bangladesh
Man detained with 11 gold bars at Sylhet airport
A Bangladeshi national has been detained with 11 gold bars worth Tk 80 lakh at Sylhet's Osmani International Airport on Friday morning, Customs officials said.
The detainee has been identified as Md Ali Ahmed, 35, a resident of Ujan Meherpur Dorgarbazar in Gopalganj upazila of Sylhet. His flight from Dubai landed at the airport around 7am.
Also Read: Gold worth Tk6.5 crore seized at Dhaka airport
Md Al Amin, deputy commissioner of Customs at Osmani International Airport, said Ahmed was stopped for frisking as he was passing through the green channel.
"We found the gold bars hidden in a nebuliser kept in his bag. A case will be filed against the detainee," he added.
Gaffar Chowdhury to be laid to rest in Mirpur Saturday
Prominent Bangladeshi-British writer and columnist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury will be laid to rest at Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard in Mirpur on Saturday.
Gaffar Chowdhury's final journey will start from London in a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight and the body will reach Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11am on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque will receive Gaffar Chowdhury's mortal remains at the airport on behalf of the Bangladesh government.
Also read: Gaffar Chowdhury's body to arrive in Dhaka Saturday
His body will be kept at Central Shaheed Minar from 1pm to 3pm for the government to give a guard of honour and the people to pay their last tributes.
His Namaz-e-Janaza will be held at Dhaka University Central Mosque at 3.30pm and then the mortal remains will be taken to Jatiya Press Club (JPC) for the journalists to pay homage at 4pm.
Gaffar Chowdhury will be buried at Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard in Mirpur at 5.30pm.
Gaffar Chowdhury went to London in 1974 for his wife's treatment, thanks to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Also read: Gaffar Chy’s 1st Janaza held in London; body likely to arrive in Dhaka May 28
On May 19, the veteran writer died of a cardiac arrest at a hospital in London. He was 88.
The Bangladeshi-British community and other admirers paid their last respects to Gaffar Chowdhury -- best known for writing the lyrics of "Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano" -- following his first Namaz-e-Janaza held at London's Brick Lane mosque the next day.
Rain to drench Bangladesh in 24 hours
Showers are likely to drench all the eight divisions of Bangladesh in the next 24 hours, the Met office said on Friday.
“Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Rangpur, Rajshahi and Mymensingh divisions,” Bangladesh Meteorological Department said in a weather bulletin.
A mild heat wave currently sweeping through the districts of Pabna, Chuadanga, Khulna, Patuakahli and Bagerhat may abate from some places. However, day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country.
READ: Rains likely to drench eight divisions
As per the BMD forecast, showers may intensify in the next 72 hours.
The maximum rainfall was recorded in Rangamati district at 54 mm, while the maximum temperature was recorded at 37.2 degrees in Mongla district.
PM: Asia must combine forces for a better future
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said the Asian countries must combine their forces to help address their common challenges for betterment of future generations.
“The Asian countries have common development challenges and should face them collectively,” the premier said in a video statement at the 27th International Nikkei Conference on Future of Asia in Tokyo.
She said Bangladesh will always work with friends and partners to ensure a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous Asia for the future generations.
She placed five proposals where the Asian countries can best cooperate for the benefit of the future generations.
These include cooperation on best use of ICT, safeguard fairness and justice, sustainable and balanced development and establishing win-win international relations.
Also read: PM seeks international support for Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100
Hasina once again requested all to contribute and help in finding an amicable settlement of Rohingya crisis.
“We are hosting 1.1 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar. They must be sent back to their homeland in the Rakhine State of Myanmar in safety, security, and dignity,” she said.
Stressing the role of Asia in the world the PM said “It is imperative to ensure peace among conflicting countries by resolving differences through discussion.
Referring to climate change issues she mentioned that Bangladesh has been active and vocal on climate change action in all discourses, including at the recent COP26.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s development in the past 13 years and its UN-recognised graduation to a developing nation the prime minister said her government is taking various steps for smooth transition after 2026.
In this connection, she requested all, especially Japan and other OECD countries to extend the preferential facilities to Bangladesh at least until 2029 to help it attain the overarching goals of sustainable development by 2030.
Also read: PM: Let’s not forget climate crisis amid geo-political tension
“Bangladesh is at different stages of negotiations on FTA with several countries, and open to negotiating FTA and CEPA with other countries, including Japan,” she informed.
The PM said that Bangladesh, as rest of the world, was heavily affected by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
She said that before the pandemic in 2019, Bangladesh’s GDP growth rate was 8.15 per cent.
“In 2020, we could maintain a positive growth rate of 3.51 per cent followed by 6.94 per cent in 2021. We expect to attain over 7 per cent growth rate in the current fiscal year,” she hoped.
While tackling the impacts of the pandemic, she said her government could successfully manage the challenges of the pandemic relatively well.
