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Lightning strikes kill 7 in 4 dists
At least seven were killed and nine others injured by lightning strikes in Rangamati, Sylhet, Khagrachhari and Cox’s Bazar districts on Thursday.
In Rangamati, three people were killed and seven others injured when thunderbolts struck them in separate places in the morning.
The deceased were identified as Najir Ahmed, 50, a resident of Sylheti Para in Rangamati district town, Baharjan Begum, 55, wife of Lal Mia of Baghaichari upazila and Tripura Grihini, 37 of Sajek.
Dr Shawkat Akbar Khan, resident medical officer of Rangamati General Hospital, said Najir Ahmed died on the spot when a thunder bolt struck him while he was catching fish at Kaptai Lake in the morning.
Meanwhile, Baharjan was killed by the lightning strike while bringing cattle from the field amid rain, said Jasmin Chakma, chairman of Rupkari union.
A goat also died during lightning.
On the other hand, Tripura Grihini was killed when a streak of thunderbolt hit him while she working at her yard in Sajek’s Longthianpara.
Shirin Akter, Baghaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), said two people—Baharjan and Tripura died in the upazila and Tk 10,000 each was provided to the family members of the deceased.
Seven people were also injured during lightning strikes in different parts of the district.
In Cox’s Bazar, two workers were killed as a thunderbolt struck them in separate places at Chhari Para in Pekua upazila of Cox’s Bazar district early Thursday.
The deceased were identified as Didarul Islam, 35, son of Jamir and Md Arman, 25, son of Jamal of the upazila.
Yunus Chowdhury, chairman of Magnama union, said Didar died on the spot when a streak of thunderbolt struck him while he was working at the salt field at Kodailladiya early in this morning.
Meanwhile, Arman was hit by lightning strike and died on the spot when he was working in the early morning, said Rajakhali Union chairman Nazrul Islam Shikdar.
In Khagrachhari, a schoolboy was killed by lightning strike while picking up mango during storm at Matiranga upazila on Thursday morning.
The deceased was identified as Yeasin Arfat of Ibrahim Para in the upazila, said Daizy Chakraborty, Matiranga Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).
In Sylhet, a farmer was killed and two others injured when a thunderbolt struck them while they were harvesting boro paddy at Dighirpara East union of Kanaighat upazila on Thursday noon.
The deceased was identified as Babul Ahmed, 48, son of Abdus Salam.
Abdul Mumin Chowdhury, chairman of Dighirpara East union, said Babul’s nephew Fahim Ahmed, 17 and Pradeep Biswas, son of Babu Biswas were also injured.
Lightning strikes kill 250 people on an average every year in the country, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Thunderbolts also kill or injure a large number of livestocks.
Lightning strikes mostly occur in from April to May till June and most of the deaths occur in flat lands and haor areas.
According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, 2,164 people died in lightning strikes in the country from 2011 to 2020. Considering the upward trend, the government in 2016 declared it as a national disaster.
Rain brings relief in Port City
Intermittent rains since Thursday (May 02, 2024) morning brought respite to Chattogram city dwellers from the scorching heat that has been prevailing across the country for the last several days.
Rain and thunderstorm started around 9:30 am in different parts of the Port City.
As rain provided relief, many expressed gratitude by posting on their social media profiles.
4 family members among 5 killed in Habiganj road accident
Md Abdul Barek, a meteorologist at Patenga Weather Office, said they have recorded one mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours till 9 am on Thursday and city dwellers will likely experience more rains today.
Besides, the river ports have been asked to hoist local cautionary signal no 1 and more rains with thunderstorms will likely occur in the district.
According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at a few places over Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Dhaka, Mymensingh and Barishal divisions with hails at isolated places.
Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country.
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Meanwhile, a very severe heatwave is sweeping over the districts of Jashore, Khulna, Chuadanga, Pabna and Rajshahi and severe heatwave is sweeping over the districts of Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalganj and rest of the Khulna division.
A mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping elsewhere over the country and it may abate from some places over the eastern part of the country.
Thailand visit a significant step forward in efforts to protect Bangladesh’s economic interests and enhance regional involvement: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared her recent six-day trip to Thailand as a landmark success, aimed at safeguarding Bangladesh's economic interests and elevating its regional presence. The visit, which took place from April 24 to April 29, was prompted by an invitation from Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
During a press briefing at her official residence, Ganabhaban, today (May 02, 2024), Prime Minister Hasina said, "Overall, this visit was a significant step forward in our efforts to protect our economic interests and enhance our regional involvement."
The trip included a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings, underscoring a commitment to strengthening ties between Bangladesh and Thailand.
PM Hasina to discuss outcomes of Thailand visit at media briefing today
"This official visit will serve as a milestone in our bilateral relationship and ushers in a new era of fruitful partnerships," stated Prime Minister Hasina.
She also highlighted the importance of her visit to Thailand, an influential ASEAN member, as being crucial for advancing economic and diplomatic ties. "The visit will play an important role in enhancing our bilateral economic relations, including advancing talks on a free trade agreement, boosting communication, and more," she elaborated.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Hasina expressed optimism regarding the impact of her discussions with Prime Minister Thavisin on the issue of Rohingya repatriation.
She was also hopeful that her discussions with the Thai Prime Minister will encourage Thailand to adopt a stronger stance on the speedy repatriation of Rohingyas, both bilaterally and within the ASEAN framework.
Govt steps brought unemployment down to 3 percent: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Hasina also pointed out that the visit is expected to significantly support Bangladesh's bid to become an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner by 2024, marking a significant step in its diplomatic endeavors in the region.
Despite economic success, rapidly-aging developing Asia unprepared to ensure elderly wellbeing: ADB
The number of people aged 60 and above in developing Asia and the Pacific is set to nearly double by 2050 to 1.2 billion—or about a quarter of the total population—significantly increasing the need for pension and welfare programs as well as healthcare services, said a new report on Thursday (May 02, 2024).
At the same time, economies have an opportunity to reap a “silver dividend” in the form of additional productivity from older people, which could boost gross domestic product in the region by 0.9% on average, said the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
“Asia and the Pacific’s rapid development is a success story, but it’s also fueling a huge demographic shift, and the pressure is rising,” said ADB Chief Economist Albert Park.
“Governments need to prepare now if they’re going to be able to help hundreds of millions of people in the region age well. Policies should support lifetime investment in health, education, skills, and financial preparedness for retirement. Family and social ties are also important to foster healthy and productive populations of older people and maximize their contribution to society.”
Developing Asia and the Pacific is unprepared to secure the well-being of its rapidly aging population as the growing share of older people in the region face challenges from low pension coverage to health problems, social isolation, and limited access to essential services, according to the multilateral development bank.
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While longer lifespans reflect the region’s development success, comprehensive policy reforms are urgently needed to support the welfare of older people, according to “Aging Well in Asia: Asian Development Policy Report,” released on Thursday by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at its 57th Annual Meeting.
According to the report, 40% of people over age 60 in Asia and the Pacific lack access to any form of pension—with women disproportionately affected, as they are more likely to do unpaid domestic work.
As a result, many older people in the region have no choice but to work well beyond retirement age to survive.
Among those still working at age 65 or older, 94% work in the informal sector, which typically doesn’t provide basic labor protections or pension benefits.
Physical and mental health challenges also increase with age.
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Around 60% of older people in Asia and the Pacific do not attend or receive regular health checks, while 31% report depressive symptoms owing to illness, social isolation, and economic insecurity.
Older women in the region are also more likely than older men to suffer from ill health, from depression to diabetes and hypertension.
The report recommended a wide range of policy measures to support healthy and economically secure aging.
Among these are government-assisted health insurance and pension plans, improved health infrastructure, and free annual check-ups and lifestyle evaluations.
