Foreign-Affairs
Linde Bangladesh to continue medical oxygen import from India
Linde Bangladesh has said it will continue the import of medical oxygen by train to supplement its local supply with active assistance from Linde India, the governments of India and Bangladesh.
This is one of several initiatives that Linde Bangladesh has embarked on to help support the fight against the current Covid-19 crisis, including the Medical Oxygen Booths inaugurated at Khulna Medical College Hospital earlier this week, it said.
Read:Oxygen imported by pvt sector 'ready for unloading' in Benapole
A spokesperson from Linde Bangladesh said the Oxygen Express was an initiative that Linde India worked on with the government of India, and “we’re glad to be able to adopt it for the growing crisis in Bangladesh as well.
The medical oxygen supply was sourced from Linde India plants in India and will be distributed to the Covid-19 dedicated hospitals nationwide.”
Read:India working to resume vaccine export to Bangladesh, reiterates Doraiswami
To meet the growing demand of medical oxygen in Bangladesh due to the rising Covid-19 cases, Linde Bangladesh on Saturday imported 200 MT of medical oxygen by train from India.
This first-of-its-kind initiative saw 10 ISO tankers being transported on the Oxygen Express from Jamshedpur, India and arrived at Bangabandhu West railway station via Benapole.
Linde Bangladesh Limited is a member of The Linde PLc that has been present in Bangladesh since the 1950s.
Read: “Green Corridor” for oxygen tankers at ICP Petrapole
A pioneer multinational company in the gases business, Linde Bangladesh has operations in Rupganj, Shitalpur and Khulna.
With close to 20 sales centers spread throughout the country, Linde Bangladesh serves over 35,000 customers from a wide array of industries - from hospitals to fabrication and from steel to food packaging and beverages.
‘Thanks Japan’, Dr Momen says over vaccine supply
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen thanked Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu for Japan’s decision to provide 3.0 million AstraZeneca vaccines to Bangladesh through the WHO-COVAX mechanism.
"We acknowledge with deep appreciation the continued assistance of Japan in facing the challenges of Covid-19 pandemic in Bangladesh, including the direct budgetary support," he said in a letter to his Japanese counterpart.
The first consignment of 2,45,200 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine arrived here on Saturday afternoon from Japan.
Also read: Bangladesh to go for Covid vaccine coproduction soon: FM
Foreign Minister Dr Momen received the vaccine doses that came under the COVAX facility.
"We urge all for a global and united response for containing this pandemic, ensuring availability of vaccines on a global scale and mobility of resources to stimulate the global economy," Dr Momen mentioned in his letter.
He also lauded Japanese Prime Minister Suga’s leadership in hosting the Vaccine Summit on June 2 and committing vaccines and funds to combat the pandemic.
"As we prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relation between our two friendly countries in 2022, I reaffirm that Bangladesh considers Japan as a true and trusted friend and also a reliable development partner," Dr Momen said.
He mentioned that both the countries are now working to upgrade the Bangladesh-Japan relationship from a ‘Comprehensive Partnership’ to the ‘Strategic Partnership’ level.
"I sincerely believe that our ongoing Covid cooperation will further strengthen and deepen our bilateral relation," Momen said, wishing the Tokyo Olympic Games a grand success.
He wished his Japanese counterpart a long life with good health and happiness, and continued peace, progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Japan.
Japan says it will stand by Bangladesh in the fight against Covid-19.
Also read: 3 mn more Moderna vaccine jabs reach Bangladesh
Earlier, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi made an announcement that 15 countries in the region will be provided with 11 million doses in total under the COVAX facility.
Bangladesh to receive 250 ventilators from India tonight
Bangladesh will receive 250 ventilators coming from New Delhi tonight (Saturday night) amid increased hospitalization of Covid-19 patients across the country.Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen will receive the ventilators at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 8.30 pm.
Also read: India's Oxygen Express is coming to BangladeshHealth Services Division Secretary Lokman Hossain Miah and personal physician of the Prime Minister Prof Dr ABM Abdullah will be present.
Bangladesh to go for Covid vaccine coproduction soon: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday said Bangladesh will go for coproduction of Covid-19 vaccines soon, emphasizing that there is no alternative to production of vaccines locally.
"It's a coproduction. They (partner countries) will send it in bulk and we’ll do other things here - bottling, labeling and finishing," he told reporters after receiving the first consignment of 2,45,200 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Japan.
Dr Momen said the countries that went for coproduction of vaccines are doing well.
A cargo flight of Cathay Pacific Airways carried the vaccine doses that landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Also read: India working to resume vaccine export to Bangladesh, reiterates Doraiswami
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Naoki Ito, Health Services Division Secretary Lokman Hossain Miah and personal physician of the Prime Minister Professor Dr ABM Abdullah were present.
The vaccine doses came under the COVAX facility.
