bangladesh
Opposition MPs slam mismanagement, politics in health sector
Opposition MPs on Wednesday sharply criticised the government for mismanagement in the health sector, particularly politics by physicians and high fees in private hospitals.
They came up with their harsh remarks while taking part in discussions on the Medical Colleges (Governing Bodies) (Repeal) Bill 2021 in Parliament.
In response to their criticisms of doctors for their involvement in politics, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque said all citizens have the right to do politics.
Joining the discussions, Jatiya Party MP Kazi Firoz Rashid (Dhaka-6) said BNP had formed DAB (Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh) and Awami League, coming in power, formed Swachip (Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad).
“We would have been happy had he (Health Minister) incorporated a provision in this bill that the doctors and scientists wouldn’t be allowed to do politics, but he didn’t,” Firoz Rashid said.
He said if the physicians do politics, what would be the job of politicians! “Meritorious students study medical courses. But get deprived of medical services if they do politics,” said Firoz.
BNP MP Harunur Rashid (Chapainawabganj-3) said the health system is still in a sorry state even after the 50 years of the country’s independence. “Now those who’re working in government hospitals are also doing business in private hospitals.”
He said so many private medical colleges were established. “Do the colleges meet the standards? How many students of the colleges can qualify BCS exams?” he said.
Read: Health sector officials and staff directed to refrain from divulging info
Future of Bangladesh very bright for its young people: S Korean envoy
South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun on Wednesday said the future of Bangladesh is very bright for its young people who are smart, talented and eager to make a better life and better future.
He made remarks while addressing a function held at the Embassy of South Korea.
Six winning teams of the "2021 K-pop World Festival Bangladesh" audition were awarded at the function.
The six teams are LXS, EXD, Lost Dynasty, Dxverse, Heaven's LAW, and Blue Poppers.
LXS, the first prize winner, received $1,000 and EXD, the second prize winner received $500.
Read: S Korean envoy shares historical documents with FM Momen
The ambassador wished the young winners’ dreams come true.
He told the young winners that if there is any message that Korea can give to the world, it is a message of hope and dream.
"K-pop stars such as BTS and Black Pink are giving a message of hope to the young generation around the world," he said.
The 2021 K-pop Bangladesh audition was held virtually between June and July with a co-sponsorship of Samsung Electronics in Bangladesh.
The works of the six teams were sent to the organizer of the 2021 K-pop World Festival in Korea who showed interest in the work of the two teams, EXD and Heaven’s Law.
Read: S Korean envoy discusses investment opportunities in Bangladesh
The organizer will select 10 teams for the final competition among those selected at the country level competition around the world.
The six talented teams of Bangladesh youths were selected among 142 teams who participated in the contest by submitting their K-pop performance video clips.
The Korean Embassy has been hosting the K-pop festival annually since 2015, but due to the corona pandemic, the festival was held virtually in 2020 and 2021.
Shefa Tabassum who had won the best prize for solo K-pop dancing performance
at the 2018 Changwon K-Pop World Festival in Korea participated in today’s ceremony as an Master of Ceremony(MC).
The video works of the six winners can be found at the Embassy's YouTube Channel.
ACC sues BRTA official for misappropriation of govt money
The Anti- Corruption Commission ( ACC) on Wednesday filed a case against an assistant director of BRTA, Noakhali for misappropriating almost TK 13 crore.
Muhammad Arif Sadeq, an official at commission’s public relations, told UNB that the case against Farhanul Haque was filed at Dhaka Coordinated Office,ACC-1 after the investigation.
READ: Following complaints, ACC launches drive against Jibon Bima MD
According to the case statement, Farhanul transacted TK 12 crore 84 lakh from November 5, 2012 to 2020 in an illegal manner through ten accounts in name of his mother and brother.
He operated their accounts in Standard Chartered Bank, UCBL Bank, Sonali Bank and IDLC.
READ: Tk 850-cr missing: ACC questions mid-level officers at Ctg Custom House
Farhanul joined BRTA as an assistant director on September 9, 2012.
Bangladesh receives 2.70 lakh AstraZeneca doses from Bulgaria
Bangladesh has received 2.70 lakh doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine as donation from the Bulgarian government.
The vaccine consignment landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by a cargo flight of the Turkish Airlines on Wednesday.
READ: Another batch of 634,920 AstraZeneca doses from Japan to arrive Saturday evening
A representative of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) received the vaccine consignment.
