Bangladesh
Youth commits suicide as lockdown leaves him jobless, says family
A 26-year-old man, who lost his job at a factory in capital Dhaka due to Covid-induced lockdown, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his room early hours of Sunday with family members and police suspecting he committed suicide.
Khokon Hossain returned a dejected man at his Bashbari village of Rajshahi's Puthia upazila, after he lost his job during the ongoing lockdown.
On Sunday morning family members found Khokon's door shut and there was no response from inside to their calls. His father found him hanging as he looked through a window. Later the family members broke into his room and recovered the body.
Also read: Covid patient ‘commits suicide’ in Satkhira
It was learned that Khokon worked for a factory in Dhaka and returned home after losing his job during the lockdown. After he lost his job, his wife left him over a family dispute.Khokon's father said he was frustrated for these all and might have committed suicide for the situation.
The couple has a child too, he said.
Also read: Chuadanga cattle trader 'commits suicide' over Covid stigma
Officer-in-charge Sohorawardy Hossain said it was suspected to be a case of suicide but the body was not sent for autopsy as per wishes of the family.However, an unnatural death case was filed, he said.
Residents of Jashore juvenile home go berserk seeking better facilities
Juveniles at Jashore Child (Boy) Development Centre went berserk at its compound on Saturday night, demanding better food supply and facilities.
The management, however, quelled the protesters after three hours of negotiation, locals said.
Additional District Magistrate Kazi Sayemuzzaman said the residents of the juvenile home got angry as they were not allowed to get out of the centre due to the pandemic.
Also read: 3 killed in Jashore juvenile correction centre clash
He also said the juveniles also complained about the quality of food and the problem of potable water.
Zakir Hossain, assistant director of the centre, said the juveniles had been demanding food at a rate of Tk 72 per day for each.
He also alleged that they demanded food supply and facilities in different rooms for seniors and juniors and staged violent protests on Saturday night.
Also read: Legal notice sent to govt to compensate families of murdered Jashore juveniles
Later, he said, Ansar members were called in to bring the situation under control.
Meanwhile, hundreds of police personnel were deployed to fend off any further trouble.
On August 13, 2020, three teenagers were killed and 15 were injured in a clash at the Jashore Child Development Centre.
Also read: Indian teen 'ends life' at juvenile centre
Sirajganj records its highest daily caseload , 244 infected
As many as 244 new Covid cases were recorded in Sirajganj in the past 24 hours till Sunday morning, the district's highest single-day infections this year.
"A total of 619 samples were tested during the period," said Humayun Kabir, a statistician in the district's Civil Surgeon's Office.
Read:Covid nightmare in Barisal division: Record caseload of 710 reported
The positivity rate currently stands at 39.42%.
Besides, two more Covid-related deaths were recorded in the district. Of the deceased, one each died at Sirajganj Sadar Hospital and Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College and Hospital.
So far, the number of covid cases has surpassed 2,200 in the district, while the death toll from the virus currently stands at 33.
Read:1200-bed Covid dedicated hospital to be set up in BSMMU
Corona infections have been on the rise since the last week of June. However, in the last 24 hours, the record number of Covid cases sparked fear among the people.
Meanwhile, according to district administration sources, the law enforcers took tougher actions in Sirajganj on Sunday to stem the infections. They are also monitoring the cattle markets in different parts of the district ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
HC suspends demotion of WASA’s Executive Engineer
The High Court on Sunday suspended for a month an order of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) on demotion of its Executive Engineer Md Mozammel Haque on charge of providing information to the media.
A special bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim passed the order during a hearing on a writ petition filed by Barrister SS Arefin Junnun.
Read:HC directs to prioritize jabs for students going abroad
Mozammel received the demotion order through a letter signed by Managing Director of Dhaka WASA Taqsem A Khan on July 4. He challenged the demotion in a petition filed before the High Court.
His lawyer Arefin argued that as the managing director is currently on a leave he can’t sign any official letter.
