United News of Bangladesh

A major landmark study by The Lancet reveals that global immunization efforts have saved an estimated 154 million lives – or the equivalent of 6 lives every minute of every year – over the past 50 years. The vast majority of lives saved – 101 million – were those of infants. The study, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), shows that immunization is the single greatest contribution of any health intervention to ensuring babies not only see their first birthdays but continue leading healthy lives into adulthood. Of the vaccines included in the study, the measles vaccination had the most significant impact on reducing infant mortality, accounting for 60% of the lives saved due to immunization. This vaccine will likely remain the top contributor to preventing deaths in the future, according to WHO. Over the past 50 years, vaccination against 14 diseases (diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, measles, meningitis A, pertussis, invasive pneumococcal disease, polio, rotavirus, rubella, tetanus, tuberculosis, and yellow fever) has directly contributed to reducing infant deaths by 40% globally, and by more than 50% in the African Region. "Vaccines are among the most powerful inventions in history, making once-feared diseases preventable,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. UK wants to help develop Bangladesh's aviation industry “Thanks to vaccines, smallpox has been eradicated, polio is on the brink and with the more recent development of vaccines against diseases like malaria and cervical cancer, we are pushing back the frontiers of disease. With continued research, investment and collaboration, we can save millions more lives today and in the next 50 years.” The study found that for each life saved through immunization, an average of 66 years of full health were gained – with a total of 10.2 billion full health years gained over the five decades. As the result of vaccination against polio, more than 20 million people are able to walk today who would otherwise have been paralysed, and the world is on the verge of eradicating polio, once and for all. These gains in childhood survival highlight the importance of protecting immunization progress in every country of the world and accelerating efforts to reach the 67 million children who missed out on one or more vaccines during the pandemic years. Monumental efforts to increase access to vaccination over five decades Released ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) to take place in May 2024, the study is the most comprehensive analysis of the programme’s global and regional health impact over the past five decades. Founded in 1974 by the World Health Assembly, EPI's original goal was to vaccinate all children against diphtheria, measles, pertussis, polio, tetanus, tuberculosis, as well as smallpox, the only human disease ever eradicated. Today, the programme, now referred to as the Essential Programme on Immunization, includes universal recommendations to vaccinate against 13 diseases, and context-specific recommendations for another 17 diseases, extending the reach of immunization beyond children, to adolescents and adults. UNOPS signs MoU with Bangladesh to strengthen collaboration on disaster risk reduction The study highlights that fewer than 5% of infants globally had access to routine immunization when EPI was launched. Today, 84% of infants are protected with three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) – the global marker for immunization coverage. Nearly 94 million of the estimated 154 million lives saved since 1974, were a result of protection by measles vaccines. Yet, there were still 33 million children who missed a measles vaccine dose in 2022: nearly 22 million missed their first dose and an additional 11 million missed their second dose. Coverage of 95% or greater with 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine is needed to protect communities from outbreaks. Currently, the global coverage rate of the first dose of measles vaccine is 83% and the second dose is 74%, contributing to a very high number of outbreaks across the world. To increase immunization coverage, UNICEF, as one of the largest buyers of vaccines in the world, procures more than 2 billion doses every year on behalf of countries and partners for reaching almost half of the world’s children. It also works to distribute vaccines to the last mile, ensuring that even remote and underserved communities have access to immunization services. “Thanks to vaccinations, more children now survive and thrive past their fifth birthday than at any other point in history,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “This massive achievement is a credit to the collective efforts of governments, partners, scientists, healthcare workers, civil society, volunteers and parents themselves, all pulling in the same direction of keeping children safe from deadly diseases. We must build on the momentum and ensure that every child, everywhere, has access to life-saving immunizations.” In 2000, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which includes WHO, UNICEF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) as core founding members, was created to expand the impact of EPI and help the poorest countries in the world increase coverage, benefit from new, life-saving vaccines and expand the breadth of protection against an increasing number of vaccine-preventable diseases. This intensified effort in the most vulnerable parts of the world has helped to save more lives and further promote vaccine equity. UNICEF urges parents to be extra vigilant in keeping their children hydrated, safe Today, Gavi has helped protect a whole generation of children and now provides vaccines against 20 infectious diseases, including the HPV vaccine and vaccines for outbreaks of measles, cholera, yellow fever, Ebola and meningitis. “Gavi was established to build on the partnership and progress made possible by EPI, intensifying focus on protecting the most vulnerable around the world,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “In a little over two decades we have seen incredible progress – protecting more than a billion children, helping halve childhood mortality in these countries, and providing billions in economic benefits. Vaccines are truly the best investment we can make in ensuring everyone, no matter where they are born, has an equal right to a healthy future: we must ensure these efforts are fully funded to protect the progress made and help countries address current challenges of their immunization programmes.” Immunization programmes have become the bedrock of primary health services in communities and countries due to their far reach and wide coverage. They provide not only an opportunity for vaccination but also enable other life-saving care to be provided, including nutritional support, maternal tetanus prevention, illness screenings and bed net distribution to protect families from diseases like malaria. Since the study only covers the health impact of vaccination against 14 diseases, the number of lives saved due to vaccination is a conservative estimate and not a full account of the life-saving impact of vaccines. Societal, economic or educational impacts to health and well-being over the 50 years have also contributed to further reductions in mortality. Today, there are vaccines to protect against more than 30 life-threatening diseases. While the HPV vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer in adults, was not included in the study, it is expected to prevent a high number of future deaths as countries work towards increasing immunization targets aimed at eliminating cervical cancer by 2030. New vaccine introductions, such as those for malaria, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and meningitis, as well as cholera and Ebola vaccines used during outbreaks, will further save lives in the next 50 years. Saving millions more is “Humanly Possible” Global immunization programmes have shown what is humanly possible when many stakeholders, including heads of state, regional and global health agencies, scientists, charities, aid agencies, businesses, and communities work together. Today, WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and BMGF are unveiling “Humanly Possible”, a joint campaign, marking the annual World Immunization Week, 24-30 April 2024. The worldwide communication campaign calls on world leaders to advocate, support and fund vaccines and the immunization programmes that deliver these lifesaving products – reaffirming their commitment to public health, while celebrating one of humanity’s greatest achievements. The next 50 years of EPI will require not only reaching the children missing out on vaccines, but protecting grandparents from influenza, mothers from tetanus, adolescents from HPV and everyone from TB, and many other infectious diseases. “It's inspiring to see what vaccines have made possible over the last 50 years, thanks to the tireless efforts of governments, global partners and health workers to make them more accessible to more people,” said Dr Chris Elias, president of Global Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “We cannot let this incredible progress falter. By continuing to invest in immunization, we can ensure that every child – and every person – has the chance to live a healthy and productive life.”

