Five more deaths were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, raising the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 193 this year. During the period, 981 more patients were hospitalised with viral fever, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of them, 196 dengue patients were admitted in hospital under Dhaka North City Corporation while 180 were hospitalized in Dhaka South City Corporation.  Read: Two more die of dengue; 1,218 hospitalised Some 3,384 patients are receiving treatment in different hospitals across the country. A total of 38,789 dengue cases have been reported since January 1, 2024. Last year, 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record. The DGHS recorded 321,179 dengue cases and 3, 18,749 recoveries last year. Read more: Dengue: 4 more die, 1,225 hospitalised in 24hrs

A move is underway to acquire a 50-acre piece of land by the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) to develop a modern waste management facility alongside the existing Landfill Site (LFS) in the city’s Amin Bazar area. According to official sources, the new site will be an expansion of the current LFS, which was also developed on 50 acres of land.   The current LFS in Amin Bazar is close to being filled up with the waste collected from the areas under DNCC. “The LFS in Amin Bazar is overfilled and went to 80 feet high from the level. Now it has become risky for workers to further fill the land with waste,” Captain Mohammad Fida Hasan, Chief Waste Management Officer of the DNCC, told UNB. DNCC completes sacrificial animal waste removal on second day of Eid He said the DNCC has completed all the necessary procedures to receive the land from the district administration once the allotted fund is released by the Finance Ministry. The DNCC will need Tk 450 crore from the GoB (Government of Bangladesh) fund to acquire the land. Fida Hasan also informed that the new LFS will be developed alongside the establishment of the proposed 42.5 MW Waste-to-Energy power plant which is expected to start power generation from July 2026. When such a power plant is being developed as part of the waste management system, why is such a new LFS required?-responding to such a question, the DNCC Chief Waste Management Officer said that the new site will have different facilities like electronic waste management, medicate waste treatment, and solid waste management. This will require new land to develop the facilities, which also include establishment of a training centre and vehicle parking area. Currently, Dhaka city is collecting 3,000 mts of solid waste from different areas which is about 80 percent of the total waste. DNCC completes 100% removal of sacrificial animal waste within deadline As per a plan, this total waste will be supplied to the Waste to Energy project daily while CMEC will set up an incineration plant to generate 42.5 MW power and BPDB will purchase the electricity from the plant at US21.78 Cents, equivalent to Tk 18.295, per kilowatt hour (each unit) over a period of 25 years. But DNCC officials said if any additional wastes are collected, those will be filled in the new modern LFS. They also said this new system will be developed under its “New Clean Dhaka Master Plan 2018–2032” which was envisioned to introduce “Environmentally Advanced City with Integrated and Sustainable Solid Waste Management: Toward Zero-Waste”. According to the Master Plan, the core target of the DNCC is collecting more waste generated at households by increasing the collection capacity, reducing waste by introducing waste separation and recycling, and minimizing the volume of the remaining waste that goes to the LFS with intermediate treatment so that the lifespan of LFS can be extended. This Master Plan highlights four indicators: waste collection, waste reduction, recycling, and to quantitatively monitor landfill disposal. Read more: E-Waste Crisis: Effects of Electronic Waste on Environment and Human Health

The Appellate Division on Monday (January 22, 2024) upheld the High Court order that ordered demolition of the Gulshan Shopping Centre in Dhaka's Gulshan-1 within 30 days. A five-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, passed the order following a petition filed by the owners challenging the HC order. In July 2023, two companies namely Bani Chitra and Films filed a writ seeking the HC directive to demolish Gulshan Shopping Centre citing safety concerns. HC issues rule on inaction of the authorities to control fireworks and lanterns Following the writ, on Dec 13, the HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Ataullah ordered the demolition of the center within a month. Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Rajuk and others were asked to implement this directive. On July 13, 2023, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) in a mobile court drive sealed off the shopping centre as it was found risky. HC orders Dhaka court to hear bail pleas of Mirza Abbas, Annie Regional Executive Officer and Executive Magistrate Zulkar Nayan and Executive Magistrate Md Mahbub Hasan conducted the mobile court. In 2021, the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence declared the market risky and abandoned due to the dilapidated building and lack of fire fighting system and sent a letter to the DNCC to take legal action regarding the issue on an urgent basis. Young woman gang-raped while looking for rented home in Ctg; 1 arrested Zulkar Nayan, regional executive officer and executive magistrate of Zone-3, said, "The shop owners were instructed repeatedly to vacate the building to prevent any kind of humanitarian disaster as the Gulshan-1 shopping centre is risky, but they did not vacate it."

