bangladesh
Covid kills 41 more, infects 1,953 in Bangladesh
With Bangladesh trying to get back to the normal life reopening of educational institutions, Covid claimed 41 more lives and infected 1,953 more in 24 hours till Monday morning.
The new cases were detected after testing 25,3888 samples, slightly pushing up the daily case positivity rate to 7.69% from Sunday’s 7.46%, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 26,972 while the cases reached 15,32,366, the DGHS said.Besides, the recovery rate rose to 96.77% with the recovery of 4,112 more people.
Also read: COVID-19 Third Wave: Things We Need to Know
India assured Bangladesh of stopping border killing, says Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said the Indian government has assured Bangladesh that there will be no more killing along the border.
“There have been several meetings on border killings. The Indian government has promised that there’ll be no more killing along the border…they’ll keep their assurance,” he said.
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, came up with the remarks while speaking at a press briefing at his residence.
Also read: No crime, no border killing: Jaishankar
He said the independence and sovereignty of the country is safe only in the hands of Awami League.
Bangladesh to host trade & investment summit on Oct 26-Nov 01
The Ministry of Commerce and the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) will jointly host a weeklong virtual international business summit titled “Bangladesh Trade & Investment Summit” from next October 26 to November 1.
The objective of the summit will be to promote Bangladesh as an attractive trading and FDI destination to global businesses, to extend global integration on trade and investment into the new global reality and to secure investment in diverse priority and emerging industries for mutual benefits.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the Summit on October 26 as the chief guest, said a DCCI release.
Also read: Bangladesh economy suffered due to Covid pandemic: DCCI Webinar
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will extend all possible support to successfully host the weeklong virtual summit arranged to celebrate the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of independence of Bangladesh.
Foreign Affairs Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen assured of his fullest cooperation to DCCI President Rizwan Rahman at a meeting held at the Foreign Ministry on Sunday.
With the theme ‘Connecting the Economy of Tomorrow,’ the meeting will discuss 9 sectors underscoring critical enablers and avenues of the economy, demanding massive investments especially in Infrastructure (physical, logistics & Energy), IT/ITES & FINTECH, Leather Goods, Pharmaceuticals, Automotive & Light Engineering, Plastic Products, Agro & Food Processing, Jute & Textiles, FMCG and Retail Businesses.
Hundreds of entrepreneurs from more than 50 countries of five major regions --Americas, Europe, Middle East & West Asia, Asia & Pacific and Africa-- are expected to join for Business to Business (B2B) matchmaking sessions every day.
Also read: Vaccination for all to help achieve GDP target: DCCI
There will be a series of sector specific webinars where dignitaries, ministers, high government officials, researchers, think tanks, economists, policy makers and academicians both from home and abroad will join. More than 160 B2B sessions are expected to be held with the participation of over 320 business entrepreneurs.
In Sunday's meeting, Dr Momen said it would be a very timely initiative to highlight the readiness of Bangladesh to lure foreign investments. Not only the foreign investors but also the Bangladeshi diaspora living abroad have keen interest to invest in their motherland, he said.
DCCI President Rizwan Rahman said despite the Covid crunch, Bangladesh has registered a remarkable 5.47 per cent GDP growth in FY2021. The confidence of the global investors in Bangladesh has increased as some bold and strategic reforms are consistently being taken considering the changing geo-economic dynamics and private sector needs.
He sought cooperation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to disseminate the summit information to businesses around the globe through all its diplomatic missions in foreign countries.
Ehsan Group chairman, 3 brothers remanded in embezzlement case
A Pirojpur court on Monday placed Chairman of Ehsan Group Ragib Hasan and three of his brothers on a seven-day remand in a case filed over alleged embezzlement of Tk 17,000 crore from thousands of small investors.
The remand order was passed by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Md Mohiuddin.
On September 9, Harun ur Rashid, one of the affected clients, filed a case against Ragib and his brothers at Pirojpur Sadar Police Station accusing them defrauding thousands of people using their religious faith and misappropriating crores of taka collected from the investors.
Also read: Owner of e-orange.shop, 2 others placed on 5-day remand
On September 10, RAB members arrested Ragib Ahsan and his brother Abul Bashar from Dhaka while two other brothers Mufti Maulana Mahmudul Hasan and Md Khairul Islam were arrested in Pirojpur.
According to official sources, Ragib, once an Imam of a mosque, joined a Multi-Level-Marketing (MLM) company and he set up Ehsan Group of Companies in 2010 based in Pirojpur
Starting with a real estate company first, he later formed 17 firms under the group’s name.
Many cases were filed against the group on charges of embezzlement of money from thousands of people promising to run the company according to Islamic Shariah law and offering them a high profit.
Also read: 6 DB officials in remand suspended
JaPa MP Prof Masuda Rashid Chowdhury dies
Professor Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury, a Jatiya Party presidium member and an MP from a reserved seat for women, died early Monday at a city hospital. She was 70.
Masuda, also a former teacher of Dhaka University’s Sociology department, breathed her last around 3am while undergoing treatment at Birdem General Hospital, said a Jatiya Party press release.
She had been suffering from various health complications, it said.Masuda left behind one son and a daughter and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn her demise.
Also read: JaPa not to compromise on HR issues: GM Quader
Her first namaz-e-janaza was held on the premises of her Moghbazar residence after Zohr prayers while the second janza in front of Jatiya Party’s Kakrail central office after Asr prayers today (Monday).
The third janaza of the late female MP will be held at Chittagong city's Laldighi Maidan after Zohr prayers on Tuesday and her fourth and final janaza will be held at Gohira village in Raujan after Asar prayers. Later, she will be buried at her family graveyard in the same village.