Policy makers should aim for universal healthcare coverage, while basic labor protections should be extended to older informal workers, according to the report.
By making mandatory retirement ages more flexible, helping older people stay healthy, and providing them with suitable work opportunities as well as lifelong learning and skills development, economies in the region can help older people stay productive longer.
Read more: Developing Asian economies’ growth expected to be sustained at 4.9% this year and the next, ADB President says ahead of Annual Meeting
4 family members among 5 killed in Habiganj road accident
Four members of a family were among five killed in a head-on collision between a microbus and truck on Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj district early Thursday.
The deceased were identified as Md Jamal, 40; his wife Kamrunnahar, 35; their son Ananta,11; Jamal’s younger brother Enamul Islam, 35, of Galachipa under Patuakhali district and driver Harun Bepari, 35, a resident of Bakerganj in Barishal district.
According to locals, the Dhaka-bound microbus from Sylhet collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction at 1:45 am on Thursday. Five people, including the microbus driver, died on the spot.
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On information, locals, Madhabpur Fire Service, Shayestaganj Highway and Madhabpur Police rushed to the spot and conducted rescue operations.
Rakibul Islam Khan, officer-in-charge of Madhabpur Police Station, confirmed the matter.
The bodies are in the custody of Shayestaganj Highway Police Station, he added.
Bodies of 8 Bangladeshis who died in Tunisia boat capsize to arrive today
The bodies of eight Bangladeshi nationals who died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe and subsequently drowned near the coast of Tunisia will arrive in the country this afternoon.
According to a Facebook post by the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the coffins, transported via Saudia Airlines, are scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 12:15 pm on May 2.
On Tuesday, in the presence of Bangladesh's Ambassador to Libya and non-resident envoy to Tunisia, Major General (Retd.) Abul Hasnat Mohammad Khairul Bashar, embassy officials transferred the bodies to the authorities at Tunis International Airport.
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Following the tragic incident on the night of February 14, officials at the Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli worked closely with Tunisia's Foreign Ministry and local authorities to manage the forensic identification, confirmation of identities through domestic agencies, issuance of death and medical certificates, and coordination of the repatriation process.
The Foreign Ministry's Africa Wing coordinated inter-ministerial efforts to facilitate the repatriation of the bodies, with assistance from the ministries of home, law, and funds from the Expatriates Welfare Ministry.
Among the deceased are Sajal, Noyon Biswas, Mamun Sheikh, Kazi Sajib, and Kaiser Khalifa from Madaripur district, and Rifat, Russel, and Imrul Kayes from Gopalganj district.
A boat, carrying 52 passengers and a sailor from the coast of Zuwarah on its way to Europe, sank off the Tunisian coast. Out of the 44 survivors, 27 are Bangladeshis, with others from Pakistan (8), Syria (5), and Egypt (4). Among the nine fatalities, eight were identified as Bangladeshis and one as a Pakistani national.
Read more: Bangladesh, Austria agree to conclude MoU on migration, mobility
PM Hasina to discuss outcomes of Thailand visit at media briefing today
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to hold a media briefing on Thursday morning to discuss the results of her recent six-day visit to Thailand.
The briefing will take place at her official residence, Ganabhaban, at 11:30 am, according to an official from the Prime Minister’s Press Wing.
Govt steps brought unemployment down to 3 percent: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Hasina returned to Bangladesh on April 29 after concluding her visit, which began on April 24. The trip was made at the invitation of her Thai counterpart, Srettha Thavisin, and included both bilateral and multilateral engagements aimed at strengthening the relationship between the two nations.
During her stay, she engaged in bilateral discussions with Thai Prime Minister Thavisin at the Government House in Bangkok. During the visit, five bilateral documents covering areas such as visa exemption, cooperation in energy, tourism, customs matters, and the negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and Thailand were signed.
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Prime Minister Hasina also addressed the 80th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok. The upcoming press conference is expected to provide further insights into these discussions and the future direction of Bangladesh-Thailand relations.
