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Global Covid cases surpass 345 million
Amid the global scare over the rising Omicron cases, the overall number of Covid cases has now surpassed 345 million.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 345,747,702 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,584,037 Saturday morning.
The US has recorded 70, 166,329 cases so far and 884,489 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows.
India's Covid-19 tally rose to 38,566,027 Friday as 347,254 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, as per the federal health ministry data.
Friday was the second consecutive day when over 300,000 daily cases were registered in more than eight months.
Besides, 703 deaths due to the pandemic since Thursday morning took the total death toll to 488,396.
Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since last January, registered 23,766,499 cases as of Friday, while its Covid death toll rose to 622,875.
Read: Australian life expectancy rises despite COVID-19: study
Covid situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh reported 11,434 fresh cases with 12 deaths in 24 hours till Friday morning, with the infection rate marking a sharp rise.
The positivity rate increased to 28.49 % from Thursday’s 26.37% after testing 40,423 samples, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Bangladesh last logged 11,164 cases and 264 deaths on August 10 last year, with a positivity rate of 23.54% in 24 hours.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,192 while the caseload mounted to 1,664,616 on Friday.
Meanwhile, the mortality rate further declined to 1.69%.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s total tally of Omicron cases reached 64 with the detection of nine more cases till Thursday, according to GISAID, a global initiative on sharing all influenza data.
On December 9 last year, Bangladesh again logged zero Covid-related death after nearly three weeks as the pandemic was apparently showing signs of easing.
Read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: CJ hints at reverting to virtual trial proceedings
The country reported this year’s 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.
Bangladesh reported the highest number of daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 last year, while the highest daily caseload was 16,230 on July 28 last year.
New Restrictions
All schools, colleges and universities in the country will remain closed from January 21 to February 6 in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, the government announced on Friday.
The Cabinet Division issued a notification in this regard, imposing restrictions on the overall activities and movement of people in the country amid a worrying spike in Covid cases.
The notification asked all to wear masks and maintain health rules at public places like markets, shopping malls, mosques, bus stands, launch terminals, railway stations. Local authorities have been instructed to monitor and ensure compliance.
Only VC's removal can solve this crisis, say SUST students
As some among them completed day three of a hunger strike, the protesting students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) on Friday remained resolute around their sole demand: nothing except the resignation, or otherwise removal of Vice Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed can lead to a resolution of the crisis.
It was a day when students got to speak with Education Minister Dipu Moni herself, as she reached out to the agitating students over phone at around 3 pm to try and end the impasse.
During the conversation, Dipu Moni said she wants a peaceful solution to the issue as soon as possible, and was willing to talk to the students 'directly' - i.e. in-person - over the matter, if they so wish.
The protesting students were indeed receptive to the idea of a meeting with the education minister, and were even willing to travel to Dhaka to meet her.
But in the evening they came away from that position, and said that if the minister wants to solve the problem, she had to visit the SUST premises, or hold the meeting virtually.
“We will not go to Dhaka - the discussion will be held in Sylhet, not in Dhaka," said Shahriar Abedin, a spokesperson for the protesters.
Read: Rally held at DU in solidarity with SUST students
Earlier, a group of Bangladesh Awami League leaders led by its central organizing secretary Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel spoke separately with the students and then Vice-Chancellor Prof Farid Uddin regarding the issue.
So far, 13 of the 24 SUST students who commenced a hunger strike since Wednesday ohave been hospitalized.The protesting students have vowed not to break their fast until the VC steps down.
In the small hours of Friday, the protesting students also brought out a torch rally and burnt the effigy pf the VC on the campus.
Hours before, a delegation of teachers met the students and requested them to break their fast. But the students didn’t respond to their request.
On Monday, the protesting students wrote an open letter to President Abdul Hamid, demanding the immediate removal of VC Farid Uddin Ahmed. The president is the chancellor of the university.
The students also rejected the notice of shutting down the university for an indefinite period that came with a directive to leave the halls.
Read: RU suspends in-person classes, but students to remain on campus
That came following a clash on the campus between police and protesting students on Sunday (Jan 16). In the wake of the police action on its premises, students were asked to leave their halls of residence by 12pm the next day.
By then however, the situation had gone well beyond the control of the authorities. Students rejected the closure notice and not only stayed back on the campus - the next day they organised under a new demand that differentiates the movement since Monday from what happened previously.
This renewed movement was organised under one sole demand, that is the resignation of the VC, and nothing has yet worked to convince them to come off it.
Water a strategic asset; rivers influence geopolitics: Shahidul Haque
Former Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque on Friday said these days water is seen as a strategic asset, not only as a resource, and rivers influence geopolitics in South Asia.
