bangladesh
'Where’s my son?’
Among the family members and friends waiting in front of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s emergency room a father was wailing on Wednesday.
He lost his only son to an explosion that ripped through a commercial building in the capital’s Gulistan area on Tuesday.
“Where is my son? I have only one son. Where did my son go?” the father was heard crying in front of the DMCH emergency room.
Later, he was taken away by his family members from there before the child's body could be taken out of the emergency room.
Meanwhile, a short description was hung on the right wall inside the emergency room, along with a list of patients injured in the Siddique Bazar explosion.
According to the list, injured patients have been kept in ward numbers 100, 102, 103, 204, and the ICU, as well as in some other departments of the hospital.
Read more: Siddique Bazar blast: 2 bodies retrieved from debris, death toll now 19
Multiple injured people were seen inside ward number 100. Speaking to the Ansar members on duty and the relatives of the injured, it was learned that they were rescued from the rubble of the building that was damaged largely due to the explosion in Siddique Bazar.
While speaking to UNB’s Dhaka University Correspondent, Rubel, a victim of the explosion who was an employee of a shop in Siddique Bazar said the shop had four employees apart from him. Among them, Mainuddin was killed on the spot during the explosion.
Raju, one of the employees, was kept in the ICU of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Arman Hossain, the manager of the shop, was taken from DMCH to Azghar Ali Hospital. Meanwhile, Sunny, one of Rubel’s coworkers, was kept in ward no. 101 of the hospital.
At the entrance of the ward, UNB correspondent talked to another person named Sumon Ali. He was staying with his brother at the hospital. Sumon said his brother was working as a driver of a goods delivery van at one of the shops that collapsed.
Read more: Blast in Sidddique Bazar not from gas leakage: Titas Gas
His brother was there when the explosion occurred. He was rescued last night and brought to the hospital. Although his brother's physical condition is out of danger, he said that the backbone has moved quite a lot from the specified position.
A man named Ratan Mia was seen standing with a photo of his missing son, Abdul Malek (17), who used to work at a brick kiln in Savar’s Hemayetpur. He always used this route to travel to and from Hemayetpur. Malek has remained missing since the explosion occurred yesterday.
“Everyone asked me to look for him at the DMCH. But I couldn’t find him yet,” Ratan told UNB.
“He doesn’t have any mobile phones. I’ve tried calling my relatives. No one knows his whereabouts,” he said, bursting into tears.
Mohammad Rifat, a young boy, was standing next to Ratan Mia. He just passed Alim (HSC) from Tamirul Millat Madrasa in the capital.
Rifat came to the hospital after burying his father a while ago to receive financial assistance for the victims announced by the government.
Read more: Reason behind Gulistan blast to be known after examining samples: Rab director
His father was rescued from the rubble and taken home last night. But after some time, he was asked to bring his father's body to DMCH. The body was brought to DMCH and handed over to them within a short time. His father was then taken home and buried there.
Rifat said: "My father was the only earning member of my family. I have my mother and a younger brother at home.”
“I always wanted to study. But now I don’t know what to do next! I don't know what will happen to my younger brother!" he told UNB.
Earlier, at least 19 people were killed and over 100 others injured in a massive explosion in a 5-storey building near a BRTC bus counter at Siddique Bazar in Gulistan area of the capital.
Among the injured, 11 people have been undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
Read more: Sidddique Bazar blast: Shop owner ‘picked up by DB police’
Meanwhile, the government has announced financial assistance of Tk 50,000 each to the families of those killed in the explosion. Relatives are receiving financial assistance from a temporary tent set out by the district administration in front of the emergency gate of Dhaka Medical College Hospital by showing the death certificate of the deceased.
Woman killed as train hits her in Chattogram's Mirsarai
A 40-year-old woman was killed Wednesday when a train struck her in Chattogram's Mirsarai upazila, police said.
The deceased was identified as Nazma was from Hinguli union of the upazila.
"Locals said the accident occurred around 1:45pm as Nazma was walking along the railroad tracks. She died at the scene as Chattagram-bound Mohanagar Provati Express hit her while crossing the tracks in the Baroiarhat area," Sub-Inspector Khorshed Alam, in-charge of Sitakunda Railway Police Outpost, said.
"On information, we went to the spot and sent the body to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for autopsy," he added.
Student crushed under truck in Dinajpur
A 22-year-old girl was killed in a road accident in Bhushir Bandar area of Dinajpur district after a truck ran over her on Wednesday.The deceased were identified as Priti Rani Roy, 22, an honors 1st year student of Dinajpur Government College, daughter of Chatro Mohon Roy and a resident of Sundarban union of Dinajpur Sadar Upazila.Saiful Islam, sub-inspector of Dinajpur Highway Police Station, said that the accident occurred when the truck ran over Priti Rani Roy at Bhushir Bandar on Dinajpur-Rangpur highway.Locals seized the truck and handed it over to police, he added.
