Month: November 2021

A 30-year-old man, who was shot inside a polling centre in Narsingdi’s Raipura, died Sunday night.

Farid Mia was hit by bullets inside a primary school in Uttar Bakharnagarof Raipura.

The man from Uttar Bakharnagar was declared dead at 9:15pm after being rushed to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).

Shah Alam, the brother-in-law of the deceased, said: “Farid was critically injured as the supporters of two rival member candidates opened fire at each other inside the school. He was declared dead after being rushed to DMCH.”

Farid Mia was a rickshaw puller. He is the son of late Abdul Majid Miah of Uttar Bakhar Nagar. He left behind two sons and one daughter and a wife.

ASI Abdul Khan, acting in-charge of the police camp at DMCH confirmed the matter and said the body has been kept at DMCH morgue for autopsy. The matter has been reported to the concerned police station.

“A bullet-hit man was brought to DMCH from Narsingdi and was declared dead upon arrival. The concerned police station has been informed of the incident,” said Abdul Khan.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh logged two more Covid-related deaths along with 227 fresh cases in 24 hours till Monday morning.

With the latest cases, the daily-case positivity rate rose to 1.34 per cent from Sunday’s 1.03 per cent, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

With the fresh numbers, the total fatalities rose to 27,980 while the caseload mounted to 15,76,011.

Both the latest deceased were men, aged between 61-80, and were reported from the Dhaka division.

Of the 25 deaths recorded from November 22 to November, 28, 12 per cent received Covid vaccines while 88 per cent did not, the DGHS mentioned.

The death rates in Covid-19 patients with comorbidities increased to 0.4 per cent this week compared to the previous one. Comorbidity means the simultaneous presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions in a patient.

However, the mortality rate remained static at 1.78 per cent.

The fresh cases were detected after testing 16,891 samples, the DGHS added.

Besides, the recovery rate remained unchanged at 97.75 per cent with the recovery of 280 more patients during the 24-hour period.

On November 20, Bangladesh logged this year’s first zero Covid-linked death with 178 cases.

So far, 3,64,34,738 people have fully been vaccinated in the country while 5,94,08,254 received the first dose as of Sunday, according to the DGHS.

However, public health experts fear a slow pace of vaccination, waning vaccine immunity, disregard for Covid safety protocols, reopening of schools and increased travel may set the stage for another Covid wave in Bangladesh — a trend many European countries are witnessing now.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

A man was crushed to death under a train at Nakhalpara in Tejgaon area of the capital on Monday.

The deceased was identified as Mohram Ali, 50, a vegetable trader and son of Ibrahim Ali of Raipura upazila in Narsingdi district.

Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) police outpost, said Mohram was injured when a train hit him in the morning.

Later, he was taken to DMCH where he succumbed to his injuries around 11 am.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

A man who was accused in a case filed over killing an elephant was ironically killed by an elephant attack at Chokoria upazila in Cox’s Bazar on Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Jane Alam, 36, accused in the case filed over killing an elephant by electrocution at Harbang area in the upazila on November 13.

Chattogram South Forest Department’s regional forest officer Md Shafiqul Islam said Jane Alam was one of the five accused in the case for killing a 15 years old elephant just two weeks ago.

On Saturday evening Jane Alam was attacked by a herd of elephants when he went to the forest area of Harbang and died on the spot, said the forest officer.

In the month of November, at least seven elephants were reportedly killed by electrocution and shooting in Sherpur, Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar, according to Forest Department.

Of the three killed in Cox’s Bazar one was shot dead while two others were electrocuted.

Cox’s Bazar Forest and Environment Conservation Council President Deepak Sharma Dipu suspected losing three of their mates in the region within such a short period might have affected the other elephants and they killed Jane Alam while roaming anxiously.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Omicron, a new type of corona has been identified in South Africa, which is capable of repeated mutation. Due to its structure, it is feared that the new Covid-19 infection may spread in the world. Therefore, concerns have spread in different countries of the world. Restrictions and travel bans are being issued. Further, the World Health Organization (WHO) and scientists around the world have already expressed concern about a new type of coronavirus, Omicron. Here is what we know about Omicron.

What is Omicron?

Omicron is a new variant of Covid-19. Initially, the scientific name of this new Covid-19 variant was B.1.1.529. But it got its name Omicron on November 26. Omicron has been named after the Greek alphabet like alpha and delta. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this type of virus is very worrying, as it has been reported to cause repeated genetic mutations. If you have previously been diagnosed with Corona or are experiencing symptoms that may indicate an infection this could mean re-infection for your concern!

Where was Omicron first identified?

