Itel Vision 2 Plus Review: Know the Advantages and Disadvantages

Itel Vision 2 Plus is the enhanced version of the Itel Vision 2. It is the successor to the Vision series’s Itel Vision 1 Plus. Vision 2 Plus was first released in June 2021. Only about half a month later, Itel has brought a new variant of Vision 2 Plus in July 2021. So, what’s new in this new variant, and how much might it cost? This article presents details about the features of the Itel Vision 2 Plus.

Itel Vision 2 Plus Full Review

Design

The Itel Vision 2 Plus has an elegant design that goes beyond its budget range. With a 7-inch height, the phone will give a tab-like impression. Users might find the phone hard to operate with one hand.

The overall design of the phone is eye-catchy and satisfactory. The matte textured pattern finish on the back with a gradient effect won’t let users complain about the look. The subtle texture will give more of a hand feel than a visual feel. It makes a better grip possible over the giant phone and protects the back from taking any stain.

A dual-camera slot, a fingerprint sensor is placed on the rear side of the phone. The fingerprint sensor might feel like it is a bit higher than where it should have been, as reaching it with the finger takes effort. The right side of the phone gives room to a volume rocker and power button. The sim cardholder is at the left, while a loudspeaker and an audio jack are at the bottom. Clearly, users are going to get more than just the basics.

Display

It has given a 6.8-inch Full HD IPS display that supports up to 720p resolution. That is much more than that of other entry-level phones. Extra-large and better-quality screen is something rare in low-budget phones. To add to its robustness, the phone offers a 60Hz refresh rate in its display. That means the touch response will also be a good experience for the users.

What seems to be an issue is the low level of brightness in the display. It introduces two types of effects. The colors projected on the screen seem less standard, and the display goes completely dark in the sunshine. To operate then, the brightness level needs to be set to the highest. On the top right corner of the display is a teardrop camera housing. Also, the chin and bezel of the phone are comparatively thinner. So, these won’t bother users much while watching videos or playing games.

Front Camera

The primary camera panel comes with two cameras. The primary camera is a 13MP wide lens, and with it, there is a 0.3MP depth sensor which is claimed to be an AI sensor. The images processed by these lenses are average, and nothing beyond expectation will come out from Vision 2 Plus cameras.

There wasn’t enough dynamic ratio managed by the cameras. The delivered images seem to have a bit warm tone. The tone sometimes adds some extra value to the overall look of the images, while sometimes it ruins the ambiance. The contrast rises in the low light. Photos taken at night need extra care to get a considerable quality. Users can record videos at 30fps for a maximum 1080p resolution with the primary camera.

Secondary Camera

The front teardrop camera holder rooms a 5MP selfie camera. Considering the trend in other budget phones, Vision 2 Plus could easily introduce at least an 8MP lens at the front. The front camera simply enhances the brightness level of the picture. That produces clear photos; however, the picture gets smoother due to a lack of sharpness and details. Pictures taken in the portrait mode are of average quality and have nothing to add to their side.

Performance, Software, and UI

The phone comes with an octa-core Spreadtrum UniSoC chipset. This chipset is more likely to come in lower mid-budget phones. But Vision 2 Plus has made it in their cheap price phone. To accompany the processor, the PowerVR GE8322 GPU has been installed. The CPU is equipped with Unisoc SC9863A (28nm) chipset.

Combined with their strengths, the phone gives a great regular task processing performance and low-level gameplay. The newly released 3GB × 64GB variant performs a little better in multitasking and app browsing.

However, the overall gameplay is not good as the phone lags during running high-config games like PUBG and Call of Duty. Users shouldn’t play such games with this phone; otherwise, it will put pressure on the processor.

When it comes to the skin, even the later release of Vision 2 Plus has come with the Android 10 base version. The best choice would be the Android 11 as it would smoothen some tasks and give a better experience.

Battery and Charging

Now comes another strong point of Vision 2 Plus. It presents a 5000 mAh battery that can keep the phone alive for even two days at a stretch for a regular user. Heavy users can run the phone for one day at least with long hours of video watching and gaming.

But it breaks hearts to see that still now a phone offers a 5W charger. It’s like giving a bucket to fill up an empty ocean with water. A 15W battery would be the most optimal here. The charger needs around 6 to 7 hours to charge the battery to the fullest.