This indicates the joint efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
READ: Bangladesh to get 2.70 lakh AstraZeneca does from Bulgaria
Covid in Bangladesh: Daily deaths rise again as 51 more die
Bangladesh logged 51 more Covid-linked deaths and 1,901 fresh cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday, the country recorded 35 deaths, the lowest in around three months.
Today’s (Wednesday’s) numbers pushed the country’s Covid death tally to 27,058 while the caseload mounted to 15,36,341.
READ: Germany urged to waive intellectual property rules for COVID19 vaccines
The daily case positivity and death rates remained static at 6.54% and 1.76 % respectively, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
It added that the recovery rate rose to 97.02 % with the recovery of 3.873 more patients during the 24-hour period.
READ: Bangladesh on track to get 24 crore Covid jabs by April: Momen
Bangladesh keen to contribute to global productivity, finance networks: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said Bangladesh is looking for opportunities where it could contribute meaningfully to the global productivity and finance networks together with the Netherlands.
"Blue economy and the circular economy are avenues where we could imagine, envision and create more work," he said adding that RMG and leather products are Bangladesh's pride.
The Foreign Minister was addressing the 5th international conference on inclusive business as the chief guest.
Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DBCCI) and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation in Bangladesh hosted the event at a city hotel.
READ: Germany urged to waive intellectual property rules for COVID19 vaccines
Md. Sirazul Islam, Executive Chairman, BIDA attended the programme as the special guest.
Ismene Stalpers, Country Director, SNV Bangladesh, Kevin Teo, COO, AVPN, attended the event online as guest of honor.
DBCCI Board of Directors Md. Shahjahan Shaju, Vice President Md. Shakawat Hossain Mamun, Secretary General, Ataus Sopan Malik, Joint Secretary General Noafel Bin Reza, Director Finance, Md. Nazmul Haque, Shahid Alam, Director were present. Farzana Afser, First Lady of DBCCI and Managing Partner of TRIMOYEE were also present in the event.
Farhtheeba Rahat Khan, Team Leader, RMG Inclusive Business Programs, SNV Bangladesh delivered the keynote speech on the subject.
Jamal Uddin, Inclusive Business Consultant, RMG Inclusive Business Program, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation in Bangladesh led the panel sessions.
With the theme “Inclusive Investment for Poverty Resilient”, this year's conference aims to find solutions on how business inclusion could contribute to eradication.
The Foreign Minister said value is not intrinsic, it is contextual.
"The value of a commodity or even and idea depends on the way the actors in a given time and space perceive or conceive its value. It is thus important that we correctly identify the relevant parametric tests to examine and evaluate what matters to us. It is only with greater collaboration that our pay-off matrix becomes positive," he said.
Dr Momen said both the Dutch and the people of Bangladesh are resilient and have braved the inclement climates and survived.
"There must have been something common to both our nations which we can leverage for greater benefits to both and beyond," he said.
Dr Momen said the Netherlands is the seventh largest investor in Bangladesh in 2019. "The two-way trade has increased."
Md. Anwar Shawkat Afser, President, Dutch-Bangla Chamber, presided over the inaugural session.
Afser said that DBCCI and SNV are jointly working on this inclusive business concept to cooperate with Bangladesh to turn poverty into prosperity.
The sectors they work on energy and water, sanitation and hygiene are very important in context with our present demand.
READ: Bangladesh on track to get 24 crore Covid jabs by April: Momen
He thanked the people of the Netherlands, their prudent government leaders and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dhaka for their earnest cooperation for our country.
It came out from the discussion that the new challenges demanded for extra skills and knowledge in the supply chain and business has the potential risk factor to address those situations.
The new trends of the business in the changing world may create more opportunities in the supply chain to explore diversity and inclusion.
Bangladesh, Australia sign trade deal to boost economic ties
Bangladesh and Australia on Wednesday signed a framework agreement to open newer trade and investment opportunities between the two countries. The Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA), the first of this kind between Australia and Bangladesh in the last five decades, is expected to provide a platform for institutionalised economic interactions and open newer opportunities for trade and investment. Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and his counterpart Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan signed it at a virtual signing ceremony.A Joint Working Group will be formed under TIFA with due representations from relevant sectors and sub-sectors. The JWG is expected to offer a mechanism to take forward discussion to realise fuller potentials of trade and investment.While speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Tipu Munshi said, “I am profoundly happy that TIFA has been signed in the year while Bangladesh is celebrating Golden Jubilee of her Independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.” He said they would expect the TIFA to address all relevant questions including retention of the DFQF treatment for Bangladesh in the post LDC graduation, trade liberalisation, creating conducive atmosphere for greater trade in services and flow of investment.
