Popular filmmaker Mostafa Sarwar Farooki was hospitalised after he felt unwell on Monday (January 22, 2024) evening. His hospitalisation was confirmed by his wife, actress Nusrat Imrose Tisha. Tisha wrote on her verified Facebook page at 1 am on Tuesday, “Mostafa has been feeling unwell since last evening. After taking him to the hospital, it was informed that he suffered a mild stroke.” “He is now being observed at the Neuro ICU. Please keep Mostafa Sarwar Farooki in your prayers,” Tisha wrote. According to sources, the director is at a private hospital in Dhaka’s Panthapath. He is currently being closely monitored by doctors but is now out of danger. Fans and admirers, including many celebrities, have commented on and shared the post while asking for prayers for the acclaimed director. Read more: Farooki’s ‘Shonibar Bikel’ to be released on Indian OTT platform Sony LIV Known for breaking stereotypical storytelling and popularising colloquial language in TV fiction, Farooki is widely acclaimed for his television series ‘51 Borti’, ‘69’, ‘420’, ‘Choruivati’, ‘Carrom’ and more. After becoming successful in television, Farooki debuted as a filmmaker with ‘Bachelor’ (2004), featuring an ensemble cast of Ferdous Ahmed, Humayun Faridi, Shabnoor, Aupee Karim, Jaya Ahsan, Marzuk Russell and others. After that, he continued his journey as a filmmaker with ‘Made in Bangladesh’, ‘Third Person Singular Number’, ‘Ant Story’ (Piprabiddya), ‘Television’, ‘Doob: No Bed of Roses’ and his most talked-about film ‘Saturday Afternoon (Shonibar Bikel), which is yet to have a proper theatrical release in Bangladesh. With ‘Ladies & Gentleman’ (2021), Farooki debuted in OTT. He debuted as an actor in the Chorki’s film under the ‘Ministry of Love’ project, titled 'Something Like An Autobiography' alongside Tisha. Read more: Something Like An Autobiography: Real Story or Just a Film?

Medicare services of ICU and HDU units at Chuadanga sadar hospital remain suspended for around nine months due to lack of manpower causing a grave concern in the district as the fourth wave of the Covid-19 has already started in the country. Residents of the district have urged the concerned authorities to take necessary measures to open the life-saving units further taking into account the prevailing situation.  Sources said one ‘Sajeda Foundation’ inked a deal with the hospital authority on March 21 last year that they would treat ICU and HDU patients with their own manpower and necessary equipment including ventilator for a period of two months.    As per the deal, the foundation set up 6 ICU beds, 8 HDU beds, two ventilators and other equipment on the third floor of the hospital’s new building later. A team of 44 members of the foundation including 10 physicians, 14 ICU staff nurses, 7 ward boys, one each lab technologist and  X-ray technologist and others started treating patients especially for Covid-19 from July 26 last year. Though local lawmaker and heroic freedom fighter Solaiman Haque Joarder formally inaugurated the units on August 07 last year, the foundation engaged itself in serving patients much earlier.  The hospital authority said providing the ICU and HDU services to patients with the equipment have been halt for shortage of manpower for last nine months as the foundation left the hospital with their manpower after end of the tenure of the deal. Read: Baby snake killed after bit by 16 months old in Chuadanga Aminu Islam and Abdul Kader, treatment seekers who came at the hospital told this correspondent that they were very happy to learn about launch of the ICU and HDU units at the hospital last year as there was no ICU bed at any government and private hospitals in the district. Expressing grave concern over the closure of the two units after two months of launching, they have urged the prime minister to open the life-saving units soon permanently. Dr Nafiz Ullah, who performed duty as residential physician at the ICU unit during the tenure, told the UNB that the foundation provided patients with the ICU and HDU services with its own manpower and instruments for the two months as per the deal during the Covid pandemic in Chuadanga.  After the expire of tenure of the contract, the foundation donated the instrument of the units to the hospital authority and all manpower left, he said adding that they in a survey found activities of the units remain suspended owing to shortage of manpower.   The equipment including the expensive ventilators will go out of order if these lay idly for long, he said. Dr Ataur Rahman, Caretaker of Chuadanga sadar hospital, told this correspondent that he was not attached to the hospital when the foundation treated patients and donated the equipment. He said the units remain closed due to shortage of skilled manpower and other factors. We sent a letter to health ministry to take necessary measures to run the units further considering the current situation, Dr Ataur added. 