According to the scientific journal Nature, this Covid-19 variant was first detected in Botswana. Samples collected in Botswana found Omicron on November 11. It was then identified in South Africa after that it was also identified in Hong Kong. However, the information was given by the country soon after the variant was identified in South Africa. In the past two weeks, coronavirus infections are on the rise in Gauteng province of South Africa due to the new strain. Scientists have been studying the adaptive genetic variation in this species, and they found some interesting results. It seems that it came from a person with reduced immunity such as an untreated HIV / AIDS patient.

Why are scientists so worried?

This type of spike protein has more than 30 mutations, which is more than double that of the highly contagious delta variant. Viruses basically use the spike protein to get into our cells. Scientists and doctors have raised concerns that because of this dramatic change in the virus, currently used vaccines may not be able to cope. Based on genetic mutations, scientists predict that Omicron will cause more infections, and it may even affect people with strong immune systems.

Is Omicron more contagious than other variants?

Although the extent of the infection is not clear, what is known about the type is very worrying, and the research is ongoing. However, the outbreaks appear to be exacerbated in South Africa. In South Africa, where 50 new daily cases were found in every 100,000, on November 20, the number has increased to 592%. And more than 80% of infections were found in the country’s Gauteng province. Preliminary analysis shows that this variation of Covid-19 is rapidly emerging as the dominant type. An early warning has become urgent.

Currently, it is unknown if covid symptoms are going to be changed due to this new variant. Scientists from all around the world are watching this situation closely. It may take some time before we know for sure what caused it and how frightening it is. But until then, there is no strong cause at all to worry about just yet.

However, a closer look at this variant reveals a few things. It is clear that part of the virus that comes in contact with the human body can change the receptor-binding domain ten times. On the other hand, the Delta variant can change only twice.

Will the existing vaccine work against Omicron?

Scientists are worried about new genetic modifications of Omicron. However, researchers predict that these mutations could bypass the immune system. Hence, it would make them extremely effective at spreading covid across the population without being detected by antibodies or any other defense mechanism so far discovered in humans. Since we are now aware that the rate of re-infection, in reality, is higher than other variations, it suggests there may be a change in human immune systems.

Scientists have indicated that the coronavirus vaccines currently available may not provide adequate protection against a new variant. However, people at risk for infection should receive their vaccine immediately in order to reduce transmission rates and severity of illness. But scientists don’t know yet how this strain will be different from others already circulating. Hence, we have to wait until any concrete information is published. Till then, proper precautions are mandatory.

After getting the above-mentioned information, some questions have come up about the Omicron variant. These include how quickly can the new variant of COVID-19 spread. Another burning question is that, can the vaccination-induced immune system prevent this Omicron variant? What to do to prevent Omicron from creating infection inside the human body?

Is there any risk of a worldwide outbreak?

There has been an increase in the number of infections around South Africa, Botswana, and Hong Kong. Further, one such case was reported from Israel last Thursday, who returned recently; two more people are suspected to be infected as well, with the potential for spreading throughout the country. Belgium and the UK also found affected people. But, so far, this variant has spread at the group level in South Africa mostly. All these shreds of evidence support that Omicron is an outbreak if it is not controlled.

This new variant has already caused a stir around the world; The European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and other countries have imposed border restrictions.

How is Omicron different from other variants?

The variant has changed the gene pattern much more often than the other variants found so far; One group of scientists described it as “terrible,” and another said they had never seen a worse variant. Some of the mutations found in B.1.1.529 have been seen in other variants before. As a result of these mutations, the new COVID-19 variant Omicron is expected to become infected quickly. But there are other mutations in the new variant that may prevent the body’s antibodies from detecting the virus, and the vaccine will be relatively less effective, scientists say.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Two people were injured after a wall in front of the canteen counter at Kabi Jasimuddin Hall of Dhaka University suddenly collapsed on Monday.

The incident occurred around 1:30 pm when the students were having lunch, said Mobarak Hossain the canteen manager.

Both the injured were outsiders, confirmed the hall authority.

A canteen boy told UNB: “It was the peak time and we were serving meals to students when the tiny wall in front of the canteen counter collapsed.”

Some resident students of the hall said, “As the wall was small in size and it fell back no major casualties occurred but the scene could’ve been different if it collapsed on opposite side.”

We visited the canteen along with an engineer immediately after the accident said Professor Dr. Mohammad Abdur Rashid, provost of Kabi Jasimuddin Hall.

A five-member probe committee led by Professor Mohammad Jahirul Islam was formed to investigate the incident, he said.