Khaleda Zia hospitalised again
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital on Wednesday night.
“Madam (Khaleda) has been brought to the hospital for some urgent tests. He has been admitted to the Critical Care Unit (CCU) as per the advice of the medical board,” her personal physician Prof AZM Zahid Hossain told reporters around 9:30 pm.
Khaleda Zia taken to Evercare Hospital for check-up
“The medical board will meet at night and decide the next course of action for her treatment,” he added.
Khaleda Zia was taken to Evercare Hospital in the evening for health check-up.
Khaleda will have health check-up at Evercare Hospital this evening
Earlier on March 31, the BNP chairpersons was admitted to the hospital and stayed there for two days for some pathological tests and regular examinations.
Since her conditional release from jail in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.
Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with the condition that she stay in her Gulshan house and not leave the country. That has since been extended multiple times to keep her out of jail.
Khaleda’s doctors have been recommending sending her abroad since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in November 2021.
On October 26 last year, three US specialist doctors completed the hepatic procedure known as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS procedure) to stop water accretion in Khaleda Zia’s stomach and chest, and bleeding in her liver.
DB detains Child & Old Age Care Chairman Milton Samaddar
Milton Samaddar, chairman of Child & Old Age Care, was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Wednesday evening in the Mirpur area of Dhaka.
Harun-or-Rashid, Additional Commissioner and DB Chief, confirmed the development to the media.
This follows a storm of criticism and discussion triggered by an April investigative report published in a daily newspaper.
The report claimed that Samaddar, who had been recognized for his public service through various awards, was allegedly involved in significant wrongdoing. While his social media profile publicized his work in building an old age home for the helpless and providing shelter to the homeless, more sinister allegations have surfaced.
Allegations include the illegal trade of human organs, specifically pointing to the cutting and selling of kidneys.
The revelations led to individuals speaking out and a flurry of discussions on social media, culminating in Samaddar's detainment.
WHO Regional Director Saima Wazed calls for collaborative health leadership in South-East Asia
Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia, addressed the Regional Consultation on WHO South-East Asia Priority Programme Initiative in New Delhi, marking a significant step in her first year of leadership.
Wazed's opening remarks came after completing the first quarter of her tenure, a period she described as full of learning and valuable interactions with Member States and the WHO team.
During the consultation, Wazed emphasized the creation of a roadmap for the Priority Programmes that will guide the strategic direction during her term. These programmes were developed with contributions from Member States, aiming to address key health issues across the region and achieve transnational and multigenerational benefits.
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Wazed shared her vision for the region, focusing on a holistic approach to health and well-being. She emphasized prioritizing the health of women, children, and marginalized groups such as persons with disabilities and underscored the goal of achieving universal health coverage within primary health care.
The WHO Regional Director highlighted the need for strong partnerships and collaborations beyond traditional health system boundaries to address determinants of health outside these systems.
She stressed that in working with a new and expanded range of partners, WHO's technical leadership, drawn from an extensive network of health professionals, could enrich all collaborations.
The consultation will delve into technical and non-technical aspects necessary for promoting health and well-being in the region. Wazed called for country engagement and ownership of the regional Priority Programme Initiatives as a tactical strategy to meet these ends.
Participants are expected to discuss and contribute to the draft strategic framework known as the Regional Roadmap for Results and Resilience. This roadmap aims to drive results, promote resilience, and enhance the health and well-being of communities across the region. It is synchronized with the WHO 14th General Programme of Work to support the accelerated progress towards SDG3 through five key action points: Promote, Provide, Protect, Power, and Perform.
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Reflecting on the collective effort required, Wazed stated, "The roadmap for these programmes is now in your hands. I urge all of you to take ownership of it. This is not my roadmap - it is ours. Please give it the best of your intuition, experience, and expertise."
As the region faces various public health challenges, Wazed's call to action sets a hopeful tone for strategic health improvements driven by local solutions and collaborative efforts across South-East Asia.