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Covid-19: Bangladesh sees 9 more cases, zero death
Bangladesh reported 9 more Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours till Monday morning.
With the new number, the country's total caseload rose to 2,037,377, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,441 as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity dropped to 0.38 percent from Sunday's 0.47 percent as 2,372 samples were tested.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45 percent while the recovery rate rose to 97.66 percent.
Bangladesh reported its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 in 2021 and daily fatalities of 264 on August 5 of the same year.
Bay terminal likely to start operation in 2026: Khalid
Bay Terminal is expected to go into operation in 2026 while the Matarbari deep seaport will be launched at the end of 2026, said State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Monday.
“There was a plan to start the operation of the Bay Terminal in 2024 but the construction work has been delayed due to the Covid pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war. Now the work of 3500 metre long Bay Terminal is ongoing with the advice of all. I hope the operation will start in 2026,” he said.
Read more: Bay Terminal Project: Deal signed with 2 South Korean companies to prepare final design
Khalid said these while addressing a programme after inaugurating the berthing of a 200-metre long and 10-metre deep vessel at Chattogram port.
Besides, 95% work of Patenga container Terminal has been completed and it will be launched soon, he said.
The Bay terminal will increase the handling capacity of Chattogram Port. There are no curves in the Bay Terminal Channel and due to proper navigability, it will be possible to berth ships with a maximum carrying capacity of 6,000 TEUs in 10-12 m drafts.
Three terminals- a 1225-metre long container terminal (Container Terminal-1), a 830-metre long container terminal (Container Terminal-2) and a 1500-metre long multipurpose terminal- will be constructed under the project.
According to the port authorities, vessels having only 9.5 metres draught and 195 metres length have been anchored at the port jetty since 2015.
Read more: Singapore keen to build bay terminal in Chattogram
Enhancement of the port’s berthing capabilities will increase its container handling capacity, reduce transport costs and turnaround times- the time required for loading and unloading of goods at the port, they said.
However, after receiving a positive response from the survey of UK-based consultancy firm 'HR Wallingford', the port took the initiative to handle larger vessels.
The 10-metre draught ships will be able to carry 3,500 TEUs containers to the port and bring down the overall cargo handling costs.
Bangladesh reports 13 more dengue cases
Thirteen more people were hospitalised with dengue in the 24 hours till Monday morning.
Of the new patients, nine were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and four outside it, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read more: Bangladesh reports one more dengue death: 22 new cases
A total of 112 dengue patients, including 47 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
So far, the DGHS has recorded 412 dengue cases, 297 recoveries, and three deaths this year.
The country recorded 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019.
Read more: Bangladesh reports one more dengue death, 10 new cases
Also, the DGHS recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries in the last year.
Militancy dishonouring Islam instead of dignifying it: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon Alem and Olama (Islamic scholars) to instil humanitarian values among people and guide them against terrorism, militancy and drug addiction.
“These are destroying families and the society as well,” she said while virtually inaugurating 50 more model mosques across the country from her official residence Ganabhaban.
She also requested all, particularly the children, not to get involved in militancy, saying, “Militancy is dishonouring Islam instead of dignifying it.”
Sheikh Hasina urged the guardians and teachers of educational institutions to be cautious as children and youths are targeted by militants.
“We can develop our society in a beautiful manner by erasing miseducation, differences, conflicts, terrorism, and militancy through realising the true sense of Islam,” she said.
The prime minister said that through the model mosques and Islamic cultural centres, people would get true knowledge on Islamic values and culture.
This will help in not being misled in the name of religion, alongside contributing immensely to stop terrorism, militancy and repression on women, she added.
Also read; PM Hasina urges affluent section to stand by destitute people
She said that the government has undertaken the projects of constructing model mosques so that no one can mislead people in the name of Islam.
The PM said the model mosques would enhance people’s knowledge of Islam – a religion of peace, fraternity and friendship.
“It would help stop terrorism, militancy and repression on women, with imparting the true knowledge of Islamic values and culture on people,” she said.
Describing the Alem and Olama as the “Orasatul Ambia”, she said people of the country respect the Khatibs and Imams of mosques.
“Make sure that none can mislead people using our religion. You can educate people to refrain from getting involved in social ills that include drug addiction, child marriage, repression of women, food adulteration and corruption through your daily sermons and khutba during Jummah,” she said.
Also read; AL always fulfills election pledges made to the nation: PM Hasina
She said religion cannot be used as a political weapon.
