bangladesh
4 members of fraud gang held in city
Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) have detained four members of a fraud gang from the city’s Mirpur and Motijheel areas.
The detainees were identified as the ringleader Md Helal Uddin, 51, and his associates Md Mofizul Islam alias Lebu, 47, Md Khandakar Maruf, 37, and Md Abdul Quader alias Raju, 29.
Tipped off, a team of Rab-3 conducted drives in the areas and detained them on Tuesday night, said Additional Police Super and Assistant Director (Ops & Int Branch) Bina Rani Das.
During primary interrogation, the detainees confessed that they embezzled around Tk 2 crore from around 50 job seekers alluring them of providing government jobs introducing themselves as policemen in last five years.
Legal steps will be taken against the detainees, the official added.
Bangladeshi women choosing trained midwives for safe childbirth: Studies
Studies show that over last three years Bangladeshi women chose trained midwives for safe childbirth.
Evidence shows midwifery education in Bangladesh is making real impact by improving women’s access to safe childbirth.
In association with the British High Commission in Bangladesh, the Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery (DGNM) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) organised a dissemination seminar on Wednesday at the auditorium of DGNM in Dhaka, to share findings of two studies on midwifery in Bangladesh.
Those two independent studies focused on the lessons learnt while strengthening midwifery in Bangladesh, and pathways to women’s empowerment through midwifery education.
The findings indicate that the UK Government’s support helped the Government of Bangladesh increase deployment and utilize the diploma holder midwives which greatly improved women’s access to safe childbirth, over the last three years.
In 2021, the midwives, deployed in 403 Upazila Health Complexes (UzHCs), conducted 87 per cent of the total deliveries at those UzHCs. In 2018, the percentage was only 24.
The studies also found that the existing midwifery education in Bangladesh is effective and contributing to sharpen the social and counselling skills, and improve interpersonal communications of midwives while attending any service recipients.
In contrast to the traditional birth attendants, the trained midwives are able to provide more institutional support to use technology-based tools for child delivery, which makes midwifery in Bangladesh more trustworthy to service recipients.
The curriculum on midwifery education helps midwives immensely in taking vital decisions when a situation is critical.
Russia's war kills 2 Ukrainian children everyday: Unicef
At least two children have been killed every day with many more injured, nearly 100 days since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).
The UN agency Wednesday said most of the victims were from "attacks using explosive weapons in populated areas."
Also read:Bangladesh number 1 recipient of COVID-19 vaccines under COVAX: UNICEF
The scale and speed of the emergency in Ukraine have not been seen since World War Two, Unicef said in a statement, which estimated that 5.2 million children there now need humanitarian assistance; 3 million inside the country and more than 2.2 million in refugee-hosting countries.
As intense artillery exchanges continue between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the eastern Donetsk and amid reports that Russian troops now control much of the city of Sievierodonetsk, the UN agency said, almost two in three children in Ukraine have been displaced by fighting.
"Civilian infrastructure on which children depend continues to be damaged or destroyed," Unicef added. "This so far includes at least 256 health facilities and one in six Unicef-supported 'Safe Schools' in the country's east. Hundreds of other schools across the country have also been damaged."
Also read: Richest countries damaging child health worldwide: Unicef
In addition to the trauma of fleeing their homes, children fleeing violence faced a significant risk of family separation, abuse, sexual exploitation and trafficking.
"These children urgently need safety, stability, child protection services, and psychosocial support – especially those who are unaccompanied or have been separated from their families. More than anything, they need peace," the UN agency said.
Comment on ‘nomination trade’: Janipop chairman, 2 others sued under DSA
A case has been filed against three people including Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, chairman of election observation group Janipop, under the Digital Security Act (DSA) over their comments involving an Awami League candidate in the Cumilla City Corporation (CCC) elections.
Convener of Cumilla City Jubo League Abdullah Al Mahmud Shahid filed the case with Cyber Tribunal Judge Zahirul Kabir on Wednesday.