Minister Munshi invited his Australian counterpart to visit Dhaka soon.Minister Tehan warmly accepted the invitation and promised to visit Bangladesh next year with a trade and Investment delegation. “The Morrison Government is working to energise and expand the trade and investment relationship between Australia and Bangladesh, to support jobs and business opportunities in both countries,”Tehan said. He assured Bangladesh of the continuation of DFQF treatment pending next review which is not scheduled in the foreseeable future."Australian has the potential to meet Bangladesh’s increasing education, training and energy needs. And we offer world class expertise, in agriculture and infrastructure development," he added.
READ: Dhaka seeks unity against vaccine inequity to accelerate economic recovery efforts
Bangladesh-Australia bilateral trade has grown six times over the past decade, reaching A$2.6 billion last year, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. RMG, agriculture, food and education services were key drivers of this growth. Despite not being an elaborate and legally binding agreement, TIFA can help add new tradeable items from both sides and facilitate bilateral trade and investment, MoFA said. Australia proposed to host the inaugural meeting of the JWG in early 2022.Bangladesh High Commissioner to Australia Sufiur Rahman and Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Jeremy Bruer also spoke at the event. High Commissioner Rahman said Australia can utilise Bangladesh as one of its major suppliers of manufactured goods. “Australia can see Bangladesh as the entry point to the sub-regional market of over 300 million people,” he added.
READ: Saifur behind macroeconomic stability in Bangladesh, claims BNP
The signing was witnessed by the Commerce Secretary, representatives from the two High Commissions, DFAT Australia, Ministry of Commerce and the Foreign Ministry.
DAP to be finalised by January: LGRD minister
The Detailed Area Plan (DAP) that will guide the future construction of buildings in Dhaka city, the use of land and demarcation of canals and flow areas is expected to be finalized in next few months, LGRD minister Tajul Islam said on Wednesday.
He made the remarks at a meeting of the technical committee on DAP held in the ministry’s conference room.
"In order to finalize the DAP, we have already met with all stakeholders such as urban planners and architects. If everything goes well, the DAP will be finalized and published in the form of a gazette by next December or January,” he said.
The minister agreed that many buildings with faulty designs have been constructed over the years tarnishing the beauty of the capital and putting the lives of its residents at risk.
He also conceded that many of such buildings were established occupying government lands and canals.
Read:Dhaka's skyline: DAP wants buildings not to get taller than 8 storey ones:
The minister warned that under no circumstances can these be allowed to happen again.
Buildings must be constructed in accordance with the design and building codes, he said adding that engineers and all other relevant authorities must play a proper role in ensuring the rules.
Detectives arrest fugitive drug dealer in Natore
A fugitive drug dealer wanted in several drugs-related cases has been arrested in Natore district, police said on Wednesday.
Mohammad Arif, who went into hiding last month, was nabbed by the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Tuesday night from Atua area of Boroigram police station in the district,
Arif faces several drug-related cases filed with different police stations in capital Dhaka, said Additional Deputy Commissioner of the DMP (media) Iftakhairul Islam.
Earlier on August 23 police detectives arrested a female drug dealer known as Parvin along with 220 grams heroin (brown sugar) from Rayer Bazar area of Mohammadpur in the city, Iftakahirul said.
Read: DB arrests suspected drug dealer in city
He said police investigation found that Arif was owner of the recovered heroin.
A case was filed with Mohammadpur Police station in connection with recovery of heroin in which Arif was also shown as an accused. Since then Arif was in hiding.
Police claimed that Arif has long been a wholesale heroin dealer bringing in the drug from the bordering areas of Rajshahi for sale in Dhaka city and elsewhere in the country.
60 illegal establishments evicted from Kirtankhola river banks
At least 60 shops set up along the Kirtankhola River illegally were demolished on Wednesday during in an eviction drive conducted by the local administration.
The drive was conducted along the river port and Banda Road area of Barishal.
Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, an officer of the river port in Barishal, said a list of land grabbers has been prepared.
A joint force comprising police, ansar members, river police and executive magistrate conducted the 2-hour drive that starred 11 am.
The power connection of the area was also snapped during the eviction drive.
However, the drive will continue, said Executive Magistrate of Barishal district Maruf Dastagir.