bangladesh
BRAC partners with govt’s Covid-19 vaccination drive
BRAC, a development organisation, has joined as a partner of the government's Covid-19 vaccination drive to accelerate resilience against the pandemic.
BRAC started managing vaccine administration in nine centres of Dhaka from Saturday with the help of midwives from BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health. It is also assisting the government in 3,214 centres at the union level across Bangladesh.
Read: BRAC gets regulatory nod to issue zero-coupon bonds
People aged from 25 years and above can get the jab by showing their national identity card (NID) between 9am and 3pm every day from BRAC-managed centres, said a press release by the organization.
The service will remain open till August 12.
The eligible must bring a photocopy of NID card or the vaccine registration card registered with the Shurokkha App to receive the vaccine.
The centres are offering vaccine doses only for those who have registered with the Shurokkha App but have yet to receive a short message service confirming the date of vaccination.
Read:One-third of female employed youths jobless as impact of Covid-19: BRAC
Only the first dose of the vaccine is offered from these centres and will mention the date of the second dose in the vaccine card.
Each of these BRAC-managed centres in Dhaka city can administer 350 doses per day.
Women, elderly people (over 50 years) and people with disabilities are prioritized in vaccination from these centres.
Dr Morseda Chowdhury, director of Health, Nutrition and Population Programme (HNPP) at BRAC, said, “We aim to ensure vaccine administration management in a disciplined way everywhere, including hard-to-reach areas. We believe a combined effort by everyone is essential in the fight against the pandemic.”
Read:Nine banks to collaborate with BRAC in Covid awareness and support
The nine centres BRAC is operating in the two city corporations in Dhaka city are: Nurer Chala Government School and Shaheed Turjo Primary School in Badda under the Dhaka North City Corporation, and councillor office in Paltan Community Centre, Dingi in Dhanmondi 8/A, councillor office in Dhanmondi Community Centre at Bhuter Goli on Dhanmondi Circular Road, councillor office in Hatirpool Kacha Bazar, councillor office in Shegunbagicha multipurpose complex, Fakir Chan Sarder Community Centre in Narinda, and MA Sattar High School in Demra under Dhaka South City Corporation.
Dengue surge in Bangladesh: 224 more hospitalized in 24 hrs
As many as 224 new patients were hospitalized in 24 hours till Sunday morning amid a growing concern over a spike in dengue cases.
Since August 1, the country has been seeing over 200 dengue cases every day adding worries to the already overburdened health sector with Covid-19 patients.
Read: BGMEA issues guidelines on prevention of dengue, chikungunya
Of the new dengue cases, 211 were reported in Dhaka while the remaining 13 from outside the division, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
According to the (DGHS), 946 patients are currently receiving treatment at different hospitals across the country. Of them, 900 patients were reported to be admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rests in other divisions.
Some 4,543 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January and 3,587 of them have been released after they recovered.
So far, 10 suspected deaths caused by dengue were reported to the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) but none of them had been reviewed and confirmed yet, said the DGHS.
Read:Dengue surge in Bangladesh: 204 more hospitalized in 24 hrs
Dengue fever was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000, claiming 93 lives that year. In the year that followed, the country learned to deal with the disease much better.
The fatalities had almost fallen to zero at one stage, before surging again in 2018, leading to the severe outbreak the following year.
Natore road crash leaves 5 people dead
Five people were killed when a pickup van overturned on Bonpara-Hatikumrul highway in Gurudaspur uapzila of Natore on Sunday noon.
The identities of the deceased are yet to be known.
Six other people including three children were also injured in this accident.
Read:3 killed in Gaibandha road crash
Locals said the accident occurred when a Dhaka-bound pickup van from Natore's Bonpara overturned after its driver lost control over the steering in Kachikata Mor area, leaving five people dead on spot.
Abdur Razzak, officer-in-charge of Gurudaspur Police Station, said fire service men rescued the injured and sent them to nearby Upazila Health Complex.
Rajshahi sees 18 more Covid deaths in 24 hrs
Eighteen more people died of Covid-19 and related complications at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Sunday.
Six of them died of Covid-19, while 10 died with symptoms of the virus and the remaining three due to post-corona complications, said hospital director Brigadier General Shamim Yazdani.