Sidddique Bazar blast: Shop owner ‘picked up by DB police’
The Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has allegedly picked up the owner of a shop that collapsed during an explosion in a building at Siddique Bazar in the capital on Tuesday.
The detainee is Abdul Motalib Mintu, the owner of ‘Bangladesh Sanitary’.
Mintu’s brother-in-law, Abul Khayer, told reporters on Wednesday that Mintu was picked up from Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) burn unit at around 3 am.
“He went to the Dhaka Medical College hospital in search of his shop employees. His manager, Swapan, is yet to be found. Two employees were admitted to the hospital,” Abulr Khayer told reporters on DMCH premises.
Read more: Siddique Bazar blast: 2 bodies retrieved from debris, death toll now 19
Meanwhile a DB official, who did not wish to be named, said Mintu was picked up by a team of DB's Lalbagh division. He is currently at the DB office in the capital’s Mintu Road.
“The explosion took place under his shop in the basement. That's why he's being questioned,” he told UNB.
At least 19 people were killed and over 100 others injured in a massive explosion in a 5-storey building near a BRTC bus counter at Siddique Bazar in Gulistan area of the capital on Tuesday .
Among the injured, 11 people have been undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
A four-member probe body headed by Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, director of Fire Service and Civil Defense (Operation and maintenance), has been formed to investigate the incident.
The committee has been asked to submit its report within five working days, said Shahjahan Sikder, Deputy Additional Director of Fire service and Civil Defense headquarters media cell.
Siddique Bazar blast: 2 bodies retrieved from debris, death toll now 19
A day after a deadly explosion in a 5-storey building in Dhaka's Siddique Bazar area, two bodies were recovered from the debris on Wednesday -- raising the death toll to 19.
The deceased were identified as Momin Uddin Sumon, 44, owner of a sanitary shop and his employee Robin Hossain Shanto, 20.
Mohammad Aktaruzzaman, deputy director of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, told reporters that they recovered two bodies from the basement of the damaged building.
“The rescue operation inside the building started in the afternoon after a dog squad identified the presence of the bodies,” he said, adding that the operation was conducted with heavy equipment.
Among the injured, 11 people have been undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
Read more: Gulistan building turned risky after blast: Home Minister
The explosion occurred around 4:50pm with a big bang on Tuesday at Siddique Bazar in Gulistan.
A sanitary materials shop on the ground floor of the building, Brac Bank office on one of the other floors and an adjacent 7-storied building were damaged but no building collapsed, Sikder added.
Visiting the spot on Wednesday, Home Minister Md Asaduzzaman said, “The five-storey building has turned risky and the whole building may collapse if pressure is created on it. So rescue operation in the basement should be started after creating a stable situation”.
A four-member probe body headed by Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, director of Fire Service and Civil Defense (Operation and maintenance), has been formed to investigate the explosion .
The committee was asked to submit its report within five working days, said Shahjahan Sikder, Deputy Additional Director of Fire service and Civil Defense headquarters media cell.
Read more: Gulistan blast: Death toll rises to 17
Govt negligence turns Dhaka into 'explosion-prone’ deadly city: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday voiced concern that Dhaka has become an 'explosion-prone’ and 'dangerous' city due to the government’s extreme negligence and mismanagement.”
“Explosions have been taking place one after another in the country for the past few days. These incidents are happening as there is no supervision of the construction work of the buildings or their maintenance,” he said.
Read more: Blast in Sidddique Bazar not from gas leakage: Titas Gas
In a brief address before launching a rally, the BNP leader said the government organisations that are supposed to monitor and inspect these buildings are not properly doing their duties as they are involved in corruption.
As a result, he said, there is no security in the buildings to prevent explosions and there is no system to prevent fire there.
“So, such terrible explosions are happening, leaving many people dead and injured. In fact, Dhaka has now become an explosion-prone and most dangerous city,” Fakhrul said.
Read more: Gulistan building turned risky after blast: Home Minister
He also bemoaned that the air in Dhaka city is said to be the most polluted in the world.
Besides, the BNP leader alleged that the wind of corruption has now completely engulfed Bangladesh.
Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club, marking International Women's Day.
The leaders and activists of Mohila Dal took part in the rally wearing purple sarees and holding purple balloons and placards with the photos of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
At least 19 people were dead and over 100 injured in a huge explosion in a 5-storey building in Siddique Bazar of Dhaka’s Gulistan area.
Read more: Reason behind Gulistan blast to be known after examining samples: Rab director
Earlier on Sunday, three people were killed in an explosion in a building in Dhaka's Science laboratory area while seven people were killed and many injured in another explosion and fire at an oxygen plant in Chattogram’s Sitakunda on Saturday.
Blast in Sidddique Bazar not from gas leakage: Titas Gas
Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company authorities have said that the blast at Sidddique Bazar in the city has no relation with gas leakage.
