benapole on Sunday.
The circular mentioned relaxation of conditions for four categories of Bangladeshi passengers.
Also read: Indian traders suspend trade through Benapole to protest BSF harassment
According to the notice, cancer and kidney disease patients or pregnant women and fully vaccinated passengers were exempted from the condition of staying in institutional quarantine but the authorities have to ensure they remain isolated at home.
Those who have only received one dose of Covid vaccine will need to stay in 14-day institutional quarantine on their own expenses as per the previous conditions, said the notification.
Every passenger will have to secure a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Bangladesh consulate in Kolkata and will have to manage a Covid-negative certificate within 72 hours.
However, apart from the four categories, all India-returned passengers will have to maintain the mandatory institutional quarantine following the earlier regulations.
Also read: Passengers can travel to India every day, but return on 3 days through Benapole
Ahsan Habib, in-charge officer of the Benapole Immigration said according to the new notice India going passengers will not need to seek prior approval from the Home Ministry anymore.
They have been following the directions of the circular from Sunday, he said.
Bangladesh reports lowest 117 single-day Covid deaths in nearly 2 months
Bangladesh logged 117 more Covid-related deaths in 24 hours till Monday morning, the lowest in 55 days.
The country last saw 115 Coronavirus- related deaths on June 30 and the upward curve of the fatalities reached its peak on August 5 and 10 with 264 deaths.
Besides, 5,717 more people came out positive for the virus after testing 26,789 samples during the last 24 hours, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Also read: DGHS chief vows action in instances of stealing Covid jabs
The fresh number pushed the country’s total fatalities to 25,399 while the cases reached 1,467,715.
Meanwhile, the daily case positivity rate rose to 15.54 % from Sunday’s 15.16% , said the DGHS.
ACC investigates graft allegations against 30 Titas Gas officials
The Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating allegations of acquiring illegal assets against 30 officials and employees of Titas Gas Distribution Limited, an ACC official said on Monday.
The Commission's Deputy Director Muhammad Arif Sadeq told UNB that it already questioned 10 officers and employees of the company to verify their statements and financial records.
Also read: ACC investigates SBAC bank chairman for graft
The officials are - Manager(Planning and Development) of Titas Abdul Wahab and Manager ( General Services Division) Moinul Islam, CBA President of Titas and Weilder ( retired) Kojimuddin, CBA General Secretary and Assistant Sales Manager Syed Waezuddin Ahmed, Senior Office Assistant Zakir Hossain, Devoloper of Narayanganj SDO of Titas Yusuf Ali Miazi, senior developer Khandakar Yusuf Ali, office clerk of ESS,Savar, Golam Mawla Sardar, office assistant of DGM office Jakir Hossain, and Senior Sales Assistant Saidur Rahman.
A notice has also been issued to the remaining 20 to appear at the ACC office on September 5 and 6 to record their statements, he said.
Also read: ACC interrogates alleged accomplices of PK Halder at FFIL
Govt 'extremely harming' future of students: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the government is ‘extremely harming’ the future of lakhs of students by keeping educational institutions closed.
“The strict lockdown was lifted suddenly allowing everything to operate as usual. Thousands of people are walking together and doing everything. But only the educational institutions remained closed,” he said.
While handing over medicines provided by Zia Parishad for BNP’s Covid-19 help centres at party chairperson’s Gulshan office, Fakhrul said the government has made an arrangement for depriving the future generation of education by not reopening schools, colleges and universities.
He said every country in the world worked out effective plans for vaccination and the continuation of academic activities alongside protecting people’s lives and livelihoods amid the pandemic. “But we don’t have any plan in our country. It’s causing a terrible loss to the new generation.”
The BNP leader said many students do not have the ability to buy computers or smartphones to avail of the scope of online education. “There's a newspaper report that students are now selling balloons and nuts to help their parents as their schools are completely closed. That means they’ve already got diverted.”
Read: Corruption amid pandemic making life miserable: BNP
He said the government is yet to take any step to recover from such a dangerous loss suffered by the new generation due to the closure of the educational institutions. “They (govt) are only misleading people with various misinterpretations and msinformation.”
The government shut the educational institutions on March 17, 2020 after the country had reported its first Covid-19 cases on March 8. Then the closure was extended several times. The latest extension is supposed to continue till August 31.
'False campaign' over vaccines
Fakhrul alleged that the government has completely failed to tackle coronavirus and ensure proper treatment for the virus-affected people. “It has not been able to create confidence in people that they will get treatment. The entire healthcare system has collapsed just because of corruption. ”
He alleged that the government is confusing people by spreading lies and ‘false campaign’ over the Covid vaccines.
