workers
Covid may have killed up to 180k health workers: WHO
Out of the world's 135 million healthcare staff, up to 180,000 may have died from Covid-19 between January 2020 and May 2021, according to the UN health agency.
This grim estimate featured in a new World Health Organisation (WHO) paper based on the 3.45 million Covid-related deaths reported globally to the UN health agency up to May – a figure that the WHO said may well be at least 60 per cent lower than the actual number of victims.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "The backbone of every health system is its workforce. Covid-19 is a powerful demonstration of just how much we rely on these men and women, and how vulnerable we all are when the people who protect our health are themselves unprotected."
READ: Covid: WHO warns pandemic will drag on into 2022
More than 10 months since the first vaccines were approved, "the fact that millions of health workers still have not been vaccinated is an indictment on the countries and companies that control the global supply of vaccines," Tedros added.
"Data from 119 countries suggest that on average, two in five healthcare workers globally are fully vaccinated. But of course, that average masks huge differences across regions and economic groupings."
"In Africa, less than one in ten health workers have been fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, in most high-income countries, more than 80 per cent of health workers are fully vaccinated," the WHO chief said.
READ: Mosquirix: WHO Recommends World's First Malaria Vaccine RTS,S
Workers in clinics and hospitals have been on the pandemic's front lines since the first Covid-19 cases were detected in China's Wuhan in late 2019, and many are suffering from burnout, anxiety and fatigue as the virus continues to spread around the world.
Five workers burnt in Narayanganj steel mill explosion
Five workers sustained burn injuries in an explosion at a steel factory in Rasulpur area of Fatullah upazila on Monday.
The injured were identified as Sohel Rana, 36, Liton,35, Arif,27, Billal Hossain,35, and Mohammad Ali,26.
Mohammad Ali’s condition is critical, doctors said.
Chemist of the factory Md Ashik rescued the workers and took them to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
Also read: Three hurt in unexplained explosion while cutting tree at Rajbari
Md Ashik said the explosion occurred around 11:30 am apparently in the water supply pipeline of the factory.
The hospital authority said the injured got 50 per cent to 11 per cent of their body burnt.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital police camp in-charge Bacchu Mia said the five injured who were admitted to the hospital are workers of CHRM steel mill in Fatullah.
Also read: 11 burnt in Narayanganj gas leak explosion
Factories reopen amid Covid surge as ‘economy falters’
Export-oriented industries resumed operation on Sunday, the 10th day of the ongoing stringent lockdown, amid warnings against Covid surge as workers started returning to their workplaces without maintaining health protocols.
The workers in their thousands have been on their way back to their workplaces in Narayanganj, Gazipur and Mymensingh in Dhaka division since Friday after the government’s announcement of reopening factories.
Read:Vessels to move till 12 pm Sunday to carry factory workers
The workers took their arduous journeys to get back to their workplaces as public transport remained suspended due to the lockdown.
They walked miles for miles or moved on in hired auto-rickshaws, motorbikes, goods-laden vehicles in their desperate bid to join work.
Later, the government on Saturday night allowed public transport to operate until 12 pm on Sunday to facilitate the return of workers.
Buses started plying roads from early Sunday and people were seen entering the capital through Gabtoli, Abdullahpur, Mohakhali, Sayedabad, Postagola and Babubazar point by bus or on foot.
The Covid-19 crisis has hit the country’s economy hard and jeopardized its impressive achievements in poverty reduction, according to economists.
Two workers die from electrocution in the capital
A factory worker in the capital's Kadamtali police station area and a construction worker in Sabujbagh police station area died from electrocution on Monday, police said.
Alamgir Hossain, 32, a worker in Hazi Taher factory in Munshikhola Kutubpur area got electrocuted while turning on the switch of a motor in the factory around 2:30 pm, said police.
He was rescued in unconscious condition and was rushed immediately to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where he succumbed to his injury around 4pm, said Alamgir Hossain, another worker from the factory.
Also read: 2 die from electrocution on waterlogged Dhaka road
Meanwhile, Razzak Khan, 27, a construction worker got electrocuted at his own home in Nandi Para Dakkhingaon Gali-1 area around 2:30pm, said police.