Tackling Dhaka’s ongoing parking challenges just got smarter! The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) recently introduced the DNCC Smart Parking app. The exciting pilot initiative was launched on November 8 at the DNCC’s Nagar Bhaban in Gulshan 2. So, hopefully struggling to find a parking spot in North Dhaka will soon be a thing of the past with the user-friendly DNCC Smart Parking app. This innovative solution aims to make parking hassle-free and convenient for everyone in the city. With the smart on-street parking system, users can easily locate nearby available parking spaces, reserve them in advance, and manage payments seamlessly—all through a few simple clicks on the app. This app is expected to reduce parking stress and facilitate a hassle-free experience with the convenience of the new smart on-street parking system.  Key Features of the DNCC Smart Parking App The ‘DNCC Smart Parking’ app comes with several convenient features. Firstly, users can effortlessly identify available parking spaces in their neighbourhood, making it quick and easy to find a spot. Additionally, the app allows for advance reservation of parking spaces, providing users with the convenience of securing a spot ahead of time and ensuring a hassle-free arrival. Moreover, handling payments is a seamless experience, thanks to the various online payment options integrated into the app. This functionality not only simplifies the payment process but also adds a layer of convenience for users utilising the parking services. Read more: DNCC launches ‘Smart on Street Parking’ scheme to stop illegal parking How to Use DNCC Smart Parking App? If you are interested in using the app, you can easily download it from either Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Once you have downloaded and opened the app, you will find an option to ‘Create an Account.’ Simply fill in your personal and vehicle details and verify your identity through a one-time password (OTP), and you are all set to access the service. When parking your vehicle, make sure to park it either parallel or at a 60-degree angle in the designated spots marked in white on the sidewalk. To validate your parking, you can use the app or a smart parking card. Once you have completed the registration process, simply open the app and pick the street where you want to park. Tap on the ‘Parking’ button, select the duration of your parking, and choose your preferred location. The app will then display the parking fees, which you can conveniently pay using various online payment methods. Once the payment is processed, the parking service will be activated, allowing you to park your vehicle securely. This service enables users to pay for roadside parking on an hourly basis, providing up-to-the-minute information on the availability of parking spaces in Gulshan. In the beginning, the smart parking service won’t accept cash payments. Users can choose to pay through mobile banking or bank cards using the app. Read more: Car Parking Multiplayer Games: Top 10 Free Simulators for Android, iOS Alternatively, fee payments can be made at the parking slots using Point of Sale (POS) machines. For individuals without bank cards or mobile banking accounts, authorities will provide parking cards named “Smart Parking Card.” Charges for parking services will be deducted from these prepaid cards.

Over 200 illegal shops were evicted during a drive conducted by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) in Dhaka’s Banani area on Monday. DNCC extends anti-mosquito drive till Aug 31 During the drive, shops were evicted from both sides of the roads under ward-19, and a total of Tk 2.25 lakh was collected in five cases for illegally occupying footpaths, according to a press release. Executive magistrates Md Zulkar Nayan and Rakhi Ahmed conducted the drive. Over 200 shops burnt down in Krishi Market fire: DNCC CEO The drive to remove illegal structures on roads and footpaths will continue to reduce people’s suffering and ensure discipline, said Zulkar. DNCC bringing pesticide from Singapore to destroy mosquito larvae: Atiqul

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has extended its ongoing month-long anti-mosquito drive for another month, till August 31, to curb the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam came up with the announcement while talking to reporters after distributing books among the students of Mollartek Udayan Government Primary School at Dhaka’s Dakkhin Khan area on Monday. DNCC has started a three-tier programme to control dengue and it also asked to hold dengue awareness meetings involving councillors, imams of mosques, school teachers and renowned persons of the respected wards each week, said Atiqul. 38,429 dengue cases reported in July: DGHS Besides, ten magistrates have been appointed in ten regions to strengthen the anti-mosquito drive, he said. Dengue outbreak: Death toll rises to 247 with 8 more deaths in 24 hours Replying to a question, the DNCC mayor said, “We will apply biological pesticide to destroy the Aedes larvae soon and it can be possible to control dengue if we can start a social movement with the involvement of all.” Dengue outbreak: Death toll rises to 239 with 10 more deaths in 24 hours

