United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka ranks third on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality, with an AQI score of 263 at 9:53 am this morning. Dhaka’s air was classified as 'very unhealthy', according to the air quality index. China’s Shenyang, India’s Delhi and China’s Shanghai occupied the first, second and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 630, 326 and 220, respectively. When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. Dhaka’s air quality ‘unhealthy’, 5th worst in the world this morning The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. Dhaka’s air quality 4th worst in the world this morning As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.    

A 16-year-old teenage boy was killed after being hit by a microbus at Elephant Road in the capital on Friday night. The deceased was identified as Md Yusuf, a worker at a shoe shop and son of Ayub Ali of Hazaribagh area. The accident occurred around 9 am when the microbus hit him while crossing the road, leaving him injured, said Sabuj Mia, sub-inspector of New Market Police Station. 4 killed, 5 injured in Faridpur accident Later, he was first taken to Popular Hospital and later shifted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared him dead around 11 pm. The body was kept at the hospital morgue, said SI. BRTA's number of deaths from road accidents in 2023 shows significant departure from JKS

Friday being a holiday, the entire fair was very lively marked by an increased presence of children crowding the Children's Corner from the morning. In fact all day, the fairgrounds were crowded with children and young people clearly there with more than just books on their minds. The Children's Corner, adjacent to the temple gate of Suhrawardy Udyan, was almost always overcrowded, with children and teenagers of different ages browsing the stalls and flipping through the pages of books looking for their favorite books. Sisimpur, an educational TV series specially designed for kids, is a regular attraction at each year's Boi Mela, especially on the weekends. Today, as always, you could see wide-eyed children who come to the fair and see their favourite characters with their own eyes, piquing their curiosity. Meanwhile, the arrival of people increased as the day progressed. Publishers, vendors at pavilions and stalls said that book sales were increasing hour by hour with the influx of people. Go for digital book publication to globally promote Bengali literature:PM Hasina tells publishers at Ekushey Book Fair Like last year, little Mahatav came to the fair with his mother to buy books. His mother, Tahnuma Haque, bought him two science books and one story book. She said that she brought her son to the book fair mainly to create an interest in him early on for reading books. Coming here, her son is very happy to see Sisimpur directly. Five-year-old child Tausif Arian says he likes watching cartoons. So he bought some cartoon books and enjoyed seeing Sisimpur in the morning. CRI stall ready to welcome visitors at Ekushey Book FairMeanwhile, visiting the bookstores of Children's Corner, we learned that book sales had increased due to the increase in 'footfall' thanks to the holiday, compared to the rest of the week.   In this regard, Khandkar Sayem, the salesman of Doito Prakash stall, located in the Children's Corner, said that today (Friday) the sales was 'quite good'.   Parents who bring their children obviously must buy them books. They are mainly attracted to cartoons and comic books.   Slightly older age group, say teenagers, are more interested in juvenile novels and thriller. End/UNB/AHT/ssk  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the world needs right policies and institutions to help young women choose a career in science and technology. “We need more women and girls in science for a just, inclusive, and sustainable future. We must have the right policies and institutions for young women to choose a career in science and technology,” she said. The prime minister said this in a video statement that was played in the 9th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. She mentioned that it is important that women in science are promoted to leadership positions. PM Hasina hails January-7  election as the freest since 1975  “In Bangladesh, I personally commit to advancing the work of our women scientists through recognition and incentives,” she said. The prime minister mentioned that the government is digitally empowering thousands of women and girls across the country. “I feel delighted to see their vibrant presence in the digital marketplace. We offer dedicated training for young women to help them grow as IT freelancers. I wish to see our young people with disabilities transform their lives through digital inclusion,” she said. Hasina said that the government is expanding technical and vocational education for women to help them prepare for the future of work. ISRO Chandrayaan-3: 9 Women Scientists Who Led India’s Moon Landing “We have made it mandatory for all high school graduates to get an education in science and ICT,” she said. The premier said that in the past the number of female students in higher education, especially in science and technology, was not satisfactory. However, she said, the participation of women in science education has improved significantly in recent years due to our concerted efforts. She mentioned that in public universities of Bangladesh, about 40 percent of total students are female, while in private universities, their percentage is 30. Women should be proud of PM Hasina for her capability, leadership: India's President “We make sure that women get preference in the research and innovation grants we offer. Our young girls need to be prepared to realise our vision of a ‘Smart Bangladesh’,” she added, PM Hasina vowed to always remain devoted to women's and girls’ education in science and technology. According to the United Nations a significant gender gap has persisted throughout the years at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines all over the world. Dr Gawsia and Dr Senjuti from Bangladesh among top 100 Asian scientists Even though women have made tremendous progress towards increasing their participation in higher education, they are still under-represented in these fields. It said that gender equality has always been a core issue for the United Nations. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls will make a crucial contribution not only to economic development of the world, but to progress across all the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well. On 14 March 2011, the Commission on the Status of Women adopted a report at its fifty-fifth session, with agreed conclusions on access and participation of women and girls in education, training and science and technology, and for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work. On 20 December 2013, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on science, technology and innovation for development, in which it recognised that full and equal access to and participation in science, technology and innovation for women and girls of all ages is imperative for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Read more: Bangladeshi imaging scientist Nayma shines on global stage