She said Bangladesh’s efforts have been recognized in the Nikkei's COVID-19 Recovery Index for April 2022, where Bangladesh is ranked 5th out of 121 countries, and the best-performing country in South Asia in COVID management and recovery.
She told the conference that Bangladesh’s GDP is projected to grow to USD 465 billion, merchandise export income over USD 52 billion, remittance over USD 21 billion and per capita income at USD 2,824 in the Fiscal Year ending in June.
She said her government has made development pro-people and inclusive over the last 13 years.
Nikkei Inc., Japan’s largest business media group and the publisher of The Nikkei and Nikkei Asia, organised May 26-27 conference.
The Future of Asia is an international gathering where political, economic and academic leaders from the Asia-Pacific region offer their opinions frankly and freely on regional issues and the role of Asia in the world.
Dhaka's air quality deteriorates
The air quality in Dhaka has deteriorated again.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 166 at 10.45am on Friday, the metropolis ranked third in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.
Russia’s Krasnoyarsk and India’s Delhi occupied the first and the second spots, with AQI scores of 290 and 176, respectively, in the list.
An AQI between 151and 200 is considered 'unhealthy' for everyone and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, is used by government agencies to inform people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
Also Read: Dhaka's air quality turns 'good'
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
A report by the Department of Environment (DoE) and the World Bank in March 2019 pointed out that the three main sources of air pollution in Dhaka "are brick kilns, fumes from vehicles and dust from construction sites".
With the advent of winter, the city’s air quality starts deteriorating sharply due to the massive discharge of pollutant particles from construction work, rundown roads, brick kilns and other sources.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Two die as bike hits electric pole in Barishal
Two young men were killed after their bike dashed into a roadside electric pole at cruise speed in Barishal city on Thursday night, police said.
The deceased were identified as Sudipto Saha, 25, son of Uttam Saha and Antu Saha, 25, son of Dilip Saha.
The accident occurred around 11.15pm at Amtala intersection in front of Reneta office, said Lokman Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kotwali model police station.
Also read: Palestinians: Israel deliberately killed Al Jazeera reporter
"The one riding the bike list control of the two-wheeler, leading to the accident. While he died on the spot, the one riding pillion succumbed to his injuries at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital," he said.
The bodies have been kept at the hospital morgue for post-mortem, said the OC.
Also read: 3 killed as microbus plunges into Bandarban ditch
Global Covid cases top 530 million
The overall number of Covid cases has now crossed 530 million amid a rise in new infections in parts of the world.
According to the latest global data, the total case count mounted to 530,313,294 while the death toll from the virus reached 6,307,781 on Friday morning.
The US has recorded 85,570,755 cases so far and 1,030,775 people have died from the virus in the country, the data shows.
India's Covid-19 tally rose to 43,146,033 on Thursday, with 1,213 new cases registered in 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry's data.
Also read: Chinese mainland reports 80 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases
Besides, 18 deaths from the pandemic registered across the country since Monday morning took the total death toll to 524,525.
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh registered 28 new Covid cases in 24 hours till Thursday morning, taking the country's total caseload to 1,953,356, health authorities said.
With no new Covid deaths reported during the period, the total fatalities from the pandemic remained unchanged at 29,130.
The daily test positivity rate remained unchanged at 0.65 per cent as 4,326 samples were tested, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
On Wednesday, the country saw 30 new cases with zero deaths.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent. The recovery rate rose to 97.36 per cent as 195 patients recovered during this period.
In April, the country reported only five Covid-linked deaths and 1,114 new cases, while 14,100 patients recovered from the disease, according to the DGHS.
Among the five deaths during the period, two were unvaccinated patients 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.
Also read: WHO: COVID-19 cases mostly drop, except for the Americas
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.
Myanmar situation continues to remain unsafe for civilians: Bangladesh
Bangladesh is concerned that the situation in Myanmar continues to remain unsafe for civilians, especially for the ethnic and religious minorities such as Rohingyas, Ambassador Rabab Fatima has said.
While referring to the precarious security situation in Myanmar which is causing a delay in the repatriation of the Rohingyas, she also expressed concern about the denial of access to the UN and other humanitarian agencies in the country.
Ambassador Fatima was speaking at the UN Security Council (UNSC) Open Debate Wednesday.
She said the protection of civilians (POC) is an important national priority for Bangladesh, and the country remains committed to all efforts to strengthen it.
Convened by the US delegation as the current president of the Council, the debate focused on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.
It discussed possible practical measures that the UNSC can take in the context of denial of humanitarian access, and attacks against humanitarian workers, among others.
The Bangladesh ambassador said the protection of civilians remains a serious challenge in the context of ongoing conflicts, protracted humanitarian crises and growing forced displacement.
While humanitarian needs are soaring, access remains a major challenge.