"Geopolitics is a tool to analyse in the context of political views and national interest," he said while delivering his remarks as chair on the second day of the 7th International Water Conference 2022.
Haque also said geopolitics should not be seen as a zero-sum game. It should be a win-win situation looking through the geopolitical lens.
The conference titled "Teesta River Basin: Overcoming the Challenges" was organied by ActionAid Bangladesh.
The second day of the conference focused on the thematic issues- Structural Interventions and Regional Geo-politics around Teesta River Basin and Teesta River Basin and its Ecosystem and Gender Implications.
Urging for a basin-wise water management system, Hasanul Haq Inu, MP said barrages and dams are affecting the ecosystem.
At the conference, Jayanta Basu, Environment Documentation Expert, Director of Environment Governed Integrated Organisation (EnGIO), Faculty, Calcutta University, presented a paper titled ‘Geopolitics of River Teesta and need to pursue Nature based Negotiated Approach (NBNA)’.
According to his presentation, South Asian transboundary river issues are linked to regional geopolitics as all countries in the region strongly depend on rivers mainly for agriculture, hydroelectricity and other reasons.
Tiger range countries should work together to save the tigers: Minister
The 13 tiger range countries in the world should work together in their continued efforts to save the tigers and save nature, said the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin.
He said, “The government is working with the determination to conserve wild tigers by achieving zero poaching targets with the active participation of the local community.”
The minister hoped that implementation of the joint Kuala Lumpur statement will play a significant role in increasing and stabilizing the tiger population.
He said this joining virtually from his official residence in the 4th Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation held on Friday.
Read: Govt withdraws ban on tourist launch movement in Sundarbans
He also said Bangladesh has taken several initiatives for conserving the national animal including other wild species.
Adoption of a new clause in the national constitution to protect and improve biodiversity, wetlands, forests and wildlife; Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012 has the provision of 2-7 years imprisonment and Tk 1 million fine for tiger poachers, he added.
He said National Tiger Recovery Programme (2017-2022) and second-generation Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan (2018-2027) also implemented which include tiger survey; genetic study; SMART patrolling and monitoring by drone inside the Sundarbans; capacity building programs for Forest Department officials or staffs as well as local community to ensure protection & conservation of the Sundarbans and Bengal tiger.
The minister said, “To mitigate tiger-human conflicts, the administration has engaged the local community in tiger conservation activities by forming Village Tiger Response Team (VTRT), Co-management Committee (CMC) and Community Petrol Group (CPG).”
Besides, ‘Wildlife Victim Compensation Rules, 2021’ has the provision to provide up to Tk 3 lakh for a person killed by tiger as compensation.
Shahab Uddin said Wildlife Crime Control Unit has been established under the Forest Department to combat illegal wildlife trade. “To strengthen the capacity of wildlife education, research and training, Sheikh Kamal Wildlife Centre has been established which is working as a center of excellence. Bangladesh has a shared tiger habitat with India and we have strengthened our collaboration and signed a protocol for the ‘Conservation of Royal Bengal Tiger of the Sundarbans’ in 2011.”
This 4th Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation set the common goal of stabilizing wild tiger population and its prey, as well as strengthening the conservation efforts addressing new issues within Tiger Range Countries.
Read: Sundarbans tourism: Now focus on automation to improve services
The representatives of the Tiger Range Countries resolved to ensure protection and prevent the degradation of tiger habitat as well as their ecological linkages.
The conference also resolved to undertake regular country level monitoring and assessment of wild tiger, prey, and habitat, and to strengthen enforcement capacity using appropriate and standard technology for continuous and systematic patrolling to safeguard tiger, prey, and habitat.
They also decided to strengthen capacity development for all stakeholders, including the increased use of appropriate technology to improve management effectiveness, and create a platform for interactive knowledge exchange at all levels, and to enhance trans-boundary and bilateral cooperation for tiger conservation.
Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Bin Hassan, Minister for Water, Land and Natural Resources, Malaysia presided over the conference whereas ministers of Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Malaysia, Nepal & Russia; Member of Parliaments; delegates from Tiger Range Countries were present in the occasion.
No move to hike gas tariffs to be accepted: BNP
BNP on Friday strongly opposed the government’s move to hike gas tariffs and warned that people will not accept it in any way.
“There's a proposal to raise the gas prices of double-burner stove connections to Tk 2,100 from Tk 975 and single-burner stove 2,000 from Tk 925 at the consumer level," said BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.
Speaking at a discussion, he said a threefold increase in gas prices has been proposed unreasonably.
