Bangladesh
National Mourning Day observed at DU
The Dhaka University on Sunday held a discussion meeting on the 'Life and Works of Bangabandhu' in observance of the National Mourning Day marking the 46th martyrdom of the great leader.
Presided over by DU Vice Chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman, the meeting was held at Abdul Matin Virtual Classroom in the campus. Registrar Prabir Kumar Sarkar conducted the meeting.
Prof Akhtaruzzaman said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought for the right of the people of the country throughout his life, while he could spend little time for his family.
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He said the father of the nation dreamt of a non-communal country. He said everyone should uphold the values for which Bangabandhu sacrificed his life.
Pro VC (administration) Professor Muhammad Samad spoke about the landmarks in Bangabandhu’s career and said that the sacrifices made by Bangabandhu and his family have no comparable instance in history.
Treasurer Professor Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed said the killers directly involved in the murder of Bangabandhu have been brought to justice but the miscreants who conspired and inspired the killers from behind the curtain are still unidentified.
'They should be exposed in front of the nation,' he added.
He also urged the government to form a commission to bring everyone involved in the killing of Bangabandhu and his family to book.
Among others, Pro VC (academic) Prof ASM Maksud Kamal, Dhaka University Teacher’s Association (DUTA) President Prof Md Rahmat Ullah, General Secretary Prof Nizamul Hoque Bhuiyan addressed the programme.
Dhaka University Journalists' Association (DUJA) organised a photo exhibition commemorating Bangabandhu with a number of rare photographs of the Father of the Nation, the Liberation War and newspaper cuttings of that time.
The VC inaugurated the programme where DUJA President Mehedi Hasan, General Secretary Sazzadul Kabir and other members were present.
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Earlier, DU teachers, officers and employees led by the VC paid tributes to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths on his portrait at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the capital.
The national flag was hoisted at half-mast atop all buildings and residential halls of the university to mark the day.
Police arrest six men for cheating people with fake govt jobs
Police arrested six members of a gang on Sunday for fraudulently taking money from people in the name of providing fake government jobs.
The arrestees were identified as Md Shahrukh Islam, 29, Md A Kuddus, 34, Md Mainul Islam, 34, Md Billal Hossain, 41, Towkir Ahmed,26, and Md Kafil Uddin, 60.
The alleged fraudsters were nabbed during a drive by the Specialized Investigation & Operations (SI&O) unit of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) at the city's Banasree and Rampura area.
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The drive was conducted following a case filed against the accused at Mohammadpur police station by a victim, said PBI in a media release.
The gang used to publish fake vacancy notice with handsome salaries of Union Health Community Center, Shukhi Paribar health Center, Ma O Shishu Health Center, Apollo Consumer Products and many other fake companies through job related newspapers and online portals, said Additional Superintendent of SI&O (south) of PBI, Sarwar Jahan.
After the victims sent their Curriculum Vitae in the given mails, they would ask them to contact saying they have been selected for the jobs, he said.
The gang used to collect money from the job seeking victims through Bkash and other transaction services in phases for exams, training, laptop, medical equipment and transportation costs, said the police officer.
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The members of the gang used to work collectively and also forge fake appointment letters for the aforementioned organizations, money receipts and identity cards to fraud people, he said.
Covid claims 187 more lives in Bangladesh, infects 6,684 people
Amid no sign of slowing down Covid-19 lashing across the country claimed 187 lives in 24 hours till Sunday morning while 6,684 more contracted the virus.
The recent numbers pushed the country’s total fatality to 24,175 while the total cases stood at 1,418,902, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The new cases were detected after testing 33,001 samples which decreased the case positivity rate slightly to 20.25% from Yesterday’s 20. 66%.
Also read: Maintain health protocols to beat Covid: Health Minister
BGMEA pays homage to Bangabandhu on National Mourning Day
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Sunday observed the National Mourning Day-2021 and the 46th martyrdom anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a solemn manner.
The first part of the programme began in the morning on the premises of Sparrow Apparels where the leaders of BGMEA led by President Faruque Hassan placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu.
They also planted trees on the factory premises.
