Bangladesh
Global Covid cases top 224 million
The pandemic continues to devastate many countries across the world and the global Covid-19 caseload has now topped 224 million.
The total caseload and fatalities from the virus stand at 224, 215, 675 and 4,623,663, respectively, as of Sunday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
So far, 5,652,335,899 Covid vaccine doses have been administered across the globe.
The US has logged 40,920,922 cases and 659,691 deaths to date, according to the JHU data.
Brazil which has the world's second-highest pandemic death toll after the United States and the third-largest caseload after the United States and India, recorded 20,989,164 cases with 586,558 fatalities as of Sunday.
Also read: Can kids get ‘long COVID’ after coronavirus infections?
India's COVID-19 tally rose to 33,208,330 on Saturday, as 33,376 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, the federal health ministry's latest data showed.
Besides, as many as 308 deaths due to the pandemic since Friday morning took the total death toll to 442,317.
Most of the new cases and deaths were reported from the southern state of Kerala.
Also read: World sees Covid surge as vaccination lagging
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh logged 48 more Covid-19 deaths and 1,327 cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning.
The country reported 38 Covid-related deaths and 2,325 cases on Friday, indicating a significant drop in daily cases but a slight increase in fatalities, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily case positivity rate dropped further to 7.03 % from 8.65 % on Friday and 8.76 % on Thursday, suggesting that the pandemic keeps easing in Bangladesh.
Besides, the recovery rate rose to 96.51 per cent while the case fatality remained unchanged at 1.76 per cent compared to the corresponding period.
Manikganj keen to host cricket stadium named after PM
Paturia in Manikganj, on the banks of the mighty Padma, might just be the location for Bangladesh's next international cricket stadium, one hears. This is not something that can brook any opposition of course. Who would object to a cricket ground after all? To be sure, we don't have enough.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Mohammad Zahid Ahsan Russell visited the proposed site for the stadium on Saturday (September 11) afternoon.
“A work order for the feasibility study would be issued within a week,” he added.
The cricket stadium is going to be built in Manikganj as promised by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the minister added.
“A plot of land behind the Padma Riverview Resort on the right side of the Manikganj-Paturia ferry terminal has been selected for the construction of the stadium. The stadium would be named after the prime minister,” he continued.
Expressing hope that the work would start in the current financial year, the Minister of State for Youth and Sports said, "Various types of surveys are carried out by the technical team to determine whether the soil here is suitable or not. It usually takes three to six months to complete such a process. We will try to start construction of the stadium this financial year.”
He also informed that the government has already allocated around Tk 4 crore for laying the ground works including the feasibility study.
"After conducting a feasibility study, we have made initial plans to build a modern and self-contained stadium on 25 acres of land, if considered suitable," he added.
The state minister also said that the stadium will have all the facilities of international standard including state-of-the-art dormitories.
After the inspection, the state minister participated in an exchange of views on the proposed stadium with local administration, people's representatives, dignitaries and sports personalities at the Padma Riverview Resort premises.
Serbian companies keen to hire Bangladeshi workers
Bangladesh Ambassador to Serbia Md Shameem Ahsan discussed the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers with Serbian Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Minister Dr Darija Kisic Tepavcevic during a recent meeting at her office in Belgrade.
The minister told the ambassador that the Serbian companies are highly interested in hiring skilled and semi-skilled workers from Bangladesh through legal channels.
Acknowledging the historic bonds between Dhaka and Belgrade and the huge potential to strengthen bilateral ties – especially in labour and employment – the ambassador and the minister discussed the possible signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
No tiffin, masks at a premium, & may close again: Students return to school tomorrow
On the eve of schools reopening in Bangladesh after almost 18 months, the head of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has announced that students returning to school from Sunday will not be allowed to consume their tiffin or any food on the school premises, as part of the safety protocols that are being carefully stipulated ahead of the doors opening tomorrow morning.
“Students won’t be able to have their tiffin on school premises," said Dr. Syed Md. Golam Faruk, who serves as Director General of DSHE. "The institutions will only allow drinking water."
Dr Faruk was responding to reporters' questions after inaugurating the Sylhet Government Women's College's Guardian Camp on Saturday (September 11th) morning.
During this time he also requested the parents to avoid gathering at the school premises unnecessarily, for the sake of social distancing.
bKash launches integrated transaction service with Community Bank
An integrated transaction service has been launched between bKash and Community Bank.
Now the customers of Community Bank, including all the members of Bangladesh Police, can add money instantly to their bKash accounts and also transfer money.
Community Bank customers can now make transactions 24/7 through the bKash app. Also, 55 million bKash customers will be able to "cash out" at a 1.49% charge from 165 ATM booths of Community Bank, according to a media statement.
Saturday, Dr Benazir Ahmed, inspector general of police and chairman of Community Bank, inaugurated the joint service of Bangladesh Police Welfare Trust's financial institution and mobile financial service provider bKash at a hotel in the capital.
Masihul Huq Chowdhury, managing director and CEO of Community Bank, and Kamal Quadir, CEO of bKash, along with other senior officials of both organisations were present on the occasion.
To avail of the new service, a customer will have to set up a link between his bKash account and the Community Bank account using the bKash app.
The Know Your Customer (KYC) information of both accounts should be the same while setting up the link. Once the link is established, money can easily be transferred from the Community Bank account to the bKash account through the "Add Money" option of the bKash app.
Customers can also add money to their own or loved one's bKash accounts from Community Bank's "Community Cash" app.