"Our findings from primary investigation indicate that the blast has no relation with any gas leakage," said Titas Gas director (operation) Selim Mia while talking to reporters following the visit of a team of his organisation to the blast site on Wednesday afternoon.
He said the Titas team has not found any presence of gas in the building which was partially damaged after the blast on Tuesday.
Read more: Reason behind Gulistan blast to be known after examining samples: Rab director
He said the team has examined the entire area but found no presence of natural gas.
"There was a gas-riser in the building, but it remained intact. Secondly, if there was any gas leakage, it would have led to a fire incident," Selim told reporters.
Earlier, at least 19 people were killed and over 100 others injured in a massive explosion in a 5-storey building near a BRTC bus counter at Siddique Bazar in Gulistan area of the capital.
Read more: Gulistan building turned risky after blast: Home Minister
Among the injured, 11 people have been undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
Three firefighting units resumed the rescue operation around 9 am, said Khaleda Yeasmin, duty officer of the Fire Service Control Room, around 11 am.
A four-member probe body headed by Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, director of Fire Service and Civil Defense (Operation and maintenance), has been formed to investigate incident.
Read more: Gulistan blast: Rescue operation begins for the second day
The committee has been asked to submit its report within five working days, said Shahjahan Sikder, Deputy Additional Director of Fire service and Civil Defense headquarters media cell.
AIIB partners with SWEEF in financing women’s economic empowerment in Southeast Asia
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has partnered with the Southeast Asia Women’s Economic Empowerment Fund (SWEEF) to finance small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Southeast Asia.
According to AIIB, some agreements were signed last week with AIIB committing up to USD10 million to the fund.
SWEEF is a closed-end private equity fund specialized in financing women’s economic empowerment by investing equity and quasi-equity capital into growth-stage businesses.
By partnering with SWEEF, AIIB commits to closing the gender gap, enhancing gender equality and maximizing the beneficial impact of its investments.
AIIB’s contribution to the fund is also expected to mobilize more private capital from future potential investors who seek to support gender-focused investments in emerging Asia.
“AIIB believes that investing in women—their professional development on an individual level, building capital for women-led SMEs on a corporate level and improving gender equality in the marketplace and in the workplace—ultimately contributes positively to the development of our society,” said Dong-ik Lee, AIIB Director General, Banking Department (Region 1).
“AIIB is committed to mobilizing private capital and resources for women entrepreneurs and supporting private equity funds dedicated to advancing women’s socioeconomic development”, he added.
Read more: AIIB approves USD 250mn loan for Bangladesh to fight COVID-19
To strengthen the investment’s contribution to gender equality, diversity and climate finance, AIIB has designed a sustainability-linked performance scheme where the fund manager's compensation is linked to three sustainability performance targets, namely (1) women-owned/led businesses, (2) demonstrated gender improvements over time and (3) climate disclosure.
“This project marks AIIB’s first impact investment in a gender-focused private equity fund and further contributes to building AIIB’s knowledge and capacity in gender-focused investments,” said AIIB Senior Investment Officer Thomas Walenta.
“With the main end-beneficiaries including SMEs from the healthcare and education sectors, the project increases the Bank’s exposure to social infrastructure, especially from the perspective of gender lens investing,” he said.
The issue of gender gaps in infrastructure investment highlights how women remain disproportionately affected by inadequate infrastructure and the lack thereof.
AIIB has been working to identify and promote possible solutions to reduce gender gaps in relation to infrastructure, such as the use of relevant metrics and data collection methods to adequately evaluate these gaps.
“This project—focused exclusively on women’s empowerment—is putting these considerations into action and is testimony to AIIB’s firm commitment to improving women’s experience and gender equality, more generally in terms of access, economic benefit and use of infrastructure,” said AIIB Investment Officer Danni Li.
The AIIB is a multilateral development bank whose mission is financing the Infrastructure for Tomorrow—infrastructure with sustainability at its core. It began operations in Beijing in January 2016 and has since grown to 106 approved members worldwide.
The AIIB has capitalized at $100 billion and Triple-A-rated by the major international credit rating agencies.
Working with partners, AIIB meets clients’ needs by unlocking new capital and investing in infrastructure that is green, technology-enabled and promotes regional connectivity.
Bangladesh reports 8 more Covid-19 cases
Bangladesh reported eight more Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours till Wednesday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,037,887 according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,445 as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity rate was 0.71 percent against the tests of 1,134 samples.
The recovery rate increased to 98.43 percent. However, the death rate remained unchanged at 1.44 percent.
Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and highest number of fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.
Bangladesh reports 1 more dengue case
One more people was hospitalised with dengue in 24 hours till Wednesday morning.
The lone patient was admitted to a hospital in Dhaka, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Twenty-nine dengue patients, including 15 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
So far, the DGHS has recorded 769 dengue cases, 731 recoveries, and nine deaths this year.
The country logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019. Also, it recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries last year.