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Bangladesh reports zero dengue cases, deaths
No fresh case or death due to dengue was reported in Bangladesh in the 24 hours to Friday morning.
Sixteen dengue patients, including nine in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
So far, the DGHS has recorded 819 dengue cases, 794 recoveries, and nine deaths this year.
The country logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019. Also, it recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries last year.
2 bikers killed on Magura-Jashore road after truck hits their vehicles
Two motorcyclists were killed on the Magura-Jashore road in Shalikha upazila Thursday night after a truck crashed into their vehicles, police said.
The deceased – Shahabur Rahman, 40, and Shakib Ahmed, 27 – were from Jhunari village of the upazila.
Mosharraf Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Shalikha Police Station, said the accident occurred around 8:15pm when the speeding truck rammed the two-wheelers in the Aatpara Bazar area. "Shahabur, a dentist, and Shakib – who were returning home – died at the scene."
"The bodies were sent to Magura District Hospital morgue for autopsies. The truck was seized, and a case was filed in connection with the accident," the OC added.
'Active engagement of co-management committees must for ensuring sustainable use of forest resources'
To ensure the sustainable use of forest resources, the active engagement of co-management committees (CMCs) is a must, the experts said Thursday.
They were speaking at a meeting organised by the Arannayk Foundation at its head office in the capital and local office in Cox's Bazar's Ukhiya, marking Forest Co-Management Day.
The forest department observes March 23 as Forest Co-Management Day when Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary Community Patrolling Group (CPG) Team member Rafiqul Islam was killed in 2008 while guarding the forest.
Md Imran Ahmed, conservator of the Wildlife and Nature Conservation Circle, said: "Along with the government, local communities must work for safeguarding the forests."
"Biodiversity is often affected by the livelihood activities of people who depend on forests for a living. So, the CPGs will have to be more active in ensuring the co-existence of the human and wildlife population."
Mohd Abdul Quddus, senior advisor of the Arannayk Foundation, called for allocating government funds and private sector CSR finances to the CMCs to attain stable financial capacities.
A permanent allowance structure and rewarding the best CPG members will also motivate local people to work for protecting forests, he added.
Other speakers at the meeting said, ensuring reliable financing for CMCs will be easier if half of the revenue earned from tourism can be shared with all CMCs following the Protected Area Rules 2017.
Currently, 28 CMCs are active in 22 protected areas.
PRAN receives BSTI halal certificate
A total of 96 products under 18 categories of PRAN group have received halal certificate from the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI).
Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun handed over the certificate to PRAN Group Managing Director Eleash Mridha through a program held at the Industries Ministry conference room in Dhaka, said a media statement on Wednesday.
BSTI started providing halal certificates for various products to expand the export of those products in global markets as there is a huge demand for halal products in the international markets.
Walton launches European brand ACC's air conditioner
Walton has launched premium category air conditioner in Bangladesh under its European brand ACC to "provide real taste of using an international brand to its customers."
"The ACC brand's AC were released following the needs and demands of the customers. It is the most energy efficient AC in Bangladesh market in the 1.5 ton segment," Walton said in a media statement issued Thursday.
Priced at Tk84,900, customers can primarily buy the ACC brand air conditioner from Walton Plaza at divisional cities and eventually it will be available at all Walton Plaza across the country. It can also be purchased from online shop E-Plaza (https://eplaza.waltonbd.com). Besides cash payment, the ACC brand AC can be purchased on EMI and installment facilities. Customers will also get free installation on ACC brand AC.
Users of the ACC brand AC can set the temperature from 16 degree to 31 degree as per their requirement. It also has eco mode, turbo mode, comfort cooling, baby care, 4D air flow etc.
The ACC brand's AC was launched at a function recently held at Walton Corporate Office in capital.
Country to see shortage of 1000 mmcfd in daily gas supply despite steps: Petrobangla Chairman
Despite different steps taken by the government to improve the gas supply situation, the country will have a deficit of about 1000 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd).
Petrobangla chairman Zanendra Nath Sarker said this while exchanging views with energy reporters on Thursday.
“We have taken initiative to increase gas supply by importing about 1000 mmcfd gas which will boost the overall supply to 3000 mmcfd against the demand for 4000 mmcfd under the connected network”, he said.
He said the government had approved import of 12 LNG cargos from international spot market in a bid to improve the supply situation alongside the import of gas from Qatar and Oman under long-term contracts.
Under this plan, he said, Petrobangla will import one or two cargos every week until June this year.
“We hope this import will have a good impact in improving the situation despite a huge deficit”.
He also noted that it’s a very good trend that the price of LNG on spot market is declining.