In 2017, three national dailies published reports on Dhaka city’s drainage system, canals and water logging during the months of July and August including comments from Mozammel, who was at that time responsible for Dhaka’s drainage circle.
Read: HC bans shops and restaurants in Hatirjheel recreation area
Later authorities formed a probe committee in this regard, claiming Mozammel’s comments have tarnished the image of Dhaka WASA.
On December 21, 2020, Investigative officer Administrative engineer Ruhul Amin submitted the probe report finding engineer Mozameel guilty.
On January 8 this year secretary of WASA issued a show cause notice to Mozammel saying that it goes against the job regulations-2010 of WASA if any official talk to the media on the activity of the organisation.
Read:HC asks police investigators: Explain allegation of forced murder confession from a minor
The notice reminded Mozammel that his comments have undermined the authority’s image and it is considered as misconduct and punishable crime.
Mozammel’s reply to the notice was considered unsatisfactory to the authority and a divisional case was filed against him, followed by the demotion order.
Lack of accountability behind recurring factory fires: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday alleged that there is no let-up in factory fires and deaths of workers in the country for lack of monitoring and accountability of the authorities concerned.
“Even in the 50 years of independence, the lives of the factory workers are not safe in this country. Every year many workers die in factory fires,” he said in a statement.
Read: Rupganj factory fire: Claimants found for 40 bodies out of 48, after 56 families submit DNA samples
The Jatiya Party chief said many buildings are not constructed in accordance with the building code while the factories are not built maintaining the specific policies.
“The factories don’t have the necessary equipment to prevent fires. There’s no monitoring and minimum accountability of those responsible. So, the workers can’t save their lives when any factory catches fire,” he observed.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said an investigation committee is formed after each fire incident and the report also contains some recommendations.
Read: PM monitoring developments after factory fire in Rupganj: Quader
“Sometimes people know about it (report), sometimes it remains a secret. The recommendations are hardly implemented. In most cases, those responsible (for the fire incidents) get out through the loopholes of the law. So, the fire incidents and the processions of death are not stopping,” he alleged.
Referring to the data of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, the Jatiya Party chairman said 2,317 people were killed and 12,374 others injured in fire incidents across the country in the last 15 years. “A large part of them are working-class people.”
He recalled that 117 garment workers at the Tazreen Fashion garment factory at Ashulia were burnt to death and more than 200 others injured in the deadliest fire in the country’s history on November 24, 2012.
Read:Rupganj fire: Sajeeb Group chairman, sons among 8 put on remand
“The deaths of bread-earners in each fire incident causes a humanitarian catastrophe in their poverty-stricken families,” Quader bemoaned.
He said the government must take strong steps right now to reduce fire incidents and save the lives of workers.
Covid nightmare in Barisal division: Record caseload of 710 reported
Barisal logged 710 fresh Covid cases in 24 hours till Sunday morning, the division's highest single-day spike this year.
Among the 710 fresh Covid cases in the division, 211 infection cases have been identified in Barisal district alone. And so far, 9,396 people have been infected with Covid-19 in this district.
Read:Coronavirus: PM holds videoconference with Barisal, Khulna divisions
Besides, 13 more Covid-related deaths have been recorded in the Barisal division during the period.
Among them, eight died in Sher-E-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH), two in Pirojpur and one each in Patuakhali, Barguna and Jhalokati.
Divisional Health Director Dr Basudev Kumar Das said 349 patients have died of Covid-19 in the division so far.
Read:1200-bed Covid dedicated hospital to be set up in BSMMU
Some 69,959 patients have been identified in the division to date and 15,764 of them have recovered.
According to SBMCH authorities, 51 more patients were admitted to the hospital in 24 hours till Sunday morning.
Read: Covid onslaught in Bangladesh continues; 185 more die
Moreover, 298 covid patients are currently undergoing treatment in the corona unit of the SBMCH.
On Friday, local authorities imposed a ban on the admission of general patients to the SBMCH to ease the pressure on the hospital doctors.