Official Price of Itel Vision 2 Plus Smartphone in Bangladesh

When the first Vision 2 Plus got released, many left sighs of despair as the phone didn’t bring a 3GB variant. Well, the despair has been mitigated so far. The basic 2GB × 32GB version still costs BDT 8,990, when the 3GB × 64GB version is priced BDT 9,990. The price is subjected to change depending upon the company’s decisions.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Teenage school girl gang raped in Panchagarh: Prime accused held

Police have arrested a 26-year-old married man in a case over gang rape of a teenage school girl and were looking for four other accomplices in the grisly assault.

The gang of five, led by prime accused Jewel Rana, violated the ninth grader at Moumari Lohagara village in Debiganj upazila on Saturday, according to the case.

The rape case was filed by the girl’s mother against the five with Panchagarh Police Station on Sunday.

The four other accused are Nuru, 22, son of Shaheb Ali of Lohagara village, Minna, 22, son of Shamsul Haque, Rimon, 23, son of Osman Ali, Nishat, 20, son of Rezaul Karim.

The lone arrestee Jewel was sent to jail, police said.

The rape survivor gave a statement before the court. A medical examination was also done on her.

According to the complaint, Jewel Rana, son of Khoka Mia of Bandar thana developed an affair with the girl despite being married.

On Saturday, Jewel took the girl to an abandoned house of one of his friends Nishat where she raped her.

Jewel’s friend Munna secretly took the video of the incident. Later, Munna, Nuru, Rimon and Nishat also violated the protesting girl in turns threatening to upload the video footage to the social networking site and internet.

On return home, the girl revealed the assault to her mother who later lodged a complaint accusing the five of raping her daughter.

Bazlur Rashid, inspector of Debiganj Police Station, said the complaint lodged by the victim’s mother turned into a case.

Sexual assaults on women continue unabated in Bangladesh, despite the government introducing death penalty for rapes last year.

A police headquarters report, released recently, said that 26,695 rape cases were filed across the country in the past five years.

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) data shows that 1,018 children were raped last year alone, but only 683 police cases had been filed. Also, 116 survivors were six years old or below.

Overall, 1,627 rape cases were reported last year and 53 of the women were killed by the perpetrators while 14 took their own lives, as per the data.

However, ASK’s data is just the tip of the iceberg, according to aid agencies, who report that most women are too afraid to report rape.

In October 2020, the country was rocked by protests after a woman was allegedly attacked and raped in Noakhali.

In November last year, Bangladesh introduced capital punishment for rape, following days of protests against sexual violence against women in several cities across the country.

But human rights organisations say the move will not solve the country’s rape crisis, as the survivors of the heinous crime are often stigmatised in the society.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Realme brings magnetic wireless charging MagDart

Realme launched the wireless charging solution for Android, MagDart, in the global market through a Magnetic Innovation Event held on Tuesday.

The solution includes the fastest 50W magnetic wireless charger, realme Flash, the first Android smartphone that supports magnetic wireless charging, and several other magnetic charging accessories.

Realme’s first concept phone, realme Flash, is equipped with a 4500mAh battery. With the help of its 50W of MagDart wireless charging, the battery can be charged from 0 to 20% in just 5 minutes and to 100% in just 54 minutes, said a media release.

The 50W MagDart charger features an active air-cooling system to keep temperature at an optimum level and maintain the charging power at a high level for a longer time. Meanwhile, the 15W MagDart Charger is 3.9mm, 26.4% thinner than the MagSafe Charger, but it is capable of reducing heat generation and providing longer high power charging hours.

The solution comes with MagDart Power Bank and a special charging base as well. The two can be paired together to become a vertical charging station. If one needs to charge on the go, the power bank can be pulled up and attached to the smartphone.

Apart from these, there are other MagDart accessories like- MagDart Beauty Light which is designed for portrait photography and MagDart wallet that can be turned into a kickstand to hold the phone up when watching movies or making video calls.

Besides realme GT MagDart Charging Case can enable realme GT compatible with MagDart.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

CPD finds 5.3 per cent inflation rate unrealistic as living cost goes up

The 5.3 per cent inflation target, set by Bangladesh Bank’s new monetary policy, is not realist as it has been estimated on the basis of a consumption basket developed 16 years ago since when the cost of living has jumped much higher.

This observation was made by leading think-tank Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at a virtual media briefing on the newly announced monetary policy statement (MPS) on Tuesday.