The government had resumed LNG import from February this year after suspending import in July last year following excessive hike in price of gas on the international spot market.
The Petrobangla chairman also informed that negotiation is going on with Qatar and Oman to increase the LNG import.
Currently, under the long-term contract a total of 56 LNG cargos will be imported with Qatar and Oman until December this year.
But it takes more time to make a conclusion that how much gas could be imported and at what price, he said.
Zanendra Nath said the government has a plan to drill 46 wells at different gas fields by 2030 when the country’s gas demand will go up to 5600 mmcfd.
Amend tobacco law in line with WHO guideline, speakers urge govt
Speakers on Thursday demanded that authorities amend the existing tobacco control law in the country to upgrade it in line with a framework set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
They said the existing law has several weaknesses that need to be removed under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, or WHO FCTC.
The framework is the first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO, and it was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2003 and entered into force on in February, 2005. It has since become one of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties in the history of the United Nations.
The framework was developed in response to the globalisation of the tobacco epidemic and is an evidence-based treaty that reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health. It represents a milestone for the promotion of public health and provides new legal dimensions for international health cooperation.
The concerns came in a workshop titled `Tobacco Control Law 'Amendment to Protect Public Health: Role of Media personnel’ held at the auditorium of National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute.
National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh Secretary General Prof. Khondker Abdul Awal (Rizvi) presided over the meeting.
Prof Awal said tobacco is linked to six of the eight leading causes of preventable death in the world.
He said that the government enacted the Smoking and Use of Tobacco Products (Control) Act, 2005 giving utmost importance on public health.
In 2013, it brought several important amendments to the Tobacco Control Act, but the law has several weaknesses.
“So, the law needs to be amended urgently. Journalists can play a leading role in that case,” he said.
Dr. Sheikh Md. Mahbubus Sobhan, Registrar (Clinical Research), National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, presented the keynote paper in the workshop.
He said the use of tobacco products is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chest diseases and many other preventable ailments and deaths.
“Every year more than 1.61 lakh people die of tobacco related diseases in the country,” he said.
Sobhan said that to protect public health from these harms of tobacco, the Ministry of Health has taken initiatives to strengthen the Tobacco Control Law.
He commented that the sooner the law is amended, the more lives will be saved.
Prof. Khondker Abdul Awal (Rizvi) said National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh (NHFB) is working against tobacco. Six weaknesses in the Tobacco Control Act have been identified and called for amendment.
The demands are to ban 'designated smoking areas' in all public places and public transport, prohibition of display of tobacco products in places of sale of tobacco products, totally ban any form of social responsibility programmes by tobacco companies, ban emerging tobacco products such as e-cigarettes altogether, increase the size of pictorial health warnings on tobacco product packets/boxes from 50 percent to 90 percent.
They also want to ban retail sales of bidi-cigarettes unwrapped and open smokeless tobacco products.
Under the auspices of the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, 17 journalists who work for various national media outlets have received the NCD (Non-Communicable Diseases) Media Fellowship Award 2022.
Shyamal Dutta, editor of Bhorer Kagoj and general secretary of the National Press Club, attended the event as the chief guest and presented the journalists with crests and certificates.
He said that the Tobacco Control Act must be amended to put public health first in order to carry out the Sustainable Development Goals as the country has been graduating from the least developed country to a developing nation, he said.
“The SDGs cannot be achieved without this. For this, journalists can exert significant influence to grab the government's attention,” he said.
Brig Gen (Retd) Prof Md Younusur Rahman, Director at NHFB, Professor Dr. Fazila-Tun-Nesa Malik, Professor of Cardiology & Chief Consultant Cardiologist, Rashed Rabbi, President of the Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum, Ataur Rahman Masud, Manager (advocacy) of CTFK were also present.
Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury, head of Dept. of Epidemiology and Research at National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, delivered the welcome address.
100 shops gutted in Netrakona fire
Over 100 shops were gutted as a fire broke out at Shyamganj market in Purbadhala upazila under Netrakona district on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, two people-Humayun and Rubel-were killed being hit by a truck while they were heading towards the market by a battery-run auto rickshaw hearing the fire incident.
Locals said, the blaze began around 10:00pm in a shop and engulfed other shops quickly.
On information, six firefighting units responded to the blaze and tamed the flame with the locals’ help around 12:00am.
Md. Azizul Islam, Sub-inspector of Shyamganj Highway Police Station, said that the truck hit the auto rickshaw while it was going to Shyamganj market, leaving one dead on the spot and six injured.
The injured were rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital where another succumbed to his injuries, he added.