“Our target is to put an end to torture and repression, using religion,” she said.
The PM said Islam ensures free exercise of religions by people of all faiths.
“Irrespective of political identity and opinion, we can build a developed, prosperous and ‘Smart Bangladesh’ – with equal respect to every religion and with the non-communal spirit,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that Awami League has always been a “servant of Islam”, and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman stopped racing, gambling and alcohol sales.
She mentioned that Bangabandhu established madrasa board, allocated land for Baitul Mukarram Mosque and Ijtema ground – to uphold Islam.
“Bangabandhu had taken initiatives to hold Bishwa Ijtema in Bangladesh and incorporate the country as a member of the OIC,” she said.
Following the ideals of the Father of the Nation, she said they have taken various programmes to dignify Islam that includes constructing 564 model mosques at each of the upazilas and districts.
The prime minister said that she has so far opened 100 model mosques across the country while the rest will be opened in phases.
The government is now building three storey model mosques and Islamic cultural centres in every upazila and four storey mosque in every district.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Ministry Md Faridul Haque Khan and its Secretary Kazi Enamul Hassan spoke at the function from the Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
Rajshahi, Shariatpur and Chouddagram of Cumilla district sites were also connected to the programme, where the local lawmakers, public representatives, political parties, government officers and common people were present.
A video-documentary on the model mosques and Islamic cultural centres was screened at the function.
Cold wave sweeps five districts
A mild cold wave is sweeping Dinajpur, Sayedpur, Panchagarh, Nilphamari and Moulivibazar districts and it may spread, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said Monday morning.
Temperature between 8 to 10 degrees Celsius is considered a mild cold wave, 6 to 8 degrees Celsius a moderate cold wave and less than 6 degrees Celsius a severe cold wave.
Read more: Mild cold wave sweeping parts of Bangladesh
Besides, moderate to thick fog may occur over the river basins and adjoining area and light to moderate fog may occur elsewhere over the country during midnight to morning, it said in a bulletin.
Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country.
Read more: Mild cold wave likely in Bangladesh this week
Night temperature may fall slightly and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, it added.
'One billion served by healthcare facilities with no or unreliable electricity'
Although electricity is critical to healthcare provision, nearly a billion people in poorer countries are served by health facilities with no or unreliable electricity supply, a UN-backed report launched Saturday revealed.
The study, published by the World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, International Renewable Energy Agency, and Sustainable Energy for All, presents the latest data on the electrification of healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries, and projects investments required to achieve adequate and reliable power.
"Electricity access in healthcare facilities can make the difference between life and death," Dr Maria Neira, WHO interim assistant director-general for healthier populations, said.
"Investing in reliable, clean and sustainable energy for health-care facilities is not only crucial to pandemic preparedness, but it's also much needed to achieve universal health coverage, as well as increasing climate resilience and adaptation."
Access to electricity is critical for providing people with quality healthcare, from delivering babies to managing emergencies like heart attacks, or ensuring children receive lifesaving vaccines, according to the report "Energizing Health: Accelerating Electricity Access in Health-Care Facilities."
Also, electricity is required to power the most basic devices – lighting, communications equipment and refrigeration, for example, or those that measure vital signs like heartbeat and blood pressure. It is also crucial for both routine and emergency procedures.
However, more than one in 10 health facilities in South Asia and sub-Saharan African countries lack any electricity access whatsoever, according to the report, and power is unreliable in half of all facilities in sub-Saharan Africa.Despite recent progress, approximately one billion people are served by healthcare facilities without reliable electricity supply, or none at all – a number that is nearly as large as the entire populations of the US, Indonesia, Pakistan and Germany combined.
There are also stark disparities in access within the countries themselves. Primary healthcare centres and rural facilities are considerably less likely to have electricity access than hospitals and facilities in urban areas, according to the report.
The report stressed that the electrification of healthcare facilities "must be considered an utmost development priority."
A World Bank needs analysis, included in the report, showed that almost two-thirds of healthcare facilities in low and middle-income countries require some form of urgent intervention, such as a new electricity connection or backup power supply.
Nearly $5 billion is urgently needed to bring them to a minimal standard of electrification.The authors said decentralised sustainable energy solutions are available which would have a huge impact on health delivery, citing the example of solar photovoltaic systems which convert sunlight into electricity.Such solutions are cost-effective, clean and rapidly deployable on site, meaning there is no need to wait for the arrival of the central energy grid.