Read: 15 more die of Covid at Rajshahi hospital
Of the deceased, 10 were from Rajshahi district, three from Natore, two from Chapainawabganj and one each from Naogaon, Pabna and Kushtia districts.
Besides, 52 people have been admitted to the corona unit of the hospital in the past 24 hours. On the other hand, some 42 people were discharged from the hospital after recovery during the period.
Read: Rajshahi hospital logs 14 Covid deaths in 24 hours
Currently, 405 patients are undergoing treatment at the hospital which has 513 beds. Of them, 20 are being treated in the ICU, said the hospital director.
Of the admitted patients, 212 have tested positive for Covid-19, while 123 are with symptoms and 70 have post-Covid health complications.
Begum Mujib was a co-fighter of Bangabandhu, says Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said Begum Mujib was not only Bangabandhu's wife, but she was also the father of the nation’s lifelong co-fighter.
He said this while addressing a press briefing after paying homage to Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib at Banani graveyard on the occasion of her 91st birth anniversary this morning. He paid the tribute first on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and then for the Awami League, along with its central leaders.
Read: Five women receive 'Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib Award'
Quader said Begum Mujib had given inspiration, strength and courage to Bangabandhu during crisis and struggle from behind the scenes.
Tokyo Mission celebrates 91st birth anniversary of Bangamata
Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan Shahabuddin Ahmed on Sunday recalled the memory of Bangamata Fazilatun Nesa Mujib and said that she was the center of all inspiration for Bangabandhu.
"She remained as a shadow with Bangabandhu all through her life," said the Ambassador, adding that Bangamata was an ideal woman imbued with patriotism, dedications, sacrifices and farsightedness that new generation specially women should learn from her.
Read:Five women receive 'Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib Award'
Today is the 91st birth anniversary of Bangamata Fazilatun Nesa Mujib, wife of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The Embassy of Bangladesh in Tokyo observed the day with due respect at the Bangabandhu auditorium of the Mission.
No alternative to mass vaccination of apparel workers: BGMEA
There is no alternative to mass vaccination of the apparel workers to keep the operation of the factories uninterrupted and protect the country’s economy, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan has said.
He expressed sincere thanks and gratitude towards the government for bringing the workers of the apparel industry under the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
Earlier, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) requested the government to bring RMG workers under vaccination on a priority basis, considering them as frontliners who are working amid the pandemic to protect the economy of the country.
Also read: Take responsibility for Covid treatment of RMG workers: SKOP to owners
The BGMEA President requested all members and stakeholders involved to follow health safety guidelines, especially wearing mask to minimize the risk of Covid-19 infection and spread.
Vaccination of employees and workers of Mithela Group in Narayanganj has started, says BGMEA.
Nazrul Islam Babu, MP, Mithela Group Chairman Azahar Khan, Upazila Health and Family Planning Office Dr. Saima Afroz Eva and Araihazar Upazila Civil Surgeon were present at the vaccination programme that began on Saturday.
RMG factories to remain open amid 'all-out' lockdown: BGMEA president
The Mithela Group workers received the Covid-19 vaccines as part of the program launched by the government on July 18 to vaccinate apparel workers.
Who had planned Bangabandhu family's murder and why? questions Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday wondered why the August-15 carnage was carried out in cold blood and what the crimes of her father Bangabandhu, mother Bangamata and brothers were!
“One question always crosses my mind -- what actually had driven the killers to stage these killings, what were the crimes of my father, mother and brothers?” she questioned while addressing a programme arranged marking the 91th birth anniversary of Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib.
Read:Bangabandhu: Bangladesh’s liberator as proclaimer of independence
The theme of the day this year is ‘Bangamata: a fearless companion in the crisis and struggle’.
The prime minister joined the virtual programme from her official residence Ganobhaban, while other participants got connected from the Osmani Memorial Auditorium and Deputy Commissioner’s Office of Gopalganj.
She said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib and her brothers sacrificed their lives for peace and happiness and the independence and economic freedom of the nation. “But that Bangalees killed him, murdered him --why?” she said in an emotion-choked voice.
Hasina, the elder daughter of Bangabandhu and Bangamata, recalled that Bangamata contributed a lot towards advancing the struggle of independence with patience, courage and right and timely decisions and implementing those. “My mother contributed a lot to every movement.”