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas today (March 21, 2023) said his country is committed to working with Bangladesh to eliminate corruption – enabling Bangladeshis to enjoy lives of dignity and drawing more international trade and foreign investment. “If Bangladesh can assure citizens and investors that corruption is less prevalent here than in other markets, it will attract more investment and help the country continue on the path of economic growth,” he said.     Ambassador Haas made the remarks at an event, titled “Call to Action Against Corruption Summit”, at a Dhaka hotel, organized by Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) and Center for International Private Enterprises. The US ambassador said corruption exists, to one degree or another, in every corner of the globe, and they are all too familiar with what it looks like.  Read More: Excited to see more Bangladeshi students are choosing US: Peter Haas “It’s trying to get a driver’s license and having to pay ‘speed money’.  It’s knowing that if you want a passport appointment, it’s going to cost you extra.  It’s needing to bribe the right official to register a plot of land you just purchased,” Haas said. Corruption is a parasite that feeds on the resources of a society and drains it of its strength and can devastate every level of business and government, he said.   “Sadly, some notorious scandals have occurred in my own country,” said the US ambassador. Yet, he said, exposing corruption and holding perpetrators accountable have catalyzed economic growth in the United States and elsewhere.   Read More: New US Ambassador Peter Haas arrives in Dhaka “When societies exert such efforts, they prosper. I am confident this can be the case here in Bangladesh, as well, and the United States is eager to help,” he said.    Under President Biden, the US government has established the fight against corruption as a core national security interest, he added.   “We support initiatives that help Bangladeshi businesses meet international standards and regulations, making them more competitive in the global market,” said the envoy.   “By promoting ethical business practices, we can create a more level playing field for businesses of all sizes and encourage more foreign investment,” he added. Read More: Peter Haas nominated next US Ambassador to Bangladesh The US Agency for International Development, USAID, has partnered with Bangladesh’s Registrar of Joint Stock Companies to launch an online registration process for new businesses.   This makes registering new businesses more transparent, faster, and more affordable, Ambassador Haas said. USAID has also worked with the Bangladesh National Board of Revenue to establish authorized economic operators. This endeavour empowers the private sector, instead of the government, to release shipments at ports, he said.   As a result, Haas said, the process has become more transparent and raised the level of trust between the private sector and the government. Read More: Prevent corruption in every sector: President to ACC The US Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) works with the Private Public Partnership Authority Bangladesh to conduct workshops to improve the legal and business environment of Bangladesh.   CLDP also works with Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) to improve municipal governance by improving fiscal transparency. Under this program, CLDP invited over a DNCC delegation, including the mayor, to Miami in January.   The US Department of Justice trains investigators and attorneys in the Anti-Corruption Commission on topics such as how to investigate and prosecute money laundering, how to use electronic evidence, and how to investigate financial crimes.   “It has also fostered a relationship between Bangladesh’s Financial Intelligence Unit and the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre,” Haas said.   Read More: All-pervasive corruption by AL destroys economy: Fakhrul “The United States is committed to holding corrupt officials accountable for their actions. This can take various forms,” said the ambassador.   Just as US laws hold American citizens and businesses accountable for corrupt practices, there are US laws and penalties that apply to non-citizens who use corrupt practices in violation of the laws. “What can the Bangladeshi government do to reduce corruption?  It could think about ways to empower institutions to tackle corruption and promote transparency and accountability in governance and business,” he said.   One idea is to reduce the amount of cash that officials handle by replacing cash-based financial transactions with the government with online transactions, Haas said.   Read More: Power tariff being raised frequently to manage corruption: Fakhrul “Citizens could pay bills, fines, and taxes electronically. Such a process would minimize the opportunity for bureaucrats to overcharge or misplace public funds into their own pockets,” he said.   Haas recognized the important role a vibrant civil society and free media play in investigating and exposing instances of corruption. Bangladesh has many advantages that potential investors would find attractive, he said. “But as American business leaders tell me: multi-national firms have options on where they invest.”   They will choose whichever country has the lowest levels of corruption, the fewest bureaucratic obstacles, the greatest respect for rule of law, and the best logistics infrastructure for their business, he added.   Read More: BNP's complaints about corruption 'laughable': Hasan Mahmud

