Bangladesh
Week-long lockdown in Natore & Singra from Wednesday
Authorities have decided to enforce a week-long lockdown in Natore and Singra municipality areas starting Wednesday to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Natore Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shahriaz took the decision at a virtual meeting on Monday night. State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak attended the meeting.
The lockdown will continue till June 15, officials said.
During the week-long lockdown, all modes of public transport will stay off the roads. However, the movement restrictions won't apply on vehicles providing emergency services.
Moreover, all shops, markets and restaurants will remain closed, except for grocery stores and pharmacies. This is to allow people to buy their daily essentials and medicines from their local grocers and chemists, respectively.
According to the health authorities, the infection rate in the district is 62 percent and the number of Covid-19 cases is on the rise in the municipality areas.
Also read: Local admins can enforce lockdown, says Cabinet Secretary
On Monday, the local administration launched a mobile antigen test drive to detect the community-based infection.
The health authorities have also set up Covid test booths, said Civil Surgeon Kazi Mizanur Rahman.
Covid-19 situation
Amid the rising infections in frontier districts, Bangladesh on Monday reported 1,970 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours.
The deadly virus also claimed 30 more lives during the period, pushing up the death toll to 12,869.
The total number of coronavirus cases climbed to 8,12,960 with the fresh ones.
Also read: Strict lockdown imposed in Teknaf and five Rohingya camps
The positivity rate also increased to 11.47% on Monday from Sunday's 10.73%, while the mortality rate remained static at 1.58%, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.
Global Covid cases near 174 million
The global Covid-19 caseload has now surpassed 173.5 million, with the world still struggling to contain the second outbreak of the virus.
The total caseload and fatalities from the virus stand at 173,538,801 and 3,734,654, respectively, as of Tuesday morning, as per the latest data released by Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
So far, 2,139,732,834 doses of vaccine have been administered across the globe, as per the university data.
The US has logged 33,377,632 cases and 597,946 fatalities to date, the highest death toll in the world, according to the university.
Read:US delivers emergency medical supplies to Bangladesh to combat COVID-19
India's total tally rose to 28,909,975, with 100,636 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, said the federal health ministry.
Besides, as many as 2,427 deaths since Sunday morning pushed the overall death toll to 349,186. This is the first time in the past 45 days when daily deaths due to the pandemic dipped to below the 2,500-mark.
Brazil registered 1,010 more deaths from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, pushing up the nationwide tally to 474,414, the health ministry said on Monday.
A total of 37,156 new infections were detected during the period, raising the caseload to 16,984,218, the ministry said.
Brazil has the world's second-highest Covid death toll, after the United States, and the third-largest caseload, behind the United States and India.
Situation in Bangladesh
Amid the rising infections in frontier districts, Bangladesh on Monday reported 1,970 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours.
The deadly virus also claimed 30 more lives during the period, pushing up the death toll to 12,869.
Read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: New cases get close to 2,000; 30 more die
The total number of coronavirus cases climbed to 8,12,960 with the fresh ones.
Vaccination drive
Around 7,363 people have received the second dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the past 24 hours.
A total number of 42,16,696 people have so far got their dose of this vaccine, while the number is 58,20,015 for the first dose.
Besides, the total number of people receiving their first jab of Chinese Sinopharm vaccine reached 2,162 during the period.
Bangladesh launched its vaccination drive on February 7 with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses bought from India's Serum Institute.
So far, four vaccines – Oxford-AstraZeneca (Covishield), Sputnik-V, Sinopharm, and Pfizer-BioNTech – have got the approval for emergency use in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, seven million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine reached Bangladesh, and the governments of India and China gave 3.2 million doses and 500,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine as gifts, respectively.
Read:Indian cities unlocking after declining COVID-19 infections
However, the country, the prime recipient of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, has suspended the registration for Covid-19 jabs due to vaccine shortage amid a delay in the arrival of shipments from India.
High vaccination can help reduce risk of variants: WHO
A top World Health Organization official estimated Monday that Covid vaccination coverage of at least 80% is needed to significantly lower the risk that “imported” coronavirus cases like those linked to new variants could spawn a cluster or a wider outbreak, reports AP.
Dr Michael Ryan, WHO’s emergencies chief, told a news conference that ultimately, “high levels of vaccination coverage are the way out of this pandemic".
Many rich countries have been moving to vaccinate teenagers and children — who have lower risk of more dangerous cases of Covid-19 than the elderly or people with comorbidities — even as those same countries face pressure to share vaccines with poorer ones that lack them.
76th UNGA session: Bangladesh elected vice-president
Bangladesh has been elected vice-president of the upcoming 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from the Asia-Pacific Region for a one-year term starting September this year.
