Others
Bangladesh reports 71 Covid cases, zero death
Bangladesh registered 71 new Covid cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning taking the country's total caseload to 1,954,006.
The country's total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,131 as no death was reported during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily test positivity rate decreased to 1.14 per cent from Friday’s 1.35 per cent as 6,225 samples were tested during this time.
Read: Global Covid cases near 540 million
The country on Friday saw 64 cases with zero death.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent. The recovery rate also remained static at 97.50 per cent as 110 patients recovered during this period.
In May, the country reported only four Covid-linked deaths and 816 new cases, while 7,356 patients recovered from the disease, according to the DGHS.
Among the four deaths during the period, one was vaccinated with single dose of Covid vaccine while three were vaccinated with two doses.
Read: Law Minister contracts Covid-19
The country reported its first zero Covid death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 cases, since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020.
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest positivity rate of 33.37 per cent.
The country registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.
Bangladesh Bank gets new governor
The government has appointed Abdur Rouf Talukder, senior secretary of finance division at the Ministry of Finance, as the new governor of Bangladesh Bank for a 4-year term.
He will succeed the central bank governor Fazle Kabir whose term expires on July 3.
The Financial Institutions Division of the Finance Ministry on Saturday issued a circular in this regard notifying the appointment in public interest.
Also read: Inflation, unstable forex rate major challenges: BB governor
According to the article 10(3) and 10 (5) of Bangladesh Bank Order 1972 (president's order 172) the new governor will be appointed on condition of taking retirement from the public service and abandoning all work relationships with all other institutions and associations, it said.
He has been appointed for the next four years from July 4 or the day of joining, said the notification.
Talukder joined the Bangladesh Civil Service in February, 1988 (BCS 1985 batch). He worked more than 18 years in Finance Division before elevating to the position of Finance Secretary on 17 July 2018.
Also read:Fazle Kabir reappointed BB governor for next 2 years
Apart from his long career in Finance Division, Talukder has served in the Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Food, and Ministry of Information.
He also worked at Bangladesh High Commission, Kuala Lumpur as First Secretary (Commercial).
Law Minister contracts Covid-19
Law Minister Anisul Haque has tested positive for Covid-19, says an official of the ministry on Saturday.
He tested positive on Thursday and has been taking treatment at home, the official said.
The law minister is now doing fine and his body temperature remains normal with light coughing.
Budget: Dr Atiur for reconsidering some tax proposals
Former Governor of Bangladesh Bank and Unnayan Shamannay Chair Prof Dr Atiur Rahman has said certain tax proposals of the proposed budget for FY 2022-23 need to be reconsidered to help improve the overall budget.
He urged to reconsider the tax proposals related to- increasing source tax on interest income of all companies; increasing taxes on mobile phones, laptops, and broadband internet services; and the scope left to bring back laundered money.
Dr Atiur also pointed out that by cutting unnecessary spending further allocations could be ensured for social safety, education, and health.
Also read: Budget offers no good news for lower, middle income groups: CPD
He, however, said a cautious budget has been proposed for FY 2022-23 which considers both the need to reduce imports and the demand for allocations for economic recovery. It aims to push forward an inclusive economic recovery while prioritizing the socio-economic security of the people and keeping the growth momentum going.
Dr Atiiur presented the keynote paper at Unnayan Shamannay’s press conference on a review of the FY 2022-23 budget held in the city on Saturday.
Other experts present at the session were Unnayan Shamannay’s lead economist- Robert Shuvro Guda, its policy analyst Zinia Sharmin, eminent economist Dr Jamal Uddin and Sociologist Khondoker Shakhawat Ali.
Robert Shuvro Guda informed that an average citizen spends a lot on healthcare and of that amount- over two-thirds goes mainly for buying medicines.
By allocating just over Tk 1,200 crore additionally for the medical and surgical equipment sub-sector of the health budget, this burden can be eased to a significant extent, Guda said.
The Finance Minister, in his budget speech, confirmed that if required allocations for subsidies in fuel and fertilizer will be further increased. The same principle should be followed for allocations for social safety nets as well, opined Zinia Sharmin.
Jamal Uddin emphasized on raising the tax-GDP ratio and enhancing the tax collection capacity of the NBR. He said that NBR at the moment does not have the preparation to effectively collect taxes from upazila levels.
Also read: Budget FY23: Lower allocation for key mega projects worries FICCI
In the concluding remarks, Khondoker Shakhawat Ali praised the government for being able to come up with a budget amid numerous challenges.
He urged the policymakers to seriously consider the recommendations coming from budget reviews done by different citizen platforms.
Suspected Chuadanga patient not infected with monkeypox, says medical board
A 60-year old woman who was sent to Chuadanga sadar hospital with blisters has not been tested positive for monkeypox.
Dr Abul Hossain, head of a three- member medical board formed in this regard, confirmed it to the UNB reporter.
He said, “The woman might have got the blisters as side effects of any medicine she was taking. She will be kept kept under observation in a room until recovery.”
The woman from Bhandardaha village was admitted to the hospital on Thursday with a number of marble sized blisters all over her body, said Dr Waliar Rahman sadar upazila health and family planning officer.