She also said Bangamata encouraged Bangabandhu throughout her life enabling him to devote himself to work for the country and the nation.
Mentioning that Bangamata always believed that every woman should receive education and attain financial solvency, the prime minister said, “She thought that only shouting for rights wouldn’t bring anything for the womenfolk. For attaining the rights, all women should take education and get economic emancipation to stand on their own feet…she had felt that very well.”
Hasina said Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib ignored her personal desires and demands in many ways to create a scope for Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to devotedly work for the country. Bangamata had no personal demand and never annoyed Bangabandhu with family matters.”
Read: Five women receive 'Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib Award'
Recalling the role of Bangamata in the country’s independence, she said Bangamata had taken the right decisions in various critical times in politics.
“When a matter of taking a tough decision came up in politics on various occasions, it’s very sad to say many of our senior and experienced leaders had failed to take the right decisions or about to take wrong decisions. My mother had taken the right decisions at the right time. Alongside dealing with family affairs, Bangamata used to take care of the families of the detained and ailing leaders, and arranged their treatment,” she said.
ASEAN countries urged to help expedite Rohingya repatriation efforts
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday urged the ASEAN member states to intervene in the Rohingya issue and help expedite their repatriation to Myanmar.
"For the last four years, there is no violence in the Rakhaine State, yet none of the displaced people of Myanmar returned to their homes mostly because of fear of uncertainty and trust defect," he said.
Read: Bangladesh receives $590 million World Bank financing to tackle Rohingya situation
Dr Momen was addressing a virtual programme on the occasion of the 54th ASEAN Day organized by ASEAN Dhaka Committee.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Haznah Md Hashim, High Commissioner of Malaysia and Chair of the ASEAN Dhaka Committee, Haji Haris bin Haji Othman, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam; Rina P. Soemarno, Ambassador of Indonesia; Aung Kyaw Moe, Ambassador of Myanmar; Pham Viet Chien, Ambassador of Vietnam; Panom Thongprayoon, Chargé d’Affaires, Royal Thai Embassy; Leo Marco C. Vidal, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of the Philippines; Sheela Pillai, Head of Mission of the Singapore Consulate, Dhaka; Foreign Ministry officials and diplomats from ASEAN member countries joined.
Dr Momen said ASEAN should work together to address their lack of trust and uncertainty and facilitate their safe repatriation.
The prolonged presence of such a huge number of displaced people entails serious ramification on the economy, environment, security, and socio-political stability of not only Bangladesh but the entire region including the ASEAN, he said.
Dr Momen said they need to make a tangible progress in terms of a safe, secure and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland, Myanmar.
Myanmar agreed to take back their displaced people from Bangladesh and agreed to provide them safety and security and also to create a conducive environment in the Rakhaine State for their return but the pledge remains unmet.
Out of a humanitarian consideration, the Foreign Minister said, Bangladesh is sheltering to 1.1 million Myanmar nationals who were forcibly evicted from their homeland.
Dr Momen said ASEAN is standing at a crossroad of previous success and future opportunities.
Read: Repatriation is the only solution, not integration: FM about Rohingya crisis
Bangladesh considers it crucial to maintain regional peace, stability and security if the region is to attain full potential, he said.
Bangladesh says it is willing to work with ASEAN for the betterment of the people of this entire region and attain the shared vision of future prosperity.
Bangladesh, being located between ASEAN and SAARC, provides a lot of opportunities and potentials to furthering trade, investment and wide economic relations with the ASEAN countries, Dr Momen said.
Bangladesh applied for the status of Secretarial Dialogue Partner of ASEAN, which if received, can add impetus in Bangladesh’s role in bridging these two important regions of the world.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) brings together ten countries with over 660 million people, about 9% of the world’s population, and a combined gross domestic product of more than USD 2.5 trillion.
Throughout the last 50 years, Dr Momen said, the ASEAN has transformed from a loosely constructed regional organization to one of the major players in the world encompassing almost all countries in Southeast Asia.
With its unique geographical location, Bangladesh can act as a “bridge” between South Asia and South East Asia acting as a gateway to the land locked countries of Nepal, Bhutan and Northeast India for the ASEAN countries, Dr Momen said.
The ASEAN Dhaka Committee (ADC) hosted the 54th ASEAN Day to commemorate the founding of ASEAN on 8 August 1967.