The election was held at the UNGA Monday where Bangladesh was elected unanimously.
Along with Bangladesh, Kuwait, the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Philippines were also elected as vice-presidents from the Asia-Pacific.
READ: 76th UNGA session: Maldives elected president, Bangladesh VP
Bangladesh last served as vice-president during the 71st session of the UNGA in 2016-2017.
After the election, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Rabab Fatima said: "Bangladesh is a flag bearer of multilateralism and believes in the leadership of the UN in addressing the complex challenges facing the current world."
"The country maintains principled and constructive position in various global discourses in the field of development, peace and security and human rights. Today's election demonstrates the trust reposed by the international community in Bangladesh at the multilateral fora" she added.
Meanwhile, Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid was elected president of the same session of the UNGA.
The 76th session of the UN general assembly will be of particular significance as the world recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic and its multidimensional impacts, said the Bangladesh Mission at the UN Tuesday.
READ: ‘Great disservice to your office’: India stings UNGA Prez for his Kashmir remark
The UNGA consists of all the 193 member states and serves as the main deliberative, policy-making, and representative organ of the UN for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the UN Charter. The UN organ meets under its president in annual sessions, which generally starts from September at headquarters in New York.
IBBL Mymensingh, Rangpur zones host agent banking conference
Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) recently organised an online business development conference for its agent banking outlets in Mymensingh and Rangpur.
Mohammed Monirul Moula, managing director and CEO of the bank, addressed the conference as chief guest.
Muhammad Qaisar Ali, the additional managing director of IBBL, addressed the programme as a special guest.
READ: IBBL Dhaka Central Zone hosts webinar on Shariah compliance
Abul Faiz Muhammad Kamaluddin, senior executive vice-president, and executive vice-presidents Bashir Ahamed and Mir Rahmat Ullah addressed the program.
Md Mahboob Alam, senior executive vice-president, presided over the programme while ASM Rezaul Karim, executive vice-president, delivered the welcome speech.
READ: IBBL board recommends 10pc cash dividend for shareholders
76th UNGA session: Maldives elected president, Bangladesh VP
Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid was elected president of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Monday.
Also, Bangladesh was elected vice-president of the same session from the Asia-Pacific region. Twenty-one vice-presidents are elected for each session of the UNGA according to a pattern that ensures equitable geographical representation.
US delivers emergency medical supplies to Bangladesh to combat COVID-19
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), on Monday night delivered to Bangladesh its latest shipment of emergency medical supplies to save lives, stop the spread of COVID-19, and meet the urgent health needs of the Bangladeshi people.
This latest delivery brings the financial value of U.S. pandemic assistance to Bangladesh to more than $84 million, tweeted U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller.
Ambassador Miller, Toufiq Islam Shatil, Director General, Americas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Kabir Ahmed, Joint Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance; Professor Dr. Mohammad Robed Amin, Line Director, Non-Communicable Disease Control (NCDC); Dr. Md. Zahidul Islam, Deputy Director, Hospitals from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS); and Dr. Moinul Ahsan, Civil Surgeon, Dhaka were present during a handover ceremony.
The emergency medical supplies, including critical personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals and other frontline workers, as well as fingertip pulse oximeters, which by measuring patients’ blood oxygen levels, help better manage and determine timely critical care interventions.
“For 50 years, the United States has stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Bangladesh. We will continue to fight this pandemic with Bangladesh until the crisis is over,” said Ambassador Miller. READ: Miller discusses JRP, bilateral issues with Shahriar
On June 3, the White House announced its plan to share vaccines directly with Bangladesh as part of a framework to provide 80 million U.S. vaccine doses globally by the end of the month.
This includes 7 million doses destined for Asia.
Also this month, USAID sent two more flights, one of which was also supported by the U.S. Department of Defense, with additional personal protective equipment to Dhaka to support Bangladesh’s response efforts.
Together, these deliveries build on the United States’ ongoing efforts to mitigate the challenges posed by the pandemic in Bangladesh.
The United States has worked closely with Bangladesh since the beginning of the pandemic to strengthen the government’s response to prevent and respond to COVID-19, contributing more than $84 million to date in development and humanitarian assistance from USAID, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Department of State (State).
The recent shipments added over $2 million to the total U.S. government contribution to Bangladesh.
This assistance has helped save lives and treat individuals infected with COVID-19; strengthened COVID-19 testing capacity and surveillance; enhanced COVID-19 case management and infection prevention and control practices; improved both the supply chain and logistics management systems; helped protect front line workers; and increased public knowledge about COVID-19.
