United News of Bangladesh

The government has directed all public service holders to submit their property statements. A notice signed by Mohammad Zakir Hossain, senior information officer of the Ministry of Public Administration, was issued to this end on Sunday.

Two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) premises to ensure doctors' security. A press release signed by Md Shariful Islam, public relations officer of BGB headquarters, was issued in this regard on Sunday. The BGB platoons were deployed at DMCH a day after the attack on doctors by the relatives of a patient over allegations of wrong treatment at the hospital’s emergency department. Medical services at both private and public hospitals across the country, including Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), have been disrupted as doctors went on a strike protesting the attack on physicians. On Saturday, three doctors from the Neuro Surgery department at DMCH were assaulted. Following the attack, doctors issued an ultimatum, demanding the arrest of those responsible within 24 hours. However, the doctors decided to go on strike before the deadline expired, expressing their frustration and concern for their safety. Four people involved in the attack were detained and handed over to army personnel, said Bachu Mia, in-charge of the DMCH police outpost. 'Withdraw shutdown': Health Adviser urges doctors Simultaneously, a patient who had ingested poison was declared dead by physicians in the emergency department. In response, the patient’s relatives vandalized the emergency room.

Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) has demanded formation of an independent commission to investigate the corruption, irregularities and plundering of wealth by the previous Awami League government in the country’s power and energy sector during the last 15 years.  “In 2022 alone, some Tk 35,000 crore worth of corruption happened in the power and energy sector,” Prof M Shamsul Alam, energy advisor of the CAB, told reporters while addressing a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity. There was corruption of Tk 17,000 crore in Rural Electrification Board (REB) and Tk 8,000 crore in purchasing furnace oil by the private power producers during a year, he added.  CAB’s legal advisor barrister Jotirmoy Barua read out 11-point demands of the organisation which include returning the authority of fixing all kinds of energy prices to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), no upward price adjustment in the next three years, forming a search committee to appoint members of the BERC, removing top officials of the ministry from the board of directors of different state-owned power and energy companies. Removal of top officials from the Power and Energy Ministry and their subordinate bodies as part of clean-up measures on corruption and disclosing the names of the people who were involved in the corruption and plundering of wealth in the power and energy sector are among the demands placed by the CAB. Calling for publishing a white paper on corruption in the power and energy sector, M Shamsul Alam said the corrupt people must be put on trial. Criticising the power advisor’s move for preparing a position paper on power and energy sector by the existing officials who helped the previous Awami League government in plundering wealth through corruption, he said this is a wrong measure that would foil the interim government’s good intention. Suggesting the interim government to stay in power for the next three years, he said any such move will be like moving forward, keeping the garbage under the carpet.            “There should be a package programme to clean up corruption and irregularities,” he said all the agreements with the private power producers including Indian Adani Group should be reviewed and then  decision needs to taken whether those should be cancelled or revised. He said Adani and some other private power producers were given extra benefits through uneven agreements. Other leaders of the CAB including Shamsul Huda, Nazer Hossain and Humayun Kabir Bhuiya were present at the press conference. 

The interim government's Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum on Sunday requested doctors to withdraw their "shutdown" enforced across the country, protesting attack on physicians and vandalism carried out by relatives of a patient at the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). The health adviser made the request at a press briefing held at the Secretariat. Two separate probe bodies have been formed to look into the attack on doctors and vandalism, and the allegation of negligence in treatment, she said. “You (doctors) are like my children. Please withdraw the 'shutdown' as you have undertaken the responsibility of providing healthcare services to the people. You have made sacrifices. Please, prove again that you are here to serve the people... This is my humble request to you,” she said. Medical services at both private and public hospitals across the country, including Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), have been disrupted as doctors went on a strike protesting the attack on physicians by the relatives of a patient at the hospital’s emergency department. Patients seeking treatment at the hospital are facing significant difficulties due to the doctors’ strike. Those already admitted, as well as new patients in need of urgent care, are particularly affected. On Saturday, three doctors from the Neuro Surgery department at DMCH were assaulted. Following the attack, doctors issued an ultimatum, demanding the arrest of those responsible within 24 hours. However, the doctors decided to go on strike before the deadline expired, expressing their frustration and concern for their safety. Four people involved in the attack were detained and handed over to army personnel, said Bachu Mia, in-charge of the DMCH police outpost. Simultaneously, a patient who had ingested poison was declared dead by physicians in the emergency department. In response, the patient’s relatives vandalized the emergency room.

A terrorist was hacked to death at Basila in Narsingdi town on Saturday night. Lijon Mollah, also a leader of the Matsyajibi League, had been facing 16 criminal charges, including murder, terrorism, robbery, and extortion, was hacked by unidentified assailants near his home. He was later pronounced dead at Narsingdi Sadar Hospital. Dr. Mahmudul Kabir Arif, an emergency physician at Narsingdi Sadar Hospital, said that Mollah was brought in dead at 12:05 am. The victim had multiple wounds from sharp weapons, Arif said. Tanveer Ahmed, Officer-in-Charge of Narsingdi Sadar Model Police Station, said the motive behind the murder is still unclear. However, police suspect that the killing might be related to previous enmities. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder. Authorities will take further action based on any complaints from the victim's family, the OC said.

Interim government Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus on Sunday started his office at the Chief Adviser’s Office (CAO) – previously the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), at Tejgaon. Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam confirmed this to UNB. On August 8, Nobel laureate Prof Yunus was sworn-in as the chief adviser of the interim government bringing hope for a new journey towards Bangladesh’s democratic future. Since his journey as the Chief Adviser, Prof Yunus was conducting his routine office from the State Guest House Jamuna. The previous government, led by Sheikh Hasina, was toppled on August 5 amid a student-led upsurge. The PMO was vandalised rendering it unusable and necessary repair work was carried out there for 15 consecutive days. Now it has been made appropriate for the office of the chief adviser. The nameplates of the PMO have already been changed inside and outside the office, while security measures have been tightened too.