“Experts think 26 crore doses of vaccines are required to bring people over 18 years under the vaccination coverage. But they bring two to three lakh doses as gifts and donations. They announced to provide one crore doses to people every day, but they didn’t have enough vaccines,” he said.
READ: Bid to implicate Zia in Bangabandhu killing a political vengeance: Fakhrul
The BNP leader said the government has been deceiving people by dishing out misinformation and false hopes about the vaccines. “This regime is a shameless and fraud one.”
Hitting back at Quader
Fakhrul alleged that Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader’s recent remark on Khaleda Zia’s birthday is devoid of political etiquette. “A responsible politician can’t make such remarks.”
He said the ruling party leaders are trying to divert people’s attention to a different direction from its failure to contain the coronavirus and ensure vaccines by making various 'reckless and indecent' comments against their opponents.
Fakhrul alleged that the ruling party leaders are also conducting false campaigns against Ziaur Rahman involving him with the August 15, 1975 killings. “Those who belong to Awami League were involved in the murder incident.”
READ: Dhaka city BNP bodies to help- bring positive changes in politics: Fakhrul
He said the government is trying to belittle Zia by giving people false information against him out of fear of his popularity. “No matter what you say, you won’t be able to remove his name from the hearts of people.”
IPDC launches new loan scheme for Covid treatment
IPDC Finance has launched a new loan product called ‘IPDC Aroggo’ to give financial aid in Covid treatment.
It is of utmost priority to everyone now to be able to give proper treatment to their loved ones during this long running pandemic, according to a press release of the private sector financial organisation.
IPDC's new loan service will provide financial support for Covid-19 treatment.
Read Tamim Iqbal signs as brand ambassador of IPDC
'IPDC Aroggo' loan can be given in two ways. Customers who have a fixed deposit account with IPDC will get this loan at a 0 per cent spread rate which means loan rate will be the same as Fixed Deposit rate.
If someone does not have a deposit account in IPDC, that person will be given a personal loan under ‘IPDC Aroggo’ for covid treatment. In that case, the person will get a loan at the rate of the current cost of funds and it will be considered as a personal loan.
Read IPDC Finance Ltd wins Intellectual Property Protection Award 2021
‘IPDC Aroggo’ loan is applicable when the Covid patient needs to be admitted to a hospital for treatment. The patient must be a family member (parents, siblings, and spouse) of the applicant.
The minimum loan amount under IPDC Aroggo is Tk 50,000. In case of Personal Loan, the maximum loan amount is Tk 500,000. In case of SOD, the maximum loan amount is 80 percent of Fixed deposit or Tk 500,000, whichever is lower. In case of SOD, the maximum loan repayment period is two months and in the case of personal loan, the maximum repayment period is 36 months.
Also read: IPDC: Mominul Islam re-appointed MD, CEO for 4th time
Savrina Arifin, the Head of Retail Business of IPDC Finance said, “As a socially responsible firm, IPDC has always tried to make significant contribution towards society through its services. In current Corona situation, ‘IPDC Aroggo’ is one such effort to respond to the need of the community. We hope this loan service will be really helpful to many families by eliminating the financial barrier towards the treatment of Covid-19.”
6 Dhaka hospitals declared as Dengue- dedicated
Amid the worrying rise in Dengue patients in hospitals, Directorate General of the Health Services (DGHS) on Monday announced six hospitals of Dhaka as Dengue- dedicated ones.
A notification signed by Director of Management Information System (MIS) of the directorate professor Dr Mizanur Rahman was issued in this regard.
Read Dengue vs. Severe Dengue: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention
According to the notification the six dedicated hospitals are- Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital, Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital at Tongi in Gazipur; Railway General Hospital at Kamalapur, Dhaka, 20-bed Aminbazar Govt Hospital in Dhaka, Lalkuthi Hospital at Mirpur in Dhaka, and 31-bed Kamrangirchar Hospital in Dhaka.
The country is now battling the dengue outbreak amid the Covid pandemic as some 1,218 patients diagnosed with dengue were reported receiving treatment at different hospitals as of Sunday morning, said DGHS.
Read Dengue vs. COVID-19: Symptoms, when & where to test, ways of prevention
This year, Dengue fever has claimed 36 lives so far. Of them, 32 have died in Dhaka city, two in Chattogram division, one each in Khulna and Rajshahi.
Most of the cases have been reported in the capital so far, said the health authorities.
Health authorities have been recording over 200 dengue cases per day since August 1.
Also read: DGHS worried over dengue situation
Some 8,041 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January, and 6,787 of them have been released after they recovered.
“We all witnessed how hard the dengue situation hit us in 2019. We are on the brink of a similar situation this year,” said DGHS spokesperson Md. Nazmul Islam on Wednesday.