India's Oxygen Express arrives in Bangladesh
Indian Railways' Oxygen Express entered Bangladesh with 200 MT of liquid medical oxygen on Saturday night as the country’s Covid-19 daily-death toll remained close to 200.
Set out from Jamshedpur-Tatanagar in India’s Jharkhand state at 10 am, the train reached Bangladesh through Benapole around 10 pm on Saturday, sources at Bangladesh Railway told UNB.
The train is carrying 10 containers of liquid oxygen and those will be unloaded after it reaches the west side of Bangabandhu Railway bridge on Sunday.
Indian Railways' Oxygen Express has embarked on its first overseas journey to transport 200 MT of liquid medical oxygen to Bangladesh as the Covid-19 situation keeps worsening in the country with increased hospitalization.
Also read: “Green Corridor” for oxygen tankers at ICP Petrapole
Momen mourns loss of lives in heavy rains in China
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has expressed grief over the loss of lives in heavy rains in central China’s Henan Province.
In a message to Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Dr Momen conveyed his deep condolences over the tragic deaths in heavy rains and heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families.
READ: China blasts dam to divert floods that killed at least 25
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the government and people of China. We stand by the friendly people of China as they face the situation with courage and fortitude,” the Foreign Minister wrote.
READ: At least 12 dead as floodwaters rush into subway tunnel in China
Global Covid cases top 193 million
The global Covid-19 caseload has now surpassed 193 million as the highly contagious Delta variant continues to devastate several countries even with mass inoculations underway.
The total caseload and fatalities stand at 193,165,622 and 4,143,105 respectively, as of Saturday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
So far, 3,780,890,033 vaccine doses have been administered across the globe.
The US, which is the world's worst-hit country in terms of both cases and deaths, has so far logged 34,400,655 cases. Besides, 610,720 people have lost their lives in the US to date, as per the JHU data.
Brazil has registered 1,412 more Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, raising its national death toll to 548,340 till Saturday.
As many as 49,757 new cases were detected during the period, taking the total caseload to 19,632,443 the ministry said.
Read: Americas account for 40% global Covid deaths, 25% cases: WHO
Brazil currently has the world's second-highest pandemic death toll after the United States, and the third-largest caseload after the United States and India.
The third worst-hit country, India's Covid-19 tally rose to 31,293,062 on Saturday as 35,342 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country.
Besides, as many as 483 deaths due to the pandemic since Friday morning took the total death toll to 419,470.
According to AP, India’s excess deaths during the pandemic could be a staggering 10 times the official Covid-19 toll, likely making it modern India’s worst human tragedy, according to the most comprehensive research yet on the ravages of the virus in the South Asian country.
Read: India's deaths during pandemic 10X official toll
The report released Tuesday estimated excess deaths — the gap between those recorded and those that would have been expected — to be 3-4.7 million between January 2020 and June 2021. It said an accurate figure may “prove elusive” but the true death toll “is likely to be an order of magnitude greater than the official count.”
Situation in Bangladesh
Although the Covid-related deaths dropped to 166 in Bangladesh on Friday from 231 on July 19, the country’s health system still remained overwhelmed.
The country saw the below 200 fatalities for the third straight day.
Also, Covid-19 infections are at 81% of the peak now, with 9,632 new cases reported on an average each day. The highest daily average was recorded on July 15.
Bangladesh recorded 6,364 new infections in 24 hours till Friday morning after testing 20,493 samples.
With Covid's Delta variant spreading fast, the country's fatalities have been hovering at nearly 200 for the past two weeks. It reported the highest daily Covid fatality figure – 231 – on July 19 and 13,768 infections on the 12th of the month.
There have been 1,146,564 infections and 18,851 coronavirus-related deaths here since the pandemic began, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Meanwhile, the daily test positivity rate fell to 31.05% from Thursday's 32.19%.
Read: Bangladesh sees 173 more Covid deaths as pandemic eclipses Eid celebrations
Amid growing concerns about the highly infectious Delta variant, Dhaka division reported the highest 60 deaths, Khulna and Chattogram 33 each, Rangpur 12, Barishal 10, Sylhet eight, Rajshahi seven, and Mymensingh three.
However, the death rate stood at 1.64% and the recovery rate rose to 85.35%.
First-ever UN resolution on vision impairment adopted unanimously
The United Nations General Assembly has unanimously adopted the first-ever UN resolution on vision impairment, committing access to eye healthcare for the 1.1 billion people living with preventable sight loss by 2030.
Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in New York, Ambassador Rabab Fatima introduced the resolution on behalf of the Friends of Vision, an informal like-minded group at the UN that advocates for greater access to eye healthcare for over two billion people currently living with various levels of visual impairment.
The resolution titled 'Vision for Everyone: Accelerating Action to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals' is unique as it is the first agreement among the member states of this highest global body that is designed to tackle preventable sight loss, the Bangladesh Mission at the UN said on Saturday.
