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Bangladesh sees 10 more Covid cases, zero death
Bangladesh reported 10 more Covid cases in the 24 hours to Saturday morning.
With the new number, the country's total caseload rose to 2,037,356, 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 0.50 percent from Friday's 0.51 percent as 2,012 samples were tested.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45 percent while the recovery rate rose to 97.65 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.
Bangladesh reports seven more dengue cases
Seven more people were hospitalised with dengue in the 24 hours to Saturday morning.
Of the new patients, five were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and two outside it, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
A total of 123 dengue patients, including 50 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
Read: 2022 becomes second-deadliest year for dengue on record; Oct second-deadliest month
So far, the DGHS has recorded 377 dengue cases, 252 recoveries, and two deaths this year.
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.
Sylhet fuel traders declare indefinite strike from Jan 18
In light of the current fuel crisis, Sylhet's fuel traders will go on an indefinite strike from Wednesday.
Sylhet Divisional Committee of Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distributors, Agents, and Petroleum Owners Association has announced the indefinite strike after an emergency meeting on Saturday.
According to their decision, traders will cease purchasing from the depot beginning next Wednesday (January 18) and cease selling to consumers from the following Sunday (January 22) for an indefinite period.
“The supply of fuel has long fallen short of the demand. The Sylhet oil traders have no choice but to protest,” said the speakers in the meeting.
According to Sylhet fuel traders, the district's oil pumps have been running low on fuel for a long time due to the irregular movement of railway wagons from Chattagram to Sylhet.
Previously, condensate (a mixture of light liquid hydrocarbons) obtained from Sylhet's gas fields was converted to petrol in multiple Sylhet plants. Since these government-owned plants were shut down, the condensate is now converted to petrol in Chittagong by a private plant.
The district's fuel traders claimed that depot officials' inaction caused the crisis.
"Authorities have repeatedly failed to supply fuel oil. They're just making excuses, and traders are suffering severe losses as a result. That is why we called a strike," said Jubaer Ahmed Chowdhury, Central Secretary General and President of Sylhet Divisional Committee.
Jubaer along with Humayun Ahmed, General Secretary, made the announcement.
Accommodating bigger vessels at Ctg port: Trial run on Sunday
A large container vessel having a draught of 10 metres and length of 200 metres will anchor at the Chittagong Port for the first time on trial basis on Sunday, according to Chattogram port officials.
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.
The port authorities have completed all kinds of preparations including increasing the depth of the Karnaphuli River estuary and skills development training of the operators.
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.
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.
Chief Hydrographer of Chittagong port authority Commander Arifur Rahman, said in view of the report provided by the research institute, the large vessels' berthing trial run will begin on Sunday. "If it becomes successful in this trial operation, the port will soon notify local and global shipping companies to operate bigger vessels on this route. Later, we will allow berthing when big ships arrive, added the commander"
Also Read: Freight operation from Ctg suspended as lighter vessel workers on strike
With the development, Chattogram port will notify shipping companies for allowing ships with bigger draught on this route, said Khairul Alam Suzan, vice-president of the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association.
Bigger ships will reduce the cost of import-export significantly and huge money will be saved annually, he said.
Having the capacity to handle larger vessels is essential for expanding trade, he said adding people involved sector and export-import trade have long been demanding an increase in the berthing capacity of the Chattogram port but the port authorities did not do it without a proper survey, he added.
2023 Military Strength Ranking: Bangladesh 12th among ‘Powers on the Rise’
Bangladesh has ranked 40th out of 145 countries in the annual Global Firepower 2023 Military Strength Ranking.
Bangladesh, however, ranked 12th on the GFP review's list of ‘Powers on the Rise’, which highlights national military powers based on growth in strength trends through 2023.
Based on the GFP formula, the list features current world military powers, with a rising trend. “PowerIndex” score has been used to rank countries.
Also Read: Cooperation between Bangladesh, US militaries growing: Ambassador Muhith
The ‘Powers on the Rise’ for 2023 annual defense review includes 53 nations.
Bangladesh has a PowerIndex score of 0.5871 (a score of 0.0000 is considered 'perfect'). This entry was last reviewed on January 5, 2023.
Meanwhile, against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war, Ukraine has ranked 15th among the strongest militaries in the world out of 145 countries. Ukraine ranked 22nd in the 2022 ranking. Russia, on the other hand, remained second in the ranking.
Read More: Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi lauds Bangladesh army for safeguarding independence, maintaining peace in conflict-torn regions of the world
Currently, 145 countries are considered for the Global Firepower (GFP) annual defense review.
Each country is evaluated based on a variety of factors related to a prolonged offensive or defensive military campaign.
Categories are weighted and processed through in-house formulas to produce the PowerIndex rating used to compile the finalized GFP list.
16th death anniversary of playwright Selim Al Deen today
The 16th death anniversary of “Natyacharya” Selim Al Deen is being observed on Saturday.
JU Drama and Dramatics department has taken up various programmes to commemorate the renowned playwright and theatre artiste.
As the part of the programme, they organised a three-day ‘Selim Al Deen drama festival’. Three dramas will be staged at Selim Al Deen Muktomancha on the campus.
Other programmes included a seminar, song performance from his dramas and recalling the memories of the dramatist. He was born on 16the August 1949 in Sen Khil of Sonagazi upazila in Feni district.