The government will launch a special open market sale (OMS) programme for three months in the 14 flood-hit districts under Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, aiming to provide the affected people with rice and flour at subsidized rates. Ismail Hossain, secretary to the Food Ministry, came up with the information while talking to reporters at a press briefing held over the food stock and the government’s assistance for the flood vicitms. The special OMS will be provided to 230 centres in the affected districts and every day 230 tonnes of rice and 230 tonnes of flour will be sold from these centres. A total of 14,490 metric tonnes of rice and 14,490 metric tonnes of flour will be sold under the special OMS programme in September, October and November, he said. Per kg of rice will be sold at Tk 30, flour at Tk 24 and a packet of flour (each containing 2 kg) at Tk 55, he added. Death toll from flood climbs to 59, over 54 lakh people affected The Food Ministry will provide Tk 90,68, 18, 682 as subsidy for the special food programme. Besides, the selling of rice and flour under the OMS programme in all district headquarters and municipalities in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Narsingdi districts will be underway. Mentioning that there is no scarcity of food, the food secretary said people do not need to worry. Australia, Canada contribute Tk 10 crore to BRAC for flood response Till August 31, a total of 11.25 lakh tonnes of rice have been procured.  

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecast rain or thundershowers in all divisions including Dhaka in 24 hours commencing 9am on Sunday. “Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely at many places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna and Barishal divisions with moderately heavy falls at places over the country,” said a met office bulletin. The country’s highest 68mm of rainfall was recorded in Nilphamari’s Dimla in 24 hours till 6am on Sunday. Day and night temperatures may fall slightly over the country, according to the BMD. The country’s highest temperature was recorded in Rajshahi and Pabna’s Ishwardi at 35.5 degree Celsius over the past 24 hours till 6pm Saturday while the lowest temperature was in Dinajpur at 24.4 degree Celsius respectively. Meanwhile, the monsoon depression over Westcentral Bay and adjoining Northwest Bay off north Andhrasouth Odisha coast moved northwestwards and crossed north Andhra-south Odisha coast near Kalingapatnam between 1-3 am today (01 September). It is likely to move northwesterly direction further.

A 25-year-old woman named Rabea Akter, from Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area, passed away around 11 am on Sunday in Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, leaving her family questioning the quality of care she received. Rabea had been admitted to the hospital 15 days ago in a state of pregnancy and gave birth to a baby boy the day after her admission. According to Rabea’s sister, Kulsum, the complications began shortly after delivery when doctors identified issues with Rabea’s kidneys, necessitating dialysis. Kulsum emphasized that Rabea had shown no prior signs of kidney problems and had been in good health throughout her pregnancy. Following the dialysis, Rabea was moved to a ward but tragically passed away this morning. Her sudden death has left her family in shock, struggling to comprehend how a healthy young woman could deteriorate so rapidly. The family has raised serious allegations against the hospital staff, claiming that doctors failed to provide adequate oxygen during Rabea’s severe respiratory distress. Kulsum said that despite their repeated requests, oxygen was not administered promptly, which she believes contributed to her sister’s death. Rabea’s relatives also reported being physically assaulted by hospital staff when they voiced their concerns. Nurses on duty confirmed that the patient was critically ill but alleged that they were subjected to abuse by Rabea’s family. They also reported that doctors faced physical aggression from the relatives. The hospital’s duty doctors refused to comment on the incident without the permission of the hospital director. The director did not respond to multiple calls either. A fourth-year student at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, who requested anonymity, disclosed that several students were confined for about an hour during the incident but were later released. The incident has prompted calls for a thorough investigation to determine the true cause of Rabea’s death.

Medical services at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) have been disrupted after doctors halted work in protest of assaults and vandalism in the hospital’s emergency department. Starting Sunday morning, doctors suspended emergency services, citing concerns over their safety. The work stoppage began early today and has affected not only the emergency department but also other divisions of the hospital. As a result, the emergency doctor’s chamber remains closed, and the hospital’s outpatient services have also been suspended. Nurses are continuing to attend to critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), but overall, the hospital’s operations have come to a standstill. Patients seeking treatment at the hospital are facing significant difficulties due to the doctors’ strike. Those already admitted, as well as new patients in need of urgent care, are particularly affected. The strike was sparked by an incident on Saturday when three doctors from the Neuro Surgery department were assaulted. Following the attack, doctors issued an ultimatum, demanding the arrest of those responsible within 24 hours. However, the doctors decided to go on strike before the deadline expired, expressing their frustration and concern for their safety. The violence on Saturday began after the death of Ahsanul Haque Dipto, a 23-year-old student from the Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT), who was being treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital following a motorcycle accident in the Cantonment area. After Dipto’s death, his relatives accused the hospital staff of medical negligence and assaulted a doctor, leading to a tense standoff at the hospital that lasted from the afternoon into the night. Further exacerbating the situation, a violent clash between two groups in the Sipahibagh area of Khilgaon on Saturday led to several injured individuals being brought to DMCH for treatment. During the incident, members of one group reportedly entered the emergency department armed with machetes, attacking the other group, leading to five people being injured. Four people involved in the attack were detained and handed over to army personnel, said Bachu Mia, In-Charge of the DMCH police outpost. Simultaneously, a patient who had ingested poison was declared dead by physicians in the emergency department. In response, the patient’s relatives vandalized the emergency room. Following the repeated attacks on the hospital and doctors, the strike is being observed demanding security of the physicians and other staff members of DMCH.