Bangladesh
Nationwide youth consultation on skills in post COVID era held
To mark the World Youth Skills Day 2021, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Grameenphone Ltd and Youth Policy Forum (YPF) have jointly organized a virtual consultation on Need for Skills in post COVID era.
Thirty youths from 18 districts of Bangladesh took part in the dialogue held on Wednesday.
They voiced their opinions on the existing skills gap between educational institutions and the current job markets and what skills they want for future-readiness.
The consultation was a part of UNDP and Grameenphone "Get Future Ready" programme to observe this year's Skills Day.
At the outset of the consultation, Mahmudul Hassan, Programme Officer and Youth Coordinator, UNDP Bangladesh, presented a keynote on the multiple aspects of skills for youth.
Quoting ILO, he said in his presentation, "More than 2 million youths enter the workforce each year but face a skill gap in Bangladesh either in quantity or in quality."
Following the presentation, youth from grassroots levels shared their thoughts and underscored the lack of adequate opportunities for skills development.
Marilin Farzana Ahmed, YPF Senior Fellow, in her discussion, said, "We need to think out of the box by being innovative. Countries are being connected globally through language skills, business and other platforms."
Farhana Islam, Head of Innovation, Grameenphone, emphasized the new opportunities that the pandemic brought through digital transformation and highlighted the importance of learning new skills.
She said, "Digital foundation skills are crucial, and we need a collective effort to develop new skills and leverage the internet to learn new skills in the Post COVID era."
The consultation was also stressed on both hard and soft skills together in the Post-COVID era. "Our young generation needs to work on reliance, tolerance, team management alongside other skills",- Rafia, Youth Representative, said.
Ashekur Rahman, Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, touched on the informal sector and said, "Approximately 87% of our economy is reliant on the informal sector. We need to prepare our young generation for the Green Economy, which is paving the way for 24 million new jobs by 2030." He further added, "Fast world jobs are mostly IT related such as data scientists, data management and many more in this new reality."
In recommendations, youth urged for having vocational training courses in parallel with their classroom education and commended for an inclusive approach in collaboration with public and private sector on skills programme to ensure the much talked demographic dividend.
Rotary Governor Faruqui set to open plantation of 1 million saplings
Barrister Mutasim Billah Faruqui, Governor of Rotary International District 3281, will inaugurate a nationwide tree plantation campaign on Friday as part of Rotary's target of planting one million saplings this year.
The opening ceremony will be held at 10:30 am on Friday on the premises of Salimuddin Choudhury Degree College at Kanchan at Rupganj in Narayanganj. The tree plantation drive by Rotary District 3281 is set to begin in line with the call from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who last month urged all citizens to plant at least three saplings during this monsoon.
“As an international voluntary organisation, Rotary in Bangladesh has planned to plant at least 1 million saplings to help improve the environment of our beautiful country. We’re starting this campaign under a multi-club initiative,” Faruqui said in a statement ahead of the inauguration.
“As Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina rightly asked all citizens to come forward, Rotarians can't sit idle. It's our national duty to help improve the ecosystem as protection of the environment is a vital part of our seven areas of focus Rotary is working on across the world,” he said.
Faruqui said nearly 100 clubs are directly joining the opening on Friday while others will do the same across the country. “We want to make it successful with the help of all the Rotary clubs under the RID 3281."
Besides the opening ceremony, Barrister Faruqui will also release fish fry in the Shitalakhya River, organise a free medical camp at KPS General Hospital and distribute educational materials among school children on Friday.
Under the RID 3281, some 300 Rotary clubs are working under the Rotary International, headquartered in Illinois in the United States, in various sectors, including water and sanitation, economic and community development, maternal and child health, supporting the environment, basic education and literacy, disease prevention and treatment and peace and conflict resolution.
More than 1.2 million Rotarians are members of the Rotary International from over 35,000 clubs across the world.
KAERI signs deal with BAEC for renovation of 3 MW BAEC TRIGA Research Reactor
Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) signed a contract with Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) for the modernization of the 3 MW BAEC TRIGA Research Reactor (BTRR).
The contract-signing ceremony was held virtually on Thursday between KAERI and BAEC in presence of Dr. Md Sanowar Hossain, Chairman of BAEC, Dr. PARK Won-seok, President of KAERI, and Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun.
The project includes the design, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of digital I&C system of BTRR, which has been in operation since 1986. The duration of the project is expected to be 18 months.
The project became KAERI’s 6th major technology export related to research reactors, after its successful partnerships with Jordan, Greece, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Netherlands.
It is also anticipated to be the stepping stone for further collaboration between KAERI and BAEC, including future research reactor development in Bangladesh.
Ambassador Lee highlighted that the commencement of the project marks the beginning of the Korea-Bangladesh partnership in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and is opening a new chapter in the bilateral ties as the two countries move towards diversifying the areas of cooperation beyond the RMG sector.
He also noted that Korea, ranking 6th in the world in terms of the total capacity of nuclear power generation, is a world-leader in the peaceful use of nuclear energy from research to electricity production.
Fully committed to the international non-proliferation regime, Korea and Bangladesh will find further opportunities for cooperation in the future, he said.
