Bangladesh
Ziauddin joins PMO as ambassador-at-large
Former ambassador Mohammad Ziauddin joined the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Sunday morning as an ambassador-at-large with the rank and status of a minister.
PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus and PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah welcomed him with a flower bouquet.
On Thursday last, the government issued a gazette notification reappointing Ziauddin as an ambassador-at-large.
Prior to joining as Bangladesh ambassador to the US, he was the ambassador-at-Large of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the rank and status of a state minister.
Ziauddin served as Bangladesh ambassador to the US and was concurrently accredited to the Republic of Argentina, Belize, the Republic of Colombia, the Dominican Republic, the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Also read: Ziauddin reappointed as ambassador-at-large
He was also the permanent representative at the International Seabed Authority located in Jamaica.
After joining the diplomatic service, Ziauddin served in the Bangladesh High Commission in London, the Bangladesh High Commission in Nairobi, and the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York.
Also, he was director-general of the International Organizations Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and chief of protocol to the Government of Bangladesh before joining as the Bangladesh ambassador to Italy.
Ziauddin was Ambassador to Italy, concurrently in charge as Bangladesh ambassador to the Republic of Albania and to the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
He was also the permanent representative of Bangladesh to FAO, WFP, and IFAD.
Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 56 deaths, 1,386 new cases
Bangladesh reported 56 more Coronavirus-related deaths and 1,386 new cases in a 24-hour period until Sunday morning.The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said the latest fatalities took the country’s death toll to 11,934 while the mortality rate remained static at 1.54 percent.Besides, the DGHS said, the new cases were detected after testing 16,915 samples, pushing up the total case count to 773,513. Bangladesh has so far carried out 5,630,894 tests.After a massive upsurge, the number of daily cases fell below 2,000 since May 1. There has been a steady decline in the number of tests since April 28. The number of testes rose again over 20,000 on May 4, 5 and 6, according to corona.gov.bd.The daily infection rate fell to 8.19%, which was 8.74% a day before, according to the DGHS.The number of Covid deaths came down to as low as 50 after over a month on Wednesday.Bangladesh saw 50 deaths on April 1 and it had kept rising since then.The daily death toll soared to over 100 on April 16-19 and on April 25 but has been falling gradually since then.According to the DGHS, 3,329 patients recovered in the past 24 hours, putting the recovery rate at 91.81%. The country reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and the first death on the 18th of that month.Dhaka remains worst-hit region
Dhaka has remained the worst-hit region, recording 6,922 fatalities or 58% of the total deaths until now.Twenty-two of the 56 virus-related deaths recorded today are from Dhaka and 21 from Chattogram.Indian Coronavirus strain detectedA confirmed case of Indian Coronavirus strain was detected in Bangladesh on Saturday, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) confirmed.The Indian strain was detected in a sample test at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka and it has been published in Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), said IEDCR's chief scientific officer ASM Alamgir.Two more confirmed cases of Indian Coronavirus strain were detected at the Genome Centre of Jashore University of Science and Technology on the same day.India reported over 4,00,000 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, taking the caseload to over 2.2 crore. With 4,133 new deaths, the toll now stands at over 2,42,000.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh sees 45 more deaths with 1285 new casesInto the fourth week of extended lockdownThe government has issued a notification extending the ongoing lockdown until May 16 with six fresh directives alongside the existing ones to contain the spread of Covid-19.The country is passing through a ‘strict’ lockdown since April 14 but people are still indifferent towards health guidelines and safety rules.According to the notification issued by the Cabinet Division, the officials of all government, semi-government autonomous and private organisations, banks and financial institutions have been asked to remain at their respective workstations during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.Shops and shopping malls will remain open from 10am to 8pm maintaining health guidelines. If any kind of deviation and violation are seen, the shopping malls and shops will be closed instantly, says the notification.Inter-district transport services will remain closed while intra-district transport services were allowed to operate ensuring health guidelines from Thursday. However, launch and train services will remain off.Amid a mad rush of home-bound people ahead of Eid, ferry services on Paturia-Daulatdia and Shimulia-Banglabazar routes have been suspended on Saturday to curb the spread of Covid-19.However, vessels carrying patients and goods will be allowed to cross the rivers, said BIWTC public relations officer