Under the national Chairmanship of Brunei Darussalam, the theme for 2021 is “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper”.
Read: Bangladesh against any idea leading to Rohingya integration: FM
Haznah Md Hashim highlighted the achievement of ASEAN, after 54 years since its establishment, in bringing peace and prosperity to the region, and that ASEAN has been working together in finding a sustainable response to the current pandemic.
She reiterated the significance of ASEAN-Bangladesh relations, and that the ADC will continue to play an active and constructive role as the bridge for the ASEAN Member States in engaging the host government.
Bangabandhu: Bangladesh’s liberator as proclaimer of independence
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque has said a vested quarter made evil efforts to outshine Bangabandhu’s long struggle for the country’s Liberation War with a false campaign about the proclamation of independence by Ziaur Rahman.
“This is unfortunate that a false campaign was carried out about the proclamation of the country’s independence after Bangabandhu’s assassination in 1975,” he said.
Read:History has forgotten those who tried to erase Bangabandhu, says Quader
Speaking at a webinar on Saturday night, the minister also said Ziaur Rahman had just read out the proclamation of independence on March 27. “But an effort was made to undermine Bangabandhu’s struggles of 24 years for the country's independence through it (false campaign about the proclamation of independence.”
Out of his 24 years’ struggle, he said, Bangabandhu had been in jail for nearly 14 years and he gradually created the ground for the Liberation War through different movements and programmes. “Who did give Zia the right to declare independence? People gave only Bangabandhu the authority, right and mandate to proclaim the independence through casting their votes in the 1970 general election.”
The virtual programme titled ‘Bangabandhu, Bangladesh and the Young Generation' was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Better Bangladesh Foundation (BBF) on Saturday night. BBF Founding Chairman Prof Masud A Khan moderated the webinar.
Mozammel said Bangladesh and Bangabandhu have become synonymous – a single identical symbol to people. “He engaged himself in serving people since his childhood. The day Pakistanis denied Bengali, the mother language of 56 percent of people of the country, the young student leader, Sheikh Mujib, realised that we got Punjabi exploiters after getting rid of the British rule.”
He said Sheikh Mujibur Rahman first thought of liberating the country through founding Chhatra League on January 4, 1948.
The minister said Awami League under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won the general election on December 7, 1970.
“With this election, the Bengali nation gave Bangabandhu the unilateral mandate to lead the country and raise voice in favour of them. He then prepared the nation and finally proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh in the early hours of March 26. People joined the war responding to his call and liberated the country through a nine-month-long battle,” he said.
Read:Second photo exhibition on life, legacy of Bangabandhu begins in Seoul
Mozammel urged the young generation to know the history and the objectives of the country’s Liberation War and work for materialising Bangabandhu's dream of building a hunger- and poverty-free 'Sonar Bangla'.
Bangladesh Bank’s former Governor Dr Atiur Rahman said Bangabandhu inspired the young generation to liberate the country under his able leadership. ”The average age of our freedom fighters was 21-22, and 78 percent of them were the children of farmers.”
He said Bangabandhu thought about the welfare of the young generation throughout his life. “He had great feelings for the youth. He was the leader who could transmit energy among the youth.”
Dr Atiur said Bangabandhu was the heart of Bangladesh and this heart was torn out on August 15, 1975, “The killers had thought the name of Bangabandhu will be eliminated through his assassination. But he returned among us very strongly and will always remain among us. Bangabandhu is an eternal name which will glitter always.”
He said Bangladesh has been progressing fast under the able leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina. “The country now needs to focus on skills development of its workforce to face the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). We also need to take initiatives for re-skilling and upskilling of our workforce involving the youths.”
Atiur said the government should focus on improving the ease of doing business for boosting the country’s progress and creating more employment for the young generation.
Read:Bangabandhu Corner to be established at Lovely Professional University in Punjab
Bangladesh Ambassador to Jordan Nahida Sobhan said Bangabandhu was active over the issues of people’s rights and he demonstrated his high leadership quality since his early student life. “He took the country towards the independence gradually by preparing the nation for the Liberation War.”
“So, I urge the young generation to know the life and works of Bangabandhu and get inspired to play a significant role in taking the country forward,” she said.