CPD said that the consumption basket used for calculating overall general inflation was created in 2005 and so it does not reflect the current reality and actual prices in the market.

“The poor and low income groups are increasingly finding it difficult to meet their requirements in the face of dual blows from—erosion in purchasing and income”, said Dr Fahmida Khatun, executive director of CPD in the presentation on the MPS 2021-22.

She said that data shows that the 12-month average food and non-food inflation rates have fluctuated in a cyclical pattern over the past several years.

“So, the inflation rate has lost its relevance to the real world”, she said, adding that the consumer price index (CPI) of medical care and health expenses increased from 156.1 in July 2012 to 251.9 in June 2021.

She noted that the inflation rate of medical care and health expenses increased from 0.18% in April 2020 to 2.42% in May 2020, due to the rise in COVID-19 cases.

Dr Fahmida also said the share of transport in actual consumption expenditure was 15% higher than the weight in CPI.

CPD distinguished fellow Prof Dr Mustafizur Rahman, director research Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem and senior research fellow Towfiqul Islam Khan also spoke on the occasion.

The CPD also said that the target for private sector credit growth at 14.8% is unlikely to be achieved as “it is very high compared to the trend in the recent past”.

Indeed credit to the private sector has been largely on a declining trend since Mar 2018 – and is below 10% since November 2019.

The Bangladesh Bank on July 29 announced the MPS 2021-22 setting up its different monetary targets with continuing its ongoing expansionary monetary policy amid a cautious stance for the current fiscal year (FY) to help boost recovery of the pandemic-hit economy.

The CPD said the poor and low income group people should be provided with direct cash support to create demands in order to make the economic recovery from the shock of the Covid-19.

It also suggested easing the conditions for the non-formal sector to ensure bank loans under the stimulus package, saying that the big businesses are taking the full advantage of the government’s financial support while micro and small businesses are far behind in the race.

About the lower private investment inflow, Dr Mustafizur said setting up a special economic zone alone cannot play an effective role to attract private investment.

“There are so many factors like ease of doing business, regulatory support, supportive infrastructure, one-stop service and also skilled manpower which need to be addressed to attract private investment”, he said.

Responding to a question on the remittance management, he said the government can issue bonds in foreign currency for mega infrastructure for which it takes foreign loans.

“That requirement could be met with these bonds ensuring the investment is safe and return is secured”, he added.

About excess bank liquidity of about Tk 2.5 lakh crore, Dr Golam Moazzem said the Bangladesh Bank can take measures through bringing change in different mechanisms of cash reserve ratio CRR and statutory liquidity ratio (SLR).

He said a joint monitoring of Bangladesh Bank and Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) is essential to ensure that the money provided by the government’s stimulus package is not invested in stock market.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Khulna division logs 31 Covid deaths in 24 hours

Khulna division has logged 31 new Covid-related deaths in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, as the Delta variant of the deadly coronavirus continues to wreak havoc across the country.

According to the health director’s office, eight people died in Khulna, seven each in Jashore and Kushtia, four in Jhenaidah, three in Meherpur and one each in Chuadanga and Magura districts.

The total death toll in the division has now reached 2,485, officials said.

Besides, some 946 new Covid infections have been detected in 10 districts of the division in the past 24 hours, pushing up the total cases to 96,131.

Earlier, 26 people died of Covid-19 in the division on Friday, while 1,373 people were found infected with the virus.

In Khulna division, the first case of Covid-19 was detected in Chuadanga on March 19, 2020.

So far, 72,872 people have been recovered from Covid in the division.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Global Covid cases near 199 million

The overall number of global Covid cases is fast approaching the 199-million mark as different countries continue their battle against the deadlier Delta variant of coronavirus amid slow vaccination rate.

According to US-based Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 198,891,340 while the death toll from the virus reached 4,235,449 on Tuesday morning.

So far, 4,146,057,456 vaccine doses have been administered across the globe.

The US, which is the world’s worst-hit country in terms of both cases and deaths, has so far logged 35,131,393 cases. Besides, 613,679 people have lost their lives in the US to date, as per the JHU data.

According to AP, the US on Monday finally reached President Joe Biden’s goal of getting at least one Covid-19 shot into 70% of American adults — a month late and amid a fierce surge by the Delta variant that is swamping hospitals and leading to new mask rules and mandatory vaccinations around the country.