Meanwhile, Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader, Secretary General Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu and Opposition Chief Whip Mashiur Rahman Ranga expressed deep shock at her death.In separate condolence messages, they prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Also read: Eric announces new JaPa committee making Raushon chairman
New curricula in schools, colleges from 2023: Dipu Moni
Education Minister Dipu Moni on Monday said the government has decided to introduce new curricula in schools and colleges from 2023, removing the divisions of science, arts and commerce up to class X.
“Piloting of the new curricula in class one at primary level and class VI in secondary education level will begin next year,” she said.
The Education Minister revealed this information at a press briefing on the National Curricula Framework presentation at the Secretariat.
According to the new curricula, there will be no science, arts and commerce sections up to class X, and they will be trained on technical subjects.
Read:World-class higher education necessary to build progressive future generation: Dipu Moni
“The new curricula couldn’t be introduced in 2021 due to Covid-19 pandemic. Now we’ll introduce it in 2023 and the new curricula will be introduced in all classes by 2025,” she said.
The government has selected 10 common subjects for all students up to SSC level and students will be allowed to choose optional subjects in class XI and class XII,” the minister said.
“There’ll be a piloting of new curricula in 100 educational institutions of primary and secondary schools. The new curricula will be introduced for class one and class two while for class VI and class VII in secondary level in 2023. It’ll will be introduced for the students of class III, IV, VIII, IX in 2024 while for class V and class X in 2025,” said Dipu.
Read: No room to defy Covid norms at schools, colleges: Dipu Moni
Besides, three public examinations will be held under the new system. The class X students will sit for Secondary School Certificate(SSC) examinations, while the students will sit for two more public exams in class XI and class XII and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations results will be published based on the results of class XI and class XII.
But, there will be no examination up to class III, the minister said.
“The national curricula have been introduced from pre-primary level to class XII. Earlier, the primary and secondary level education was complexly separate. The aim of introducing the new curricula is to make a smooth journey for students from one level to another level and help them to cope up with the new level easily. We’re just trying to see the students not facing any problem at the new level,” she added.
Steps have been taken so that students can learn most of their lessons in their classrooms, said the Minister.
No CNG re-fuelling from 5 pm to 11 pm from Wednesday
CNG re-fuelling stations will remain closed during 5 pm to 11 pm peak hours of electricity supply everyday from September 15 (Wednesday).
The state owned Petrobangla took the decision following a resolution made in a virtual meeting of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources on July 19 this year.
Read: Introduce tracking system for LPG, CNG cylinders: Nasrul Hamid
The meeting was presided over by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid and attended by the prime minister’s energy advisor, said letter of the ministry.
Official sources said the decision came against the backdrop of the government’s decision to operate gas-fired power plants to generate electricity.
PM for further modernization of national education framework
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday underscored the need for modernizing the national education framework further to cope with the technology-driven competitive world.
She came up with the views while witnessing a power-point presentation on the draft outline of the “National Education Framework'' at her official residence Ganobhaban.
The Ministry of Education prepared the draft outline.
Sheikh Hasina said technology is advancing and Bangladesh must move ahead keeping pace with the advancement of the world and technology; and the country’s education framework needs to be a time-befitting one.
Mentioning that the education framework is being modernized following the policy of the government, she said Bangladesh must not lag behind as the world is advancing in terms of knowledge, science and technology.
Hasina expressed satisfaction over today’s presentation saying measures were highlighted there to make academic activities more attractive to students alongside teaching them on life and livelihood.
The Prime Minister regretted that the educational institutions had been closed for more than last one and half years due to the Covid-19 pandemic although online education activities continued during the time.
Also read: PM for regional development through cooperation
In this regard, she said, the children were deprived of enjoying their academic life and environment in educational institutions, including colleges and schools.
About reopening of the educational institutions, the PM hoped that the situation would get normal in the days ahead.
She said the government introduced pre-primary education to attract the children to schools through games and amusement.
Covid claims 7 more lives in Khulna division
Seven more people died of Covid-19 and 130 others tested positive in Khulna division in 24 hours till Monday morning, health officials said.
Of the deceased three died in Jashore, two in Kushtia, one each in Khulna and Narail, said Divisional Health Director of the health directorate Dr Jashim Uddin Hawlader.
With the fresh figures, the total fatalities in the division have reached 3,086.
The fresh numbers took the total caseload to 1,10,870.
Besides, 538 more patients recovered from Covid during this period.
In Khulna division, the first case of Covid-19 was detected in Chuadanga on March 19, 2020.
However, Khulna district has so far recorded 782 fatalities which is the highest in the division.
Arms case: Verdict against DGHS driver on Sept 20
A Dhaka court on Monday fixed September 20 for delivering its judgment in an arms case against Abdul Malek , a driver of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court-3 Mohammad Rabiul Alam passed the order after closing the law-point arguments in the case.
Earlier, on March 11, a court framed charges against him in the case. Abdul Malek pleaded not guilty and demanded justice when Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge K M Imrul Kayesh framed charges against him.
On January 11, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) submitted a chargesheet in the case.
Rab members arrested Malek from Turag area in the city on September 20, 2020 for extortion and running illegal firearms trade in Turag thana area.
Based on secret information, an operational team of the Rab-1 battalion conducted a drive at a 7-storey building at Kamarpara under Turag police station and arrested him.
One foreign made pistol, one magazine, five rounds of bullets, fake currency worth around Tk1.50 lakh, one laptop and one mobile phone were recovered from his possession.
He was allegedly involved in many illegal activities and made huge wealth by transferring employees of different departments through lobbying.