Additional U.S. COVID response assistance includes supplying 100 state-of-the-art U.S. manufactured ventilators; gas analyzers to allow Bangladesh to produce its own ventilators; tens of thousands of pieces of locally-produced personal protective equipment (PPE; KN95 surgical masks, face shields, HAZMAT suits, full body gowns, medical-grade hand sanitizer, surgical gloves, medical goggles) to medical treatment facilities, law enforcement, first responders, and customs inspectors; and mentoring and training for thousands of doctors and other front line workers to improve the care given to COVID-19 patients across Bangladesh.
READ: Bangladesh’s request for vaccine doses under active consideration: Miller
This support builds on the more than $1 billion in U.S. health assistance the U.S. has provided Bangladesh over the past 20 years and underscores the long-term U.S. commitment to ensuring access to quality, lifesaving health services for the people of Bangladesh, said the US Embassy in Dhaka.
'Workers' productivity may fall 20% due to malnutrition'
Many workers of different industries in Bangladesh are victims of malnutrition and their productivity rate is likely to fall up to 20% due to the condition.
So, the workers' nutrition safety will have to be prioritised for the implementation of the government's Vision 2021 and 2041 and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Also read: 43 pc female RMG workers suffering from malnutrition
Speakers said this at a partnership agreement signing ceremony between the Department of Labour and Switzerland-based Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in the capital Monday.
Moniruzzaman Bipul, portfolio lead of GAIN Bangladesh, said ensuring necessary nutrition for workers may increase their productivity rate up to 20%. "Only anaemia, caused by iron deficiency, is responsible for the reduction of productivity worth $500 crore in South Asia."
Greater efforts sought from envoys to enhance trade with Asean
Bangladesh wants to enhance economic relations with the Asean countries with increased trade and has sought stronger efforts from its envoys in Asean countries.
The Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) is a 10-member international body that represents more than 500 million people living in the region.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Monday exchanged views with the Bangladesh envoys and urged them to step up their efforts for protecting the national interests of Bangladesh with particular emphasis on enhancing trade and economic relationship with the Asean countries.
Also read: ASEAN envoys meet Myanmar junta leader to press for dialogue
He called upon the envoys to make innovative and out-of-the-box efforts to maintain the momentum of the economic growth of Bangladesh in context of the raging pandemic and other regional and global challenges.
The virtual meeting was held on the locally developed Bangladeshi virtual video conferencing platform ‘Boithok’ with Bangladesh Ambassadors/High Commissioners in Asean countries on contemporary issues.
Eight Ambassadors/High Commissioners along with other senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the virtual meeting chaired by the Foreign Secretary.
Also read: Bangladesh keen for establishing road, rail links with China, ASEAN countries
Set up in 1967 in Bangkok by Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, Asean has since been joined by Brunei, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia.
18 die in India chemical factory fire
At least 18 workers died in a fire that broke out at a chemical factory in the western Indian state of Maharashtra on Monday, officials said.
The blaze started during packing of plastic materials at the sanitiser-manufacturing unit of SVS Aqua Technologies in the state's Pune city and soon engulfed the factory.
Within minutes, some 10 fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames.
READ: 5 injured in Sonargaon factory gas leak fire
"Some 37 workers were inside at the time. While 19 died in the fire, the remaining have been rescued by fire fighters," a senior fire official told the local media.
Local TV channels beamed footage of white smoke billowing out of the factory. Quoting unnamed sources, a few channels reported that "several other workers are missing".
In his condolence message to the bereaved families, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "Pained by the loss of lives due to a fire at a factory in Pune."
READ: 70 houses, school gutted in Bandarban fire
A probe has been ordered into the fire, the official said.
In January this year, at least five people were killed in another major fire at a Covid vaccine manufacturing plant owned by the Serum Institute of India in the same city.
Gas supply to stop in some city areas Tuesday
The supply of gas will remain suspended for 12 hours from (9 am to 9 pm) at some areas of the city on Tuesday.
According to Titas Gas Supply and Transmission Company Ltd, the areas include Kamlapur Rail Station to Titipara slum, Saydabad bus terminal, Mugda, Golapbagh, Beltala, Maniknagar, Atish Dipankar Road, RK Mission Road, Gopinagh, Uttar Jatrabari, Dhalpur.
READ: Areas in Dhaka where gas supply to be suspended Sunday
The gas disruption will take place due to relocation works of gas pipeline from Titipara to Golapbagh to facilitate the implementation of the Padma Bridge Rail project, said Titas Gas.
It also said the consumers in the adjoining areas may experience low pressure for the relocation works.
READ: No gas supply to several capital areas Thursday