Brazil recorded 389 more Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, raising its national death toll to 557,223, the health ministry said on Monday.

Meanwhile, the total caseload rose to 19,953,501 after 15,143 new cases were detected.

India’s Covid-19 tally rose to 31,695,958 on Monday as 40,134 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry’s latest data.

Besides, as many as 422 deaths due to the pandemic have been reported since Sunday morning, taking the total death toll to 424,773.

Although the situation in Europe is improving, globally, it is worsening as the Delta variant of Covid-19 has now been detected in 124 territories worldwide, says the World Health Organization (WHO).

Situation in Bangladesh

The scale of the Covid-19 pandemic in Bangladesh looks to be overwhelming as the country added 246 fatalities to its national tally on Monday, reporting over 200 single-day fatalities for the last nine days.

The rapid rise in cases and fatalities, driven by the Delta variant, shows the worst days of the pandemic are far from over here since the pace of hospitalisation across the country remains relentless.

The Covid-19 infections are at their peak now, with 14,241 new cases reported on an average each day.

Bangladesh recorded 15,989 new cases on Monday after testing 53,462 samples, up from 13,862 logged on July 30.

The country reported the highest daily Covid-19 fatality number – 258 – on July 27 and 16,230 infections the next day.

There have been 1,280,317 infections and 21,262 coronavirus-related deaths here since the pandemic began, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.

Meanwhile, the daily test positivity rate fell to 29.91% from Sunday’s 29.97%, while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a 5% or below rate.

However, the recovery rate rose to 86.60%, and the case fatality remained unchanged at 1.65% compared to the same period.

Amid growing concerns about the highly infectious Delta variant, Dhaka division reported the highest 76 deaths, Chattogram 64, Khulna 30, Rajshahi 22, Barishal 16, Sylhet and Rangpur 14 each, and Mymensingh 10.

So far, Bangladesh has administered at least 13,459,811 doses of Covid vaccines – enough to have vaccinated around 4% of the country’s population, assuming every person needs two doses.

Logging highest 6,182 deaths and 336,226 new cases, July has become the most fatal month since the reporting of first Covid cases in the country in March 2020.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s Covid nightmare: 235 more die, 15,776 infected

Amid the merciless onslaught of Covid-19 in Bangladesh, the country recorded 236 more deaths linked to the virus in 24 hours till Tuesday morning.

According to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 15,776 more people came out positive with the virus during the period after the test of 55,284 samples.

The fresh numbers pushed the country’s death tally to 21,397 today with the caseload mounting to 1,296,093.

Meanwhile, the daily test positivity rate fell to 28.58 % from Monday’s 29.91%, while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a 5% or below rate.

The country has been seeing over 14,300 cases and 230 deaths every day on average for the last seven days.

The recovery rate, however, rose to 86.80%, and the case fatality remained unchanged at 1.65% compared to the same period, said the DGHS.

Amid the growing concerns about the highly infectious Delta variant, Dhaka division reported the highest 73 deaths, Chattogram 65, Khulna 32, Rajshahi 21, Sylhet, Rangpur and Mymensingh each 12 and Barishal eight deaths.

Of today’s deceased, 140 were male and 95 were female.

Hiring hospitals

The government is going to rent hotels for providing treatment to Covid patients with mild complications as hospitals are under an unprecedented crisis with huge patients, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Tuesday.

“Already 90 percent of the seats in hospitals have been packed. And 95% ICU beds are also occupied. We’re preparing a field hospital at Bangabandhu Medical University where we can immediately arrange 500-600 beds,” he said.

Bangladesh’s Covid nightmare: 235 more die, 15,776 infected

The minister said, “Everyone infected with corona needs not to be hospitalised. So, we’re thinking of renting hotels for dealing with the patients who’ve mild complications. We’ll have doctors, nurses, medicines, and some oxygen in those hotels.”

He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting at the Secretariat with Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque in the chair.

Maleque said they have started looking for hotels as they will no longer be able to accommodate the growing number of patients in hospitals. “If we can give treatment to the Covid patients with mild infections at hotels, they’ll be able to go back home after recovery from there, and it will help reduce the pressure on the hospitals. So, we’ve taken this step.”

Lockdown extended

The government has extended the current lockdown till August 10 amid a surge in the Delta variant of Covid-19 across the country.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque disclosed the decision of the government while talking to reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting on Tuesday.

