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Speakers for raising taxes on tobacco, strengthening law
Speakers at a seminar said on Wednesday said that all types of tobacco products, particularly low-price cigarettes, must be taken out of people’s purchasing power by imposing specific taxes in the upcoming national budget for FY 2023-24 to make Bangladesh tobacco-free.
They also demanded finalization of the draft amendment to the tobacco control law.
Speakers made the demand during a journalists’ workshop titled ‘Tobacco Taxes and Price Measure: Budget 2023-24’, held at the Economic Reporters' Forum auditorium in the capital.
The event was jointly organized by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and ATMA (Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance). A total of 26 journalists from print, TV, and online media attended the workshop.
Speakers said that the draft amendment to tobacco control law has already been sent to the Cabinet for approval. “The longer it takes to finalize the amendment, the higher the deaths and financial losses caused by tobacco will be.”
They also urged the government to hike the retail price of the low-tier cigarettes to Tk 55 for 10 sticks from the existing Tk 40, followed by Tk 35.75 as specific supplementary duty.
In the medium-tier of cigarettes, the retail price should be hiked to Tk 70 for 10 sticks from existing Tk 65, followed by TK 45.50 as a specific supplementary duty; and in the high-tier, the retail price and supplementary duty for 10 sticks should be TK 120 (from existing Tk 111) and 78.00 respectively.
In the premium tier, the numbers should be increased to Tk 150 (prices for 10 sticks) from existing Tk 142 and Tk 97.50 (specific supplementary duty).
It was also said that the implementation of the tax and pricing proposals of anti-tobacco organizations would raise Tk 9,600 crores in additional revenues and prevent the premature deaths of 4.88 lakh adults and 4.92 lakh youths.
Hasan Shahriar, Head of Programs, presented the budget proposal. The discussants of the event include Dr. Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), Md. Abdus Salam, Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids (CTFK) Bangladesh Program Manager
Cyclone Mocha looms over Bay: DAE asks farmers to harvest paddy, other crops early
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) of Bangladesh has asked the farmers to harvest 80% ripe paddy, mango and other crops to avoid damages by potential cyclonic storm Mocha.
It also asked the officials concerned to take necessary steps for mass campaign so that farmers can take precautionary measures, said a press release of the DAE issued on Tuesday (May 09, 2023).
Also read: Depression over southeast Bay intensifies into deep depression
DAE also asked the agriculture officers to provide necessary advices to the farmers saying at their respective work place round the clock and follow the Bangladesh Agro-Metrological Information Service (BAMIS) portal to get any update about weather condition.
According to the latest Met office prediction, the depression over the Bay of Bengal may intensify into a cyclonic storm by May 12 or May 13 and in that case there is a possibility of huge damage of crops, it said.
Read More: Low pressure area intensifies into well-marked low over Bay: Met office.
N’ganj re-rolling mill explosion: Death toll now 7
The death toll from the explosion at a re-rolling mill in Narayanganj's Rupganj upazila went up to seven with the death of the last victim on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Md Ibrahim, 35. Ibrahim, who received 28% burn injuries, succumbed to his injuries at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery this morning, Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of DMCH police outpost, said.
Earlier, on May 4, seven workers were injured in an explosion which took place at the mill when they were melting iron inside it in the afternoon.
One worker died on Thursday and three more succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery on Friday.
Also read: Death toll from Narayanganj re-rolling mill explosion rises to 4
The deceased were identified as Sankar, 40, Elias Ali (35) and Alamgir (30) of Kishoreganj’s Itna upazila and Neyon (20) of Rajbari district.
Meanwhile, Golam Rabbani, 35, of Lalmonirhat district and Jewel Hossain, 25, died while undergoing treatment at the same hospitals on May 6.
A three-member probe body has been formed to look into the explosion.
Heatwave to continue, rain likely in Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions: BMD
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted rains or thundershowers at one of two places over Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions.
According to the Met Office bulletin, “Severe heatwave is sweeping over the districts of Rajshahi, Chuadanga, Kushtia and Patuakhali and mild to moderate heatwave is on elsewhere in the country, and it may continue.”
Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country.
Also read: Mild to moderate heat wave likely to spread across the country
Day and night temperatures may fall slightly over the country.
Meanwhile, the well-marked low over southeast Bay and adjoining South Andaman Sea moved north-northwestward and intensified into a depression, then into a deep depression over southeast Bay and adjoining area.
Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted distant cautionary signal no one.
All fishing boats and trawlers over north Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution.
Dhaka’s air 4th most polluted in the world for 2nd consecutive day
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 158 at 8:51 am on Wednesday, Dhaka ranked 4th in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality for the second consecutive day.
India’s Delhi, Kazakhstan’s Astana and Pakistan’s Lahore occupied the first, second, and third spots, with AQI scores of 204, 173 and 160, respectively.
An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’ while between 201–300 is ‘’very unhealthy’, and 301–400 is 'hazardous', posing severe health risks to residents.
Also read: Dhaka’s air quality still unhealthy for sensitive groups this morning
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.
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.
Depression over southeast Bay intensifies into deep depression
The depression over southeast Bay and the adjoining area has intensified into a deep depression.