Also, they will be able to deposit money, pay DPS and loan instalments through the bKash app's "Transfer Money" service. The transaction limit set by the Bangladesh Bank will be applicable to both add money and transfer money services.
Dr Benazir said, "bKash has brought revolutionary changes in the mobile financial services (MFS) sector of Bangladesh. As a result, MFS has gained more popularity. The partnership between Community Bank and bKash will play a vital role in the financial transactions of the bank."
Masihul Huq Chowdhury, the managing director and CEO of Community Bank, said: "We have added modern technology-based services to ensure uninterrupted banking services to a vast number of customers, including police members, in just two years of operation. This two-way transaction with bKash has brought the opportunity to use more diverse and creative services for our customers."
Kamal Quadir, CEO of bKash, said, "Members of police are constantly working to ensure our safety across the country. Our joint initiative with Community Bank will simplify their daily banking needs and urgent financial transactions."
Shakti Foundation continues countrywide free masks distribution
Shakti Foundation distributed around 5 lakh masks for free of cost through its 445 centers across the country on Saturday.
Nearly 3,000 activists of the foundation made their joint efforts to spread the awareness message on the importance of wearing masks to stay safe against COVID-19 infection.
The organization has been extending financial assistance to Corona-affected people and conducting an array of programs to stop the spread of the disease since the onset of the pandemic, said a media release.
LankaBangla tree plantation programme held at Sheikh Hasina Software Park
LankaBangla Foundation organised a tree plantation programme at Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park in Jashore Thursday.
With the theme "Let's plant trees to build Bangabandhu's dream country," Khwaja Shahriar, managing director of LankaBangla Finance, and Major Mohammad Moslem Uddin Sikder, general manager of Techcity Bangladesh, inaugurated the programme by planting saplings.
As part of this programme, about 2,000 saplings of fruit and wood trees will be planted at Sheikh Hasina Park.
Read: LankaBangla introduces unique deposit schemes
To increase the country's forest resources and maintain its ecological balance, along with encouraging everyone to plant trees voluntarily, LankaBangla Foundation organised this tree plantation programme.
Taking land erosion problem, fruit production, long-term conservation of environment and biodiversity into account, LankaBangla Foundation has been carrying out various tree plantation programmes around the country as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, according to a media statement.
Dengue: 301 more hospitalized in 24 hrs, no fresh death
Although no death from dengue was reported in 24 hours till Saturday morning, 301 more people were hospitalised with the mosquito-borne disease, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Among the new patients, 253 were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka while the remaining 48 cases were reported from outside the division, according to DGHS.
Some 1,271 patients diagnosed with dengue fever are receiving treatment in the country as of Saturday morning.
Of them, 1,083 patients are receiving treatment at different hospitals in the capital while the remaining 188 were listed outside Dhaka.
READ: Dengue: 1 more dies, 315 more hospitalised
This year’s total death toll from dengue remained static at 54.
Among the deceased, 50 died in Dhaka city alone, two in Chattogram division, one in Khulna and one in Rajshahi.
Some 13,556 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January.
So far, 12,231dengue patients have been released from hospitals after recovery, said the DGHS.
The number of dengue patients hospitalized in a single day was the highest with 343 patients on September 7.
READ: Dengue death toll crosses 50 with 2 more deaths, 265 more hospitalized in 24 hrs
In the month of August the country recorded the highest number of 7,698 dengue cases of the current year.
In July, 2,286 people were diagnosed with dengue and 12 died while in June 272 cases were recorded with no deaths.
Health authorities have been recording over 200 dengue cases per day since August 1.
Sound pollution: Govt declares 3 areas in Barishal as ‘Silent Zones’
The Department of Environment (DoE) in Barishal has declared three areas of Barishal City as ‘Silent Zones’, aiming to raise awareness about sound pollution.
The areas are Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, Sadar Hospital and Shaheed Advocate Abdur Rab Serniabat Law College premises.
On Thursday, the DoE launched a campaign in the three areas under a coordinated and participatory project to control sound pollution.
According to the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules 2006, no horn should be allowed in a ‘silent zone’.
People can suffer from noise-induced hearing loss, and an exposure to loud noise can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disturbances and stress.
Rafiqul Alam, coordinator of Bangladesh Paribesh Bachao Andolon (BAPA), who took part in thecampaign, said, “They’ve taken steps to make people aware of the impacts of noise pollution in the first phase, and strict action will be taken against those involved in violating the law in the second phase.”
Those who will violate the law for the first time will be fined with Tk 5,000 and they will face six months’ jail and Tk 10,000 fine as penalty for its violation for the second time, said Tota Mia, assistant director of Barishal DoE.
Noise pollution, considered to be any unwanted or disturbing sound that affects the health andwell-being, has become an increasingly big issue in big cities.
People are often becoming the source of indoor and outdoor noise pollution without being aware of it.
From traffic noise to loud or inescapable sound from construction sites and social and political programmes, sound pollution is affecting millions of people every day.
Fresh Covid surge may lead to school closure again: Dipu Moni
Just a day before the reopening of educational intuitions after a prolonged Covid-related closure, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Saturday said the schools may be shut again if Coronavirus cases go up.
Dipu Moni came up with the remark while talking to local journalists at Jamalpur Circuit House.
Read: School gear up to reopen from Sunday
The education minister came here to join the triennial conference of district Awami League.
“Educational institutions are going to reopen after a long 17-month of closure. All the health protocols will be maintained in the classrooms of all educational institutions. In the case of a widespread rise in infections, we’ll take necessary measures and those will be closed again, if required,” she said.