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Bangladesh logs 51 Covid cases, no death
Bangladesh logged 51 fresh Covid cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning, taking the total caseload to 19,52,275.
As per the latest government data, the country’s total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,124 as no deaths were reported during the period.
The daily positivity rate increased to 1.28 per cent from Friday's 0.64 per cent f after testing 3,994 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Also read: It’s not over: COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in US
On Friday, the number of infections was lower as 27 new cases were reported with no death.
Besides, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent.
The recovery rate rose to 96.84 per cent with the recovery of 252 more patients during the 24-hour period.
In March, the country reported 85 Covid-linked deaths and 8,000 new cases while 66,639 patients recovered from the disease, according to DGHS.
Among the 85 deaths during the period, 44 were unvaccinated patients, 11 were vaccinated with the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, 28 with the second dose and two with the third dose.
The country reported its first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 infections, since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest daily positivity rate at 33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths.
Also read: Global Covid cases top 503 million
Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.
2 killed in Ctg road accidents
Two motorcyclists were killed in separate road accidents in Chattogram on Saturday.
In Sitakundu upazila, Mohammad Titu, 25, was hit by a lorry in front of Kashem Jute Mills in Sonaichhari union of the upazila around 10 am on Saturday, police said. He died on the spot.
The deceased was a resident of of Shitalpur Delipara area of Sitakunda and was involved in the ship breaking business.
Another young man named Robin Ahmed, 35, was killed as a truck collided with his motorcycle in front of Patia Upazila Health Complex at around 3.30 am. He was a resident of Patharghata area, police said.
READ: Road accidents claim 166 lives, Covid 85 in Bangladesh in March: BHRC
Inspector (Investigation) Sadiqur Rahman of Chittagong Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) police outpost said Robin was brought to CMCH with serious injuries after a head-on collision between his motorcycle and a truck in front of Patia Upazila Health Complex.
The doctor on duty of the emergency department declared him dead.
‘Custodial death’ in Lalmonirhat: Rights body demand justice
Expressing deep concern over the death of a young man allegedly under police custody in Lalmonirhat, Manbadhiker Songskriti Foundation (MSF), a human rights organisation, demanded legal steps against those responsible for the death after fair investigation.
“Unleashing torture on a man in police custody that led to his death is unacceptable. It is the duty of police to ensure security to people under their custody. MSF is demanding legal steps against those involved in the killing after fair probe,” said a press release of MSF issued on Saturday.
Earlier, a 25-year-old RMG worker in Lalmonirhat, identified as Robiul Islam Khan, died allegedly in police custody on Thursday night.
Also read: Cop withdrawn over youth’s alleged custodial death in Lalmonirhat
Agitated locals blocked Lalmonirhat-Rangpur Highway halting traffic on the busy high-speed corridor for few hours in the early hours of Friday, after the family of the deceased accused the police of torture.
Robiul and another man were arrested by police on charges of gambling at a fair in Mahendranagar Bangla Bazar area on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh, according to his family members.
Robiul had an altercation with some cops while being dragged into a police van as he insisted that he was innocent, they claimed.
Also read: Lalmonirhat: 25-yr-old dies in police custody, locals block highway
"He was badly beaten up by the cops for refusing to enter the police van. He had sustained injuries, which eventually led to his death," said a family member of the deceased.
As the news of the death spread, the agitated locals blocked Lalmonirhat-Rangpur highway in the early hours of Friday and demanded the punishment of a sub-inspector of Sadar police station.
The locals also vandalised a police van when some cops reached the spot to pacify the crowd, officials said. The mob left the place only after the cops assured them of a proper probe into the death.
Lighter vessel sinks in Bay: 12 crew go missing
Twelve crew members went missing as a lighter vessel sank in the Bay of Bengal near Bhashanchar of Noakhali district on Saturday.
Captain Kazi Shah Alam, Zonal Commander of Coast Guard East Zone, said the lighter vessel named ‘Sajal-Tanmoy-2’ sank in the Bay of Bengal, 12 nautical miles off the southern area of Bhashanchar around 9:30 am.
READ: Lighter vessel sinks near Ctg port: Another body recovered
Twelve crew members of the vessel remained missing after the accident.
On information, a team of Coast Guard left for the spot but they failed to reach there due to rough sea.
BNP urges judiciary to work impartially, independently
BNP standing committee has called upon the judiciary to work neutrally and independently instead of helping the government to gain its narrow political interests.
At a virtual meeting on Friday, the committee also voiced deep concern as the Appellate Division dismissed a leave to appeal petition filed by Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said their standing committee members observed that, “Unfortunately, there is a perception in the public mind that the judiciary is unfairly cooperating with the illegitimate, usurper and unelected government to serve the narrow purposes of the ruling party instead of protecting the independence enshrined by the constitution.”
The BNP leader said their meeting strongly condemned and protested such despicable efforts. “We call upon the judiciary to carry out its judicial functions independently with an impartial attitude upholding the main character of the constitution.”
Earlier on Wednesday last, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld a High Court verdict that cleared the way for the lower court to resume trial proceedings of a corruption case filed against Dr Zubaida.
READ: Suffocating situation prevailing due to misrule: Fakhrul
Fakhrul said Dr Zubaida is a non-political physician and the Anti-Corruption Commission has implicated her in the case with a political motive. “The case has been filed without any basis only to harass and humiliate the Zia family.”
He said the order that was given by the Appellate Division appears to be a dictated one.
The BNP leader alleged that the government has been making efforts to eliminate political institutions using the ‘false’ cases by establishing its ‘control’ and ‘influence’ over the judiciary.
