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Promote right persons in Army: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the Army Headquarters Selection Board-2021 needs to pick qualified people for promotion aiming to build a strong military.
“I believe that the selection board will select qualified people for promotion through wisdom and prudent analyses rising above the personal liking and disliking. You’ll have to find out the able leadership maintaining neutrality by remaining free from all influences,” Hasina said while addressing the meeting of the selection board.
The Prime Minister joined the meeting, held at Army Multipurpose Complex, virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Read: Army Chief distributes food aid among 5,000 destitute people
PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
Hasina said she is happy to know that TRACE (Tabulated Record and Comparative Evaluation) Method is followed in the case of promotion of Army officers, which is a manifestation of a comparative assessment of various aspects of their professionalism.
“Right persons will have to be promoted for various important appointments such as command, staff and trainers. This will increase the acceptance to all,” she said.
The PM said the Awami League government always governs the country as the servant of people, never as a ruler. A disciplined and modern army plays a very helpful role in consolidating democracy, she said.
Read:Help achieve green recovery of CVF-V20 countries: Hasina to developed nations
“That’s why its leadership must be entrusted to professional and responsible officers who are always ready for supreme sacrifices to protect the sovereignty [of the country], being imbued with the ideology of the great Liberation War,” she added.
“Discipline is the backbone of the Army. At the same time, it’s necessary to find honest, fair-minded, righteous, people-friendly and humane officers who are successful in various fields of their career,” she added.
Hasina said Bangladesh Army had started its progress due to the sincere efforts of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In the continuation of the progress journey, the army has now become a highly professional, efficient and modern force due to intensive care from her government, she said.
“Our army has been working very efficiently in various development and public welfare activities, including containing the recent Corona pandemic, which is really commendable. Not only in the country, our Army has brought a rare honour and dignity to the country from the world stage,” she said.
Read: Women’s participation in ICT sector to be raised substantially: Hasina
Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed delivered the welcome speech at the virtual function.
Assuming power in 1996, Hasina said her government have been taking initiatives to modernise the armed forces and established National Defence College (NDC) in 1996, Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) in 1998, Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) and Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC).
In order to enhance the organisational capacity of the army, the government has added a significant number of units and institutions alongside three new formations in its organizational structure. In 2016, the government established Bangladesh Peace Building Center (HPC), she added.
Talking about the country’s economic progress, Hasina said the poverty rate was brought down to 20.5 percent while per capita income has been raised to US 2,227 dollars. The government brought 99 percent of people under electricity coverage, she said.
The six-day activities of the selection board started on Thursday in order to award promotion to Army officers.
Govt fixes rawhide prices ahead of Eid-ul-Azha
The government has fixed the prices of raw cowhide ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha at Tk 40-45 per square foot in the capital and Tk 33-37 outside of it.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi announced the prices after a virtual meeting held at the Ministry on Thursday.
Read:Zilhajj moon sighted; Eid-ul-Azha on July 21
Besides, the minister said, the prices of goatskins have been fixed at Tk 15-17 per square foot across the country while that of she-goat at Tk 12-14 against the previous year’s prices of Tk 13-15 and Tk 10-12 respectively.
“Last year, we saw a very good export trade, and we’ve to move on ensuring the fare prices of rawhide. We’ve given the approval to export rawhide which is not good for us. This year, we’ve fixed the rawhide prices after holding a meeting with all stakeholders,” he said.
Read:Digital Haat and more Qurbani Cow online shops targeting Eid-ul-Azha in Bangladesh
Munshi urged all concerned to apply salt on animal hides soon after their sacrifices.
Capital chokes as public transport services resume
Public transport services resumed in Bangladesh on Thursday, with the government easing the lockdown curbs for a week ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Azha.
A reality check by UNB in Dhaka revealed that several buses left their depots in the morning and were plying on several busy stretches of the national capital -- Mirpur Road, Uttara, Banani, New Market and Mohakhali areas to name a few.
Buses -- both intra-city and inter-district -- were, however, seen carrying passengers with 50 percent of their seating capacity. But such was the morning rush that several areas of the city witnessed traffic snarls, giving commuters a harrowing time on the roads.
Read:Public transports go off streets, malls shut as ’ strict lockdown’ begins in Bangladesh
Abu Raihan Mohammad Saleh, joint commissioner (traffic north) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said, “Due to the strict lockdown, many people couldn't step out of their houses. As soon as the lockdown restrictions were eased, people took full advantage of the same."