Healthcare systems and facilities are increasingly affected by the impacts of the climate emergency, the authors added.
So, making them more resilient calls for building facilities and services that can meet the challenges of climate change while improving environmental sustainability.
Bangladesh elected IRENA Council member from Asia-Pacific group for 2023-2024
Bangladesh has been elected as a member of the 21-member Council of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) from the Asia-Pacific group for 2023-2024.
The Council members serve on a rotating basis to ensure the effective participation of both developing and developed countries and fair and equitable geographical distribution.
The responsibilities of the Council include facilitating consultation and cooperation among IRENA members and reviewing the draft work programme, draft budget and annual report.
The election was held at the 13th annual meeting of IRENA from January 14 to 15 at the intergovernmental organisation's headquarters in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, the Power Division said in a media statement Sunday.
A five-member Bangladesh delegation, led by Abu Zafar, Bangladesh ambassador to the UAE and permanent representative to IRENA, and senior officials of the Power Division and Bangladesh mission joined the meeting.At the meeting, the Bangladesh delegation highlighted the country's achievements in renewable energy and the future plans of the government in the field.
Also, Bangladesh urged IRENA to extend its technical and investment support to help the country achieve its renewable energy goals.
Under Vision 2041, Bangladesh has set a goal to generate up to 40 percent of electricity from renewable energy.Another high-level delegation consisting of the members of the parliamentary standing committee on the power, energy and mineral resources ministry attended various meetings, including the Legislative Forum and Public-Private Dialogue.
IRENA supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy.
The organisation promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.
IRENA's membership comprises 167 countries and the European Union. Bangladesh is a founding member of this organisation.
The members decide on the agency's strategic direction and programmatic activities, in line with the global energy discourse and priorities to accelerate the deployment of renewables-based energy transitions worldwide.
Mobile operators must pay their dues: BTRC chairman
Four private telecom operators-Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi and Airtel owe an amount of Tk2,413 crore to the government which remains due as VAT on 2G spectrum fees and licence fees, said the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
"Govt's money means public money, so operators must have to pay the money," Engr. Md. Mohiuddin Ahmed, chairman of BTRC said while addressing a press conference at the commission's office in the capital on Sunday.
BTRC is determined to take out the money, he added.
"All the laws and policies of the BTRC have been formulated for the welfare of the people. We want to make the telecommunication sector an up-to-date sector in the country,"he added.
Mentioning the recent apex court order to three major telecom operators on the payable amount, he said, "BTRC is working relentlessly to build smart Bangladesh".
Commissioner of Spectrum Department Prof Sheikh Riaz Ahmed, said the dues of nearly Tk 2,500 crore is govt's revenue and public money. Telecom operators must pay this money, he said.
Ashis Kumar Kundu, director general (Legal and Licensing Division) at BTRC, said as of 22 November last year, Grameenphone owes Tk1,163.85 crore, Banglalink Tk625.27crore, Robi Tk 565.58 crore and Airtel Tk59.05 crore.
The BTRC will get 100% of revenue from the operators and the 15% VAT cannot be added, he said.
BTRC will definitely get its dues from the operators because it did not demand the money illegally, said BTRC's lawyer Barrister Khandaker Reza-E-Raquib.
Among others, BTRC Director General (Systems and Services Division) Brig Gen Md Nasim Parvez spoke at the press conference, moderated by Director (Legal and Licensing) Tareq Hassan Siddiqui.
Islami Bank donates Tk4 crore to Ashrayan Project
Islami Bank Bangladesh has donated Tk4 crore for the construction of houses for homeless people under the Ashrayan Project.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the cheque from Professor Md Nazmul Hassan, chairman of Islami Bank, and Mohammed Monirul Moula, managing director and chief executive officer of the bank, Sunday.
Md Nazrul Islam Mazumder, chairman of the Bangladesh Association of Banks, was also present.Islami Bank is a joint venture public limited company engaged in commercial banking business based on Islamic shariah.
Set up in 1983 as the first Islamic bank in Southeast Asia, it is listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange and Chittagong Stock Exchange.
New Cabinet Secretary Mahbub meets President Hamid
New Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain met with President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban in the capital Sunday.
The president congratulated him on his appointment as cabinet secretary. He also wished Mahbub success in his new workplace, President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin said.
During the meeting, the new cabinet secretary sought the president's guidance and cooperation in fulfilling his duties, he added.
On January 3, the government appointed Energy and Mineral Resources Division Senior Secretary Mahbub as the cabinet secretary.