Popular lyricist and astrologer Kausar Ahmed Chowdhury who is currently undergoing treatment at Dhanmondi Clinic, Green Road in the capital, has been shifted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as his condition deteriorated. The 75-year old celebrity astrologer is battling with multiple health complications and B(+) Positive blood is urgently required for his treatment, according to a Facebook post shared by popular singer-composer Bappa Mazumder on Friday afternoon. Kausar has been suffering from multiple health problems for a long  time, including kidney problems coupled with blood infection. Besides, he has suffered two strokes. Read:Lata Mangeshkar: India's Legendary Singing Diva As a celebrated astrologer, Kausar Ahmed Chowdhury has been a household name for years because of his Prothom Alo horoscope readings. He has written several famous song lyrics for well-known singers and bands such as LRB, Miles, Samina Chowdhury, Lucky Akhand, Niaz Mohammad Chowdhury, and many more. "Kobita Porar Prohor," "Jekhaney Shimanto Tomar," "Rupali Guitar," "Aaj Ei Brishtir Kanna Dekhe" are some of his most popular songs.

Legendary Indian playback singer Lata Mangeshkar has been hospitalised in the western city of Mumbai after testing positive for Covid-19. The 92-year-old 'Queen of Melody' was rushed to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the premier Breach Candy Hospital after her RT-PCR test result came positive, her niece Rachana told the local media on Tuesday. "She is mild Covid positive. Considering her age, doctors advised us that she should be in the ICU because she requires constant care. She will be fine. But it's going to take a while because of her age," Rachana said. Also read: Sohel Rana shifted from ICU to cabin Considered one of the leading and most respected playback singers in India, Lata has recorded songs in over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over 35 Indian languages and foreign languages. In fact, she began her singing career at the age of 13, after her father's demise in 1942. Seven years later, Lata hogged limelight for her first major hit song 'Aayega Aanewaala' in a Bollywood movie. Also read: Sourav Ganguly's daughter contracts Covid From 1960s to 2000s, she dominated Bollywood. In 1974, Lata became the first Indian singer to perform at Royal Albert Hall in the British capital. In 1989, Lata was given Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest recognition in the field of cinema. In 2001, Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, was bestowed on her by the Indian government.

Renowned actor, director and producer Sohel Rana has been shifted to a cabin from the intensive care unit of the Evercare Hospital in the capital as his health condition has improved, his son said. "We have spent the last few days under stress. A life-saving jab was much needed for my father which was fortunately found in time. Now he has been shifted to the cabin from the hospital ICU," his son Mashrur Parvez told UNB. READ: Sohel Rana’s condition deteriorates Sohel Rana was admitted to the city hospital on December 25 in a critical condition. Later he tested positive for Covid-19 and he was admitted to the ICU, when his condition worsened. READ: Actor Sohel Rana shifted to ICU

Brazilian soccer great Pelé “took a little step back” in his recovery from surgery to remove a tumor from his colon but he is “recovering well” at a Sao Paulo hospital, his daughter Kely Nascimento said Friday. However, the Albert Einstein hospital said the 80-year-old Edson Arantes do Nascimento had returned to intensive care after “a brief breathing instability” Thursday night. Pelé was currently stable in “semi-intensive” care, the hospital said, and he “continues recovering.” It did not give further details. Kely Nascimento posted a picture Friday with her father on Instagram which she said she had just taken in his room at the Albert Einstein hospital. READ: Pele congratulates Messi for equalling goal record “He is recovering well and within normal range. Promise!” Kely Nascimento said. “The normal recovery scenario for a man of his age after an operation like this is sometimes two steps forward and one step back. Yesterday he was tired and took a little step back.” “Today he took two forwards!” she added, without giving more details. The hospital had not previously issued a new statement on Pelé’s health since Tuesday, when he was removed from intensive care. Later Pelé confirmed on social media that he is feeling well and that he had been visited by family members during the day. “I continue to smile every day. Thank you for all the love I get from you,” Pelé said. The tumor was found when Pelé went for routine exams at the end of August. His surgery took place on Sept. 4. READ: Bangabandhu Centenary: Pele’s visit now pushed to ‘late February’ Pelé won the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups, and remains Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 77 goals in 92 matches.

Even if you have the money, there is no guarantee that you will be able to get admitted to a hospital for Covid-19 treatment right away as hospitals are overwhelmed and extremely unequipped, says Rafiqul Islam, a resident of Dakkhin Surma upazila of Sylhet. “My father tested positive five days back and is struggling for breath. He needs an ICU bed but all beds are occupied everywhere. We had been to Osmani Medical College Hospital and then to two private hospitals but there was no ICU bed to get him admitted," Rafiqul, a working man in his late 40s, told the UNB correspondent in front of North East Medical College Hospital.   “Even the wait at every hospital and every desk was frustrating. We were frequently advised to have patience as they were having a very difficult time. Our medical system has  collapsed!” says Rafique.   There is nothing unique in Rafiqul Islam’s case. It is now a common scenario in Sylhet as the number of cases has skyrocketed here in recent weeks as elsewhere in the country. Relatives of Covid-infected patients are running from one hospital to another to have an ICU bed for them.    READ: Sylhet division reports highest single-day Covid cases of 802 Every day the relatives are having the names of patients listed with the hospitals here in an effort to get an ICU bed once it becomes available.

