Bangladesh has been selected for a two-year collaborative project aimed at strengthening preparedness and response to COVID-19 and other emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). As part of the Stockpile Project, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) nominates the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) as the project implementing agency for a two-year collaborative project worth USD 10 million aimed at strengthening preparedness and response to COVID-19 and other emerging infectious diseases in five partner countries, namely Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and the Philippines. BNP’s 24-hour blockade underway with arson attacks In selecting these five countries, the IFRC has prioritized countries at risk of disasters caused by natural hazards, the effects of which have been made worse by climate change, resulting in high risk of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The USD 10 million is part of the Government of Japan's contribution to the Stockpile Project for COVID-19 and other emerging infectious diseases in Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) countries. Utilising this fund, the IFRC and national societies will implement the Stockpile Project in close connection with the public authorities through a structured set of activities. Dhaka's air 6th worst in the world this morning On November 28, an agreement signing ceremony was held at Malaysian Red Crescent National Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. During the signing of the agreement by ASEF and IFRC, the Chairperson of Malaysian Red Crescent Society, Di Raja Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Binti Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, Tunku Temenggong Kedah made a welcome address. Among others, the ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, Takahashi Katsuhiko; ASEF Executive Director, Ambassador Toru MORIKAW; and Regional Director of IFRC, Alexander Matheou, spoke at the event. During the signing of the agreement by ASEF and IFRC, the Acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Malaysia  Mohammad Khorshed Alam Khastagir and Counsellor (Political) Pranab Kumar Bhattacharjee were also present. 24-hour blockade: 428 RAB patrol teams deployed The Acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Malaysia expressed satisfaction on the signing of this important agreement and remarked that this project would play an effective role in improving the healthcare landscape, response mechanisms, and access to health services in Bangladesh.

International Finance Corporation (IFC) is providing BRAC Bank Limited a $50 million loan to aid small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.  This investment is set to contribute to the preservation of jobs and bring foreign exchange liquidity into BRAC Bank to help support the working capital and trade finance requirements of the bank’s SME importer and exporter clients. Also Read: New program by Australia, IFC to mobilise $50 million to support post-COVID inclusive growth in Bangladesh This investment, along with a similar loan to Prime Bank in February, will also send a positive signal to the market and contribute towards attracting additional international investors to support the foreign exchange financing needs of local banks and SMEs, IFC said. The financing package is part of IFC's $8 billion global COVID-19 fast-track financing facility to support companies during the ongoing public health crisis. This new investment comes under the Working Capital Solutions (WCS) program of the COVID-19 response envelope, which is providing $2 billion globally to emerging-market banks, enabling them to support struggling firms.  This project will also be supported by the International Development Association's Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility, which is also rendering aid to IFC's WCS program. BRAC Bank is Bangladesh’s third-largest private bank and the only SME-focused bank in the country. Also Read: First project under IFC’s Global Food Security Platform to tackle food insecurity in Bangladesh "Our SME and corporate clients continue to confront challenges arising from the disruptive effects of COVID-19. The insufficient availability of foreign exchange has additionally impeded their regular trading operations," said Selim R. F. Hussain, the Managing Director and CEO of BRAC Bank. The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a global economic slowdown, influenced by a series of factors, including geo-political events. “IFC has been supporting the banking sector in export-driven economies like Bangladesh, which have been facing declines in foreign exchange reserves due to various macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds,” said Joon Young Park, IFC’s Portfolio Manager for South Asia.  Also Read: Prime Bank receives $50m from IFC to support trade, forex liquidity needs in Bangladesh "IFC plans to continue providing its steadfast support to key banking partners in Bangladesh who have significant SME portfolios, such as BRAC, with whom IFC has had equity and debt commitments over the past 19 years.” IFC has invested more than $3.6 billion to promote the growth of the private sector in Bangladesh since 2010, thereby creating job opportunities for the country's citizens. And since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, IFC has provided over $360 million in working capital solutions and liquidity support to banks and companies in Bangladesh. Also Read: IFC giving $32.5 million to ensure food security in Bangladesh "After three long years of grappling with the impact of the pandemic, businesses in Bangladesh continue to face challenging market conditions,” said Martin Holtmann, IFC Country Manager for Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. “By supporting BRAC Bank, we are continuing our efforts to help Bangladesh recover and foster a resilient post-pandemic economic landscape.” Also Read: Implement Teesta Project to save people from manmade disasters: IFC  

Bangladesh reported 159 more COVID-19 cases in 24 hours till Monday morning as the cases keep rising in the country. With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,039,130, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,446 as no new fatalities were reported. Meanwhile, the daily case test positivity dropped to 5.13 percent from Sunday’s 5.50 percent as 3,099 samples were tested. The recovery rate stands at 98.39 percent. However, the death rate remained unchanged at 1.44 percent. Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh logs 9 more cases Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 in 2021 and highest number of fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.    

