bangladesh
Domestic flight suspension extended for another week
The ongoing suspension of domestic flights and charter flights of helicopter/general aviation passenger flights has been extended until April 28.
The restriction came after the government decided to extend the strict lockdown to contain the rapid spike of Covid-19 infections and deaths.
Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) issued a circular in this regard on Monday. The order will come into effect from April 21.
Read US-Bangla to operate international flights on four routes from Saturday
All other conditions of the circular under reference will remain unchanged, the circular said.
Flight operations on domestic routes were suspended after the government enforced a lockdown in the first week of April.
Covid-19 situation update
Bangladesh again broke all previous records of Covid-19 deaths registering 112 fatalities in a 24-hour period until Monday morning.
Also read: US-Bangla to operate international flights on four routes from SaturdayThe country saw over 100 deaths for the fourth consecutive day.
The latest fatalities pushed up the death tally to 10,497 with a mortality rate of 1.45 percent, according to a handout from the Directorate General of Health Services.Besides, 4,271 new cases were reported during the period. The infection rate was 17.68 percent, down from 19.06 percent on Sunday.
Also read: Over 200 protest flight cancellation at Dhaka airport
‘Hurting religious sentiment’: More cases filed against Nur
Two more cases were filed against Nurul Haque Nur, former vice-president of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) for allegedly hurting religious sentiment in Dhaka and Sylhet on Monday.
Ilias Hossain, a resident of City’s Shantinagar area, filed the case with Paltan Police Station under the Digital Security Act (DSA) on Monday.
Also read:Nur sued over 'hurting religious sentiment'
The student leader was accused for allegedly delivering provocative, fake and defamatory comments on social media and stoking religious hatred on April 15, said Abu Bakar Siddik, Officer-in-Charge of Paltan Police Station.
Besides, in Sylhet another case was filed with Kotwali Model Police Station.
Chhatra League leader of Sylhet city unit Kishore Jahan Sourav filed the case, said Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Police Station SM Abu Farhad.
Earlier on Sunday, Ashraful Islam Shojib, member of Awami League central committee filed another case under the DSA slapping same charges against Nur.
The case statement said Nur has hurt the religious sentiment of Awami League supporters with his outrageous comments during a programme on April 16 in Shahbagh area.
Also read:How are diplomats, civil society members associating with Nur ...
No Muslims can support Awami League, Nur said in his speech adding that only some extortionists, cheaters, drug traders, fortune seekers support AL, the statement added.
The ex-DUCSU VP also placed the badge of 'Fake Muslims' against supporters and leaders of Awami League, appearing on a Facebook live recently.
“They (Awami League) are not Muslims — they don’t have any faith. Please inquire if any of them prays five times daily," Nur said.
“No Muslim can support Awami League. Those who support the Awami League are fake Muslims,” he added.
“They take bribes, engage in extortion, drug trafficking and tender business and claim themselves as Muslims,” the student leader said.
Govt’s focus on agriculture to tap its full potential: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the government gives immense importance to the development of agriculture as it can take Bangladesh forward.
"We’re giving a great importance to agriculture as our agro-based economy will take us forward,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this in a video message broadcast by state-run Bangladesh Television marking the founding anniversary of Bangladesh Krishak League.
She said the government is extending all-out cooperation to farmers through marketing their products and their export. “Bangladesh is an agricultural country, and agriculture is the driving force for our development.”
Sheikh Hasina also said the government has given a special attention to industrialisation alongside the development of agriculture.
She greeted the farmers on the occasion of the founding anniversary of Bangladesh Krishak League as they produce food grains working under the scorching sun, heavy rains, and after huge sweating. "We’re living on consuming the food they produce."
Hasina said the government always supported the farmers of the country. "We, especially Awami League, think it is our duty to do so," she said.
She mentioned that whenever Awami League comes to power farmers do not have to suffer.
Also read:Bangladesh's agro products: PM for further research to ...
"Because we take appropriate measurers for them."
The PM said the government has introduced a system through Krishi Bank so that the sharecroppers can avail of collateral-free loans.