Doctors in the country must be honest and sound-minded, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen said on Friday. That is why he said maximum precautions were taken at all examination centres staging the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) admission tests for the 2023-24 academic year. The health minister made these remarks while talking to journalists after inspecting examination centres at Tejgaon College and Dhaka University Arts Faculty this morning. Bangladesh reports 47 more COVID-19 cases in 24hrs Among others, Medical Education and Family Welfare Division Secretary Azizur Rahman, Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) ABM Khurshid Alam, BMA president Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin and Directorate General of Medical Education Director General Prof Dr Md Titu Miah were present at the time. An electronic tracking device was put on every trunk carrying the question papers for this year's exam, through which the activities were monitored by the Directorate. Ensure safe food: Food minister No one, including the magistrate at each exam centre, was allowed to carry any electronic device in the examination hall. All medical coaching centres were declared shut one month before the exam.  On the day before the exam, the state intelligence agency was deployed to prevent any opportunity to leak or spread questions, or even rumours regarding questions, on social networks like Facebook, Dr Sen informed. "We have been as careful as possible in this year's medical entrance exam," added the technocrat minister, explaining the need for a clean process to produce the kind of doctors the country needs. "I want to see honest and better doctors in our country. I remained honest throughout my whole life, I want each doctor of the next generation to serve the people with honesty and transparency," the health minister added. Entire Bangladesh to be brought under rail network: Railways Minister The MBBS admission test for the academic year 2023-24 was held simultaneously at 44 venues of 19 examination centres of the country from 10am to 11 am. A total of 104,374 applicants competed for 11,675 seats in the country's medical colleges through the admission test.

Bangladesh reported 47 more COVID-19 cases in 24 hours till Friday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total COVID-19 caseload rose to 2,047,4487, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). COVID-19: Bangladesh reports 33 more cases in 24hrs The official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,483 as no new fatalities were reported during this period. The daily case test positivity rate stood at 5.64 per cent as 833 samples were tested, said the DGHS. Bangladesh reports one more Covid-19 death, 34 cases in 24hrs The recovery and death rates remained unchanged at 98.40 per cent and 1.44 per cent, respectively. COVID-19: Bangladesh reports 25 more cases in 24hrs

No fresh death due to dengue was reported in Bangladesh in the 24 hours till Friday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). However, three more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever during this period, according to the DGHS. Of them, two were admitted in Dhaka hospitals, while the rest were outside the capital. A total of 111 dengue patients, including 48 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. So far, 1,202 dengue cases have been reported since January 1, 2024. Last year, a total of 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record. The DGHS recorded 321,179 dengue cases and 3,18,749 recoveries last year. Last year’s September was the deadliest month for the dengue outbreak, with 396 fatalities and 79,598 cases, according to DGHS data.