14 more covid patients die in Khulna
Fourteen people have died of Covid-19 at three different hospitals in Khulna district in 24 hours till Sunday morning, health officials said.
While eight people died at the dedicated Covid facility of Khulna Medical College and Hospital, two succumbed to the virus at private Gazi Medical College and Hospital and four died at the corona unit of Khulna General Hospital.
Read:Covid claims 46 more lives in Khulna division, say officials
Khulna Corona Dedicated Hospital's nodal officer Dr Suhas Ranjan Haldar said six of the eight people died of Covid-19 while two died after showing Covid symptoms.
Besides, 193 people are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. Of them, 121 are receiving treatment in the red zone, 36 in the yellow zone, 19 in the ICU (intensive care unit), and 17 in HDU (high deficiency unit), said Dr Suhas.
Read:Khulna division records its highest deaths in a day due to Covid
Some 37 people were admitted to the hospital during the 24-hour period, while 32 were discharged from the hospital, he said.
An official at Gazi Medical College and Hospital said two people have died of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. "Besides, some 134 people are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital," he said.
Read:22 more people die of Covid in Khulna
Kazi Abu Rashed, spokesman for the corona unit of Khulna General Hospital, said 20 people were admitted to the hospital in the past 24 hours while 21 patients were discharged after their recovery.
Dr Chandra Debnath Shekhar, spokesman for Shaheed Sheikh Abu Naser Specialised Hospital, said 43 patients are currently being treated at the hospital and of them 10 are in the ICU.
Brazil soccer fan in Cox’s Bazar takes poison
With the excitement running high over the Copa America final, a soccer fan took poison at North Chakmarkul in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar district on Sunday after Brazil’s loss to Argentina.
Police said the Brazil fan, Mohammad Kamal, 20, son of Amir Hossain, is now undergoing treatment in Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital.
Read:Hanging body of young woman recovered from Cox’s Bazar hotel
Locals said Kamal, a big fan of Brazil soccer team, was watching the Copa America Final 2021 in the morning.
As Argentina clinched the title after beating Brazil 1-0 in the final, Kamal got upset and took poison in a bid to kill himself.
Read: 2 shot dead in separate incidents in Cox’s Bazar
Dr Efazul Haque, medical officer of Ramu Upazila Health Complex, said Kamal was first taken to the upazila health complex in an unconscious state and then referred to Sadar Hospital for better treatment after clearing his stomach.
JPC Vice-President Raza's father passes away
Tofazzal Haque, father of Jatiya Press Club President Rezwanul Haque Raza, passed away on Sunday. He was 86.
Raza, also Machranga TV’s Head of News, lost his mother a couple of days ago.
Tofazzal, suffering from various old-age complications, was undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
Read:JPC Vice-President Raza's mother no more
He breathed his last at 6:50am at the hospital.
Tofazzal left behind five sons, two daughters and a host of relatives to mourn his death.
His son Borhanul Haque Shamrat is working as a news editor of News24 TV.
Read: DCAB shocked at death of JPC ex-President Hassan Shahriar
Earlier, Sajeda Begum, mother of Raza, passed away on Thursday night.
Motorists asked to avoid Langalband Bridge for 3 days
Motorists planning to drive on Dhaka-Chattogram Highway have been asked to refrain from using Langalband Bridge on the road for three days due to its repair work, starting on Monday.
Read:RMG workers block Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Chattogram highways demanding salaries
The authorities concerned will carry out repair work on the bridge from 8 am on Monday till 12 noon on Wednesday (July 14), said a handout issued by Roads and Highways Department.
People travelling with light vehicles have been asked to use Mograpara-Kaikartek Bridge-Nabiganj-Madanpur route and those using heavy vehicles to take Kanchpur-Bhulta-Narsingdi-Bhairab Bridge-Sarail-Brahmanbaria-Cumilla as alternative routes during the period.
Read: 5-km long tailback on Dhaka-Chattogram highway
The Langalband Bridge will be fit for the movement of vehicles after 12 pm on Wednesday, the media release added.