To mark the 50 years of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and South Korea, the KOICA Bangladesh Alumni Association (KBAA), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) held a tree plantation event at Shahid Dr Fazle Rabbi Park in Dhaka's Gulshan 1. As a part of a voluntary program to increase the consciousness of environmental protection, about 85 trees were planted in the rain garden zone of the park. DNCC Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, South Korean Ambassador Lee Jang-keun, Nasima Begum, Member of the Planning Commission and also president of KBAA, KOICA Country Director Kim Tae-young, Economic Relations Division Joint Secretary Masuma Akter, Korean Community President Yu Yong oh, and Korean Export Processing Zone President Jahangir Saadat were present at the event. Read: Japanese Ambassador joins KWE’s Bangladesh operations launching prog KBAA is a platform that bridges the gap between the two countries and deepens friendly ties. The total number of KOICA alumni, and government officials of Bangladesh who participated in KOICA-funded training programs, has reached more than 2,600 this year, reflecting the "multi-sectoral links" that have been established between Korea and Bangladesh over decades.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (February 19, 2023) inaugurated the Mirpur-Kalshi flyover to vehicular movement. The flyover has been constructed to ease commute in Mirpur, Mirpur DOHS, Pallabi, Kalshi, Mahakhali, Banani, Uttara and Dhaka airport. The prime minister opened the flyover to traffic from a function at Kalshi intersection, adjoining Balur Math, in Dhaka. The 2,335m long flyover has been built under the Road Widening and Development Project from ECB Square to Mirpur and the Construction of Flyover on Kalshi Circle Project, which got ECNEC approval on January 9, 2018. Read more: Want peace, but ready to resist external attack: PM Hasina Under the project, 3.70km stretch of road from the ECB square to Kalshi was also widened. Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and the Bangladesh Army (24 Engineer Construction Brigade) implemented the project at a cost of around Tk 1,012 crore. According to the project details, the flyover looks like the English alphabet ‘Y’. The previously four-lane roads have been widened to six lanes to ease commute. Read More: Remove posters, writings from Dhaka’s flyovers in 2 weeks: HC The main four-lane flyover runs from ECB square towards Kalshi and Mirpur DOHS, while a two-lane ramp descends from Kalshi intersection to Kalshi Road. The project also includes extension of a PC girder bridge, construction of two foot bridges, a public toilet, two police boxes, a 7.40 km RCC drain and saucer drain, a 1755m RCC pipe drain, retaining wall, 3383m communication duct, 8 lakh-linear metre sand compaction pile, separate cycle lane, and six bus bays. On her arrival at the venue, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Dhaka-16 MP Md Elias Uddin Mollah, and Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim welcomed her. Read More: Flyovers to be constructed in haor region, not roads: Planning Minister.

Dhaka North City Corporation will be setting up holiday markets in all 54 wards under its jurisdiction, according to mayor Atiqul Islam. He said this while addressing the opening ceremony of a holiday market in the Agargaon area of the capital. The holiday market, an initiative of the DNCC and Oikko Foundation, will enable SME entrepreneurs to promote their products. It will be open to all every Friday and Saturday. “We organized this kind of market for the first time to promote the SME sector. If this pilot project runs smoothly, we will initiate setting up holiday markets like this in all 54 wards of Dhaka North,” he said. “Mainly SME entrepreneurs will sell their products in this market. There will be no middlemen, so they will sell their products directly to the customers at an affordable price,” he added. Mentioning that DNCC is working to restore the sidewalks as per the mayor’s election manifesto, he also said a pilot project for hawkers is underway at Mirpur 10. “Certain hawkers will be allowed there five days a week, after 4 p.m. We have also thought about establishing evening markets,” he said. Also read: Save our cities and people: DNCC mayor at COP27 In his inaugural speech, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi praised the initiative and urged involving more women entrepreneurs in all such initiatives. “Take steps so that women can come forward with their ventures,” he said.  Following the inauguration ceremony, the DNCC Mayor, along with the chief guest and other guests, visited the stalls. The market has a total of 100 stalls. SME entrepreneurs set up stalls for leather products, jute products, handicrafts, fashion and lifestyle products, home decor products, organic agricultural products, agricultural products, food, and beverages. Additional Police Commissioner of DMP Mir Rezaul Alam, Chief Executive Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation Selim Reza, and local councillors were also present at the ceremony.