The second phase of the 57th Biswa Ijtema has begun on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi, Gazipur. The second phase of this year's Biswa Ijtema began on Friday after Fazr with Aam Bayan (general sermon) by Maulana Ilyas Bin Saad of India. The sermon was translated into Bangla by Maulana Munir Bin Yusuf. Maulana Yusuf Bin Saad will lead the jummah prayers at 1:30 pm. Before that, Maulana Ilyas will give a sermon on Talim after 10 am. Maulana Munir Bin Yusuf will deliver a sermon on Fazayel before jummah. After the jummah prayer, Maulana Sheikh Mufleh of Saudi Arabia will deliver a sermon, which will be translated into Bangla by Maulana Sheikh Abdullah Mansur. SAFF U-19 Women's: Bangladesh, India declared joint champions after match commissioner's fault Maulana Mosharraf (Bangladesh) will deliver a sermon after Asar prayers. Maulana Yusuf Bin Saad of India will deliver a sermon after Magrib prayers. The translation will be done by Maulana Zia Bin Qasim. Mohammad Sayem, Media Coordinator of Tablighi Jamaat Bangladesh Nizamuddin gave this information on Friday. The Ijtema ground and surrounding areas are already filled with Muslim devotees. As of this morning, more than 2,000 foreign guests from over 50 countries, including India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Turkey, Afghanistan, United Kingdom and United States have arrived at the designated residence for them in the field. Foreign and domestic Muslim scholars are busy with sermons, kargujari, taskeel, talim, Quran recitation, zikr-askar and prayers in the field. Meanwhile, more than 6,000 members of the law enforcement have been deployed to perform duties in the Ijtema area. Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Mahbub Alam said there is a strong security system in place for this phase, as was the case in the first phase. By Thursday night, a total of six people have died at Ijtema. Media coordinator Mohammad Sayem said they died due to old age and illness. Israeli strikes kill 13 as concerns grow about looming operation in Rafah The identities of four of them have been known. They were- Nabi Uddin (65), son of Chhabi Uddin of Goalchar village, Islampur Police Station, Jamalpur ; Mohammad Abdul Kalam (65), son of late Mohammad Mafiz Uddin of Ramkrishnapur village, Sherpur Sadar; Mohammad Abdul Halim Mia (65), son of late Mohammad Sultan Uddin of Kutubpur village, Kendua Police Station, Netrokona; and Mohammad Zahir Uddin (70), son of Yusuf Uddin of Shibnagar village, Nawabganj Police Station, Dinajpur district. The identities of the remaining two could not be confirmed.

An unidentified body was found in Rahmaterbil border area of Ukhiya upazila in Cox's Bazar on Thursday night amid ongoing clashes between Myanmar army and armed rebel groups in the country. The body was found around 9:30 pm in the Rahmaterbil border area of Ukhiya’s Thaingkhali.   Ukhiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Shamim Hossain confirmed the matter. He said that members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) informed him about the body lying in the bordering area. However, it was advised from the BGB to recover the body in the morning and avoid it at night, he said. Earlier on Tuesday, 137 members of Myanmar's force fled Myanmar through the Rahmaterbil border and took shelter in Bangladesh. On that day, the border area was tense with firing and on the following day there was intermittent firing on the border. Gunshots were heard around 5 am on Thursday.

At least 14 workers of a knit composite garment factory reportedly sustained burn injuries in a gas pipeline explosion in Fatullah upazila of Narayanganj on Thursday afternoon. Locals said the fire erupted in ‘Crony Apparels Limited’ in Kashipur Hatkhola area of Fatullah around 3:30 pm. Dr Tarikul Islam, a physician of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, confirmed the admission of the workers in the hospital. The injured were Palash Kanti Mandal, Jitu, Mukul, Shanto, Amir Mia, Mithun Biswas, Kamrul, Rubel, Monir, Ripon, Shafiq, Mehedi, Zakir and Mahbub Kazi. Of them, Jitu received 30 percent burn and he was under observation while all the rest are now out of danger, the physician said. Details about the explosion could not be found immediately.