Ambassador Fatima mentioned Bangladesh's commitment to the protection of civilians, and the role its peacekeepers play in fulfilling this mandate.
"Nearly 7,000 peacekeepers from Bangladesh are serving in some of the most challenging missions, providing security at civilian sites, ensuring unhindered humanitarian services, supporting delivery of health and social services, community engagement and empowerment of women and youths," she added.
However, the peacekeepers and the humanitarian workers are increasingly becoming targets of attacks, often fueled by misinformation and disinformation.
The ambassador suggested that the relevant UN entities develop effective communications strategies to combat this.
She also emphasised ensuring that the peacekeeping missions are adequately resourced and equipped to fulfil their POC mandates.
Ambassador Fatima also called for increased awareness of compliance with international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflicts.
She also stressed the importance of holding the perpetrators accountable for violations of international humanitarian law. "Targeting civilians, schools, hospitals, and humanitarian actors cannot be condoned under any pretext. These attacks must be investigated and accounted for."
Also read: FM urges UNHCR to expedite efforts at Rohingya repatriation to Myanmar
Road accidents claim 14 lives in 4 divisions
At least 14 people were killed, and 12 were injured in six road accidents in Barishal, Chattogram, Rajshahi, and Khulna divisions Thursday, according to police.
In Barishal city, a motorcyclist and a pillion rider were killed in a crash with a light pole at night.
Twenty-five-year-old Sudipta Saha died on the spot; Antu Saha succumbed to his injuries after being rushed to Sher-e-bangla Medical College Hospital, Lokman Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station, said.
In Sirajganj, five workers were killed and six others injured when a truck crashed into a mini passenger vehicle, locally known as Leguna, on the busy Hatikumrul-Bonpara highway in the early hours of the day.
The deceased Mukul Hossain, 35, Monir Hossain, 34, Makbul Hossain, 35, Abdul Halim, 45, and Haidar Ali, 40, were occupants of the mini passenger vehicle, Lutfur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Hatikumrul Highway Police, said.
In Bandarban, three people were killed and six others injured as a microbus with nine tourists aboard fell into a roadside ditch in Thanchi.
The deceased were identified as Md Monjurul Islam, 40, of Mymensingh, Md jaynal Abedin, 32, of Faridpur, and Md Hamidul Islam, 41, of Lalbagh, Dhaka, Rakib, sub-inspector of Thanchi Tourist Police, said.
In Khulna city, a 65-year-old-man was killed when a speeding truck hit him at Zero Point.
The deceased Bachchu, a retired banker, was from Masjid Lane, Darogapara of the city, Md Emdadul Haque, officer-in-charge of Harintana Police Station, said.
In Chattogram, three people were killed in road accidents in Anwara, Sitakunda, and Karnaphuli upazilas.
The deceased were identified as Dipankar Nath, 11, of Patiya, and Abdul Hamid, 28, of Karnaphuli, Iftekhar Hossain Munna, 28, of Sitakunda.
In Anwara, a speeding pickup van hit Dipankar while he was crossing the road, killing him on the spot, SM Didarul Islam Shikdar, officer-in-charge (OC) of Anwara Police Station, said.
In Karnaphuli, biker Abdul Hamid sustained serious injuries when his two-wheeled vehicle crashed into a truck in Charlakkhya.
Later, he succumbed to his injuries at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), Sadikur Rahman, inspector of CMCH Police Outpost, said.
In Sitakunda, biker Munna was killed after being hit by a covered van in Shitolpur, Nazmul Haque, officer-in-charge of Baro Aulia Highway Police, said.
Road accidents in Bangladesh continue to claim hundreds of lives every year.
As many as 543 people, including 81 children, were killed and 612 others injured in 427 road accidents in April, the Road Safety Foundation said in its latest report released on May 7.
The non-government organisation said 206 lives were lost in 189 motorcycle accidents, which is 37.93 percent of the total deaths.
Also read: 1,674 children died in Bangladesh road accidents in 28 months, says report
Over 4.18 lakh people affected by flash floods in 5 districts
More than 418,000 people have been affected in five districts of the country due to the flash floods, according to a recent report by the Needs Assessment Working Group (NAWG) in Bangladesh.
The worst affected are those living in the low-lying areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj districts, it said.
The flood situation has created an acute crisis of pure water, sanitation, food, shelter, and healthcare among the affected population, while also damaging the livelihoods of many.
Several areas have been left without power for days over the past weeks, and roads and communications have been disrupted due to floodwater.
Read: Richest countries damaging child health worldwide: Unicef
Though floodwater has started to recede in many areas, new challenges have emerged with the risk of a waterborne disease outbreak among the affected population in the aftermath of the floods.
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Secretary General Kazi Shofiqul Azam said: "Severe flash flooding is battering the lives of millions in Sylhet and Sunamganj; people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance."
Red Crescent teams are carrying out rapid assessment alongside relief operations, he added.