A 3-day exhibition on medical equipment, health tourism, food and agriculture sector is going to take place in the city from May 9. CEMS Bangladesh, in association with CEMS Global USA, is organising the expo at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB), Dhaka. Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder will inaugurate the expo on May 9. UNOPS signs MoU with Bangladesh to strengthen collaboration on disaster risk reduction Addressing a press conference at National Press Club on Thursday Meherun N. Islam, President and Group Managing Director of CEMS-Global USA and Asia Pacific, said the healthcare exhibitions will feature new medical and surgical equipments, rescue facilities, hospital supplies and analytical instruments from across 112 companies representing over 15 countries. The countries include Bangladesh, India, China, Singapore, Germany, Turkiye, Thailand, South Korea and more. The food and agro expo will show up food, beverage, agriculture, horticulture, poultry, livestock, fishing and aquaculture related packaging and processing machinery and equipment from more than 15 countries presenting more than 100 companies. The countries in the exhibitions include India, China, Germany, Turkiye, South Korea, Singapore, Germany, Srilanka and more. The participants in Food and Agro Expo will display packaging equipment and packaging materials, food processing equipment, processed food, organic agriculture products, agricultural machinery and equipment related to food and agriculture attracting visitors such associations, food technologists, clubs and resorts. Meherin said manufacturers and suppliers will have a fantastic opportunity to highlight their goods and services. Security relationship between Dhaka-Washington, and in region important: Peter Haas “They will have the chance to showcase their advanced technology in the health tourism industry, as well as innovative and advanced technologies, products, and services in the food, agriculture, and plastic industries," she added. Besides, Tanveer Qamrul Islam, Executive Director of CEMS Global, Mahmud Riyad Hassan, DGM – Marketing & Sales of CEMS Bangladesh and Asraful Islam, AGM – Business Development and Strategic Planning were also present at the media briefing.

The Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan on Wednesday said Bangladesh’s  Hajj management will be one of the smartest systems in the world in the future. The government has introduced information technology in Hajj management as part of building a developed and prosperous smart Bangladesh as per the Vision-2021 and 2041 announced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said.  Govt employees sent to Saudi to during hajj to serve country's pilgrims: Religious Affairs Minister  “Hajj management has been digitized. We are adding new features to the portal related to hajj,” he said while inaugurating Hajj Training 2024 at the conference room of Dhaka Hajj Office as the chief guest. Md Faridul Haque Khan said, the aim of today’s training program is helping people to perform hajj properly and skilled trainers have been selected.” Many people in the country prefer to perform Hajj at the end of life, making it difficult for those without physical ability to follow the formalities, he said. Bangladesh's hajj quota remains unchanged at 1.27 lakh Additional Secretary of Hajj Division Md Matiul Islam, Joint Secretary Dr Md Manjurul Haque and Director of Dhaka Hajj Office Muhammad Kamruzzaman, among others, addressed the function with Religious Affairs Secretary Md Abdul Hamid Jamaddar in the chair.

A woman died after being hit by a train in the Khanpara Harishova Bazar area at Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat on Wednesday afternoon. Two farmers die from heat stroke in Nilphamari The deceased was identified as Mamta Begum (40) of Dhabalsuti village of the upazila. DGHS issues directives to reduce risk of heat stroke Abu Saeed Chowdhury, officer-in-charge (OC) of Patgram Police Station, confirmed the matter. How to Protect Outdoor Workers from Heat Stroke According to locals, Mamata, who was deaf, was walking along the railway line. At that time, the Burimari-bound local train leaving from Parbatipur hit her, killing her on the spot.

Women should be made skilled in the ICT sector for the progress of the society and the country, State Minister for Education Begum Shamsun Nahar Chapa said on Wednesday. "The demand for freelancing is increasing in a significant way but it is unfortunate that the participation of women in this sector in our country is very low," she said. The state minister was speaking at the discussion titled "Empowering girls with ICT skills and employment: challenges and opportunities" organised by Bangmata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Center for Gender and Development Studies of the University at Muzaffar Ahmed Auditorium of Dhaka University. Keeping in mind the future employment opportunities and needs, a vocational education system is being developed for women,she said. The state minister also said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has adopted a plan to further develop Bangladesh in technology. According to this plan digital technology is included in both public and private sectors. Dr. Monjur Hossain, research director of Bangladesh Development Research Institute, presented an article at the meeting while professor Tanya Haque, director of Bangmata Sheikh Fazilatun Nescha Center for Gender and Development Studies, gave the welcome speech.

Around 370 tonnes of potatoes, which are waiting to be unloaded four days after being imported from India have started to rot, due to severe heat sweeping across the country. According to the port authorities  the consignments arrived at Benapole from India’s Petrapole by 16 trucks on the night of April 21. But still no initiative has been taken to unload the goods. Due to a long delay, the potatoes have started to rot. Victims of Rana Plaza tragedy being remembered on Wednesday Rangpur Integrated Food and Beverage imported the potatoes from the export-oriented institution PepsiCo India Holdings. Masum Billah, representative of Transmarine Logistic Limited, said the potatoes have not been uploaded yet due to lack of necessary documents. Shahadat Hossain, a truck driver said they will take the potatoes to Rangpur after unloading and if the authorities concerned do not take steps immediately, the potatoes will get rotten. 25 days after going missing, body of BCL leader retrieved from Kishoreganj’s Narsunda River Kamal Uddin Shimul, vice-president of Benapole C&F Agent Association, said the importer will face a financial loss if the authorities concerned do not take any measures to unload the goods. Rezaul Karim, director of Benapole port, said necessary assistance is being provided to unload the goods.

Waseqa Ayesha Khan, state minister for finance, has said in the next national budget the government will emphasise controlling inflation and boosting remittance and exports. She said this while speaking as the chief guest at a pre-budget roundtable discussion, organised by the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB), to recommend its proposals for the FY2024-25 national budget. The event was held in a hotel in the capital on Tuesday. The government is also working to create an investment-friendly environment ensuring uninterrupted electricity and power supply, she said. ICMAB delegation takes part in pre-budget discussion with NBR She also assured that the government will continue to focus on infrastructural, ICT and human resource development, and short- and long-term revenue strategy for sustainable economic growth. Other speakers at the event also highlighted the need for nuanced adjustments in fiscal and monetary policies to address issues such as exchange rate stability, currency policy, and balancing export-import dynamics. The importance of encouraging household savings, broadening the tax base, enhancing reserve buffers, and controlling the prices of daily commodities were also focused. Professor Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin, former governor of Bangladesh Bank, Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, executive director of the Policy Research Institute (PRI) Mahbubul Alam, president of FBCCI, participated in the discussion as the special guests. ICMAB delegation meets Finance Secretary The discussion was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Md. Salim Uddin FCMA, President of ICMAB, and moderated by Arif Khan FCMA, past president and current council member of the institute.  