“In the same way, they (govt) are trying to keep our leader Begum Khaleda Zia and acting chairman Tarique Rahman away from politics by unlawfully convicting them in false cases out of political vengeance,” he observed.
The BNP leader also alleged that the government is trying to use the judiciary to destroy the democratic character of the constitution and thus establish a one-party authoritarian dictatorship.
Cox's Bazar: Lioness Nodi in critical condition, say vets
Once a centre of attraction, Nodi, the 11-year-old lioness at Dulhazra Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park in Cox’s Bazar, is in critical condition and she has stopped eating.
"She has shown no signs of improvement even after over two months of treatment for her severe neck injuries. Now the lioness has stopped eating food," said Md Majharul Islam, the park in-charge.
According to Majharul, Nadi sustained injuries in a fight with her partner Samrat (a lion) on February 2 this year. Samrat was also injured in the fight. Initially, upazila livestock officer Dr Supan Nandi had treated the two injured animals.
Later, on February 19, the two animals had a fight again over mating. And Nodi sustained a serious injury to her neck.
"Safari park vet Dr Mostafizur Rahman treated the two animals. Though Samrat recovered, Nodi's condition has been worsening with each passing day," another official said.
On February 28, a five-member medical board was formed to treat Nodi. The board members include three veterinary surgeons of Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, upazila livestock officer Dr Supan Nandi and park surgeon Dr Hatem Sajjad Zulkar Nain.
READ: Now African lioness dies at Gazipur Safari Park
When contacted, Dr Supan Nandi, said, "Lions usually live for 12-18 years. Nodi has grown old and lost her taste buds. Her antibodies are also decreasing daily. That is why, her condition is very critical."
Majharul said that he had already informed the higher authorities "for better treatment of Nodi".
Lioness Nodi was born on September 8, 2011, in the womb of Hira. She and Samrat have a cub.
Woman with diarrhoea dies at Meherpur hospital
A 60-year-old woman suffering from diarrhoea died at Meherpur General Hospital on Friday night.
The deceased was identified as Aslima Khatun, a resident of Maniknagar village in Mujibnagar upazila of the district.
According to the family members, Aslima had been suffering from diarrhoea and was undergoing treatment at Mujibnagar Health Complex for the last three days.
As her condition deteriorated, she was taken to Meherpur General Hospital on Friday where she breathed that night, said Dr Mokhlesur Rahman of Meherpur General Hospital.
"We are waiting for the reports of her medical tests to determine the cause of her death," he said.
Bangladesh has been witnessing an alarming rise in diarrhoea cases since mid-March.
Some 250 people infected with diarrhoea are currently undergoing treatment at Meherpur General Hospital, said sources at the hospital.
Read: Diarrhoea hospitalisations continue to rise in Dhaka, other districts
Dr Md Nazmul Islam, a spokesperson for the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), on Wednesday said that necessary medicines for diarrhoea patients such as saline and water purification tablets were sent to hospitals.
A total of 4,528 medical teams are working across the country to fight diarrhoea.
Besides, around 23 lakh Dhaka residents will get two doses of the oral vaccine against cholera, he had said.
READ: Diarrhoea outbreak grips Barguna
The first dose of the vaccine will be given in May and the second in June, said Dr Nazmul.
105-yr-old woman charred to death in Natore
A 105-year-old woman was charred to death in a fire that broke out at her house in Agpurulia village of Natore district on Friday, officials said.
The deceased was identified as Guljan Bewa of the village in Gurudaspur upazila.
Akhtar Hamid Khan, an officer of Natore Fire Service and Civil Defense, said the fire broke out at the house of a person named Bakkar Ali and soon spread to the adjoining nine houses.
REad: Worker burnt dead in N'ganj fire, another injured
On information, three fire tenders were rushed to the spot. After the flames were doused, the firemen recovered the charred body of the woman.
Trader's beheaded body found in Chandpur
Police claimed to have recovered the beheaded body of a 25-year-old man from his house in Faridganj upazila of Chandpur on Friday night.
The deceased was identified as Farid Uddin Bhuiyan, a local trader of Kaunia Bhuiyan Bari in the upazila.
Mahammad Shahid Hossain, officer-in-charge of Faridganj Police Station, told UNB that the decapitated body was found in the living room of the house around 10pm.
On information, additional police superintendent (Faridganj circle) Sohel Mahmud rushed to the spot.
"The body has been sent to a local hospital morgue for an autopsy," said OC Shahid.
Also read: Madrasa student’s headless body found in Chandpur
“No one has been arrested in connection with the killing. A probe is on,” he added.
Global Covid cases top 503 million
The overall number of Covid cases has now surged past 503 million amid a rise in new infections in parts of the world.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 503,491,921 while the death toll from the virus reached 6,195,506 Saturday morning.
The US has recorded 80,612,721 cases so far and 988,559 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows.
India's Covid-19 tally rose to 43,039,972 on Friday, as 949 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry's latest data.
Besides, as many as six deaths due to the pandemic since Thursday morning took the total death toll to 521,743.
Read:Bangladesh reports no death from Covid-19, new cases 56
Covid Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh logged 27 fresh Covid cases in 24 hours till Friday morning, taking the total caseload to 19,52, 224.
As per the latest government data, the country’s total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,124 as no deaths were reported during the period.
The daily positivity rate increased to 0.64 per cent from Thursday's 0.52 per cent after 4,212 samples were tested during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read:COVID-19 cases rise in Shanghai with millions under lockdown
Besides, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent.
The recovery rate rose to 96.83 per cent with the recovery of 180 more patients during the 24-hour period.