bangladesh
Full-scale Covid testing at Dhaka airport starts Tuesday
The much-awaited RT-PCR labs to conduct Covid-19 tests for the departing passengers will go into full-scale operation at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Tuesday.
Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman announced this after launching the RT-PCR labs on experimental basis at the airport on Saturday.
Read: Covid testing at Dhaka airport to begin on Saturday, says health minister
State Minster for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Mahbub Ali, Secretary Mokammel Hossain and Chairman of Bangladesh Tourism Corporation Hannan Mia were, among others, present.
The United Arab Emirates has imposed a condition that the passengers travelling to the UAE will have to conduct Covid-19 test at the airport 48 hours or 6-hours before departing the country, said the CAAB Chairman.
“We have taken an initiative to launch the RT-PCR lab inside the airport with coordination of the Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, Health and Foreign Ministries and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) conducted a test operation today,” he said.
“If the test-run goes successfully, then we will inform the airlines authorities and for this we need 48 hours and we hope those will start full-scale operation from September 28,” he added.
There will be 12 machines installed at the 6 labs at the airport. At least 3-4.5 thousand people will be able to test at these labs every day.
Read: Covid in Bangladesh: 24 die in 24 hours, lowest since May 15
IU ‘D’ unit intake test on Nov 2
The 'D' unit intake test for the first year honours’ courses under 2020-21 academic session of Theology and Islamic Studies faculty of Islamic University will be held on the campus in Kushtia on November 2.
The admission tests of the university’s other faculties, will be held under unified entry test system.
Read: Islamic University waives transport, hall fees from period of Covid-19 closure
The decision was made at an emergency meeting of IU central admission test committee with its vice-chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam in the chair.
A press release, signed by IU acting registrar M Ataur Rahman, was issued in this regard Sunday noon.
The admission test will be held separately as there is no such subjects in other public universities, IU acting registrar said.
The regular classes and examinations of all departments will remain closed during the admission test, he added.
The uniform admission tests of 20 public universities will be held from October 17 to 24 across the country.
Read: Islamic University to start final exams from Sept 12
On January 23, 2020, the University Grants Commission decided to introduce a uniform entry test for all public universities across the country from the academic year 2020-21, aiming at reducing the sufferings of the admission-seekers and their guardians.
The universities that are taking centralised admission tests are Islamic University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Khulna University, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Jagannath University, Comilla University, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Jessore University of Science and Technology, Begum Rokeya University Rangpur, Pabna University of Science and Technology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Barisal University and Patuakhali Science and Technology University.
Truck driver, helper killed in Sylhet road crash
A truck driver and his helper were killed as a truck hit a stationary truck on Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Dayamir area of Osmaninagar Upazila in Sylhet on Sunday morning.
The deceased were identified as truck driver Kamrul Islam, 50, a resident of Golapganj upazila and helper Idris Ali, 42, son of Hanif Ullah of Nabinbagh village in Sonadanga upazila of Khulna district.
Read:Three killed in Netrakona road crash
Shyamal Banik, officer-in-charge 0f Osmaninagar police station, said when the driver and the helper were standing on the road after parking their truck roadside a stone laden truck from Sylhet hit the stationary one from behind around 5:40 am, leaving the duo dead on the spot.
The two vehicles were seized and handed over to the highway police. However, the driver of the killer truck managed to escape.
SP Md Shahid Ullah of Highway Police of Sylhet said the bodies were sent to MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital morgue.
Deep depression intensifies into Cyclone ‘Gulab’; Rain likely across country
Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely at many places in the country as the deep depression over East Central Bay and adjoining Northeast Bay intensified into cyclonic storm ‘Gulab’.
“The deep depression moved westwards and intensified into cyclonic storm ‘Gulab’ over Northwest Bay and adjoining west central Bay”, Bangladesh Meteorological Department said on Sunday in a regular bulletin.
Read: Cyclone Gulab to hit India tonight
“Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur one or two places over Dhaka, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy falls at isolated places over southern part of the country,” it added
Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country.
It is likely to move West-Northwestards further. The axis of monsoon trough runs through Rajsthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Centre of the Cyclone to Assam across Bangladesh.
Monsoon is less active over Bangladesh and moderate over the North Bay.
Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.
Besides, the maritime ports of the country have been advised to hoist distant warning signal number two.
It was centred at 6 am on Sunday about 665 kms Southwest of Chattogram port, 630 kms Southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 525 kms South of Mongla port and 530 kms south of Payra port, said the bulletin.
Read: Cyclone ‘Gulab’: Warning signal 2 issued for maritime ports
It is likely to move in a West-Northwesterly direction further.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 54 kms of the cyclone centre is about 62 KPH rising to 88 kph in gusts or squalls.
Sea will remain very rough near the cyclone centre.
All fishing boats and trawlers over north Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution.
They are also advised not to venture into the deep sea.
Cyclone Gulab to hit India tonight; heavy rains likely in Bangladesh
Barely four months after 'Tauktae' and 'Yaas' hit India, another cyclone is likely to make landfall in the country on Sunday night -- the remnants of which could trigger heavy showers in neighbouring Bangladesh.
'Cyclone Gulab' -- meaning rose, a name given by Pakistan -- is expected to hit the eastern state of Odisha and neighbouring southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh with wind speeds of up to 95kmph, the Indian weather office said this morning.
Read: Cyclone ‘Gulab’: Warning signal 2 issued for maritime ports
"The Cyclonic Storm 'Gulab' over northwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal moved nearly westwards lay centred at 0530 hrs IST of 26th Sep, over northwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal about 270km east-southeast of Gopalpur & 330 km east of Kalingapatnam," it tweeted.