Nazrul Islam. Vaccination driveBangladesh launched its vaccination drive on February 7 with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses purchased from India's Serum Institute.Bangladesh signed an agreement with Serum for 30 million doses. But a record number of cases in India has made the delivery of the doses uncertain.The administering of the first dose has remained suspended in Bangladesh since April 26. Also, the country, the prime recipient of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, has suspended the registration for Covid-19 jabs due to vaccine shortage amid a delay in the timely arrival of shipments from India.However, DGHS DG Prof ABM Khurshid Alam assured that Bangladesh would get 2.1 million doses of vaccines by early May.Dwindling vaccine stockThe DGHS on Wednesday said the stock of the Covid-19 vaccine is dwindling in Bangladesh as there are only 1.4 million jabs left with no sign in sight to get a fresh consignment of it from India.DGHS spokesperson Dr Robed Amin said, "We had around 10.2 million doses. Around 8.8 million jabs have already been administered as the first and second doses. Now we've some 1.4 million doses in stock."He said there will be a vaccine crisis if a fresh consignment does not arrive in the country before the existing stock is exhausted.Vaccine expected from USForeign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said the government has intensified its efforts to have vaccine jabs from the USA as it will share up to 60 million doses of its Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine with other countries.Vaccine productionWith India slapping a ban on the export of AstraZeneca vaccines made by its Serum Institute, Bangladesh is trying to get technology from Russia and China to produce their vaccines locally.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on April 28 approved in principle a proposal for producing Russian and Chinese Covid-19 vaccines in Bangladesh.The government on April 29 approved the emergency use of Sinopharm, a Chinese Covid-19 vaccine, a day after approving the emergency use of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine."We'll get 5,00,000 doses of the Chinese vaccine as a gift within 7-10 days. Then the government will start buying those on a G2G basis," Mahbubur Rahman, director general of the Directorate General of Drug Administration told reporters.END/UNB/FA/ZK
Govt turns down family’s application to send Khaleda abroad
The government on Sunday turned down the application of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s family seeking permission to send her abroad for advance treatment as there is no scope for her to avail of such a scope, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan.
“The Law Ministry has informed us that there’s no legal provision to allow convicted Khaleda Zia to go abroad for treatment. In the light of such an opinion, the application of her family can’t be granted,” he told reporters at his Secretariat office.
The minister said they will soon inform the BNP chief’s family about their decision.
He said the Law Ministry made it clear that as Khaleda was earlier given a facility by suspending her sentences under section 401, now there is no scope to waive her sentences after reconsidering the same section for the second time.
Also read: Khaleda tests negative for Covid
Asaduzzaman said they received the application of Khaleda’s family on humanitarian grounds and sent it to the Law Ministry for its legal opinion. “We’re doing everything as per the law. BNP can apply (for sending Khaleda abroad, but we can't do anything beyond the law.”
Talking to UNB, Law Minister Anisul Haq said there is no chance of allowing Khaleda Zia to go abroad for medical treatment. “I’ve sent my legal opinion in this regard to the Home Ministry.”
“Khaleda Zia's sentences have been suspended as per section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), on condition that she can’t go abroad. So, there’s now no scope to grant her family’s application by relaxing this condition,” he explained.
He said when a decision has already been made as per section 401 of the CrPC, the function of this section is over regarding her and there is no scope to reopen it. “So, she (Khaleda) can’t be sent abroad.”
Also read: Khaleda applies for passport renewal to go aboard: Lawyer
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir may come up with the party’s official reaction to the government decision after visiting Khaleda at Evercare Hospital at night.
Meanwhile, M Asaduzzam, a pro-BNP lawyer, described the law minister’s explanation as per-incuriam.
He said Section 401(1) of the CrPC says, "When any person has been sentenced to punishment for an offence, the Government may at any time without conditions or upon any conditions which the person sentenced accepts, suspend the execution of his/her sentence or remit the whole or any part of the punishment to which he/she has been sentenced."
The section 401 (4A) says: “The provision of the above sub-sections shall also apply to any order passed by a Criminal Court under any section of this Code or of any other law, which restricts the liberty of any person or impose any liability upon him or his property.”
“As per these sections, the government has the scope to allow Khaleda Zia to go abroad.. it’s the government’s inherent power,” Asad opined.
Also read: Allow Khaleda to go abroad for treatment: Fakhrul
He said the government can allow any person to go abroad even if any court imposes any travel ban on him/her.