Also read: Bangabandhu’s life, sacrifice being showcased in NYC's Times Square
BGMEA Vice President Miran Ali, Directors Asif Ashraf, Tanvir Ahmed, Abdullah Hil Rakib, Haroon Ar Rashid, Rajiv Chowdhury, Barrister Vidiya Amrit Khan, Md. Imranur Rahman, former Member of Parliament and Vice Chairman of Sparrow Group Chayan Islam, Managing Director of Sparrow Group Shovon Islam, and Director of Giant Group Sharmeen Hassan Tithi were also present on the occasion.
Later food was distributed among the orphans at Shahabuddin Hafizia Madrasa and Orphanage in Gazipur.
They also took part in prayers seeking forgiveness and peace for Bangabandhu and his family members who were brutally murdered in the dark night of 15 August in 1975.
They also attended and spoke in a discussion organized to mark the day.
Faruque Hassan said the killers of Bangabandhu could not kill his dreams and ideals.
Also read: ‘Want Bangabandhu's killers to be deported to Bangladesh’: FM
The “Sonar Bangla” as dreamt by Bangabandhu is now becoming a reality under the prudent and visionary leadership of his daughter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said the BGMEA chief.
“Bangladesh is now a role model in the world in terms of exports, investment, poverty reduction, per capita income and GDP growth. In its journey towards development Bangladesh reached a significant milestone by qualifying to graduate into a developing nation from a Least Developed Country (LDC),” he said.
The RMG sector has played a major role in Bangladesh’s economic transformation, export growth and women empowerment to uplift the entire nation, he added.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said the RMG industry would continue to make contribution in building “Sonar Bangla” as dreamt by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
At the end of the program BGMEA leaders handed over clothing to the persons in charge of managing Kazibari graveyard in the area for burying unidentified bodies.
Bangabandhu’s life, sacrifice being showcased in NYC's Times Square
The life sketch of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is now being screened at Times Square of New York.It will continue until August 16.Bangabandhu’s digital portrait will also be screened for 720 times at the square, a major commercial intersection, tourist destination and entertainment centre in the neighbourhood of the Midtown Manhattan section of New York City.
Also read: ‘Want Bangabandhu's killers to be deported to Bangladesh’: FM Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen thanked Bangladeshi expatriate Fahim Feroj who has taken the initiative.
Through his NY Dreams Production, a New York-based organisation, Fahim has taken the initiative to showcase Bangabandhu, his great political work and sacrifice in the international platform, marking the National Mourning Day.
Also read: Inspired to protect the values Bangabandhu stood for: India
EXIM Bank and Bangladesh Finance came forward to help him implement it.Dr Momen said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to visit New York next month to attend the UNGA and it is a good initiative ahead of her visit.He said the government is trying to brand Bangladesh positively as it is now a land of opportunity with its vibrant economy.
UNHCR ready to support rescue work after Rohingya boat capsize
The UN refugee agency has said it remains in contact with the Rohingya communities both on Bhasan Char and in Cox's Bazar in an attempt to support the authorities in further rescue efforts following Saturday’s boat capsize in the Bay of Bengal.
On the morning of 14 August, UNHCR was alerted that a boat carrying dozens of Rohingyas had capsized close to Bhasan Char island overnight.
"We are devastated that reportedly many passengers, including women and children, have tragically drowned. The confirmed number is not yet known," said the UN agency.
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UNHCR said they are grateful to local Bangladeshi fishermen who were first on the scene and alerted Bangladeshi authorities.
The search and rescue operation is being led by the authorities, notably the Bangladesh Navy and the Coast Guard.
"We are seeking further information from the Government of Bangladesh at this time," said the UNHCR.
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198 more hospitalized with Dengue in 24 hrs: DGHS
Amid the rise in Dengue cases in the country, 198 new patients were admitted to different hospitals in 24 hours till Sunday morning.
Among the new patients, 189 were admitted to government and private hospitals in Dhaka while the remaining cases were reported from outside the division, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read: 257 more dengue patients hospitalized in 24 hrs: DGHS
The country has been seeing over 200 Dengue patients per day for the last 14 days since August 1.
The dengue outbreak has become a cause of major concern as the country is battling the deadlier Delta variant of coronavirus with its limited medicare facilities for the last few months.
So far, 25 suspected dengue deaths were reported to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) but it is yet to confirm any death from dengue, said the DGHS.
