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Main Eid congregation to be held at Nat’l Eidgah at 8am
The main congregation of Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of Muslims, will be held at the National Eidgah on the High Court premises at 8am on the Eid day.
However, if weather remains unfavourable or the main congregation is not held at the National Eidgah for any other reason the main congregation will be held at 8:30 am at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
Also read:No shortage of spices in market ahead of Eid: Spice Traders Association
The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting on Eid-ul-Azha celebrations headed by State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan at the Secretariat on Sunday.
Depending on the sighting of the moon, the holy Eid-ul-Azha is expected to be celebrated on July 10.
Also read: Traders urged to keep market stable ahead of Eid-ul-Azha
Two Indian crew of foreign vessel die at Ctg port
Two Indian crew of a Danish oil tanker died reportedly after inhaling toxic gas while working in the vessel at the Chattogram port on Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Jishnu Raj, 29, and Akhil Shekhar, 26, hailing from India’s Kerala state.
Also read: Bulkhead sinks at Ctg port, 5 crew rescued
Secretary of Chattogram port Md Omar Faruq said Jishnu and Akhil fell sick when they entered the cargo tank of the oil tanker named MD Nord Magic.
“They were rushed to a local hospital where the on-duty doctors declared them dead,” said Faruq.
Officer-In-charge (OC) of Patenga police station Kabir Hossain said the vessel anchored at the Chattogram port on June 15.
Also read: Lighter vessel sinks in Bay: 12 missing crew members rescued
MTCL, the local agent of the Danish ship, lodged a General Diary (GD) with Patenga police station in this regard, he said.
PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim gets another 2-year extension
Ihsanul Karim has got another two-year extension as Press Secretary to the Prime Minister.
The Public Administration Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Sunday.
It said the service contract of Ihsanul Karim has been extended by two years from June 18, 2022 or the date of his re-joining.
READ: Ihsanul Karim gets another 3-yr extension as PM’s Press Secretary
Ihsanul Karim, former press secretary to the President, was first appointed as the Press Secretary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on June 15, 2015 and then he got three-year extension on June 16, 2016 and June 18, 2019.
Earlier, he was the Managing Director and the Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
PM: Padma Bridge comes as divine blessings for southern Bangladesh
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that the Padma Bridge will come as divine blessings for the people of the southern region as they will get quick assistance during natural disasters after its opening next week.
“I think, the inauguration of Padma Bridge on June 25 will come as a blessing from Allah as we will be able to establish rapid communication with the southern region and promptly help the people in case of floods,” she said.
The premier was addressing a reception accorded to the 2021 SAFF Champion Bangladesh Under-19 Women National Football Team at her office in the city.
Noting that flood has affected the northeastern region massively this time, she said such deluge will affect the southern region of the country too.
Also read:PM seeks support of Japan to become a developed nation
Hasina said she opened Bangabandhu Bridge over Jamuna River just before the 1998 countrywide long-lasting flood and this helped maintain communication with the northern part of the country for uninterrupted transportation of goods and other essentials.
She said the flood also had affected the southern region at that time and the people of this area got help from the northern districts.
“We had been able to face that flood successfully…. Since we had opened the Bangabandhu Bridge, it helped us face the flood in many ways at that time,” she added.
The PM said crossing the river like Padma River becomes dangerous due to strong current during such floods and disrupts the communication.
She recalled that she got stranded in Tungipara during the 1988 floods. “I could have come to Dhaka at that time had a bridge been there over the Padma River,” she added.
“So, when the Padma Bridge is opened, we’ll get the scope to continue relief operations, providing other assistance and medicines in the flood-hit areas,” she said.
Mentioning that a devastating flood hits Bangladesh after every 10-12 years, the premier said she earlier warned all government authorities that a different type of flood might affect the country this year and asked them to take preparation accordingly.
“We’ve the preparation (for facing the flood). We’re taking proper measures to ease the sufferings of the flood-hit people,” she said.
Citing that this time the flood has affected the country in a massive way, Hasina said the government has taken all measures including providing reliefs and assistance to the flood-hit people by the Army, Navy and Air Force to all government agencies concerned.
Besides,the leaders and activists of Awami League (AL), Chattra league, Jubo League and Swecchasebak League are also helping the flood-hit people in their respective localities, said Hasina, also the AL president.
Mentioning that the flood water has started receding in different places particularly in Sunamganj on Sunday, she said the government has also taken the preparation to ease public sufferings during the post-flood situation.
She said when the water recedes other regions downstream will be flooded naturally. “So, our Mymensingh and Ranpur divisions are also likely to be flooded. So, we’re taking precautionary measures and proper preparation in this regard,” said the prime minister.
When the flood water recedes from the north eastern part, the central region might be flooded until the Bengali month of Shraban and then the southern region from Shraban to Bhadra. It is rule of nature, she said.
“In Bangladesh, we will have to move coping up with its natural environment. So, we’ll continue the activities to ensure normal life alongside facing the natural disasters,” she said adding that Bangladesh successfully hosted the Mini World Cup (The 1998 ICC Champions Trophy) during the 1998 flood.
Dhaka's air quality now 'moderate'
Dhaka's air quality continued to be in the ‘moderate’ zone on Sunday, mainly owing to rains in different parts of the country.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 70 at 12.10 pm, the city ranked 22nd in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.