The 11th anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse, the worst-ever tragedy in the country’s multi-billion-dollar ready-made garment (RMG) industry, is being observed on Wednesday. Different right bodies, worker organisations and left-leaning political parties, including Rana Plaza Survivors’ Association, usually arrange various programmes every year, remembering the victims of the tragedy. On April 24 in 2013, Rana Plaza, an illegally-constructed building in Savar which housed five garment factories, came down crashing, killing 1,138 people and injuring over 2,000 others. Business integrity, ethical sourcing key to RMG sector sustainability: TIB says on 10th anniv of Rana Plaza tragedy Later, police filed the murder case accusing Sohel Rana who has been in jail since his arrest. Trial in the murder case filed over Rana Plaza collapse began officially on January 31, 2022 by recording statements of the witnesses. On July 18, 2016, Dhaka District and Session Court Judge SM Kuddus Zaman framed charges against the accused and passed an order to begin the trial. But it got barred as most of the accused appealed to the higher court challenging legality of the order. On January 31, 2022, after clearing the appeals, District and Sessions Court Judge AHM Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan recorded the statement of plaintiff, then Sub-Inspector of Savar police station Wali Ashraf. BGMEA pays tribute to Rana Plaza victims Over the tragic incident then SI of Savar police station Wali Ashraf filed a murder case accusing the owner and others of dereliction and negligence in building construction. On June 1, 2015, Assistant Superintendent of Crime Investigation Department (CID) of police Bijoy Krishna Kar submitted a charge sheet in the case against 41 people including the building owner Sohel Rana. A total of 594 people were made witnesses in this case.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka on Wednesday (April 24, 2024) for Bangkok on a six-day official visit to Thailand at the invitation of her Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin to strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries. A special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the premier and her entourage, departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:13am on Wednesday, said PM’s Speechwriter Md Nazrul Islam. The PM is scheduled to land at Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok at 1:30pm local time. "It's both a bilateral and multilateral visit," said Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said at a media briefing on Monday. The bilateral visit of the prime minister will be the first-ever visit at the level of head of government from Bangladesh to Thailand since establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972. PM Hasina begins her six-day official visit to Thailand on Wednesday  During her visit from April 24 to 29, the Bangladesh premier will hold bilateral talks with PM Thavisin and also attend the 80th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Bangladesh and Thailand will sign a number of cooperation documents including a letter of intent on negotiations for a free trade agreement between the two countries, said the Foreign Minister. Bangladesh and Thailand are likely to sign an agreement on visa exemption for official passport holders, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy cooperation while two more MoUs on tourism sector cooperation and duty related mutual cooperation to expand the relations, he said. Bangladesh will seek support from Thailand regarding Rohingya repatriation as well as increased investment from Thailand, said Hasan Mahmud adding that the issue of shipping connectivity will also be discussed. On April 26, PM Hasina will be formally received by her Thai host Srettha Thavisin while a ceremonial guard of honor will be accorded to her. On the same day, the Bangladesh premier will hold bilateral talks with PM Thavisin at the Government House (Prime Minister’s Office) following a tete-a-tete between the two leaders, witness the signing of the documents, participate in a joint press conference and then attend a state lunch to be hosted by her Thai counterpart in her honour there. PM Hasina likely to travel to India and China in first bilateral visits since forming new govt During the visit, the prime minister will have a Royal audience of Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshan, King and Queen of the Kingdom of Thailand at the Palace. In her multilateral engagement, PM Hasina is scheduled to attend the 80th Session of ESCAP and deliver a speech there on April 25. On the same day, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjabana will call on the prime minister. Guided by the theme “Leveraging digital innovation for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific”, the eightieth session will be an opportunity to strengthen region-wide cooperative action on leveraging digital innovation for the accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The session will bring together government leaders and ministers from across Asia and the Pacific and other key stakeholders to discuss how digital innovation can more inclusively contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals across multiple disciplines. Read more: Bangladesh, Qatar sign 10 cooperation documents to take ties to new height

Dhaka's air quality was categorised as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ this morning. With an air quality index (AQI) score of 134 at 8:59 am, Dhaka ranked 11th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality. India’s Delhi, Egypt’s Cairo City and Thailand’s Chiang Mai occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 193, 171 and 170 respectively. Dhaka’s air quality ‘unhealthy’ this morning When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. After a day of being ‘moderate’, Dhaka’s air quality back to being ‘unhealthy’ As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.