The committee was asked to submit a report within three working days, said Dr. Rashid.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The right people are not being placed in the right place at the right time while formulating public health policies and the grassroots voices are also missing in the process, a study revealed Monday.

The Bangladesh Health Watch (BHW), a multi-stakeholder civil society platform, conducted the research in association with the James P Grant School of Public Health of Brac University.

Dr Md Atiqul Haque of the public health and informatics department of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and his team carried out the study on the inventory of health policy and policy forums.

This study aimed to explore the participation of citizens and policy forums in health policy processes.

The findings were disclosed at a roundtable in the capital.The session was chaired by Dr Zakir Hossain, former director of primary health care and disease control at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and working group member of the BHW.

BSMMU Vice-Chancellor Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed attended the programme as chief guest. Dr Yasmin H Ahmed, an advisor to the BHW, moderated it.

Dr Shah Monir Hossain, former director-general of the DGHS, Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury, professor and head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research of the National Heart Foundation, were present as panellists.

Lead researcher Dr Atiqul presented the overall research process and study findings. His team developed a comprehensive inventory of policies formulated in the health sector of Bangladesh since the country’s independence.

Dr Zakir said, “We need to develop a framework for public health. It should be designed by public health experts. There needs to be collaboration between public health experts and civil society as well.”

Dr Sharfuddin said, “We need to set up an institute like the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre as there was no such institute for the health practitioners and public health experts. Also, we need to enhance the learning capacity of these people.”

The panellists said health practitioners’ involvement is necessary in the policymaking process.

Dr Shohel said: “The beneficiaries’ voices have been neglected and thus the civil society needs to play a crucial role. The citizens’ voice needs to be raised and their claims should reach the policymakers.”

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Three people were killed in firing reportedly by members of a law enforcement agency during a clash over elections at Khangaon union in Pirganj upazila of Thakurgaon district on Sunday night and early Monday.

Jahangir Hossain, Superintendent of Police of Thakurgaon, said, “As officials of the local administration were confined to a polling centre, a BGB team went there to rescue them. They had to open fire at one point of time to bring the situation under control. The three might have died in BGB firing. However, we need further investigation to be sure about it.”

Jahangir Alam, officer-in-charge of Pirganj Police Station, said one of the three died on the spot while two others succumbed to their wounds at Sadar Hospital.

Two of the injured are undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital and Thakurgaon Adhunik Sadar Hospital.

The deceased were identified as Aditya, 18, Mojaharul Islam, 35, and Hossain, 26.

Police said Nuruzzaman, an independent candidate, and his supporters confined the officials of the administration, including the presiding officer, to Ghidob Primary School when the vote count ended around 8pm.

When Haripur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Abdul Karim reached the spot along with a BGB team, the candidate’s supporters attacked them and vandalized the vehicle.

After nearly two hours, BGB men opened fire to bring the situation under control, leaving one dead on spot and four others injured, said the OC.

The injured were sent to Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital where two others succumbed to their injuries.

With the death toll in Thakurgaon, at least eight people were killed and over 100 others injured as the 3rd phase of union parishad (UP) elections ended on Sunday afternoon amid sporadic violence and irregularities.

Violence was reported from different parts of the country, including Narsingdi, Brahmanbaria, Lakshmipur, Jashore and Khulna.

The first and second phases of UP elections were marred by violence and irregularities.

At least six people were killed and over 100 others injured in the 2nd phase of the Union Parishad (UP) elections on November 11.

Violence was reported from different parts of the country, including Narsingdi, Cox’s Bazar, Cumilla and Chattogram.

Three people were killed and a number of people were injured in the first phase of union parishad election that concluded with reports of sporadic violence and clashes on September 20.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Police on Sunday night arrested two more accused in the murder case of Cumilla ward councillor Syed Mohammad Sohel.

The arrestees are Jishan Mia, age unknown, and Md Rabby Islam Antu Prakash,19, said Md Sohan Sarkar, additional superintendent of Cumilla sadar circle police.

A special team of police arrested accused Jishan from Pachthubi area under the Kotwali police station around 11pm Sunday, Sohan Sarkar said.

Later, Antu, an accused found in the case investigation, was arrested from Debidwar police station around 11:45 pm, said the Superintendent of police.

So far, a total of five people have been arrested in connection with this murder.

Earlier on Saturday Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members arrested Md Ashikur Rahman Rocky and Md Alam Mia, and on Wednesday arrested another accused Sumon in connection with the murder.

Police on Sunday sought seven-day in remand for each arrestee producing them before court but the appeal got rejected, said Md Sohan Sarkar.