On Wednesday last, Khaleda’s younger brother Shamim Iskander met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at his Dhanmondi residence and submitted an application seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment.
Later, the application was sent to the Law Ministry for its opinion.
Law Minister Anisul Haq on Sunday morning sent his ministry’s opinion to the Home Ministry.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 for the second time on April 24, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27 for a thorough health checkup.
She was shifted to the CCU of the hospital with shortness of breath around 4pm on Monday last. Her breathing problem later eased.
Also read: Ailing Khaleda’s family seeks permission to send her abroad
On April 28, a 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital a day after her admission there.
Khaleda Zia tested positive for Covid-19 on April 10 as eight people at her residence were infected with the virus. She underwent the second Covid-19 test on April 24 and her report was positive.
Meanwhile, Khaleda Zia tested negative for Covid-19 on Saturday, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.
IPDC appoints Savrina Arifin as Head of Retail Business
IPDC Finance Limited has appointed Savrina Arifin as its Head of Retail Business.
She was previously serving as the Acting Head of Retail Business and Head of Distribution prior to that at IPDC.
Savrina Arifin has 15 years of extensive experience in the banking and financial sector.
Also read: IPDC Finance Ltd wins Intellectual Property Protection Award 2021
She started her career in the Priority Banking Division of Standard Chartered Bank in 2006 and later joined IPDC Finance Limited in 2008.
She completed her Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Business Administration from North South University.
Speaking about the appointment, Mominul Islam, Managing Director and CEO, IPDC Finance, said, “Our expectations from retail finance have always been steep since we are dealing with ever-evolving customers and ever-shifting technology and we believe the best way to meet those expectations is to keep metamorphosing."
Read IPDC Finance Ltd wins Intellectual Property Protection Award 2021
He said he has full faith in Savrina’s grit and ambition to drive IPDC towards revolutionizing retail finance and want to congratulate her for her new role.
Her expertise includes retail business development, sales & marketing, strategic business planning, relationship management and risk management.
Her key achievements include significant expansion of IPDC’s distribution network through important contributions in shaping IPDC’s retail business landscape with her deep consumer insights, leading the transformation of the Retail business products and processes and enhancing the branch service experience by optimizing service delivery channels.
Read IPDC: Mominul Islam re-appointed MD, CEO for 4th time
20- km tailback on Dhaka-Aricha highway
A 20-km tailback has been created on Dhaka-Aricha highway due to the mad rush of homebound people ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr defying the restriction on movement amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Visiting the highway, the UNB correspondent found that a long queue of vehicles on the road, stretching from Savar Bus Stand to Gabtoli Bridge area.
Also Read: Ferry services suspended to contain spread of Covid
People including women and children are set to go to their village home to celebrate Eid with their near and dear ones ignoring heath safety protocols.
In absence of public transport, people hired microbus, pick-up vans, and private vehicles to leave Dhaka.
Besides, many people were seen travelling on goods-laden trucks.
Read 5-km long tailback on Dhaka-Chattogram highway
A traffic police wishing not to be named said the tailback has created due to heavy pressure of private vehicles alongside the public transport.
Some long-route passengers said they boarded local bus from Savar and their destination was Amin Bazar. Later, they crossed the bridge on foot and boarded another bus from Gabtoli to reach their respective destinations.
Anwar Hossain, a resident of Gabtoli, said “I along with six of my family members started journey around 6 am. Now it’s 11:30 am. We are still at Amin Bazar point.”
Also Read: BGB deployed on Paturia-Daulatdia, Shimulia-Banglabazar routes
Arnab Shaha, a student of Jahangirnagar University, said “I boarded a Savar-bound bus around 10 am. Now it’s 12:45 pm. The bus is stuck at Baliarpur for the last two hours. I have no idea whether I can go home before Iftar.”
However, people are so reluctant in maintaining health guidelines and social distance though the government has allowed intra-city transport services on condition of maintaining health guidelines.
Read Dhaka-Khulna highway turns death trap
Facebook, UN Women partner to train community orgs on online safety in Bangladesh
Facebook has partnered with UN Women Bangladesh to conduct a daylong virtual programme on digital citizenship and online safety for over 80 participants from 30 grassroots and community organizations in Bangladesh.
Representatives from Facebook led sessions covering a wide range of topics including managing digital presence, privacy tools, and online safety for women.