"However, police and other law enforcement agencies are keeping a strict vigil on the roads to ensure strict adherence to all Covid-safety protocols," he added.
A number of inter-district buses entering and exiting the city also contributed to the traffic jams.
Traffic Inspector Akter Hossain said, “A huge pressure of vehicles has been seen since morning as all vehicles have started plying on the roads.”
Besides, train and launch services also resumed operations across the country, keeping 50 percent of the seats empty, apparently to facilitate the movement of people ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
On July 12, Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujon said that the train tickets will be available online only to avoid any rush at the counters.
On June 22, authorities suspended the movement of all passenger vessels in Narayanganj, Gazipur, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Madaripur, Rajbari and Gopalganj to curb the spread of Covid in these districts.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) announced its decision to suspend the movement of launches, speed boats and trawlers on June 21, following the Cabinet Division’s circular on the imposition of lockdown in these seven districts.
However, the restrictions won't apply on the movement of cargo vessels and emergency services. And legal action will be taken against violators, according to the BIWTA notification.
Read: Bangladesh eases lockdown restrictions ahead of Eid
On July 13, the Bangladesh government decided to ease all lockdown restrictions in the country for eight days ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
In a notification on Tuesday morning, the Cabinet Division said that the lockdown restrictions would be lifted from July 14 midnight to the morning of July 23.
However, strict restrictions will resume from July 23 and will continue till August 5, as per the order.
Launch services resume in Keraniganj
Launch services resumed here on Thursday morning, with the government easing the lockdown curbs for a week ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
On Wednesday, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury visited Sadarghat Launch Terminal and asked the authorities to ensure that all passengers comply with Covid-safety protocols.
Read:Now mad rush to return to Dhaka; river terminals overcrowded again
“Everyone should follow health safety guidelines and those found without a mask will be fined,” he had said.
Khalid had also urged the launch owners and officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to remain alert in view of the worsening Covid situation in the country.
On July 13, the Bangladesh government decided to ease all lockdown restrictions in the country for eight days ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
In a notification on Tuesday morning, the cabinet division said that the lockdown restrictions would be lifted from July 14 midnight to the morning of July 23.
Read: 5 die in stampede, heatstroke at Banglabazar ferry terminal
However, strict restrictions will resume from July 23 and will continue till August 5, as per the order.
A record rise in the number of Covid cases and fatalities in recent days prompted the government to enforce a nationwide stringent lockdown.
All modes of public transport, including the road, river, rail and air, remained suspended during the lockdown.
On June 22, the authorities suspended the movement of all passenger vessels in Narayanganj, Gazipur, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Madaripur, Rajbari and Gopalganj to curb the spread of Covid in these districts.
Read: Homebound people flock at launch and bus terminals dreading ‘lockdown’
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) announced its decision to suspend the movement of launches, speed boats and trawlers on June 21, following the Cabinet Division’s circular on the imposition of lockdown in these seven districts.
However, the restrictions won't apply on the movement of cargo vessels and emergency services. And legal action will be taken against violators, according to the BIWTA notification.
Global Covid cases top 188 million
The global Covid-19 caseload has now surpassed 188 million, with the world still struggling to contain the second wave of the pandemic.
The total caseload and fatalities from the virus stand at 188,284,090 and 4,057,061, respectively, as of Thursday morning, as per the latest data released by Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
On the other hand, as many as 3,496,851,294 vaccine doses have been administered across the world.
The US has logged 33,946,217 cases and 608,104 fatalities to date, the highest death toll in the world, according to the university.
The US crossed the grim milestone of 30 million cases on March 25.
Read: FDA adds warning about rare reaction to J&J COVID-19 vaccine
Brazil registered 1,556 more Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, raising its national fatality figure to 537,394, the health ministry said Wednesday.
As many as 57,736 new cases were detected during the period, taking the total caseload to 19,209,729, the ministry said.
Brazil currently has the world's second-highest pandemic death toll, after the United States, and the third-largest caseload, after the United States and India.
Read: Chattogram hospital to admit only Covid patients
India has been experiencing a fall in daily Covid-19 deaths for the past couple of weeks.
The country's Covid-19 tally surpassed 30,946,074 on Wednesday, with 38,792 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, said the federal health ministry.
Besides, as many as 624 deaths were reported on Wednesday that took the overall fatality toll to 411,408.
Situation in Bangladesh
Still in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis, Bangladesh lost 210 more lives to the deadly virus, while another 12,383 people contracted it in the past 24 hours till Wednesday morning.