Sohel, Cumilla City Corporation (CCC) councillor of Ward-17, and one of his aides were shot dead while four others sustained injuries when gunmen opened fire at his office in the Pathuariapara area on Monday.

Based on his younger brother Syed Rumon’s complaint, as many as 21 people, some 10 of them unidentified, were booked by the Kotwali police.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The overall number of Covid cases has surpassed 261 million amid concern after detection of new variant of coronavirus Omicron in some countries.

According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 261,434,076 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,199,349 on Monday morning.

The US has recorded 48,229,210 cases to date and more than 776,639 people have died so far from the virus in the country, as per the university data.

Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since January, has registered 22,080,906, cases so far, while its Covid death toll rose to 614,278.

India’s COVID-19 tally rose to 34,572,523 on Sunday, as 8,774 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry’s latest data.

Besides, as many as 621 deaths due to the pandemic since Saturday morning took the total death toll to 468,554.

Russia registered 33,548 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 9,570,373, the official monitoring and response center said Sunday. The nationwide death toll grew by 1,224 to 272,755, while the number of recoveries increased by 30,646 to 8,268,111.

Meanwhile, World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday that it’s not yet clear whether Omicron is more easily spread from person to person compared to other variants, even though the number of people testing positive has risen in South Africa where this variant was involved.

It’s also not yet clear whether Omicron causes more severe disease, but preliminary data suggests that there are increasing rates of hospitalization in South Africa, which however may be due to increasing overall numbers of people becoming infected, reports Xinhua.

WHO classified on Friday the latest variant B.1.1.529 of SARS-CoV-2 virus, now with the name Omicron, as a ‘Variant of Concern’ (VOC).

Situation in Bangladesh

Bangladesh reported three more Covid-linked deaths along with 205 fresh cases in 24 hours till Sunday morning.

With the latest cases, the daily-case positivity rate declined to 1.03 per cent from Saturday’s 1.15 per cent, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

With the fresh numbers, the total fatalities rose to 27,978 while the caseload mounted to 15,75,784.

Among the deceased, one was a woman and two men. Two of the deceased were from Dhaka division while the remaining one from Chattogram division.

However, the mortality rate remained static at 1.78 per cent.

The fresh cases were detected after testing 19,525 samples, the DGHS added.

Besides, the recovery rate increased to 97.75 per cent with the recovery of 299 more patients during the 24-hour period.

On November 20, Bangladesh logged this year’s first zero Covid-linked deaths with 178 cases.

So far, 3,61,88,968 people have fully been vaccinated in the country while 5,88,72,031 received the first dose as of Saturday, according to the DGHS.

However, Public health experts fear a slow pace of vaccination, waning vaccine immunity, sheer disregard for Covid safety protocols, reopening of schools and increased travel may set the stage for another Covid wave in Bangladesh — a trend many European countries are witnessing now.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The overall global number of Covid cases is fast approaching 261 million as the new potentially more contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus popped up in more European countries.

According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 261,026,727 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,194,353 Sunday morning.

The US has recorded 48,201,840 cases to date and more than 776, 571 people have died so far from the virus in the country, as per the university data.

Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since January, has registered 22,076,863 cases so far, while its Covid death toll rose to 614,186.

India’s Covid-19 tally rose to 34,563,749 on Saturday, as 8,318 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, as per the federal health ministry data.

Besides, another 465 deaths due to the pandemic were reported since Saturday morning, taking the total death toll to 467,933.

Situation in Bangladesh

Bangladesh reported two more Covid-linked deaths along with 155 fresh cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning.

On Friday, the country registered two Covid-related deaths and 239 cases.

With this, the daily-case positivity rate increased to 1.15 per cent from Friday’s 1.49 per cent, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

With the fresh numbers, the total fatalities rose to 27,975 while the caseload mounted to 15,75,579.

Among the latest deceased, one was a woman and another man — both were from Dhaka division.

However, the mortality rate remained static at 1.78 per cent.

The fresh cases were detected after testing 13,462 samples, the DGHS added.

Besides, the recovery rate stood at 97.74 per cent with the recovery of 188 more patients during the 24-hour period.

On November 20, Bangladesh logged this year’s first zero Covid-linked deaths with 178 cases.

Public health experts have, however, warned that the current downward trend of Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh could well be the obvious calm before a cataclysmic storm.

Their fear centres around children below 12 who remain out of the vaccine coverage and the elderly people, according to the experts.

The experts fear a slow pace of vaccination, waning vaccine immunity, sheer disregard for Covid safety protocols, reopening of schools and increased travel may set the stage for another Covid wave in Bangladesh — a trend many European countries are witnessing now.

Source: United News of Bangladesh