Bangladesh recorded 24 more Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours till Sunday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,038,430 according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,446 as no new fatalities were reported. The daily case test positivity dropped to 1.24 percent from Saturday ’s 1.64 percent as 1933 samples were tested. Also read: Bangladesh reports 18 more Covid-19 cases The recovery and death rates remained unchanged at 98.40 percent and 1.44 percent, respectively.    

Bangladesh reported 23 more Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours till Sunday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,038,338 according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,446 as no new fatalities were reported. The daily case test positivity dropped to 2.07 percent from Saturday’s 2.96 percent as 1,111 samples were tested. The recovery rate decreased to 98.40 percent. However, the death rate remained unchanged at 1.44 percent. Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 in 2021 and highest number of fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.  

Bangladesh reported 15 more Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours till Saturday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,038,315 according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,446 as no new fatalities were reported. The daily case test positivity increased to 2.96 percent from Friday’s 2.18 percent as 507 samples were tested. The recovery and death rates remained unchanged at 98.41 percent and 1.44 percent, respectively. Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 in 2021 and highest number of fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.  

Bangladesh reported 9 more Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours till Saturday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,038,216, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,446 as no new fatalities were reported. Also Read: Bangladesh reports 15 more Covid-19 cases The daily case test positivity increased to 1.76 percent from Friday’s 0.75 percent as 511 samples were tested. The recovery rate and the death rate remained unchanged at 98.40 percent and 1.44 percent. Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28, 2021 and highest number of fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.    

Bangladesh registered thirteen more Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours till Tuesday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,038,174, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,446 as no new fatalities were reported. The daily case test positivity dropped to 0.66 percent from Monday's 1.55 percent as 1969 samples were tested. Also read: Bangladesh records 9 more Covid cases However, the recovery and death rates remained unchanged at 98.40 percent and 1.44 percent, respectively. Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and highest number of fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.  

Scientists have said relics of ancient viruses that have spent millions of years hiding within human DNA help the body battle cancer, according to a BBC report. When cancerous cells escalate out of control, dormant remnants of these old viruses are reawakened, according to a study by the Francis Crick Institute. This resurgence of these old viruses “unintentionally” helps the body’s immune system by targeting and attacking the tumour. The study – published in the journal Nature – suggested a correlation between increased lung cancer survival and the presence of B-cells aggregating around tumours, according to the researchers. Read More: Shakib launches cancer foundation to support underprivileged patients B-cells usually manufacture antibodies in our body and are better known for their vital role in battling infections, such as Covid-19, BBC reports. Although the exact functionality of these cells are yet to be identified, it was evidenced --  based on a series of intricate experiments using samples from patients and animals – that they are attempting to fight viruses. "It turned out that the antibodies are recognising remnants of what's termed endogenous retroviruses," Prof Julian Downward, an associate research director at the Francis Crick Institute, told BBC. Retroviruses have the clever ability to insert their genetic instructions into our own. Read more: Cancer specialists for amendment of tobacco control law, increase in tobacco tax Some of these foreign instructions have been adopted over time and serve beneficial purposes within our cells, while others are tightly regulated to prevent their spread, according to the researchers. These ancient genetic instructions are no longer able to resurrect whole viruses but they can create fragments of viruses that are enough for the immune system to spot a viral threat. "The immune system is tricked into believing that the tumour cells are infected and it tries to eliminate the virus, so it's sort of an alarm system," Prof George Kassiotis, head of retroviral immunology at the biomedical research centre, told BBC. The antibodies stimulate other parts of the immune system that eliminate the "infected" cells -- the immune system is attempting to stop a virus, but in this case is eliminating cancerous cells, according to Professor Kassiotis. Read More: LabAid Cancer Hospital launches new online video commercial  Meanwhile, Dr Claire Bromley, from Cancer Research UK said that the study adds to the growing body of research that could one day see this innovative approach to cancer treatment become a reality.

Bangladesh reported one more Covid-linked death and six new cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total fatalities rose to 29,446 and caseload to 2,038,014, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The daily case test positivity rate drop to 0.37 percent from Monday’s 0.63 percent as 1,428 samples were tested. Also read: Bangladesh logs 4 more Covid cases: DGHS The death and recovery rates remained unchanged at 1.44 percent and 98.47 percent, respectively.