The two other accused are- BNP chairperson's adviser and former MP Monirul Haque Chowdhury and host of UK-based YouTube channel ‘Table Talk UK’ Hasina Akhtar.
READ: HC stays trial against journo Kajol in 3 cases under DSA
The court directed the Cyber Crime Unit of police to investigate the allegations and submit a report by July 12, said plaintiff's lawyer Advocate Iftekhar Simul Chowdhury.
As per the statement, Kalimullah commented in a recent talk show on YouTube that AL candidate in the Cumilla City Corporation election, Arfanul Haque Rifat, bought the nomination spending Tk 13 crore first, then Tk 20 crore, and finally Tk 60 crore.
The discussion was aired on YouTube on May 22 where Kalimullah and two others took part there.
The plaintiff also alleged that the accused have tarnished their long standing political reputation by presenting such false information.
Cumilla City Corporation elections will be held on June 15.
AL profiteers’ foul play behind rice price hike: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday alleged that the price of rice is increasing again due to foul play of the ruling party 'swindlers'.
“The price of rice has started rising again. It’s supposed to come down during this full Boro harvesting season. But the price is going up again. There’s a foul play again,” he said.
Speaking at a seminar he said “The price is increasing due to the machinations of Awami thieves and looters. Their goal is to make a quick buck by cutting the pockets of the common people.”
Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal arranged the seminar titled ‘Agricultural Revolution in Bangladesh: Martyred President Zia's Policies and Programs' at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 41st death anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.
Bangladesh Agricultural University Professor Golam Hafeez Kennedy presented the keynote paper at the seminar highlighting various steps taken by Zia for the development of agriculture.
Fakhrul deplored that ruling party leaders often make indecent comments about Ziaur Rahman as they want to remove his name from the country’s history.
“The information minister said yesterday (Tuesday) that he (Zia) was a traitor and killer. I don't know whether he (minister) was born at that time,” he taunted.
The BNP leader also said the information minister’s comment has manifested his culture and trait. “We never underestimate their leaders. Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia have taught us this culture.”
READ: BNP, Biplobi Workers Party agree to oust govt thru movement: Fakhrul
He alleged that the ruling party leaders always make offensive comments about BNP and the national leaders. “The way Mr Obaidul Quader (AL general secretary) issued a threat yesterday (Tuesday)) this is not the language of politics and this is not the language of democracy.”
Fakhrul urged the Krishak Dal leaders to unite the framers across the country to wage a movement for overcoming the current situation in the country.
Rains to drench Bangladesh
A reprieve from the sweltering summer heat is on the way, as showers are likely to drench the eight divisions of Bangladesh in the next 24 hours, the weather department said Wednesday.
Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions; at a few places over Rangpur division and at one or two places over Rajshahi division with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
The highest temperature today was recorded at 36.7 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi district, while the minimum temperature was 23.5 degrees in Chattogram's Sitakunda.
The weather department recorded 29mm of rainfall – the highest – in Sylhet district in the last 24 hours till 6pm Wednesday.
READ: Rains to lash eight divisions
Day temperature may fall slightly over the eastern part of the country, and it may remain nearly unchanged elsewhere.
Night temperature may remain nearly unchanged, the BMD said.
6 held with gold bars worth Tk 13.58 cr in Jashore
Six people were arrested along with 135 gold bars worth Tk 13.58 crore from Benapole border area in Jashore early Wednesday.
The arrestees are Zahidul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Arif Miaji, Shahjalal, Abu Hayat Jonny and Rabiul Islam Rabbi.
READ: Man detained with 34 gold bars at Chattogram airport
Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB)seized the gold bars weighing 16 kgs from a private car used for smuggling, said a media release of BGB.
The arrestees were trying to smuggle the gold bars from Dhaka to India, said Jashore 49 BGB Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Shahed Minhaj Siddiqui at a press briefing.
9 more dengue cases confirmed
Bangladesh reported nine more dengue – a viral infection – cases in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning.
All the new patients were admitted to Dhaka hospitals at that time, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Forty-nine dengue patients are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the capital.
