Others
Bangladesh reports 8 more dengue cases
Eight more people were hospitalized with dengue in 24 hours till Sunday morning.
Of the new patients, three were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and five outside it, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
A total of 65 dengue patients, including 26 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
So far, the DGHS has recorded 474 dengue cases, 403 recoveries, and six deaths this year.
Also read: Bangladesh reports one more dengue death, 11 new cases
The country recorded 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019.
Also, the DGHS recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries in the last year.
3 dead as bus hits motorbike in Faridpur; Bus set ablaze
Three people including two members of a family were killed when a bus hit a motorbike at Mansurabad in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district on Sunday.
The deceased were identified as Moin Uddin Sheikh, 35, his daughter Tabassum, 10 and Sourav Matabbar, 16, son of Miraj Matabbar of Nagarkanda upazila.
Helal Uddin Bhuiya, additional superintendent of Faridpur (Bhanga circle) Police, said the accident occurred around 12:30 pm when the Dhaka-bound bus of ‘Star Line Paribahan’ from Gopalganj hit the motorbike coming from opposite direction, leaving two riders dead on the spot and the girl injured.
Also read: Bangladesh 88th among 183 countries in road accident death rate: Minister
Injured Tabassum was taken to a local hospital where doctors pronounced her dead.
Agitated local people put up barricade on the road and set the bus on fire after the accident.
On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
Dhaka court dismisses BNP’s complaint against DB chief, 9 others over ‘vandalising Nayapaltan office’
A Dhaka court today dismissed a complaint filed by BNP against chief of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Harun Or Rashid and nine others over "vandalising" BNP’s Nayapaltan central office on December 7, 2022.
Nazim Uddin, a member of BNP's executive committee, filed the complaint with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury (CMM) earlier in the day.
However, the court dismissed the complaint, Arman Hossain, bench assistant of that court, told UNB.
On December 7 last year, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between BNP activists and police in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, ahead of its December 10 rally.
Also read: BNP files complaint with Dhaka court against DB chief, 9 others over ‘vandalising Nayapaltan office’
Police arrested 470 BNP activists and leaders in connection with the clash and they were sued in two cases filed with Paltan and Motijheel police stations.
DC conference starts Tuesday
The three-day annual conference of the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) will begin on Tuesday (January 24, 2023).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to open it at 10 am at Shapla Hall in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), said Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain while briefing reporters at the Secretariat.
This time there will be a total of 26 sessions, including 20 working sessions, with various ministries in the DC conference that will end on Thursday (January 26, 2023).
On this occasion, the DCs will meet the President, the Chief Justice and the Speaker and take instructions from them, said the cabinet secretary.
Also Read: DCs asked to take steps against brick kilns
In the conference the deputy commissioners will exchange views with the relevant ministries for the implementation of various policies, strategies and instructions of the government, he said.
Secondly, they come up with various reform proposals based on the challenges they face, the experience they accumulate at the field level while implementing the government's various directives and policies, Mahub said.
“We have received a total of 245 proposals from various ministries and deputy commissioners this year,” he added.
In response to a question regarding the next national election, he said, “We will provide full cooperation for holding a fair election. We hope that new momentum will come in our field level activities through this year's DCs Conference.”
Dr. SA Malek’s contributions remembered at Shaheed Minar discussion
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said Dr SA Malek was a thinker and a researcher but he never sought attention from others.
“He was an honest and outspoken person and the death of Dr SA Malek is an irreplaceable loss for the nation,” he said in a discussion session at Central Shaheed Minar.
The two-day discussion was organized jointly by Bangabandhu Parishad and World University of Bangladesh.
Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof Mohamamd Akhtaruzzaman chaired the discussion while the foreign minister joined the discussion session as the chief guest.
Prof Abdul Mannan Chowdhury, Prof Moshiur Rahman, Dr Monoronjon Ghoshal and other prominent figures were present, among others.
Prof Moshiur Rahman, vice chancellor of National University and Presidium Member of Bangabandhu Parishad, said, “Dr SA Malek upheld the ideals of Bangabandhu till his death. Even when he was fighting for his life in the hospital, he talked about the people of this country, though he didn’t have the strength to speak out the words.”
Read more: 'Frequent visits' by US officials a good development
“Though SA Malek is no more, he is alive in our hearts. When we read his writings, when we see his work and when we see his contributions, it is as if he is alive,” he added.
A photo exhibition – featuring the work and contributions of Dr SA Malek – by photographer Fojit Sheikh Babu was held at the premises of Central Shaheed Minar.
Dr SA Malek was the former political adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and president of Bangabandhu Parishad who passed away on December 8 last year due to a heart attack at the age of 88.
Malek, also former lawmaker from Faridpur-1 constituency, breathed his last at the ICU of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital.
Temperature up slightly, lowest recorded at 8 degree C in Tetulia, Srimangal
Bangladesh saw a slight improvement in the lowest temperature in 24 hours, till 6 am today (January 22, 2023), though a mild cold wave is sweeping over several parts of the country.