READ: Monkeypox scare: India returnee sent to Jashore hospital
On duty medical officer Wahid Mahmud Robin informed the matter to the civil surgeon and hospital supervisor as it seemed like a symptom of pox. She was sent home with guidelines to keep in isolation after giving primary treatment according to the authority’s suggestion.
On Friday she was brought again to the hospital and the medical board formed in this regard collected her samples for testing.
Dr Abul Hossain said, “We think the blisters might be effects of medicine reaction. We have sought suggestions from a dermatologist and hopefully she will recover soon.”
Girls feel unsafe while bathing in open places
Adolescent girls and young women of urban slum areas feel unsafe while bathing at open bathing spaces, according to a survey.
Lack of accessible water, infrastructural challenges cause risk of sexual harassment and violence, says a recent survey.
International development organisation Plan International shared the survey findings on Saturday
S M Tariquzzaman, WASH Specialist of Plan International Bangladesh, shared the survey findings in the event.
Also read: 3-day ‘WOW Virtual Bangladesh 2022’ begins celebrating women, girls’ inspiring stories
He said Plan International Bangladesh started a model project titled “Empowering Girls for Economic Opportunity and Safe Space-Egloss” since January 2022.
Under this project, the organisation initiated to establish and reform 15 bathing spaces in 4 slum areas of Dhaka: Dhalpur, Malek Member Colony, IG Gate Colony, and Match Colony.
The initiative has been implemented by Plan International Bangladesh and Population Services and Training Centre (PSTC).
Under this initiative, they have also conducted a survey in these four slum areas where 417 girls under the age range of 14-24 years took part.
Some 12 focused group discussion was also organised.
The survey was conducted by youth-led organisation BYS with the support of Plan International Bangladesh.
In the survey, 98 percent respondents shared that they use open bathing spaces for taking their everyday shower.
Among these open bathing spaces, only 15% have separate zone for girls where women commonly share the place for shower.
According to the survey, on an average, per bathing space is shared by 35-45 people, maximum user is 70 while minimum is 20.
The respondents said during the focused group discussions that, they do not feel safe in these bathing spaces.
There are risks of taking photos from high-raised buildings around the colonies.
Around 68.6 percent said, they face violence at different times during using toilet.
There is lack of menstrual hygiene management facilities in these places.
Also read: Fewer boys return to schools than girls after long Covid hiatus: Study
Around 58.7% mentioned that they have to hurry, and it often gets dark while taking shower therefore.
Around 38.2% shared that they feel unsafe whike 79.2 percent respondent confirmed that they faced verbal violence while 13.4% shared that they faced sexual harassment.
Manik Kumar Saha, Project Manager of Plan International Bangladesh, said, there are more than 5000 urban slums in Dhaka.
There are challenges including land efficiency and sewerage lines.
Due to lack of safe bathing spaces, people of all age and gender have to take shower in a common place altogether, which affects their privacy and causes violence.
"We have established 15 bathing spaces in four of the slum areas of Dhaka, among them 2 are especially designed for people with special needs. We hope, girls and young women will have at least some sense of safety and protection while taking shower."
He also said, “But the demand is even more. We want to reach to the policy makers with this message that we wish to work together on addressing the challenge and solve it.”
Shiropa Kulsum of PSTC said, “The lack of safe bathing spaces impacts the lives of adolescent girls and young women. Especially during menstruation, the challenge is unimaginable. The lack of menstrual hygiene management facilities, their reproduction health becomes at risk as well. This is why we need safe bathing spaces.
Faez Belal, Founder of BYS, said, “We often do not realise the importance of having a safe bathing space. This is very crucial to ensure safety, even mental health well being of adolescent girls and young women.”
Nishat, one of the dwellers of the community shared her real life experience during the press briefing. She said, “This is very uncomfortable for us to bath openly. We often do not get the time to manage our hygiene properly.”.
Shemonty Monjari, Campaign Manager of Plan International Bangladesh, said, “Plan International Bangladesh is working to improve the lives of children, adolescents, and youth, especially girls. Till 2030, we are working towards challenging the fear of violence. This initiative of safe bathing spaces is one part of this activities.
Ashik Billah, Geo Lead of Central and Northern Region of Plan International Bangladesh, said, the organisation has been working to improve the lives of children and youth through reducing the root cause of the obstacles. This initiative is also a part of the activities.
Present world is not of competition but collaboration: Palak
State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak has said the present world is not of competition, but of collaboration.
"The more collaboration, the more life can be made easier. To that end, there are opportunities for private sector partnerships in the current coordination between the ICT Division and various ministries," he said while appearing as a guest on the first episode of ‘bKash Digital Life’ aired on Channel i recently.
Shamsuddin Haider Dalim hosted the programme.
The state minister said that not only urban people but also the rural ones have become accustomed to the digital life and digital technology has revolutionized the way people live their lives.
Read: Draft of data privacy and localization law is prepared: Palak
He believes that the initiative taken by this government 12 years ago to build a Digital Bangladesh is the basis of creating this digital habit today, said a media release.