“We would like to clearly say that gas prices cannot be hiked. Any increase in the gas tariffs won’t be accepted. We strongly oppose such a move,” the BNP leader said.
BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units jointly arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking party founder Ziaur Rahman’s 86th birth anniversary.
Read: Govt has evidences on BNP’s hiring lobbyists abroad: Info Minister
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the government raised the prices of fuel oil, diesel and electricity a few days back, causing serious public sufferings.
He said the government is implementing big projects taking money from people’s pockets and creating scopes for the ruling party to get big commissions.
The BNP leader alleged that the ruling party leaders are siphoning off huge money abroad through indulging in plundering and ‘corruption’.
He said the current government is least bothered about public sufferings since it is not elected by people.
“We’ll no longer tolerate the unfair activities of the government. We must ensure the fall of this regime to get rid of all these injustices. Let’s all work together to attain this goal,” Mosharraf said.
About 12 Human Rights (HR) organisations’ a letter to United Nations to ban Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from deploying the peacekeeping missions, he said Awami League thought that it would be able to overcome the consequences of oppression and suppression by keeping people’s mouths shut.
Read: Filing ‘fictitious’ cases now a regular matter: Fakhrul
“But the entire world now knows that there are no human rights in Bangladesh... The sanctions were also imposed by the US on an organisation in Bangladesh and its some high officials. It’s a matter of shame for us as a nation,” the BNP leader observed.
He said Bangladesh is being humiliated in this way only because of Awami League's lust for staying in power by force.
Mosharraf called upon the people of all walks of life and all democratic forces to get united to overcome the current situation of the country and restore its dignity by establishing a democratic and elected government.
“No autocratic regime will willingly quit power without a push...The people of Bangladesh could oust autocratic ruler Ershad. Of course, we're hopeful that the people of this country will overthrow the current despotic regime in the same way to restore democracy,” he said.
Govt has evidences on BNP’s hiring lobbyists abroad: Info Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Friday said the government has evidences that BNP hired lobbyists abroad to work against the country.
“They signed agreement with the lobbyist firm using the address of its Nayapaltan office. The foreign minister has already taken initiative to inform different government departments and offices to investigate how the money was transferred there from Bangladesh,” he said.
Hasan said this while replying to a question from journalists after a view-exchange meeting with the leaders of Chittagong University Journalists Association in Chattogram Circuit House auditorium, said a press release here in Dhaka.
Read:AL hires lobbyists with public money to hide misdeeds, alleges BNP
About the letter written to the United Nations against Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), he said, “Of the 12 human rights organisations that wrote a letter to exclude RAB from UN peacekeeping missions, all but two or three are just name-only ones. We’ve not heard their names before.”
Hasan, also a joint general secretary of ruling Awami League, said this letter was given on November 7 last year. “Why did it come to the media suddenly after more than two months? There is a political motive behind it,” he said.
He said BNP has been conspiring against Bangladesh continuously. The BNP has been conspiring against the country by hiring lobbyist firms, investing their illicit money in lobbyist firms, tarnishing the image of the country, disrupting export trade, and hindering the prosperity of the country, he said.
"In fact, the BNP has no confidence in the people. So, they have chosen the path of conspiracy and hiring lobbyist firms abroad is one of the main tools of that conspiracy," he said.
He said now a question has come here that whether a political party, which hatches such conspiracy against the country, should get rights to do politics in the country.
Read: Info on engaging lobbyists by BNP shared with EC, BB
About the TIB statement over the proposed EC formation law, the minister said TIB works on corruption, but it (the proposed law) has no relation with corruption.
“By making this statement on a political issue, TIB has proved that it works for political purposes. There is a similarity between TIB’s statement and BNP’s statements. It has proved that TIB often acts as a political tool. I have been surprised, seeing the statement of TIB on a political issue,” he said.
Hasan said most of the political parties that participated in talks with the President suggested enactment of a law over the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. “In this context, the government has taken initiative to enact a law. The entire issue is a political one,” he said.
Covid in Bangladesh: 11,434 more cases, 12 deaths and positivity rate rises to 28.49%
Bangladesh reported 11,434 fresh cases with 12 deaths in 24 hours till Friday morning with infection rate marking a sharp rise.
The positivity rate increased to 28.49 per cent from Thursday’s 26.37 per cent after testing 40,423 samples, according to the Directorate general of health Services (DGHS).
Bangladesh last logged 11,164 cases and 264 deaths on August 10, last year with a positivity rate of 23.54 per cent in 24 hours.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,192 while the caseload mounted to 1,664,616 on Friday.
Among the new deceased, seven were men and five were women.