READ: Bangladesh, Ireland initiate first-ever UN resolution on 'Global Drowning Prevention'
The other two co-chairs of the group are Antigua & Barbuda and Ireland, who joined Bangladesh in proposing the resolution. A total of 115 member states co-sponsored the resolution adopted on Friday.
Ambassador Fatima dedicated the resolution to all people around the world who are visually impaired or handicapped.
She urged all countries in the world to set a target for vision for everyone by 2030 by ensuring full access to eye care services for their populations.
This resolution has a strong mandate and is expected to send a strong message of hope to the millions of visually impaired.
Ambassador Fatima said the adoption of the resolution on vision is a watershed moment in global efforts for vision care.
“1.1 billion people live with preventable sight loss. Preventable sight loss is a global challenge that needs a global solution – and that is what we have agreed today. What we agreed today will make a world of a difference to the lives of billions and their families and communities”.
Referring to a global survey data, the Bangladesh Ambassador said that vision impairment and blindness pose an enormous global financial burden with the annual global costs of productivity losses estimated to be US$ 411 billion.
However, access to eye care can not only reduce children’s odds of failing in the class by 44%, but it can also increase the odds of obtaining paid employment by 10%.
This is also an equity issue as 55% of the blind people are women and girls; and they are 8% more likely to be blind than men, she added.
READ: It’s a strategic decision: FM about UN resolution on Rohingyas
Ambassador Fatima said millions of people globally lose their visions, needlessly. “And this phenomenon largely impedes their ability to contribute to their full potentials to the socio-economic development of their societies. The resolution before us has the potential to reverse this situation”.
The resolution called upon the member states to make eye health integral to their nation’s commitment to achieving the sustainable development goals.
The resolution also asked for international financial institutions and donors to provide targeted finances, especially to support developing countries in tackling preventable sight loss.
It called on relevant UN institutions to support global efforts to achieve vision for everyone to achieve the sustainable development goals. The resolution also called for new targets on eye care to be included in the UN’s sustainable development goals at its next review.
About 90% of the people who do not have access to proper eye healthcare live in low- and middle-income countries.
In Bangladesh, according to a 2018 estimate, the number of blind people aged 30 and above is 750,000 and more than six million people in Bangladesh need vision correction.
READ: Bolton says N. Korea missile tests violated UN resolutions
The government of Bangladesh is one of the signatories to the global initiative launched in 1999 known as Vision 2020.
Floods & landslides in India kill over 100
More than 100 people have died in landslides and floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains in the western Indian state of Maharashtra over the last two days, officials said on Saturday.
Maharashtra is experiencing the heaviest July rains in four decades. Raigad district, some 70 kms from state capital Mumbai, is the worst hit.
Of the over 100 deaths, some 36 occurred in three landslides in Raigad district alone on Thursday, where several houses were swept away by the floodwaters rendering hundreds homeless.
"While 32 people died in Taliye village, four people were killed in Mahad city. Rescue operations are still on," Raigad district collector Nidhi Chaudhary told the media.
In the neighbouring rain-hit Satara district, some 27 bodies have been recovered in the past 24 hours.
READ: Momen mourns loss of lives in deadly floods in Germany
"The Indian Army has been called out to assist in rescue operations and military choppers have been pressed into action to ferry the stranded to safer locations," said Satara's police chief Ajay Kumar Bansal.
Local TV channels reported that over 84,000 people, including 40,000 in Kolhapur district, have been shifted to safer places.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took to Twitter to offer condolences to the families of the deceased. "Anguished by the loss of lives due to a landslide in Raigad, Maharashtra. My condolences to the bereaved families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery."
"The situation in Maharashtra due to heavy rains is being closely monitored and assistance is being provided to the affected," the PM added.
Barely a week back, some 30 people were killed in house collapses triggered by heavy monsoon rains in Mumbai. The deaths occurred in the hilly Chembur area, a suburb, and neighbouring Vikhroli area.
READ: China blasts dam to divert floods that killed at least 25
The Indian PM then announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased.
Building collapses are common in India, particularly during the monsoon months of June, July and August. Poor construction quality is often blamed for such collapses.
Momen mourns loss of lives in deadly floods in Germany
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has expressed grief over the loss of lives in heavy floods in western Germany.
Dr Momen wrote a letter to German Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas, conveying his deep condolences over the loss of lives and heartfelt sympathies to all those who have lost their loved ones.
READ: Russia agrees to co-produce its vaccine in Bangladesh, says Dr. Momen
"Our prayers are with those who are still missing, and those who suffered injuries or loss of homes," he said.
Dr Momen hoped that with the intensive efforts launched by the German federal and state governments, "the affected people will soon be able to overcome this difficult time".
READ: Momen, Jaishankar discuss vaccine, Rohingya issues in Tashkent