At 6 am on Wednesday, it was centred about 1550 km south of Chattogram port, 1470 km south of Cox’s Bazar port, 1550 km south-southeast of Mongla port and 1505 km south-southeast of Payra port.
It is likely to intensify further and move in a north-northwesterly direction till May 11 (Thursday). Thereafter, it is likely to recurve gradually and move north-northwards.
Also read: Depression over Bay intensifies into deep depression
Maximum sustained wind speed within 48 km of the deep depression centre is about 50 kph rising to 60 kph in gusts or squalls.
Sea will remain moderate near the deep depression centre.
Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted distant cautionary signal no one.
All fishing boats and trawlers over north Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution.
They are also advised not to venture into the deep sea.
Momen mourns death of renowned economist Prof Nurul Islam
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the death of renowned economist and Deputy Chairman of Bangladesh’s first Planning Commission Professor Nurul Islam.
In a condolence message, the foreign minister prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul of late Nurul Islam and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members, according to a press release.
"Renowned and visionary economist Prof Nurul Islam played an important role in the welfare of the people of Bangladesh. While in the United States, he played an extraordinary role in shaping world opinion in favor of the Liberation War,” Momen said.
“Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman evaluated the talent of economist Nurul Islam and appointed him as the deputy chairman of the first Planning Commission of Bangladesh. The nation will remember the contribution of Prof Nurul Islam with respect,” added the foreign minister.
Prof Nurul Islam died of a heart attack at around 12 pm (local time) in Washington, DC yesterday.
PM Hasina expresses deep shock over writer Samaresh Majumdar’s demise
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday expressed deep shock and sorrow over the death of eminent Indian Bengali fiction writer Samaresh Majumdar.
In a condolence message, the premier on Tuesday said Samaresh Majumdar, the author of countless timeless novels including 'Uttaradhikar', 'Kalbela', 'Kalpurush', has occupied a place of deep love in the hearts of the Bengali speaking people in Bangladesh and Kolkata and different places throughout the world.
Noting that various aspects of the Bengali culture reflected in many ways in his writings, Sheikh Hasina said, “The literary world especially Bengali literature would suffer from an irreparable loss with the death of this eminent novelist.”
The PM expressed eternal peace for the departed soul and expressed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Kidnapping in guise of DB: UP member, police constable among arrestees
Police have arrested an upazila parishad member for staging a kidnapping, in the guise of Detective Branch (DB) officers of police at Gangachara in Rangpur.
The arrested UP member is Rafiqul Islam Alam, member of Ward-4 of Biditar Union. He was arrested from Sayyrabari Bazar of Alambiditar union of the upazila on Monday afternoon. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Gangachara Model Police Station Dulal Hossain confirmed the matter on Tuesday.
Police constable Masud Rana (24) was arrested from Panchagarh on April 17 in connection with the case. Masud was working in Panchagarh Police Line from Rangpur Range Reserve Force. Police also arrested another youth named Suruj Mia from Pabna Sadar Upazila area on Saturday night.
Rafiqul was sent to jail through a court after interrogation on Tuesday morning. Three people have been arrested in the case so far. Operation is on to arrest the other accused, he said.
It is to be noted that on April 9 at 1 am, seven unidentified youths, identifying themselves as DB police, entered the house of Nur Islam Apache of Chaurapara village of Alambiditor union of Gangachara upazila and beat up his son Sona Mia and took him out of the house.
Later, through Suruj Mia, an acquaintance of Sona Mia, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of Tk 5 lakh. On receiving the information, the family members rescued Sona Mia from a chatal in Nohali union and admitted him to the hospital.
On April 10, Sona Mia's father Nur Islam filed a complaint with Gangachara Police Station against the unidentified kidnappers.
Ensure health services such that foreigners come here for treatment: Zahid Maleque to healthcare workers
Highlighting the importance of increasing the quality of health services, Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Tuesday urged the physicians and responsible officers in the health sectors to deal with patients with sincerity and from the heart so that people from abroad visit Bangladesh for treatment.
“Many people of the country go abroad for treatment purposes and lose everything after spending money there. But there are many big hospitals here with expensive machinery and renowned physicians. Only goodwill and sincerity are needed for ensuring proper health services at the hospitals,” he said.
The minister came up with the urge while speaking at a view-exchange meeting with the chiefs of the health services organisations of Dhaka division, at a resort in Narsingdi.
It is impossible to improve the quality of health services of the people of the country without the desired services of the upazila level government hospitals, he said.
The government has given special attention to the upazila level hospital like the district level hospital, he said. New machines were procured while machines that remained out of order have been repaired and adequate manpower is being appointed, he added.
The process to recruit necessary technicians and pharmacists is underway. The quality of government health services at the upazila level is being doubled by increasing the number of beds at the upazila level, providing dialysis beds, and taking initiatives to operate in the operation theatres in the upazila hospitals, said the minister.
Presided over by the director general of the health services Prof. ABM Khurshid Alam, the meeting was attended among others by ·Health Education Division Secretary Azizur Rahman, its Directorate General Prof. Titu Mia, Additional secretary Nazmul Haque, additional director general (planning) Prof. Ahmedul Kabir, Director of Dhaka Division Dr. Farid Hossain Mia, civil surgeons of 13 districts and officers of 76 upazila and upazila health complex.