State Minister for Planning Shamsul Alam Thursday called for setting up a separate ministry or a separate division under the Ministry of Science and Technology to ensure proper use of the blue economy through resource exploration and resource exploitation. He was addressing the hybrid seminar "Blue Economy and Maritime Security: Bangladesh Perspective" organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). The state minister emphasised the contribution of the blue economy to Bangladesh's future sustainable development efforts. He also highlighted the importance of knowledge mobilisation and conducting research on the area. Major General Mohammad Maksudur Rahman, director general of BIISS, emphasised creating a blue economy belt to use the huge untapped resources of the vast area of the sea. Rear Admiral Md Khurshed Alam (retired), secretary at the Maritime Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended the seminar as a special guest. Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain, chairman of BIISS, chaired the inaugural session. Dhaka University Professor Delwar Hossain, Jahangirnagar University Professor Abul Kalam Azad, BIISS Research Director Mahfuz Kabir, and Research Fellow Moutusi Islam also spoke at the seminar.                                    

Barishal division has logged 14 new Covid deaths in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Saturday morning. Of the deceased, eight were confirmed Covid patients while the remaining showed symptoms of the virus infection. Of them, 10 died at Sher-E-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) alone, the officials said. Divisional Health Director Dr Basudev Kumar Das said that 469 patients have died of Covid-19 in the division so far. READ: Barishal division sees 20 more Covid deaths Besides, 322 people have tested positive for Covid in Barishal division in the past 24 hours. Of the fresh Covid cases in the division, 119 have been identified in Barisal district alone. Some 33,144 active Covid patients have been identified in the division to date, according to the officials. According to SBMCH authorities, 48 more patients have been admitted to the hospital in 24 hours till Saturday morning. READ: Barishal division logs 854 new Covid cases Moreover, 340 patients with Covid related symptoms are currently undergoing treatment at the corona unit of SBMCH.

Khulna division has logged 45 Covid-related deaths in the last 24 hours until Sunday morning, health officials said. According to the health director's office, 15 people died in Kushtia, 11 in Khulna, six in Jashore, three each in Magura and Meherpur, two each in Jhenaidah and Bagerhat and one each in Satkhira, Narail and Chuadanga districts. The total death toll in the division has now reached 2,171, said the health officials. READ: Khulna division logs 33 new Covid deaths Some 1,271 people tested positive for Covid-19 during the period, according to the divisional health department. Some 87,062 cases have been detected in 10 districts of the division since the onset of Covid. In Khulna division, the first case of Covid-19 was detected in Chuadanga on March 19, 2020. READ: Covid claims 30 more lives in Khulna division

Khulna division has logged 33 new Covid-related deaths and as many as 249 fresh corona cases in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Saturday. According to the health director's office, 15 people died in Kushtia, eight in Khulna, six in Jashore, and one each in Norail, Magura, Jhenaidah and Meherpur districts. READ: Khulna division sees 40 new Covid deaths However, the number of Covid cases in the division has marginally decreased, as only 249 people tested positive for Covid during the 24-hour period, as per the divisional health department. Friday's figure was 361. Some 85,784 cases have been detected in 10 districts of the division since the onset of Covid in Bangladesh, of which 59,973 patients have recovered and 2,126 died to date, according to official data. In Khulna division, the first case of Covid-19 was detected in Chuadanga on March 19, 2020. READ: Covid claims 30 more lives in Khulna division