The Department of Drama and Dramatics was established at Jahangirnagar University in 1986 at his initiative. He was made the chair of department when it started journey.
Selim al-Deen received numerous national and international awards. He was awarded the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1984, the National Film Award in 1997 and the Ekushey Padak in 2006.
He died on the day in 2008 at a private hospital in Dhaka. He was buried near the Central Mosque on the campus of Jahangirnagar University.
GMP issues traffic directives to reduce sufferings of Ijtema devotees
Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) has issued some directives regarding traffic movement to reduce suffering of Biswa Ijtema devotees.
Movements of vehicles on some roads in Gazipur will remain suspended for around six hours due to the ongoing Biswa Ijtema.
GMP Commissioner Mollah Nazrul Islam disclosed this in a press briefing at police control room set up at the Ijtema venue saying that the traffic movement has been rearranged as devotees from remote areas of the country will join the Akheri Munajat (final prayers) on Sunday morning.
As part of the rationalized traffic system, movement of vehicles will remain suspended from 12am on Saturday till the Akheri Munajat (Sunday morning) from Tongi to Bhogra Bypass on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, Khamarpara road, Abdullahpur to Bypile on Ashulia road, he said.
Read more: Commuters asked to avoid airport road for BRT work till Saturday midnight
The GMP commissioner requested people to use the bypass road to avoid traffic gridlock.
The first phase of Biswa Ijtema started on Friday morning and it will end through the Akheri Munajat on Sunday morning.
4 elderly devotees die at Ijtema yesterday, today; death toll now 7
Four more devotees died due to old age complications at the Ijtema venue in Tongi on Friday night and Saturday morning.
So far, seven devotees have died at the Ijtema venue during the first phase of the global congregation, said Jisanul Haque, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police.
The deceased were identified as Nurul Haque, 63, son of Fazlul Haque of Jointapur in Sylhet district, Abu Taiab alias Abu Taleb, 90 of Gazipur district, Habibullah Habi, 68 of Keraniganj upazila in Dhaka, Mofazzel Hossain Khan, 70, son of Mobark Hossain of Dumuria upazila in Khulna district, Akkas Ali Shikdar, 50, son of Adil Uddin Shikdar of Munshiganj district, Abdur Razzak, 70, son of Abdul Rashid of Chattogram district and Habibur Rahman Hobi, 70, son of Rahmatullah of Narsingdi district.
Of them, Nurul Haque and Abu Taiab died on Thursday due to old age complications and respiratory problems while Habiullah, Mofazzel and Akkas died on Friday and Razzak and Habibur died on Saturday morning due to old age complications.
Also read; Biswa Ijtema: World's second-largest Muslim gathering begins
The first phase of Ijtema will end tomorrow(Sunday) with Akheri Munajat (final prayers).
Ijtema is being held in two phases from 2012 to ease accommodation issues.
The second phase of Ijtema is scheduled to be held on January 20-22 at the same place.
Drizzles likely in 8 divisions: BMD
The weather department has predicted drizzles in parts of the country in 24 hours, starting from 9am today.
“Weather may remain mainly dry with partly cloudy skies over the country, with chances of drizzles at one or two places over Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions,” Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said in its bulletin.
Moderate to thick fog may occur over the riverbasins and adjoining areas and light to moderate fog may occur elsewhere over the country during midnight to morning and it may continue till noon at places.
Read more: Drizzle likely in Chattogram division
A mild to moderate cold wave is sweeping over Rangpur division and the districts of Noagaon and Moulvibazar and it may abate from some places.
Night temperature may rise slightly and day temperature may fall slightly over the country.
The lowest temperature in the country was recorded at 6.1 degree Celsius in Tetulia today while the highest temperature was recorded at 29.6 degree Celsius in Teknaf of Chattogram division.
IMF DMD arrives in Dhaka today to finalize $4.5 billion loan
The Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Antoinette Monsio Sayeh, arrives in Dhaka today (January 14, 2023) for a 5-day visit.
She will stay in Dhaka till January 18. During her visit, Sayeh will meet with the prime minister, finance minister, governor of Bangladesh Bank and other senior officials of the government.
According to finance ministry sources, Sayeh is coming to Dhaka from Delhi after completing her current Indian visit.
The IMF DMD will visit Padma Bridge on January 18. A meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled for January 16. Sayeh will report to the IMF headquarters regarding the $4.5 billion loan for Bangladesh to combat the global recession.
Read more: Govt works to implement IMF conditions to get $4.5 billion loan: Official
The report will be presented at the IMF board meeting. Based on this, the process of providing the loan will be finalized.
The government has reached an in-principle agreement on the loan with the IMF. Now only the formalities remain.
Some conditions have already been implemented. Electricity prices were hiked by an average of 5 percent on Thursday to implement another IMF condition.
The government will seek some time to implement some other IMF conditions.
Read more: Government working on IMF’s conditions to get $4.5 billion loan
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bank will announce the new monetary policy for the period from January to June of the current financial year tomorrow in accordance with the conditions of the IMF. It will give the impression of raising the loan interest rate to a limited extent. At the same time, monetary policy will be used to control the rate of inflation.
For this reason, the matter of increasing the policy interest rate of the central bank is also in the process.
The government hopes to receive the first installment of the IMF loan in February. For the first installment, $45.45 crore will be received. Thereafter one installment will be made every six months.
Read More: IMF loan is like a character certificate: PM’s advisor Mashiur