Ambassador Lee looked forward to an early signing of the proposed MOU between KAERI and BAEC and a meaningful progress in the discussions between the governments for the conclusion of the bilateral agreement on peaceful nuclear cooperation.
Bangladesh still in life-and-death race with Covid; 226 more die
When the lockdown restrictions were eased on one hand ahead of Eid, Bangladesh recorded its second highest 226 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours till Thursday morning on the other.
Besides, 12,236 fresh cases were detected during the period.
The new numbers took the country’s death tally to 17,278 and the caseload to 10,71,774, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The fresh cases were detected after testing 46,604 samples during the period, bringing down the case positivity rate to 27. 23% from Wednesday’s 29.14%.
However, the case fatality rate remained unchanged at 1.61% during the 24-hour period.
Read: Covid shatters all records in Bangladesh with 230 single-day deaths
The country saw a record number of 13,768 Covid cases on Monday and the highest-ever 230 deaths on Sunday.
So far, 905,807 people have recovered from the disease, taking the country’s recovery rate to 84.51%.
Of the deceased, 72 died in Dhaka division, 52 in Khulna, 42 in Chattogram, 28 in Rajshahi, 13, Rangpur, 10 in Mymensingh, six in Barishal, and five died in Sylhet.
Among them, 140 were men and 86 women.
Age breakdown: One of the deceased was between 0-10, one was between 11-20, six were between 21-30, 12 between 31-40, 36 between 41-50, 49 between 51-60, 50 were between 61-70, 44 were between 71-80, 22 were between 81-90, three were between 91-100 and two were above 100 years of age.
Read: No respite from Covid deaths in Bangladesh; 220 more lose battle
Vaccination drive
According to the handout, 1,32,604 people received the first dose of Sinopharm vaccine, 6,267 from Pfizer and 39,325 from Moderna during the 24-hour period.
Expanding the vaccine eligibility target, Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Thursday said everyone above 18 years will gradually be vaccinated in Bangladesh.
“Arrangements are being made to gradually bring all citizens above 18 years under the Covid-19 vaccination programme in order to revive the country's education system,” he said.
Zahid Maleque came up with the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a progamme on Covid-19 ICU Bed Expansion and inauguration of the Outpatient Department of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).
Read: Covid claims 210 more lives in Bangladesh, 12,383 more test positive
“At present, the government has 45 lakh doses of vaccines in stock. We’ll receive 29 lakh doses of AstraZeneca vaccine very soon. Besides, Pfizer vaccine doses will reach the country within the next month,” he added.
“Our health sector has the capacity to store 3 crore doses of vaccine. So, there’ll be no problem in storing and distributing vaccines,” the minister said.
Three killed in Thakurgaon road crash
Three people were killed and four others injured as a truck hit an auto-rickshaw on Thakurgaon-Panchagarh highway in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila on Thursday noon.
The deceased were identified as Mojibur Rahman, 50, of Shingpara village of Sadar upazila, Chanchal, 35 and Golam Mostafa, 40, of Chongaghata area of the same upazila.
Police said the Panchagarh-bound truck hit the auto-rickshaw in Auliapur Board Office area, leaving two auto-rickshaw passengers dead spot and five others injured.
Also read: Policeman 'killed' in Dhaka road accident
The injured were taken to Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital where one succumbed to his injuries.
Thakurgaon Adhunik Sadar Hospital residential medical officer Rakibul Alam Chayan said that the condition of the injured is critical.
Tanvirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Thakurgaon Police station, said the truck driver managed to flee.
Also read: Five, including three women, killed in Tangail road accident
All adults to be gradually vaccinated: Health Minister
Expanding the vaccine eligibility target, Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Thursday said everyone above 18 years will gradually be vaccinated in Bangladesh.
“Arrangements are being made to gradually bring all citizens above 18 years under the Covid-19 vaccination programme in order to revive the country's education system,” he said.
Zahid Maleque came up with the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a progamme on Covid-19 ICU Bed Expansion and inauguration of Outpatient Department of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).
Also read: 35-years-olds to be made eligible for Covid jabs: DGHS DG
“At present, the government has 45 lakh doses of vaccines in stock. We’ll receive 29 lakh doses of AstraZeneca vaccine very soon. Besides, Pfizer vaccine doses will reach the country within the next month,” he added.
Quader urges BNP to stop spreading lies about Covid vaccine
Awami League Secretary General Obaidul Quader has dismissed BNP’s allegation that the government is not doing anything for the marginalised and low-income groups hit hard by coronavirus-induced lockdown.
Quader made the remarks at a food distribution programme among the helpless people organized by Swachchasebak (Volunteer) League at Bangabandhu Avenue this morning.
Read: 'Only program now is to stand by the people': Obaidul Quader
“The Awami League is supporting the affected people ahead of Eid-ul-Azha,” Quader said adding “We urge everyone else to extend their help to the poor.”
Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, accused BNP of spreading lies about Covid vaccines.
He said there is no reason to worry about vaccines. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to ensure vaccine for all and she has remained steadfast in her commitment to the people.