She said the government has reduced the prices of fertilizer to Tk 12, which was Tk 90 during the BNP regime.
The Prime Minister said the government has given utmost importance to research to improve the crop production in Bangladesh.
NGOs urged to design plan of action taking Covid-19 into consideration
Speakers at a programme called upon partner NGOs of BRAC to chalk out a plan of action for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improving the condition of disadvantaged people taking the Covid-19 situation into consideration.
They made the call while addressing a partner orientation workshop held virtually on Monday.
Also read:Webinar emphasises effective govt-NGO collaboration
BRAC organized the event to increase the capacities of its partner NGOs as well as highlight the future plan of action and recommendation.
Hasina Akhter Huq, Area Director of Humanitarian Crisis Management Programme (HCMP) of BRAC; Mohammad Ziauddin, head of admin, logistics and procurement of HCMP and others spoke at the event.
Md. Abdul Matin Shardar, head of Host Community Programme of HCMP, moderated the function.
Hasina Akhter Huq, in her address, said that their future plan of action should be designed giving priority to the issue of achieving the SDGs and improvement of conditions for disadvantaged people.
"Besides, we have to give importance to real and welfare-oriented activities so that the local community can judge those activities as their own. It will bring more dynamism to the activities in the future," she observed.
Also read:BRAC to increase capacities of partner NGOs
Over 50 representatives from six partner NGOs of BRAC attended the event.
The six NGOs are: Society for Health Extension and Development(SHED), Programme for Helpless and Lagged Societies (PHALS), Alliance for Cooperation Aids Bangladesh (AKLAB), Jago Nari Unnayan Sangstha (JNUS), NONGOR and Help-Cox’s Bazar.
The speakers stressed on carrying out advocacy activities and other campaigns through online platforms due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation.
Other issues such as maintaining the safeguarding matter for protection of employees, maintaining Donor and BRAC values, and more transparency and accountability regarding the implementation of projects came up for elaborate discussion at the event.
DSA case: Workers’ leader Ruhul Amin gets bail
A Khulna court on Sunday granted bail to Ruhul Amin, workers’ leader of the jute mills movement, in a case filed under the Digital Security Act.
Khulna Metropolitan Sessions Court Judge Shahidul Islam passed the order.
The court earlier rejected Ruhul Amin, also coordinator of Sramik-Krishak, Chhatra-Janata Oikya Parishad in Khulna bail plea on March 1 and March 14.
The leftist leader was placed on a two-day remand on February 27.
Ruhul Amin, was picked up by law enforcers from Khalishpur in Khulna city on February 26 as he criticized the government on social media protesting the death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed in custody.
Ruhul was shown arrested under the Digital Security Act the next day.
12 more Hefazat supporters held over Brahmanbaria violence
Twelve more people were arrested in the past 24 hours over the vandalism and arson carried out by Hefazat-e-Islam activists and supporters in Brahmanbaria last month, police said Monday.
The arrests were made from different parts of the district after inspecting video footage of the violence, according to the special branch of district police.
So far, 55 cases have been filed and 310 people arrested over the rampage, the police said.
On March 27, at least five people were killed and around 50 others, including 25 policemen, injured in clashes between the law enforcers and locals during Hefazat's demonstrations at Nandanpur in Sadar upazila.
They had staged the protests against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bangladesh visit.
The next day, during Hefazat's countrywide dawn-to-dusk general strike, against police action on their anti-Modi processions in Dhaka, the organisation's activists in Chattogram and other districts set three buildings on fire, including the land office in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila.
Also read: Hefazat leader Mamunul Haq finally arrested
They had also attacked a Chattogram-bound train at Talshohor Rail Station in Brahmanbaria town.
Also, the Hefazat supporters vandalised several private and government establishments, including the municipality building, Alauddin Music Academy, and Foirtala Bus Stand in Sadar upazila.
They had also attacked Brahmanbaria Press Club and confined some journalists to the premises.
Covid-19 vaccine: Liberation war affairs minister takes 2nd dose
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque Monday received the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine at the Bangladesh Secretariat Clinic in the capital.