He said shops, factories and offices will be reopened from August 11 while public transport will be allowed to ply roads by rotation on a limited scale once the lockdown is over.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque said: “Today’s decision is a provisional one as we’ll take another decision considering the situation.”

The government is set to launch a mass vaccination drive at the village level from 14,000 vaccine centres from August 7 as one crore people will be vaccinated in the next one week, he said.

The government has made vaccination mandatory for people’s movement from August 11 and a decision has been taken to provide punitive action against those who will fail to get Covid shots in time, Mozammel said.

If anyone is found moving without vaccination, then it will be considered as an offence, and the government can take action after issuing an ordinance, Mozammel added.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has taken preparations to bring one crore people under the vaccination programme in seven days and if anyone above 18 found roaming without taking jab then he/she may face a penalty.

Bangladesh has been under a lockdown since July 23 last, barring people from leaving their homes except for essential reasons and it is set to expire on August 5.

On July 30, the government allowed industry owners to reopen all export-oriented factories from 1 August amid the nationwide lockdown.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

ASI killed in Cumilla road crash

A police officer was killed in a road crash Tuesday afternoon at Devpur area of Cumilla-Sylhet highway as two motorcycles collided.

The deceased was identified as Raki Chandra Singh, an assistant sub-Inspector of Nabinagar police station in Brahmanbaria.

Police citing the eyewitnesses said Raki Chandra Singh was on his way to Cumilla Cantonment. At Devpur area of the Cumilla-Sylhet highway, while he was trying to overtake a vehicle he collided head-on with another motorbike coming from the opposite direction.

After the accident both the bikers fell on the road being seriously injured. Locals rushed them to Mainamati Medical College Hospital.

Later in a critical condition, assistant sub-Inspector Raki was taken to Cumilla Medical College Hospital where the on-duty doctor declared him dead.

Meanwhile, the critically injured other biker Rafi Ullah was sent to Dhaka for advanced treatment after initial treatment.

Assistant Sub-Inspector of Highway Police Abdur Rashid confirmed the death of assistant sub-Inspector Raki and said the motorbikes were recovered from the spot.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh extends lockdown again as Delta variant plays havoc

The government has extended the current lockdown till August 10 amid a surge in the Delta variant of Covid-19 across the country.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque disclosed the decision of the government while talking to reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting on Tuesday.

He said shops, factories and offices will be reopened from August 11 while public transport will be allowed to ply roads by rotation on a limited scale once the lockdown is over.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam were present at the virtual meeting along with other ministers and state ministers.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque said: “Today’s decision is a provisional one as we’ll take another decision considering the situation.”

The government is set to launch a mass vaccination drive at the village level from 14,000 vaccine centres from August 7 as one crore people will be vaccinated in the next one week, he said.

The minister said the vaccine campaign will be launched simultaneously with a focus on senior people as they face a greater risk of fatalities.

He urged workers and helpers of bus drivers to get their Covid jabs as no one will be allowed to join work without vaccinations. “Once vaccinated, the certificates will be available on the website,” he said.

Regarding cross-checking, he said it will be possible to check whether one took the jab or not, and it can be scrutinised on 7-9 August.

Bangladesh extends lockdown again as Delta variant plays havoc

The government has made vaccination mandatory for people’s movement from August 11 and a decision has been taken to provide punitive action against those who will fail to get Covid shots in time, Mozammel said.

If anyone is found moving without vaccination, then it will be considered as an offence, and the government can take action after issuing an ordinance, Mozammel added.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has taken preparations to bring one crore people under the vaccination programme in seven days and if anyone above 18 found roaming without taking jab then he/she may face a penalty.

Bangladesh has been under a lockdown since July 23 last, barring people from leaving their homes except for essential reasons and it is set to expire on August 5.

On July 30, the government allowed industry owners to reopen all export-oriented factories from 1 August amid the nationwide lockdown.

Covid situation in Bangladesh

The scale of Covid-19 pandemic in Bangladesh looks to be overwhelming as the country added 246 fatalities to its national tally on Monday, reporting over 200 single-day fatalities for the last nine days.

The rapid rise in cases and fatalities, driven by the Delta variant, shows the worst days of the pandemic are far from over here since the pace of hospitalization across the country remains relentless.

The Covid-19 infections are at their peak now, with 14,241 new cases reported on average each day.

Bangladesh recorded 15,989 new cases on Monday after testing 53,462 samples, up from 13,862 logged on July 30.