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Some 1,049 patients diagnosed with dengue are receiving treatment in the country as of Sunday morning, according to DGHS.
Most of the cases have been reported in the capital so far, said the health authorities.
Of them, 960 patients are receiving treatment at different hospitals in the capital while the rest were listed outside Dhaka.
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Some 6,100 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January, and 5,026 of them have been released after they recovered from the disease.
Dengue fever was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000, claiming 93 lives that year. In the years that followed, the country learned to deal with the disease much better, but it did become endemic. Fatalities almost fell to zero at one stage, before spiking again in 2018, leading to the horrific crisis the following year.
4 ‘deer poachers’ held in Sundarbans
Forest Department officials on Saturday night detained four suspected deer poachers from Kochikhali Shukpara area in Sharankhola upazila of Bagerhat district under Sundarbans East Department.
The arrestees are- Julhas Hawlader, 32, from Kathaltali village in Patharghata upazila of Barguna district, Rimon Hawlader, 19, from the same village, Jewel Hawlader, 25, and Sohag Hawlader, 24, from Badurtala village.
Mohammad Belayet Hossain, divisional forest officer (DFO), said that a patrol team detained the four deer poachers.
The official also said that the poachers entered the forest illegally.
The team also seized a trawler, traps used for catching deer and four sharp weapons.
A case was filed against them, the official said.
12 more die of Covid at RMCH
Twelve more Covid patients have died at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) in the past 24 hours, officials said on Sunday.
Seven of them died of Covid-19, while five had symptoms of the virus infection, said hospital director Brigadier General Shamim Yazdani.
Of the deceased, five were from Rajshahi, two each from Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Natore districts and one from Pabna district.
Also read: Covid-19: 11 more die at RMCH
Besides, 25 people have been admitted to the corona unit of the hospital in the past 24 hours.
On the other hand, some 33 people were discharged from the hospital after recovery during the period.
Currently, 314 patients are undergoing treatment at the hospital which has 513 beds. Of them, 20 are being treated at the ICU, said the hospital director.
Also read: 21 more die of Covid at Rajshahi hospital
Of the admitted patients, 181 have tested positive for Covid-19, while 77 have symptoms and 56 have post-Covid health complications.
UK scales up support to protect world’s oceans
Projects to tackle climate change and protect the world’s oceans have been given a major boost with the first £16.2 million of funding from the UK’s £500 million Blue Planet Fund.
In Bangladesh, the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) will support aquatic food production and trade, said the British High Commission in Dhaka.
It put in place the systems and ability to reduce the harmful impacts of aquatic food production, control common diseases of fish and seafood, and increase production.
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This in turn will also support progress towards several UN Sustainable Development Goals on poverty alleviation, zero hunger and good health and well-being, said the High Commission.
The new programme builds on an existing strong cooperation between the UK’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, WorldFish, and the Bangladesh Government’s Department of Fisheries.
The programmes, financed from the UK’s overseas aid budget, will increase marine protection, tackle plastic pollution and the decline of global coral reefs, as well as using the UK’s world-leading expertise to help respond to marine pollution disasters such as the Xpress Pearl in Sri Lanka.
The ocean is a critical carbon sink which every year absorbs almost a third of global CO2 emissions.
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Around the globe, the ocean supports the livelihoods of one in every ten people, including some of the poorest and most vulnerable.
In the run up to the UK hosting the COP26 climate talks in November, the government is working with developing countries to take action to protect and restore our oceans.
The projects receiving funding include the launch of a new UK-led programme which will help developing countries partner with the UK’s world-leading scientists to better manage marine protected areas, and improve our understanding of the impacts of climate change and contaminants in the ocean.
The Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) already has work underway with UK scientists at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) providing analysis of water samples from Sri Lanka to contribute to the ongoing response to the Xpress Pearl environmental disaster in June.
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British Environment Secretary, George Eustice, said the UK is a global leader in marine protection and will continue to advocate for ambitious climate and ocean action at COP26 this year.
“Our shared ocean is a vital resource and provides habitat to precious marine life, as well as supporting the livelihoods of one in every ten people worldwide.
“The Blue Planet Fund will support many developing countries on the front line of climate change to reduce poverty and improve the health of their seas.”