After taking the vaccine shot around 12noon, the minister felt good and had no immediate side effects, according to a Press Information Department handout.
Also read:Canada pauses AstraZeneca vaccine for under 55
On February 17, the minister received the first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine. But a video regarding his vaccination went viral at that time where the sequence of events showed the minister did not get vaccinated, rather just sat for a photo session.
Later, Mozammel said as many journalists did not get the chance to capture him getting vaccinated, he agreed to pose for the camera to keep their requests after being vaccinated.
Also, the minister alleged that the anti-liberation forces spread an edited video of him as part of their propaganda to embarrass the government.
Govt considering to relax lockdown before Eid: Quader
The government is mulling to relax lockdown before Eid-ul-Fitr taking into consideration the people’s lives and livelihoods, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said Monday. He urged all to have patience and remain mentally prepared as the lockdown may be relaxed for the movement of homebound people during the Eid festival, which is scheduled to be celebrated in mid-May.
Also read:Fresh lockdown from Apr 22: State Minister According to the advice of experts, the government is also planning to extend the ongoing lockdown by one more week, he said while addressing a regular briefing at his house in the capital. The government has also decided to provide financial aid to the unemployed transport workers, Quader, also Awami League general secretary, said. He requested party leaders and members to distribute relief goods among the floating people. State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossian said that the lockdown would remain in force from April 22 to 28 with the same restrictions imposed in the previous week. “It’ll be a tougher one,” he said.A gazette will be issued after getting the Prime Minister’s approval, he said. The ongoing lockdown will end on April 21. As coronavirus cases continue to rise alarmingly from late March, the government imposed a nationwide lockdown for one week from April 5 as part of its move to contain its spread. But the government allowed the resumption of public transport in city corporation areas from April 7 as well as reopening shops and shopping malls for five days from April 9 in the face of protests against the lockdown.
Also read:Bangladesh put under complete lockdown amid Covid spike A stricter lockdown was declared from April 14 to 21 and the Cabinet division issued a notification in this regard. Worsening Covid situation Bangladesh saw its daily deaths from coronavirus shatter the local record yet again with 102 fatalities on Sunday morning. It was the third consecutive day that the country registered more than 100 deaths in 24 hours.The latest fatalities pushed up the death tally to 10,385 with a mortality rate of 1.44 percent, according to a handout from the Directorate General of Health Services.The country has so far confirmed 718,950 cases. But 614,936 people – 85.53 percent of all patients – have recovered so far.
Covid-19: Bangladesh reports record 112 daily deaths
Bangladesh again broke all previous records of Covid-19 deaths registering 112 fatalities in a 24-hour period until Monday morning.
The country saw over 100 deaths for the fourth consecutive day.
The latest fatalities pushed up the death tally to 10,497 with a mortality rate of 1.45 percent, according to a handout from the Directorate General of Health Services.
Also read: Covid-19 vaccine not a 'silver bullet': WHO Besides, 4,271 new cases were reported during the period after testing 24,152 samples. The infection rate was 17.68 percent, down from 19.06 percent on Sunday.
On Sunday, 19,404 samples were tested. The number was 34,630 on April 7 when the country recorded its highest single-day cases of 7,626.
Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8, 2020, and the first death on March 18 that year.
Auto-rickshaw, light vehicle workers demand food, financial support from govt in lockdown
Auto-rickshaw and light vehicle workers demanded direct food and financial support from the government to survive in the all-out lockdown that has been extended until April 28.
In a joint statement, president and secretary of Bangladesh Auto-Rickshaw Light Vehicle Transport Workers Federation (BALTWF), Abul Hossain and Md Golam Faruk respectively, said the operation of lakhs of three wheelers and light vehicles has been suspended due to the lockdown.
“This ultimately left us into big trouble as we have become unemployed and our families will have to pass the days unfed,” they said.
They noted that the organisation has already made appeal to different government offices for direct food and cash help.
They want the government to provide financial and food support so that the families of the drivers and workers could survive in the months of holy Ramadan.