Ten coronavirus patients died at the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) since Monday morning. Deputy Director of RMCH Dr Saiful Ferdous said four of the patients died in ICU, three in Ward-16, two in Ward-22 and one in Ward-29. “Most of them are from Chapainawabganj,” the doctor said. Dr Ferdous said the number of infections in some parts of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj increased at an alarming rate. The hospital is struggling to accommodate the rising number of patients. Currently, 168 Covid patients are being treated at RMCH. Read: BAF chopper medevacs RMCH doctor to Dhaka Strict lockdown in Chapainawabganj The district administration put northwestern Chapainawabganj under a strict seven-day lockdown after a surge in Covid-19 cases. The measure came after the district, which shares border with West Bengal, reported an alarming 55 percent positivity rate out of tested samples, Deputy Commissioner Monjurul Hafeez told the media Monday. He described the situation as “severe” and suspected that the Indian variant might be responsible for the surge. “The Indian variant may have spread in the district despite ensuring a 14-day institutional quarantine for all India returnees.” Meanwhile, the government is easing the countrywide lockdown. Restrictions on public transportations have been lifted since Monday. Launches, trains, and inter-district buses have also started operating.

India recorded more than 320,000 new cases of coronavirus infection Tuesday as a grim surge of illness and death weighed on the country and its sinking health system started getting much-needed support from foreign nations. Tuesday’s 323,144 new infections raised India’s total past 17.6 million, behind only the United States. It ended a five-day streak of recording the largest single-day increases in any country throughout the pandemic, but the decline likely reflects lower weekend testing rather than reduced spread of the virus. The health ministry also reported another 2,771 deaths in the past 24 hours, with roughly 115 Indians succumbing to the disease every hour. The latest fatalities pushed India’s fatalities to 197,894, behind the U.S., Brazil and Mexico. Experts say even these figures are probably an undercount. Also read: Virus ‘swallowing’ people in India; crematoriums overwhelmed Foreign ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi tweeted photos Tuesday of the first shipment of medical aid India received from Britain. It included 100 ventilators and 95 oxygen concentrators. Other nations like the U.S., Germany, Israel, France and Pakistan have also promised medical aid to India. The countries have said they will supply oxygen, diagnostic tests, treatments, ventilators and protective gear to help India at the time of crisis which World Health Organization’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday called “beyond heartbreaking.” The surge, spurred by insidious new variants of coronavirus, has undermined the Indian government’s premature claims of victory over the pandemic. The country of nearly 1.4 billion people is facing a chronic shortage of space on its intensive care wards. Hospitals are experiencing oxygen shortages and many people are being forced to turn to makeshift facilities for mass burials and cremations as the country’s funeral services have become overwhelmed. Meanwhile, in a bid to tackle the shortage of beds, Indian authorities are turning to train carriages, which have been converted into isolation wards. India has also started airlifting oxygen tankers to states in need. Special trains with oxygen supplies are also running in the country. France was sending breathing machines, ICU gear and eight oxygen generators in a shipment expected to be sent later this week. Each generator can equip a hospital of 250 beds for several years, French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said. France will also send breathing machines, pumps and containers of liquid medical oxygen aimed at helping up to 10,000 patients per day, according to the French Foreign Ministry. That first oxygen shipment is expected to arrive from Europe to India next week. Also read: UK to send medical supplies to India The White House was moving to share raw materials for the production of the AstraZeneca vaccine with India by diverting some U.S. orders to the vaccine manufacturer Serum Institute of India. White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients told The Associated Press that the Biden administration was working to satisfy other “key requests” from the Indian government, namely for personal protective equipment, tests, therapeutics and supplies of oxygen and respiratory assistance devices. Epidemiologists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were also expected to soon travel to India to assist with its virus response. Also read: Indian court raps poll panel for rising Covid cases

A woman, who sustained 90 percent burns in Friday’s gas leak explosion in Narayanganj, succumbed to her injuries on Monday.  Aleya Begum, 42, breathed her last around 1am in the ICU of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. Her son in-law Biplob said five of their family members, including his three-month-old son Mahir, are still being treated at the hospital for burn injuries. Also read: 11 burnt in Narayanganj gas leak explosion Others injured in the incident have been released from the hospital, he said. On April 23, at least 11 people were injured in a gas leak explosion at a building in Narayanganj's Fatullah. Dhaka Medical College Hospital police outpost Inspector Bacchu Mia said Aleya had suffered 90 percent burns. Also read: Three killed in Gaibandha explosion Narayanganj district administration has assured of providing financial support for the treatment of the injured and formed a seven-member committee on Friday to look into the incident.