Read BGMEA calls for raising social awareness to prevent Dengue
Sylhet by-election to be held on Sept 4
By-election to Sylhet-3 constituency will be held on September 4, the Election Commission announced on Monday.
Election Commission secretary M Humayun Kabir Khandaker announced the polls schedule at a press briefing at EC office in Dhaka.
The constituency fell vacant after its MP Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury died of coronavirus on March 11.
The election was scheduled to be held on July 28 but it was deferred twice due to surge in Covid-19 cases.
Also read: Sylhet-3 by-election postponed until Aug 5
On July 26, the High Court stayed the by-election to the constituency till August 5 due to the worsening Covid situation in the country.
Later, the court asked to complete the by-election by September 7.
The constituency comprises three upazilas—Dakkhin Surma, Fenchuganj and Balaganj.
Habibur Rahman Habib got the AL ticket for contesting the polls while the other candidates are Mohammad Atiqur Rahman of Jatiya Party, Junaid Mohammad Mia of Bangladesh Congress and Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury as independent.
Also read: Sylhet Regional Election Officer dies of Covid
Some 3.5 lakh voters are eligible in the polls.
The candidates will be allowed for campaigning from 8 am on September 1 to 8 am on September 2.
Field admin, public representatives asked to communicate regularly: Cabinet Secretary
All parties -- the field administration, law enforcement agencies and public representatives-- have been asked to communicate regularly to avoid misundetstanding and untoward incidents as recently seen in Barishal, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam on Monday.
The directive was issued from the LGRD Ministry and the Cabinet Division, he said while briefing reporters after the weekly Cabinet meeting at the Secretariat.
Read: Barishal clash: Two cases filed against UNO Munibur Rahman
The Cabinet Secretary said the leaders of Bangladesh Administrative Service Association (BASA) admitted that they made a mistake by using inappropriate words in their statement over Barishal incident.
He said they sat in a meeting on Sunday where the secretaries and officials differed with the BASA statement saying that such words should not have been used in it.
“Those who were from the Administrative Service Association also agreed with it (the opinion) and said it was actually a mistake,” he said replying to a question.
In response to a separate question, the Cabinet Secretary said such embarrassing incidents mostly happen due to miscommunication. “This is why, an instruction has been given to all at the field level, including administration, law enforcement agencies and public representatives, to interact among themselves regularly,” he said.
Read:Barishal violence: 2 ruling party activists lose eyesight
He said misunderstanding and untoward incidents occur for lack of interaction.
Noting that they do not know what exactly was behind the Barishal incident, he said all parties –mayor, commissioner and law enforcement agency -- were asked to sit in a parley first to solve the problem by finding out as to why such an embarrassing situation occurred.
PM orders speeding up vaccination of industrial workers, families
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday directed the authorities concerned to design a separate programme to bring the industrial workers and their families under the Covid-19 vaccination coverage soon.
She also asked to consider whether it would be possible to shorten the existing two-month gap between two vaccine doses.
Read:Bangladesh to receive over 6.34 lakh doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Japan Aug 28
The Prime Minister made the directives while chairing the Cabinet meeting held through a virtual platform, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam at a press briefing.
Sheikh Hasina joined the meeting from her official residence Ganobhaban and others from the Cabinet Room of the Secretariat.
“A special discussion was held over the industrial workers today (in the meeting)…. Since Bangladesh would get six crore doses of vaccine from Sinopharm as per an agreement signed by the Health Ministry, the Prime Minister gave the instruction to vaccinate the workers quickly bringing them under a separate programme,” said the Cabinet Secretary.
Besides, the PM said that she would herself oversee the matter.
“The Prime Minister has given instruction to vaccinate not only the workers but also their family members as forerunners,” said Anwarul Islam.
Read:1st phase of vaccination drive for Rohingyas ends in Cox's Bazar
Fire breaks out at Banani building; 2 girls dead
Two girls were burned to death and a woman was injured seriously when a fire broke out at a building in the city's Banani area early Monday.
The deceased were identified as Mim, 16, and Swapna, 14.
Read:Probe committee formed over Chairman Bari fire
Mohammad Raihanul, station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters, said the fire broke out around 1:56 am on the 3rd floor of the 10-storey building and spread around soon.
On information, four firefighting units rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze around 2:40 am.
The fire service men rescued three people from the building and took them to Dhaka Metropolitan Hospital where doctors declared Mim and Swapna dead, said Noor-E-Azam Mia, officer-in-charge of Banani Police Station.
Read:Banani warehouse fire doused after 10 hrs
Another woman, Rinta, 30, suffered serious burn injuries, and is undergoing treatment at the hospital.
However, it is still not clear what caused the fire, said police.