Also Read: Women often assaulted online in Asia but find limited recourse: UN Women study
“Women around the world are empowered by digital tools to organize for causes they care about. At Facebook, we continue to invest in digital literacy and citizenship, resiliency, and safety programs around the world, including Bangladesh. We are delighted to partner with UN Women in Bangladesh as we support and promote communities led by women and invested in women,” said Beth Ann Lim, Director of Policy Programs for Facebook in Asia Pacific.
This workshop marks a continuation of Facebook’s partnership with UN Women Bangladesh which began on International Women’s Day in March this year, through LedByHer, a social media campaign to feature Bangladeshi women leaders and the role that digital platforms can play to tell their stories and build resilience.
Later this year, Facebook and UN Women Bangladesh will be hosting a series of intergenerational dialogues between women of different ages from the same fields.
Shoko Ishikawa, Country Representative for UN Women Bangladesh said digital space has given a new dimension to gender-based violence that continues to be normalized and embedded in our societies.
Also Read: Facebook supports COVID-19 health awareness and vaccine rollout in Bangladesh
UN Women Bangladesh is working with public and private universities to build the capacity of young women for creating positive content and counter misogynistic speech, she said.
“We thank Facebook for this partnership and hope it will help organizations working on women empowerment, human rights and marginalized populations to use digital tools more effectively and build a more inclusive community.”
Facebook regularly engages with civil society groups in Bangladesh and around the world to help inform its policies and programs.
This workshop is just one of its investments to build a safer digital space in Bangladesh, especially for women.
The company has plans to build on the workshop and work closely with organizations and community groups to increase their capacity and help create a more informed and responsible online community.
Also read:90,000 adolescents to get training on online safety
Last year, Facebook launched its flagship program We Think Digital in Bangladesh in partnership with the ICT Division, Ministry of Education and UNDP Bangladesh.
This global program helps people improve their digital capabilities and promotes responsible digital citizenship, as well as critical thinking and sharing thoughtfully online.
Law Ministry’s opinion on taking Khaleda abroad sent to Home Ministry
The opinion of the Law Ministry on allowing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad was sent to the Home Ministry on Sunday.
The document of the recommendation of the Law Minister was sent to the Home Ministry around 10 am, said Mohammad Rezaul Karim, public relations officer of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry.
On Wednesday night, Khaleda’s younger brother Shamim Iskander met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at his Dhanmondi residence and submitted an application seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment.
Also read:Khaleda tests negative for Covid
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia finally tested negative for Covid-19, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus.
“Madam (Khaleda) underwent the Covid test on Saturday and her report came out negative,” the BNP chief’s medical board member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain told UNB early Sunday.
Another physician of her medical board said, “Madam is still being given oxygen support though her overall condition marked a little improvement. Her oxygen level is coming down to 90 percent when there's no oxygen support,” he said.
The physician, wishing anonymity, said though the amount of fluid in her lungs has decreased, It's still being extracted from her lungs which is now a matter of concern.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 for the second time on April 24, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27 for a thorough health checkup.
She was shifted to the CCU of the hospital with shortness of breath on Monday last.
On April 28, a 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital a day after her admission there.
Also read:Khaleda’s fitness to go abroad to be assessed once permission given: Doctor
Khaleda Zia tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11 as eight people at her residence were infected with the virus. She underwent the second Covid-19 test on April 24 and her report was positive.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.
Besides, Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence was suspended as per section 114 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and now it will be examined whether granting her permission to go abroad is possible under the section of the CrPC.
On Wednesday night, Khaleda’s younger brother Shamim Iskander met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at his Dhanmondi residence and submitted an application seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment.
Also read:Law Ministry’s opinion on taking Khaleda abroad soon: Anisul
On August 27 last year, the government extended her release for six more months and it was extended again for six months on March 15 last.
On February 8, 2018, Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. The High Court later doubled her jail term.
Khaleda was found guilty in another corruption case the same year. Her party claims both the cases are politically motivated.
50 India returnees put in quarantine in Magura
Fifty Bangladeshi nationals who returned home from India through Benapole on Saturday night have been placed in quarantine in Magura district.
Joynal Abedin, officer-in-charge of Magura Police Station, said the India returnees entered the country through Benapole border on Saturday night and all of them have been brought to Magura district under the supervision of police and local administration.