There have been 1,280,317 infections and 21,262 coronavirus-related deaths here since the pandemic began, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.

So far, Bangladesh has administered at least 13,459,811 doses of Covid vaccines – enough to have vaccinated around 4% of the country’s population, assuming every person needs two doses

Source: United News of Bangladesh

3 new dengue patients admitted to Khulna hospital

Adding to the miseries of its residents, Bangladesh’s Covid hotspot Khulna saw three new dengue hospitalisation cases in the past 24 hours.

A dengue outbreak might totally cause the fragile healthcare system of the district to collapse, which is already battered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The patients have been identified as Sajib, 32, Atish, 4, and Lincon Ghosh, 10. All of them were admitted to Khulna Medical College and Hospital on Monday.

Director Md Rabiul Islam, however, told UNB that the dengue situation is well under control in the district. “We cannot say there is a dengue outbreak in Khulna. However, we are prepared for any situation,” he said.

“We have decided to designate two wards in the hospital for dengue patients,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Mehedi Newaz of Khulna Medical College and Hospital said that the hospital needs self-separator machines to ensure platelet distribution in the treatment of dengue patients.

“Platelets can be separated from the blood of healthy people and given to dengue-infected people if necessary,” he added.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Looking for hotels for Covid patients as hospitals struggle: Minister

The government is going to rent hotels for providing treatment to Covid patients with mild complications as hospitals are under an unprecedented crisis with huge patients, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Tuesday.

“Already 90 percent of the seats in hospitals have been packed. And 95% ICU beds are also occupied. We’re preparing a field hospital at Bangabandhu Medical University where we can immediately arrange 500-600 beds,” he said.

The minister said, “Everyone infected with corona needs not to be hospitalised. So, we’re thinking of renting hotels for dealing with the patients who’ve mild complications. We’ll have doctors, nurses, medicines, and some oxygen in those hotels.”

He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting at the Secretariat with Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque in the chair.

Maleque said they have started looking for hotels as they will no longer be able to accommodate the growing number of patients in hospitals. “If we can give treatment to the Covid patients with mild infections at hotels, they’ll be able to go back home after recovery from there, and it will help reduce the pressure on the hospitals. So, we’ve taken this step.”

Looking for hotels for Covid patients as hospitals struggle: Minister

Health Minister Zahid Maleque. File photo

About the mass vaccination drive scheduled to begin on August 7 across the country, he said elderly people will be vaccinated in rural areas on a priority basis. “We’ll give priority to those who’re above 50 as fatality rate in this group of people is now 80 to 90 percent.”

The minister said people will be able to receive the vaccine by showing their NID (National Identity) cards. “Those who don’t have NID will be vaccinated under special arrangements.”

He said they have now around 1.25 crore doses of vaccines in their hands while another one crore vaccine doses will reach the country this month. “That means the vaccination programme will continue.”

Maleque said their meeting emphasised producing vaccines locally. “We’ve already discussed it with Chinese Sinopharm and a Bangladeshi company. The process of producing the vaccine has come a long way. We’ve also got permission from the law ministry.”

Besides, he said, the meeting focused on masking up and maintaining social distancing rules to slow down virus transmission. “If we want to implement and enforce it properly, we need to give police such power so that they can punish and fine those who don’t wear masks. An ordinance is required for it. This has been discussed and we may go for that.”

The minister hinted that the government may ease the ongoing lockdown gradually. “Garment factories have already been reopened and other industries and shops will be reopened gradually. Transport services will also resume. You’ll get the detailed instructions in this regard later.”

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Robi’s digital employee healthcare platform becomes role-model for Axiata

Robi’s innovative digital solution to keep a tab on well-being of its employees and their family members during the Covid-19 pandemic has been recognized as a role model by Axiata group.

Robi’s digital leadership has inspired a number of Axiata’s operating companies spread over different countries to adopt similar solutions.

In Robi’s in-house digital healthcare platform employees can submit the health status of themselves and their family members. They can also hit the emergency button in need of immediate support, responding to which Robi’s HR team contacts them instantly. After receiving feedback from the healthcare platform, the HR team gets in touch with the help seeking employee.

The reports from the healthcare platform and the one-on-one check-ins are later summarized into a health dashboard for discussing frequently in the management meetings to ensure employees and their family’s sound health.

Source: United News of Bangladesh