After rescuing in unconscious condition he was rushed to the Emergency department of DMCH where he succumbed to his injury around 3:30 pm.
Dulal Khan, brother of the deceased, said Razzak was electrocuted while turning on the switch of a table fan at his home.
Also read: Father, son die from electrocution in B’baria
Assistant in-charge of the DMCH police camp, ASI Abdul Khan said both the bodies were sent for autopsy and the concerned police stations were informed of the deaths.
Following SC verdict, Jadukata River buzzing with lives and livelihoods again
The Jadukata is one of the 54 transboundary rivers flowing between India and Bangladesh. Originating from the Meghalaya Hills of India, it flows into Bangladesh through Sunamganj's Tahirpur and into Bishwamvarpur upazilas.
Known for its scenic beauty, the Jadukata is a reservoir of natural resources. Mountains stand still near the river and the sky seems to lean on the mountains. Barik tila sits on top of the river.
A Supreme Court decision in June designated two balumahal (sand quarries) in Jadukata. Jadukata-1 is flowing beside Barik tila. Shimul Bagan, the garden of cotton trees, is on the other side, and this is where another sand quarry called Jadukata-2 has been designated.
Read:Bus plunges into canal in Sunamganj, one dead, 5 injured
The ruling of the Supreme Court finally allowed for sand to be lifted from the river again, after being barred for years over environmental concerns. The area from which sand can be legally mined has been very strictly demarcated.
Additionally, it was stipulated that no heavy-duty machinery could be used in the extraction of sand. Since June 12, workers have been lifting sand from the river again, but now by hand in an environment-friendly way as no one is allowed to extract sand with mining explosives.
The precious natural resource in the river is the unlimited sand. Locals say that the world's best sand is found here, and certainly the sand from Sylhet’s hilly rivers enjoys a very good reputation in the construction industry. Like any fast-developing country witnessing construction booms, sand is in high demand in Bangladesh.
The living standards of the workers in the Haor area developed around the Jadukata. Almost all working people lost their jobs because of non-settlement of leases due to legal complications and lawsuits in the high court.
Visiting the area today, the area is buzzing again with workers around the two designated quarries. Thousands of workers are lifting sand in small boats. The sand is being sold on to big traders for cash.
About 50,000 workers have returned to their old jobs. Each worker is earning Tk 1,500 per day.
Shukur Ali, a labourer from Miyarchar, said, "I was in a lot of trouble because of the pandemic as the river remained closed. I wanted to run away from home. But in the end I didn't have to go anywhere as the river opened. I can earn Tk 1,500 by lifting sand from the river."
Read:Illegal sand mining goes on unabated in Kurigram
He also said his family is spending their days happily now.
"I used to spend half a day starving as the river was closed. I am happy now with my family after opening the river," said Alamgir of Ghagtia village.
Every worker UNB spoke to expressed the same. It means the environmentalists’ concerns may be legitimate, but the court verdict has provided a final settlement that all parties must accept.
Covid vaccine: Expat workers can now sign up on Surokkha
Bangladesh expatriate workers travelling abroad can now register for the Covid-19 vaccine through the government's "Surokkha" app.
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed Monday inaugurated the registration at an online programme organised by the ministry and the Information and Communication Technology Division.
Read Bangladesh hopeful of receiving 3.5 mln vaccine doses from COVAX this month: FM
"The registration of expatriate workers for the jabs has started on a priority basis. Based on the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) database and registrations with Surokkha, the inoculation drive for them will begin with the Pfizer-BioNTech at seven centres in Dhaka for the ones going to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait," the minister said.
Meanwhile, the age-based priority list has been readjusted for expatriate workers. They can now use their passports to complete the registration if they do not have national identity cards.
READ: Registration for Covid-19 vaccination using ‘Surokkha’ through bKash App
However, to be eligible for registration under the expatriate workers' category, the workers have to be registered with the BMET first, Imran Ahmed said.
Once the registration with Surokkha is complete, the vaccination date and name of the centre will be informed through text message, he added.
On Friday, the BMET launched registration for expatriate workers through the "Ami Probashi" app.
READ: Buy Covid vaccines urgently with money from mega projects: BNP
Septic tank workers: 2 dead after going down without protective equipment
Two workers died inhaling poisonous gases Monday while working in a septic tank at Nawabganj upazila in Dhaka.