Palak added that the digital services have become accessible to the masses due to the contribution of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
Regarding the bKash app, the state minister said that the latest customized and personalized solutions of bKash are very attractive.
Palak hopes that the bKash app will become a super app in the fully developed Bangladesh by 2041, saying, “Just like Facebook is not just a communications app, but an entertainment hub; Amazon, for example, is not just an e-commerce platform, but a part of the whole lifestyle, starting with entertainment; Google, for instance, is not just a search engine, but an education platform – similarly, bKash will become a super platform and super app. We will all work together to make Bangladesh the golden Bangladesh as dreamt by the great leader Bangabandhu.”
Showers likely to drench parts of country
Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely in different parts of the country in 24 hours commencing 9 am on Saturday.
According to a regular Met office bulletin, “Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna,Barishal and Chattogram divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at isolated places over northern part of the country.”
Day temperature may rise slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.
READ: Rains to lash 8 divisions
A mild heat wave may sweep places over south-western part of the country.
A trough of low extended from Bihar to Gangetic West Bengal persists. Monsoon is fairly active over Northern part and less active elsewhere over the country.
Monsoon is weak to moderate over North Bay.
PM credits AL for robust economic growth
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said it was because of the Awami League Bangladesh could attain over five percent GDP growth during the pandemic when many developed countries saw negative growth.
“We have given budget for FY2022-23, when many developed countries are having negative GDP growth, Bangladesh maintained its growth over five percent,” she said.
She said this while leaders of Awami League and its associated bodies greeted her at the Ganobhaban marking the 14th anniversary of Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s release from prison.
On this day in 2008, Hasina was released from the special sub-jail set up on the premises of the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) Building after remaining captive there for nearly 11 months.
The Awami League president was arrested from her Sudha Sadan residence at Dhanmondi on July 16, 2007 during the military-backed caretaker government, which assumed power in the political changeover of 1/11 in 2007.
Sheikh Hasina said that Awami League always has to step forward defying all odds and hurdles.
Also read: Villagers to get specialized healthcare services online at home: PM
She said that whenever she was arrested she sent letters to the people, and leaders and activists of Awami League for giving them directives.
She said that in 1983 she was arrested after her return in the country. At that time she was taken to the DGFI office.
“I never bow down to anyone and never begged from anyone. I got the lesson from my father and family not to bow to anything unjust.”
She said that leaders and activists of AL always choose the right path and she also saw it during the time of Bangabandhu.
She recalled that the caretaker government was compelled to free her due to the movement and pressure from her party. They became surprised when they saw that Awami League collected 25 lakh signatures in just 15 days.
“This is Awami League, people are our strength,” she said.
In this connection, she mentioned that people are not the strength for the BNP as their birth happened through illegal system.
Also read: Balance development with environment, PM tells at event on World Environment Day
Recalling her jail days during the army backed caretaker government she said that she noted down how the country will be governed and how the party will be run.
“I noted down how we will develop the country, as a result there is electricity connection now in every house,” she said.
Slamming the critics of achievements of Bangladesh, she said this section of people can't accept the country's development.
“I do not know why they are so mean minded and why they have such kind of poor mentality,” she said.
She said that the government has provided COVID-19 vaccines free of cost to the people.
“We know how to do the welfare of the people,” she said.
In this regard she said that defying heavy international obstacles the government constructed the Padma Bridge with its own resources.
“The Father of the Nation liberated the country, this Independence can not go in-vein, we will do our job, we will change the fate of the mass people, no matter who say what,” she said.
She also said that the government has formulated Delta Plan 2100 for the future generations so that they could get a prosperous life.
Fire on moving train: Dhaka-Sylhet rail communication restored after 3 hours
Rail communication on Dhaka-Sylhet route was restored Saturday afternoon after three hours of suspension following a fire incident on a train in Srimangal of Moulvibazar district, authorities said.
The rail link resumed at 4 pm as the inter-city train “Parabat Express” left for Sylhet, said Mohammad Rafiq, station master of Srimangal railway station.
The fire broke out at the power car or restaurant car of the moving train around 12:45 pm and spread soon, said Farid Ahmed, station manager of Srimangal Railway Station.
Later four firefighting units managed to douse the flames after an hour and half long effort but three of the AC compartments were charred.
Also read: 3 die as train hits pick-up van in Gazipur
UNB Sylhet correspondent reports, the fire broke out at the power car of the train while it reached near Shamshernagar Air Base and spread to two other coaches.
At first the locals tried to douse the flames and later firefighting units of Kamalganj, Moulvibazar, Srimangal and Kulaura rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze.
Abu Bakkar, sub-inspector of Shamshernagar Railway Station, said three compartments of the train were gutted during the fire.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported as the authorities concerned managed to stop the train in time.
Sukhen Das Plabon, a passenger of the train, said he noticed smoke billowing from the train and when he along with others came forward they saw fire. Immediately, they informed the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) who asked to stop the train.
Also read: Fire breaks out at moving ferry, doused quickly
A seven member probe body has been formed to investigate the fire incident led by additional magistrate of Moulvibazar district Abdul Haque.
The three damaged compartments are now being taken to Kulaura upazila, said station master Md Rafiq