Six cases were reported in Dhaka division while two in Sylhet, and one each in Chattogram, Khulna, Rangpur and Mymensingh divisions.
Read:Covid surge in Bangladesh: All educational institutions to remain shut till Feb 6
Meanwhile, the mortality rate further declined to 1.69 per cent.
However, the recovery rate further declined to 93.45 per cent with the recovery of 752 more patients during the 24-hour period.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s total tally of Omicron cases reached 64 with the detection of nine more cases till Thursday, according to GISAID, a global initiative on sharing all influenza data.
On December 9 last year, Bangladesh again logged zero Covid-related death after nearly three weeks as the pandemic was apparently showing signs of easing.
The country reported this year’s 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.
Bangladesh reported the highest number of daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 last year, while the highest daily caseload was 16,230 on July 28 last year.
New Restrictions
All the schools, colleges and universities of the country will remain closed from January 21 to February 6 in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, said a government announcement on Friday.
Read:NTAC places 5 recommendations to contain Covid surge
The Cabinet Division issued a notification in this regard in the morning imposing restrictions on the overall activities and movement of people in the country amid a worrying spike in Covid-19 cases.
As the situation keeps worsening, the government has also prohibited the gathering of 100 people for any political, social or religious programmes. Those who will attend such programmes will need to have Covid-19 vaccine certificates and RT-PCR test conducted, says the notification.
It says all the government, non-government offices and factories have been asked to make sure that all the staff and officers carrying Covid-19 vaccine cards.
The notification asked all to wear masks and maintain health rules at public places like markets, shopping malls, mosques, bus stands, launch terminals, railway stations. The local administration and law enforcement agencies have been instructed to monitor and ensure compliance.
Education Minister wants a solution to SUST issue
Education Minister Dipu Moni on Friday spoke to the agitating students of Sylhet’s Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) to try to end the impasse.
She talked to the students over the phone at around 3.10 pm.
During the conversation she said that she would look into the issue. She wants a peaceful solution to the issue as soon as possible and is willing to talk to students directly if they want.
The protesting students have also expressed interest in meeting the minister.
However, in the afternoon the students said they would continue to protest even if the campus is declared closed.
Earlier, a group of Bangladesh Awami League leaders led by its central committee’s organizing secretary Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel spoke separately with students and Vice-Chancellor Prof Farid Uddin regarding the issue.
READ: Day 3 of hunger strike: 12 SUST students hospitalised
So far 13 of the 24 SUST students on hunger strike have been hospitalized.
The protesting students have vowed not to break their fast until the VC steps down.
In the small hours of Friday, the protesting students also brought out a torch rally and burnt the effigy of the VC on the campus.
Hours before, a delegation of teachers met the students and requested them to break their fast. But the students didn’t respond to their request.
On Monday, the protesting students wrote an open letter to President Abdul Hamid, demanding the immediate removal of VC Farid Uddin Ahmed. The president is the chancellor of the university.
The students also rejected the notice of shutting down the university for an indefinite period and the direction to leave the halls. Currently, the students are staying on the campus.
SUST was to close, following a clash on the campus between police and the protesting students on Sunday (Jan 16). Its students were asked to leave the dormitories by 12 pm on Monday.
Provost of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall, Zafrin Ahmed was at the centre of the trouble, having reportedly misbehaved with some students. She has already resigned from her post, citing health issues.
READ: SUST students ‘fall sick’ on 2nd day of hunger strike; one hospitalised
Dr Nazia Chowdhury of the Physics department has been appointed in her place.
The removal of Zafrin as the provost of the residential hall for female students was one of the principal demands of the students protesting on the campus.
Earthquake jolts Dhaka, other areas
A 5.4 magnitude earthquake shook Dhaka, Chattogram and some other parts of the country on Friday afternoon, said the US Geological Survey (USGS).
The tremor was felt around 4:12 pm.
Read: Earthquake: 3 buildings tilt in Chattogram
According to the USGS, the epicenter of the earthquake was at a depth of 56.8 kilometers (35.29 miles) near Falam, Myanmar.
However, no casualties were reported so far.
National University suspends all exams
All examinations of National University have been suspended till further notice in view of surging Covid-19 pandemic.
This was announced in a press release issued by the university authority on Friday.
The schedule of these exams will be informed when the situation gets normal, said the release.
READ: National University starting online classes
Earlier in the day, all schools, colleges and universities of the country were instructed to remain closed from January 21 to February 6 to contain the covid surge.
READ: National University postpones Sunday’s exams
The Cabinet Division issued a notification in the morning imposing renewed pandemic restrictions in the country amid a worrying spike in Covid-19 cases.