The deceased were identified as Lutfor Rahman, 35, and Shanjay Dash, 21.
Sub-Inspector of Nawabganj police station Mintu Lashkar said, the incident happened at Khalpar area around 4pm.
Also read: Two die after inhaling toxic gas inside septic tank in Bhola
The two workers went down inside the septic tank installed recently at a residential house in Nababganj, but as is so often the case in their line of work, they didn't have the proper equipment with them to avoid inhaling the toxic gases found in these tanks.
Eventually they fell unconscious. Locals later rescued and took them to upazila health complex where the doctor announced them dead.
Also read: 2 die in Kushtia after inhaling toxic gas inside septic tank
Police have recovered the bodies and prepared postmortem reports. Legal procedures in this connection are ongoing, said SI Mintu.
'Workers' productivity may fall 20% due to malnutrition'
Many workers of different industries in Bangladesh are victims of malnutrition and their productivity rate is likely to fall up to 20% due to the condition.
So, the workers' nutrition safety will have to be prioritised for the implementation of the government's Vision 2021 and 2041 and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Also read: 43 pc female RMG workers suffering from malnutrition
Speakers said this at a partnership agreement signing ceremony between the Department of Labour and Switzerland-based Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in the capital Monday.
Moniruzzaman Bipul, portfolio lead of GAIN Bangladesh, said ensuring necessary nutrition for workers may increase their productivity rate up to 20%. "Only anaemia, caused by iron deficiency, is responsible for the reduction of productivity worth $500 crore in South Asia."
Quarantine in KSA: Saudi expatriate workers to get Tk 25000 each as subsidy
The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment (MoEWOE) will provide Tk 25000 as subsidy for the Saudi Arabia-bound Bangladeshi expatriate workers to bear quarantine cost.
Workers who stayed or will stay in compulsory institutional quarantine at their own expense from 20 May 2021 to 30 June 2021 as per Saudi Arabia government guidelines would get this subsidy money, said a MoEWOE media release.
READ: Bishwanath UNO to construct Expatriate Square honouring expatriates
Wage Earners Welfare Board under MoEWOE has decided to provide the money upon workers’ application.
This subsidy money would be sent to the bank account of the concerned worker or the nominee.
The concerned employees could download the application form from MoEWOE website-www.probashi.gov.bd, Wage Earners Welfare Board website- www.wewb.gov.bd or Manpower Employment and Training Bureau website- www.bmet.gov.bd.
The form could also be collected from the Expatriate Welfare Desk at three international airports of the country.
The form can be submitted to the Expatriate Welfare Desk at the airports from June 7.
READ: Expatriate Bangladeshis in South Korea urged to come forward to build "Sonar Bangla"
The expatriate workers have to submit the form along with the documents mentioned in the form.
Saudi expatriate workers who have already left for the country and have completed or are completing the quarantine at their own expense must submit the relevant application form by June 30 to the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh or Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah by post, the release also said.
63 prominent citizens urge to stop harassing Banshkhali power plant workers
Some 63 prominent citizens of the country in a joint statement urged the government to take steps to stop the harassment of the workers of the Banshkhali coal-fired power plant in connection with the incident in which six workers were killed in police firing on April 17 this year.
The statement was signed by advocate Sultana Kamal, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Khushi Kabir, Dr Hossain Zilllur Rahman, Badiul Alam Majumder, Prof Anu Mohammad, Syed Iftekharuzzaman, Syeda Rezwana Hasan and Dr Shahidul Alam, among others, alleging that the police, instead of conducting impartial and independent inquiry to the incident, arrested Engineer Shahnewaj Chowdhury from Gandamara area of Banshkhali on May 27 for his post on Facebook.
As a result, it said, nobody will dare to speak against any corruption and irregularities of the coal-fired power project.
Through this Facebook post, Shahnewaj expressed his own opinion and urged the youths to play a role against the illegal activities and corruption which should not be deemed as a move to create anarchy or a stability, said the statement.
It mentioned a High Court bench on May 4 has ordered the authorities concerned to pay condensation of Tk 5 lakh to each of the victims and provide security and protection to the workers, families and locals of the Banshkhali power plant and not to harass them anyway.