“Every award inspires me to work on something new”
icddr,b’s senior scientist Dr Firdausi Qadri received country’s highest state award the Independence Award (Swadhinata Padak) 2023 on Thursday for her outstanding contributions to research and training.
“Today is a very happy day for me for two special reasons, one - the government of Bangladesh has honoured me with the country's highest state award, and two – I am receiving the award from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who herself was awarded as the Vaccine Hero in 2019 by The Vaccine Alliance GAVI,” she said.
Dr Qadri also thanked various government organisations and agencies as well as her family members saying, “It would not have been possible to work for the people of Bangladesh without all of your assistance.”
She said, “Every award inspires me to work on something new but the honour that I received today is definitely an encouragement to contribute more to the country and the people.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the award to nine individuals and one institution at a programme at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in recognition to their contributions to the country.
Dr Qadri was also honoured with the opportunity to give a speech among all the awardees this year. She took the opportunity to thank all her colleagues in the country and abroad, well-wishers of her four-decade-long career, icddr,b and its Executive Director Dr Tahmeed Ahmed.
On the occasion, Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director of icddr,b congratulated Dr Qadri saying, “This is a significant recognition of her tireless efforts towards advancing science and innovation in Bangladesh and beyond. Dr Qadri's achievements have been instrumental in shaping the field of research and training, and we are proud to have her as a part of our team at icddr,b”.
Dr Qadri is currently working as Acting Senior Director at icddr,b’s Infectious Diseases Division has made significant contributions to the development of vaccines for diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and others.
Her work has earned her numerous awards and recognition, making her one of the most respected scientists in the world. In 2021, Dr Qadri was awarded with the Ramon Magsaysay Award, often cited as “Asia’s Nobel Prize”.
She is also a laureate of the 2020 L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Award. Dr Qadri was also awarded the Foundation Christophe et Rodolphe Mérieux’s annual scientific ‘Grand Prize’ in 2012.
icddr,b itself was honoured with the prestigious Independence Award in 2005. icddr,b extends heartfelt congratulations to Dr Firdausi Qadri and all the recipients of this year’s Independence Award.
Since 1977, the government of Bangladesh honours individuals and institutions with the Independence Award every year ahead of Independence Day that is celebrated on March 26.
Cabinet body approves proposals for import of LNG, fertiliser and lentil
The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) in a meeting on Thursday approved seven proposals including import of LNG, fertiliser and lentil .
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the meeting while members of the committee attended it.
As per a proposal, placed by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, state-owned Petrobangla will import a cargo of LNG (liquefied natural gas) containing 33.60 lakh MMBtu at Tk 578.65 crore with each unit at $13.69.
Excelerate Energy LP of the United States will supply the LNG cargo.
A proposal of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, placed by the Commerce Ministry, received the nod of the committee to import 8,000 metric tons of lentil at a cost of Tk 72.91 crore.
Uma Expo Pvt. Ltd., India (Local Agent: Future Infrastructure Development Ltd., Dhaka) will supply the lentil at Tk 91 per kg.
The committee approved two separate proposals on fertiliser import.
Of these, the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) will import 40,000 MT of DAP fertilizer from OCP, S.A of Morocco under a state level agreement. Each metric ton of DAP fertilizer will cost $610.
Another 30,000 MT of bagged granular urea will be procured from local Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company (Kafco) at Tk 105.43 crore while each metric ton will cost $327.62.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will procure a Software Solution and Automated Risk Management System from Webb Fontaine Group Fz-LLC, Dubai, UAE, at a cost of Tk 217.99 crore to implement a project titled: Bangladesh Regional Communication Project-1 under the Implementation of National Single Window and Customs Modernization and Strengthening Project.
The Cabinet body approved a proposal of the Roads and Highways Department to extend the cost of a project titled: "Upgradation of Barisal to Bhola via Laxmipur improvement road" by Tk 15.21 crore.
Another proposal of the Roads and Highways Department received the approval of the committee to appoint Joint Venture of (1) SMEC, Australia; (2) OCG, Japan; (3) Doha Engineering Co. Korea; (4) ACE, Bangladesh and (5) DDC, Bangladesh as consultant for its project titled: “Technical Assistance for Road Transport Connectivity Improvement Project Preparatory Facility” at a cost of Tk 44.26.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved in principle a proposal of the Shipping Ministry to implement a project "Employment of International Quality Private Operators for the Management and Maintenance of New Mooring Container Terminal and Overflow Container Yard of Chittagong Port" under the Public Private Partnership (PPP).
The Chittagong Port Authority will implement the project as per Procurement Guidelines for PPP Project, 2018.