Later, they were taken to government quarrrantine centers Eagle Hotel and Soikat Hotel.
Also Read:10 India returnees test negative for Covid-19: Chattogram Civil Surgeon
Before taking to the quarantine centres, the authorities concerned took samples for their Covid test and asked them to maintain health guidelines.
Besides, the local administration also declared Hotel Mandal International and the rest house of the Department of Youth Development in Magura district town quarantine centres.
Abu Syed, Medical Officer of Magura Sadar Upazila Health Complex, said, “The Bangladeshi nationals who returned from India hail from different parts of the district and they will stay there for 14-day quarantine and the health officials will check them regularly.”
Earlier, on Saturday, a confirmed case of Indian Coronavirus strain was detected in Bangladesh, says the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research(IEDCR).
"The Indian variant of Coronavirus was detected in a sample test at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. It has been published on Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data(GSID)," said chief scientific officer of IEDCR ASM Alamgir.
Also Read:445 India returnees kept at 11 quarantine centres in Khulna
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) DG Dr ABM Khurshid Alam also told the media that the Indian variant of Coronavirus has been found in Bangladesh.
The infected patients returned from India. They had been there for treatment, and now they’re staying in Jeshore,” he added.
Professor Nasima Sultana, additional director general of the institution, also confirmed the development at a press conference in the afternoon.
Shab-e-Qadr tonight
The holy Lailatul Qadr or Shab-e-Qadr, the holiest and most blessed night for Muslims, will be observed across the country on Sunday night with due solemnity and religious fervor.
Muslim devotees will spend the night seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of the country as well as the Muslim Ummah.
Also read:Largest congregation on Juma'atul Wida held at Hajiganj amid pandemic
According to the holy Quran, this is superior to a thousand nights as the Quran was revealed to the greatest Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) in this glorified night to show mankind the path of worldly and eternal emancipation.
The devout Muslims usually pass the night offering special prayers, recitation from the holy Quran, holding milad mahfil, zikr, and other religious rituals at mosques and in their houses.
They will also visit graveyards to seek divine blessings for the departed souls of their near and dear ones.
Global Covid-19 cases surpasses 157 million
Amid mass inoculation drive in many countries, Covid-19 cases crossed 157 million across the globe.
According to the data compiled by Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count reached 157, 266, 867 while the death toll from the virus mounted to 3,278,651 as of Sunday morning.
The US has logged 32,685,864 cases and 581,511 deaths from the highly contagious virus.
Also Read:Global Covid-19 cases near 157 million
Besides, India, which has been undergoing a devastating 2nd wave of coronavirus, has recorded over 4 lakh new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours till Saturday morning, taking the country’s total caseload to over 2.18 crore. With 4,187 new deaths, the toll now stands at over 2.38 lakh.
So far, India registered 21,892,676 caess with 238,270 deaths, as per the university data.
Brazil reported 2,202 more deaths from COVID-19 on Saturday, raising the national count to 421,316, the Ministry of Health said.
The ministry said that 63,430 more cases were detected, raising the nationwide tally to 15,145,879.
Brazil has the world's second highest COVID-19 death toll, after the United States, and the third largest caseload, after the United States and India.
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh reported 45 more Coronavirus related deaths with 1285 new cases in 24 hours until Saturday morning amid concern after the detection of first case of highly contagious Indian Coronavirus strain in the country.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said the new fatalities pushed up the country’s death toll to 11,878 while the mortality rate remained static at 1.54 percent.
Also Read:Covid-19: Bangladesh sees 45 more deaths with 1285 new cases
Besides, the DGHS said, 1,285 new cases were detected during the period after the test of 14,703 samples, taking the total case count to 772,127.
Also, the country's infection rate fell to 8.74%, which was 9.89% a day ago, according to the DGHS.
Bangladesh has so far carried out 5,613 ,979 nationwide tests since reporting its first coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and the first death on the 18th of that month.
Indian Coronavirus strain detected
A confirmed case of Indian Coronavirus strain has been detected in Bangladesh on Saturday, confirmed Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research(IEDCR).
The Indian strain of Coronavirus was detected in a sample test at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka and it has been published on Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), said chief scientific officer of IEDCR ASM Alamgir.
Also Read:Indian Covid Strain: Two more cases identified in Jessore
The new strain was detected in samples collected from recent India returnee passengers in Bangladesh.