Read: Tackling Covid spread is not Health Ministry’s job: Minister
The new numbers took the country’s death tally to 17,052 and the caseload to 10,59,538, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The fresh cases were detected after testing 42,490 samples during the period, bringing down the case positivity rate slightly to 29.14% from Tuesday’s 29.21%.
However, the case fatality rate remained unchanged at 1.61% during the 24-hour period.
The country saw a record number of 13,768 Covid cases on Monday and the highest-ever 230 deaths on Sunday.
So far, 897,412 people have recovered from the disease, taking the country’s recovery rate to 84.70%, which is on the decline compared to other indicators.
Biman to start Syedpur-Cox's Bazar flight
In view of increasing demand, national flag carrier Biman is going to start operating a flight on the Syedpur-Cox's Bazar-Syedpur route.
It will look to connect the districts of North Bengal with the tourism city of Cox's Bazar, boosting the tourism industry as well as trade between the regions, said a media release Wednesday.
Also read: Biman to operate domestic flights from July 15 to July 22
Biman Bangladesh Airlines would soon announce the flight schedule for the Syedpur-Cox's Bazar-Syedpur route.
Information in this regard would be available on their website.
Also read: Bangladesh eases lockdown restrictions ahead of Eid
President mourns the passing of Dr SA Farooq
President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the death of veteran Kishoreganj Awami League leader and heroic freedom fighter Dr SA Farooq.
The President prayed for God's mercy on the soul of the late Dr. SA Farooq and conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family.
Also read: President mourns death of Pranab Mukherjee
Dr SA Farooq passed away at the age of 95 on Wednesday evening, at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical Hospital.
He is survived by four sons and five daughters.
Also read: President mourns poet Manzur-I-Mawla’s death
Drives to continue to control dengue: DSCC mayor
The ongoing drives will continue in Dhaka South City Corporation areas to control dengue, said its mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Wednesday.
He said this while exchanging views with journalists after inaugurating an interim waste disposal center at Tantibazar intersection in Ward 36 of the city.
Also read: Involve building owners association to control mosquitoes: DSCC Mayor
"We are currently operating a total of nine mobile courts and have started getting results. The number of dengue patients is now declining," he said.
"Dengue situation is now under conrol although the number of dengue patients is a bit more this time due to heavy rainfall," the mayor said.
Also read: LGRD Ministry to lead joint efforts in twin fight against mosquitoes, dengue
Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh called on the people of Dhaka to offer Eid-ul-Azha prayer by maintaining all health guidelines.
Lockdown Breaches: 462 arrested on day 14
Police arrested 462 people and collected fines of Tk 15,79,500 from vehicles in the capital city for breaching the Covid lockdown scheduled to end on midnight Wednesday.
The arrestees were out on the streets violating restrictions, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam.
Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 1,32,700 as fines from 105 people.
Also read: Breaching Lockdown: 585 arrested, Tk 8.9 lakh realised in fines
During this time, the Traffic Division collected Tk 15,79,500 as penalties from 744 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
In the last 13 days of the strict lockdown, 8,540 people were arrested by police, 2,894 people were fined Tk 37,79,630 by mobile court and 7,395 vehicles were fined Tk 1,67,60,275 for flouting curbs.
Also read: Lockdown Breaches: 1077 arrested as more people defy restrictions
The 14-day lockdown imposed to contain an alarming surge in the Covid infections across the country will end on Wednesday midnight.
The lockdown will be relaxed during July 15-22 for Eid-ul-Azha festival, even though both Covid cases and fatalities continue to hit new records.
Guidelines issued for haats: Elderly, children not allowed among other directives
The elderlies and children will not be allowed to enter the cattle market ahead of Eid-ul Azha this year, according to guidelines provided by the government.
The Press Information Department (PID) issued an official notice on Wednesday regarding government guidelines to contain the spread of coronavirus in cattle markets.
According to these guidelines, market management should restrict or regulate the entrance of elderly people and children as they are more vulnerable to contagious disease.
Also read: Countrywide digital cattle market launched, gets good response
The markets should have separate entry and exit points alongside hand washing facilities, hand sanitisers and temperature measuring devices.
According to the notice, the markets cannot be set up on main roads or in places that create traffic congestion.
Also read: Cattle markets open in Dhaka amid low arrival, high prices
Mobile courts will take necessary legal actions against those not following the directives, warned the notice.
The notice urged to promote trading of sacrificial animals from the 241 digitals cattle markets (digital haats) set up across the nation.