When the AQI remains between 51 and 100, the air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh, the United Arab Emirates' Dubai and Chile’s Santiago occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 167, 163 and 162, respectively.
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups.
Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, is used by government agencies to inform people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
READ: Dhaka's air quality turns 'moderate'
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
A report by the Department of Environment (DoE) and the World Bank in March 2019 pointed out that the three main sources of air pollution in Dhaka "are brick kilns, fumes from vehicles and dust from construction sites".
With the advent of winter, the city’s air quality starts deteriorating sharply due to the massive discharge of pollutant particles from construction work, rundown roads, brick kilns and other sources.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Photo exhibition titled “We are Rohingya” in city Monday
UN refugee agency - UNHCR and the Liberation War Museum of Bangladesh will host an exhibition titled “We are Rohingya” which will be inaugurated on Monday.
The exhibition will be opened at 11:00 am in the temporary exhibition hall of the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka.
On the occasion of World Refugee Day, this photographic exhibition presents the work of 10 Rohingyas who photographed people living in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar.
Curated by David Palazon and Amena Khatun from the Liberation War Museum, the display includes 50 photographs that capture the culture, identity, hopes and dreams of people who escaped from violence and persecution in Myanmar and found refuge in Bangladesh.
READ: Rohingyas: Dhaka asks Nay Pyi Taw to expedite verification for early repatriation
The exhibition also includes 11 photographs from the Liberation War Museum archives that capture the lives and stories of Bangladeshi nationals, who in 1971 were forced to flee and lived as refugees, during the Liberation War.
This exhibition shows how the lived memory of millions of Bangladeshi uprooted during the Liberation War has inspired the generosity and protection the country is now extending to the persecuted Rohingya from neighbouring Myanmar, said the UNHCR.
More rains to lash Bangladesh
More rains are likely to drench Bangladesh in the next 24 hours, the weather department said Sunday.
Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind and intense lightning flashes is likely to occur at most places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places over the country, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
Read: Parts of Ctg port city go under water amid incessant rains
The weather department recorded 148mm rainfall – the highest – in Chattogram in the last 24 hours till 6pm Sunday.
The mercury reached 35.4 degrees Celsius – the highest – in Mongla, while the minimum temperature was 22 degrees in Sitakunda.
Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country, the BMD said.
Two ferries collide in Padma; 1 killed
A man was killed and another went missing as two ferries collided head-on in the Padma River in the early hours on Sunday.
The deceased was identified as pickup van driver Md Khokon, 40, of Jhalakathi, said SI Sakhwat Hossain of Louhajang Police Station.
Two ferries- Begum Rokeya and Begum Sufia Kamal- collided head-on near Jajira in Shariatpur district on the Shimulia-Majhirkandi route around 3 am.
Sufia Kamal ferry master Md Hasan said parts of both ferries were damaged in the collision.
READ: Paturia ghat sees huge crowd; Passengers suffer as 2 ferries remain inoperative
Another person went missing after he fell in the river while 10 people on both the ferries sustained injuries.
Hasan said that he was asleep and the second master was operating the ferry.
The second master couldn’t control it at Shariatpur turning point due to strong current which led to the collision, he added.
Global Covid cases surpass 544 million
The overall number of Covid cases has surpassed 544 million amid a rise in new infections in parts of the world.
According to the latest global data, the total case count mounted to 544,055,243 while the death toll from the virus reached 6,340,234 Sunday morning.
The US has recorded 87,981,568 cases so far and 1,038,289 people have died from the virus in the country, the data shows.
Meanwhile, cases in India rose to 43,296,692 Sunday morning, according to the global data.
With 15 new deaths since Saturday morning, the death toll in India rose to 524,855.
READ: Global Covid cases near 544 million
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh recorded 304 new Covid cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning taking the country's total caseload to 1,955,731.
The country's total fatalities, however, remained unchanged at 29,131 as no death was reported during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily test positivity rate slightly declined to 5.94 per cent from Friday’s 6.27 per cent with 5,122 samples tested during the period.
The country on Friday saw 433 cases with zero death.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent. The recovery rates declined to 97.44 per cent as 47 patients recovered during this period.
In May, the country reported only four Covid-linked deaths and 816 new cases, while 7,356 patients recovered from the disease, according to the DGHS.
Among the four deaths during the period, one was vaccinated with single dose of Covid vaccine while three were vaccinated with two doses.
The country reported its first zero Covid death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 cases, since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020.
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest positivity rate of 33.37 per cent.
The country registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.
2 lakh people stranded as flood situation worsens in Kurigram
Flood situation in Kurigram district has worsened further due to the swelling of major rivers caused by onrush of water from upstream and incessant rainfall, rendering over two lakh people marooned.
According to the local Water Development Board, the Dharla River was flowing 27 cm above its danger level at Setu point while the Brahmmaputrar was flowing 32 cm above its red mark at Chilmari point at 6 am on Saturday.
Besides, Teesta river has swollen at many points due to continuous rains.
The low-lying areas and char areas of Kurigram Sadar, Ulipur, Roumari upazilas went under water while 65 educational institutions have been shut due to flood, according to local administration.
READ: Over 200 houses damaged as nor’wester lashes Kurigram