Quader assured the people that Covid vaccine has already started arriving in the country. The necessary jabs will come in time, he said, urging BNP to stop spreading rumours and confusion about its availability.
Read: No irregularity in providing govt incentives to be tolerated: Quader
Saying that the government has announced new packages of assistance ahead of Eid Quader asked his party members to guard against any misappropriation and nepotism. “The assistance must reach the real beneficiaries,” he said.
He warned that the government will not tolerate any irregularities in the distribution of the relief.
Quader once again urged the people to strictly follow the health guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus. There would have no need to enforce lockdown if people wore masks, maintained physical distance and practised hygiene.
Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Swachchasebak League General Secretary Afzalur Rahman Babu and other central leaders spoke on the occasion while Swachchasebak League President Nirmal Ranjan Guha presided over the programme.
19 more Covid patients die in RMCH
Nineteen more Covid patients have died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) in the last 24 hours, health officials said on Thursday .
Of the deceased, five were confirmed Covid patients, while14 others had symptoms of the virus, said hospital director Brigadier General Shamim Yazdani.
Read:RMCH Corona unit scrambles as it reports 19 more deaths
Six of the patients were from Rajshahi district, three from Chapainawabganj, two each from Natore and Naogaon and six from Pabna districts.
Some 267 people died of Covid-19 at the corona unit of RMCH from July 1 to July 14.
Besides, 56 more new patients have been admitted to the hospital with Covid symptoms in the past 24 hours. Currently, 507 patients are undergoing treatment at the 454-bed hospital.
Read: 14 more Covid patients die at RMCH in 24 hrs
RMCH has been one of the most stretched hospitals in the country during the second wave of Covid-19, particularly since the latter part of May when the deadly Delta variant of the virus was identified in multiple samples in Rajshahi division.
Two bulls poisoned to death in Kushtia
Two bulls belonging to a farmer have been allegedly poisoned to death in the Majlishpur area of Kushtia's Mirpur upazila ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
Quoting local people, Golam Mostafa, officer-in-charge of Mirpur Police Station, said that Rafi Fakir, a local farmer, reared the animals so as to sell them during the Muslim festival.
Read: Huge farmers flock to Kushtia cattle haat defying corona safety
"Rafi had taken Tk 1.70 lakh from a person for the bulls and was scheduled to deliver the animals on Thursday. But in the morning, he found them lying dead in the cattle shed," the OC said.
Read: Here comes the rush of cattle for qurbani
Mirpur Upazila livestock officer Dr Sohag Rana said that legal action would be taken against those involved in the crime. "Police are investigating the deaths," he said.
Promote right persons in Army: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the Army Headquarters Selection Board-2021 needs to pick qualified people for promotion aiming to build a strong military.
“I believe that the selection board will select qualified people for promotion through wisdom and prudent analyses rising above the personal liking and disliking. You’ll have to find out the able leadership maintaining neutrality by remaining free from all influences,” Hasina said while addressing the meeting of the selection board.
The Prime Minister joined the meeting, held at Army Multipurpose Complex, virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Read: Army Chief distributes food aid among 5,000 destitute people
PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
Hasina said she is happy to know that TRACE (Tabulated Record and Comparative Evaluation) Method is followed in the case of promotion of Army officers, which is a manifestation of a comparative assessment of various aspects of their professionalism.
“Right persons will have to be promoted for various important appointments such as command, staff and trainers. This will increase the acceptance to all,” she said.
The PM said the Awami League government always governs the country as the servant of people, never as a ruler. A disciplined and modern army plays a very helpful role in consolidating democracy, she said.
Read:Help achieve green recovery of CVF-V20 countries: Hasina to developed nations
“That’s why its leadership must be entrusted to professional and responsible officers who are always ready for supreme sacrifices to protect the sovereignty [of the country], being imbued with the ideology of the great Liberation War,” she added.
“Discipline is the backbone of the Army. At the same time, it’s necessary to find honest, fair-minded, righteous, people-friendly and humane officers who are successful in various fields of their career,” she added.
Hasina said Bangladesh Army had started its progress due to the sincere efforts of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In the continuation of the progress journey, the army has now become a highly professional, efficient and modern force due to intensive care from her government, she said.
“Our army has been working very efficiently in various development and public welfare activities, including containing the recent Corona pandemic, which is really commendable. Not only in the country, our Army has brought a rare honour and dignity to the country from the world stage,” she said.
Read: Women’s participation in ICT sector to be raised substantially: Hasina
Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed delivered the welcome speech at the virtual function.
Assuming power in 1996, Hasina said her government have been taking initiatives to modernise the armed forces and established National Defence College (NDC) in 1996, Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) in 1998, Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) and Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC).
In order to enhance the organisational capacity of the army, the government has added a significant number of units and institutions alongside three new formations in its organizational structure. In 2016, the government established Bangladesh Peace Building Center (HPC), she added.
Talking about the country’s economic progress, Hasina said the poverty rate was brought down to 20.5 percent while per capita income has been raised to US 2,227 dollars. The government brought 99 percent of people under electricity coverage, she said.
The six-day activities of the selection board started on Thursday in order to award promotion to Army officers.