In 2022, the DGHS has recorded 361 dengue cases and 312 recoveries so far. However, it has not yet reported any death from the mosquito-borne viral disease.
Dengue – a leading cause of serious illness and death in some Asian and Latin American countries – was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000 and claimed 93 lives. In three years, the fatality number almost fell to zero.
However, 105 dengue patients, including 95 in Dhaka division, died in 2021.
About 4 billion people, almost half of the world's population, live in areas with a risk of dengue, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Each year, up to 400 million people get infected with dengue while approximately 100 million get sick from infection, and 40,000 die from severe dengue, it says.
Because there are four different dengue viruses, a person can be infected by the virus up to four times in their life.
READ: Bangladesh sees rise in Dengue cases: 18 more cases confirmed
The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, aches and pains and a rash.
"There is no specific treatment for dengue or severe dengue. Early detection of disease progression associated with severe dengue, and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates of severe dengue to below 1 percent," according to the World Health Organization.
‘Louder than Words’ launched as part of youth activism to eliminate early, forced marriage
Stronger youth activism engaging traditional and religious leaders can eliminate Child, Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM), a global human rights issue disproportionately affecting girls, said Plan International on Wednesday.
“Each story of grassroots redemption speaks louder than words. These are stories of actions that have led to many small yet significant victories in this perpetual battle of right against might. As we’re exploring these accounts of struggle, familiarity emerges of well-known settings, characters, plots and tensions – it’s how a story resolves and ends that we need to influence,” said Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Asia Pacific and Gender Transformative Policy & Practice, Plan International.
“At first, the villagers didn’t take my initiative very well. They didn’t pay attention to my words. But I didn’t lose hope. I have continued advocating against child marriage whenever I find some free time in between my studies,” shared Sweeti from Bangladesh who is a passionate and influential advocate and vocal promoter of issues relating to child marriage and girls' health.
Sweeti and several other girls and stakeholders across the region featured in 20 stories of this collection.
They are bold change makers who do not back down but stand strong alongside Plan International in their fight against CEFM, demanding a better present and future for themselves and other youth.
These stories of grassroots redemption prove that tales of tragedy can also become tales of survival and triumph.
The international development organisation urged the use of digital technology, cyber platforms and online solutions, as well as promoting accessible and quality gender-responsive services that can be used to promote effective strategies to eliminate CEFM, as well as to prevent and reduce adolescent pregnancies in Asia-Pacific, including Bangladesh.
Plan International came up with the urge as they launched a collection of testimonies titled “Louder than Words”.
READ: 16 Days of Activism: USAID workshop highlights empowering women journalists
It is a collection of testimonies reflecting girls’ and boys’ activism in collaboration with Plan International in tackling and challenging root-causes of CEFM to prevent this harmful practice and achieve girls’ empowerment and equality.
The testimonies promote, celebrate and highlight the regional efforts to prevent and end CEFM that has evolved into a regional initiative called Time to Act!
Child marriage frequently leads to serious negative consequences, denying millions of girls the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
By 2030, globally more than 800 million women may have suffered the consequences of child marriage, up from more than 650 million today.
Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 34 cases, zero death
Bangladesh registered 34 new Covid cases in 24 hours till Wednesday taking the country's total caseload to 1,953,541.
The country's total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,131 as no death was reported during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily test positivity rate increased to 0.63 percent from Tuesday's 0.61 percent as 5,353 samples were tested.
The country on Tuesday saw 26 cases with zero death.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 percent. The recovery rate rose to 97.42 percent as 357 patients recovered during this period.
In May, the country reported only four Covid-linked deaths and 816 new cases, while 7,356 patients recovered from the disease, according to the DGHS.
READ: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 26 cases, zero death
Among the four deaths during the period, one was vaccinated with single dose of Covid vaccine while three were vaccinated with two doses.
The country reported its first zero Covid death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 cases, since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020.
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest positivity rate of 33.37 per cent.
The country registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.