Global Covid cases near 232 million
The overall number of global Covid cases is fast approaching 232 million amid spread of Delta variant.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 231,517,674 with 4,742,776 fatalities as of Sunday morning.
The US has recorded 42, 940, 233 cases to date and more than 687,746 people have died so far from the virus in the country, said university data.
Read:Modi proposes common international travelling protocol, recognition of COVID-19 vaccination certificate at Quad summit
Brazil which has been experiencing new wave of cases since January, registered 21,343,304 cases. Brazil's Covid-19 death toll has also risen to 594,200.
India's COVID-19 tally rose to 33,624,419 on Saturday as 29,616 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry's latest data.
Besides, as many as 290 deaths due to the pandemic since Friday morning took the death toll to 446,658.
Situation in Bangladesh
Covid-19 in Bangladesh claimed 25 more lives, the lowest in four months, and infected 818 in 24 hours till Saturday morning.
The number of single-day Covid cases was recorded below 1,000 in May 17 last, logging 698 cases. The new cases were detected after testing 17,818 samples slightly raising the daily case positivity rate to 4.59 percent from Friday’s 4.54 percent, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Bangladesh saw its highest-ever 16,230 daily Covid cases on July 28.
The new numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 27,393 while the caseload mounted to 1,550,371.
Read:Narail school teacher and 5th-grader son contract Covid-19
Meanwhile, the fatality rate increased slightly to 1.77 percent from yesterday’s 1.76 percent.On Thursday, the country recorded the lowest Covid deaths of 24 since May 15 when the country saw 22 single-day deaths.
Besides, the recovery rate increased slightly to 97.41 per cent on Friday with the recovery of 965 patients during the 24-hour period.
So far, 1,510,167 people have recovered from the deadly virus infections, the DGHS added.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the daily case positivity rate remaining at 5 percent or below for 14 days is considered safe for mass unlocking.
However, Bangladesh eased its lockdown restrictions on August 11, even though public health experts had warned of Delta variant spread.
Cyclone ‘Gulab’: Warning signal 2 issued for maritime ports
The maritime ports of the country have been advised to hoist distant warning signal number two as cyclonic storm ‘Gulab’ over Northwest Bay and adjoining West-Central Bay moved westwards and now lies over the same area.
It was centred at 6 am on Sunday about 665 kms Southwest of Chattogram port, 630 kms Southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 525 kms South of Mongla port and 530 kms south of Payra port, said a special bulleting of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
Read: Maritime ports asked to hoist cyclone warning signal 3
It is likely to move in a West-Northwesterly direction further.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 54 kms of the cyclone centre is about 62 KPH rising to 88 kph in gusts or squalls.
Sea will remain very rough near the cyclone centre.
Read: Preparedness strengthened ahead of cyclone, monsoon season in Cox's Bazar: IOM
All fishing boats and trawlers over north Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution.
They are also advised not to venture into the deep sea.
Rohingya repatriation: Dhaka seeks ICRC role in creating conditions in Rakhine
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said ICRC should work more actively in Rakhine State with Myanmar authorities for creating a conducive environment so that the Rohingyas can go back to their homeland in a sustainable and dignified manner.
Dr Momen made the call when he had a meeting with Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in New York recently.
Maurer expressed gratitude from ICRC to Bangladesh, particularly to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her humanitarian gesture in providing shelter to the Rohingyas when they entered Bangladesh after being persecuted in the homeland by their own state machinery.
Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar district and Bhasan Char.
Bangladesh at the UN General Assembly reiterated that the crisis was created in Myanmar and its solution lies in Myanmar.
Also read: ICRC continues supporting protection of detainees in Bangladesh amid COVID-19
NDB membership to open new avenue of foreign financing: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has termed Bangladesh's membership in the New Development Bank as a time-befitting achievement that will open a new avenue of foreign financing for the country.
She said it will play a supportive role in achieving the country's development goals.
Bangladesh has joined the New Development Bank (NDB), a multilateral development bank set up by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS), as a member state.
The joining was confirmed after the country submitted its "Instrument of Accession" to the Brazilian government on September 16, said the Bangladesh Permanent Mission at UN Saturday.
Read: PM arrives in New York to attend UNGA
Choose Bangladesh as preferred investment destination: BGMEA president
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has invited foreign investors, including the Bangladeshi business community living in the US, to choose Bangladesh as their preferred and ideal investment destination.
"With consistent economic growth over the past decade; a large, young and vibrant workforce; strategic location, political stability, growing infrastructure, Bangladesh has emerged as an ideal place for investment," he said while speaking at the 12th Annual Business Summit as a special guest.
The American Bangladeshi Business Alliance organised the event in New York recently, said the BGMEA Saturday.
READ: BGMEA wants to increase RMG exports to Canada, promote positive image
Faruque highlighted the prospect of investment in different promising sectors, including high value-added and non-cotton textiles, spare parts, textile machinery, light engineering, ICT, leather, pharmaceuticals, ceramics and shipbuilding at the programme.
"Bangladesh offers an investment-friendly environment, with favourable fiscal and non-fiscal policies for the foreign investors; economic zones being established, mega infrastructures developed," the BGMEA president said.
READ: BGMEA chief invites Canadian businessmen to invest in Bangladesh
"So, I would like to encourage the US businessmen and the non-resident Bangladeshis in the US to explore Bangladesh more and make an investment," he added.