The country’s lowest temperature was recorded at 8 degree Celsius at Tetulia and Srimangal in 24 hours, till 6 am today. The highest temperature was recorded at 29.6 degree Celsius in Teknaf during this period, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
Read more: Mild to moderate cold wave sweeps parts of country
A mild cold wave is sweeping over Rangpur division and the districts of Naogaon and Moulvibazar and it may abate in some places, it added.
Moderate to thick fog may occur at places over the river basins, and light to moderate fog may occur at other places in the country during late night till morning.
Read more: Mild to moderate cold wave may persist for 2/3 days more
Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy skies over the country. Night and day temperatures may rise slightly in Bangladesh.
Developed countries must keep food out of the purview of war, sanctions: Agriculture Minister tells Berlin conference
Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque has urged developed countries to keep food and agricultural products out of the purview of war and sanctions.
Developed countries should be more responsible and proactive in ensuring global food security, the minister said at the 15th Berlin Agriculture Ministers Conference in Germany on Saturday.
Bangladesh is a victim of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, he said, adding that as a result of this war, price of fertilisers has quadrupled, and price of food grains has increased significantly -- impacting food security.
“I call upon the developed world to take flexible, unbureaucratic, and fast steps to mitigate this negative impact,” he told the conference.
Read more: Dhaka, Abuja agree to explore possibilities in contract farming, cooperation in agro, food processing
Highlighting state measures to ensure food security in the future, Razzaque said the current government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working to build a developed, sustainable, and climate-tolerant agricultural system, through which food security will be sustainable, nutritious food will be ensured, and farmers will have a better life.
Land depletion, population growth, climate change, Covid-19 and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war have become obstacles, he added. “In this situation, I request the developed countries to promptly implement the commitments made in COP26, COP27 and other global forums.”
The conference was held on the last day of the four-day (January 18-21) 15th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), organised by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Agriculture ministers of more than 70 countries and representatives of 10 international organisations participated in this conference.
At the conference, it was mentioned that according to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global hunger is to be eradicated (Zero Hunger) by 2030. But the reality is that the number of people suffering from hunger is increasing day by day.
Around 70.2 to 82.8 crore people were affected by hunger in 2021, which is 4.6 crore more than in 2020 and 1.5 crore more than in 2019. Species extinction, Covid-19 and Russia-Ukraine war have added new dimensions to the food crisis.
Read more: International community urged to address triple challenge of food, fuel, fertilizer shortages
In view of this situation, increasing cooperation to build a crisis-proof, climate-resilient food system, to protect biodiversity, and to build a sustainable global food system were emphasized in the conference.
A 'Joint Manifesto' (Communique) titled 'Food System Transformation: A Worldwide Response to Multiple Crises' was also announced by high-level representatives and agriculture ministers of the countries participating in the conference.
Second phase of Biswa Ijtema ends today with ‘Akheri Munajat'
The second phase of the three-day Biswa Ijtema – the second largest congregation of Muslims after Hajj – ended today (January 22, 2023) with ‘Akheri Munajat’ (final prayer).
Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Kandhalvi, son of Maulana Muhammad Saad Al Kandhalvi, conducted the final prayers between 12-12:30 pm.
Thousands of devotees raised their hands seeking forgiveness and blessings for peace and prosperity of the Muslim Ummah. They also prayed for the country’s welfare.
Read more: First phase of Bishwa Ijtema ends today with ‘Akheri Munajat’
As part of the rationalized traffic system, movement of vehicles remained suspended from 6 am this morning till the Akheri Munajat – from Bhogra Bypass to Addullahpur on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, Khamarpara Road, and Abdullahpur to Bypile on Ashulia Road.
The metro rail will run from 8 am to 5 pm today for smooth movement of the devotees.
Read more: 2nd phase Bishwa Ijtema: Metro rail to operate from 8am-5pm on Jan 22
Journalist Biplab found dead in Mirpur house: Police
Police said they found the body of 60-year-old Biplab Zaman, news consultant of The Financial Express and former senior sub-editor of UNB, in a Mirpur house in the capital Saturday evening.
On information, police and the crime scene unit of CID went to the house in Pallabi and recovered the body, Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Mirpur zone) Md Jasim Uddin said.
"We had to ram the door open to enter his flat and found the body on the balcony," he said.
Read: Sherpur: Farmer's body with injuries marks found in pile of logs
The body was sent to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College for autopsy.
"We are suspecting that the journalist died some days ago," Jasim said. "However, we will be able to confirm the cause of Biplab Zaman's death after examining the postmortem report."
Biplab had been living at a rented flat of the house alone over the last two years. He left behind his ex-wife, two daughters and one son.
Covid-19: Bangladesh logs 17 more cases, zero death
Bangladesh reported 17 more Covid-19 cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning.
With the new number, the country's total caseload rose to 2,037,433, 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 increased to 0.54 percent from Friday's 0.41 percent as 3,134 samples were tested.
Also Read: Bangladesh sees 4 more Covid cases, zero death
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45 percent while the recovery rate rose to 97.71 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.