Dengue death toll rises to 15 with one more fatality

One more person died from dengue, and 87 people were hospitalised with the viral infection in the 24 hours to Sunday morning as cases have continued to increase in Bangladesh.

So far, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has reported 15 deaths from mosquito-borne viral disease – a leading cause of serious illness and death in some Asian and Latin American countries.

The latest death was reported from Cox’s Bazar. Of all the deceased, 10 were from Cox’s Bazar and five from Dhaka.

Up to today, 73 new patients were admitted to the hospitals of Dhaka and 14 in other parts of the country.

Three hundred and eighty-seven dengue patients, including 315 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.

On June 21, the DGHS reported the first death of the season from the viral disease. This year, it has recorded 3,184 dengue cases and 2,782 recoveries so far.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh reports first zero Covid death after June 29

Bangladesh reported zero Covid death and 216 cases in the 24 hours to Sunday morning.

The country last reported zero Covid-linked death on June 29.

While Bangladesh’s total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,302, the new number took its caseload to 2,007,335, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The daily case test positivity rate dropped to 5.10 percent from Saturday’s 5.56 percent as 4,233 samples were tested.

The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.46 percent. The recovery rate rose to 97.05 from Saturday’s 97.02 percent.

In July, Bangladesh reported 142 Covid-linked deaths and 31,422 cases – its highest death toll and caseload since March this year.

The country first reported its zero Covid death on November 20 last year since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020.

Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

BCSIR starts making low cost Covid testing kits

The Bangladesh Council of Science and Industrial Research (BCSIR) has developed an affordable Covid-19 testing kit for the first time in Bangladesh.

Professor Md Aftab Ali Sheikh, chairman of BCSIR made this announcement at a press conference at the BCSIR auditorium in the capital on Sunday.

Scientists from BCSIR, Dhaka University and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical University jointly contributed to developing the kit named ‘BCSIR Civid kit’, he added.

“When it comes to the market, the price of the coronavirus testing kit will be Tk250 which is ten times less than the present cost”.

“Covid-19 kits currently being used by the government are costly. Now, each corona test costs approximately Tk3,000-3,500. Bangladesh has so far tested 1 crore 46 lakh 43 thousand 945 samples. This large number of identification kits had to be imported entirely, which is having some negative impact on the country’s economy,” BCSIR said.

The Department of Drug Administration has approved the production of the kit. Besides, Bangladesh Medical Research Council has given ethical clearance for the kit.

Science and Technology Affairs Minister Yafesh Osman was present at the event.

Among others present wete Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Treasurer Professor Dr Mohammad Atiqur Rahman, Dhaka University Professor Rafiqul Hasan and BCSIR Chief Scientist Salim Khan.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Schoolgirl raped by 6 in Panchagarh

A tenth -grade schoolgirl was allegedly raped by six men including her boyfriendwho had promised to marry her in Tetulia upazila of Panchagarh district.

The crime occurred at a tea garden at Bandarpara village in Atoari upazila of the district on Saturday night.

The girl has been undergoing treatment at Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital.

Yusuf Ali, superintendent of Panchagarh Police, said the girl developed a love affair with one Hasan, 25, son of Rahman of Atoari upazila over mobile phone and she met him several times while visiting her maternal uncle’s house.

On Saturday, Hasan made a phone call to the girl and asked her to meet him as he wanted to marry her now.

When the girl reached in Panchagarh, Hasan and Sabuj, 30 son of Khamiruddin along with took the girl to a tea garden in Old Atoari in Atoari upazila around 8 pm.

Later, they violated the girl in turns.

Four more people—Aminul Islam alias Dipjol, 25, son of Abdur Rahman, Nazrul, 40, son of Khazimuddin, Amar, 30, son of Koilash and Abdur Rahman, 50 appeared there, forcing Hasan and Sabuj run away.

Later, they also raped the girl getting her alone in the area.

Amar took the girl on a road near the garden and left her abandoned. A pedestrian took the girl to the house of one Nayeb Ali who informed the girl’s uncle. She was rescued on Saturday morning by her uncle from the house.

“Police are investigating the incident and a number of people were detained in this connection,” said SP Yusuf.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Hit by bus in Jatrabari, biker killed, one hurt

A fruit trader was killed and another injured as a bus mowed them down with their vehicle in the capital’s Jatrabari Saturday midnight, police said.

The deceased Md Imran Mia (35) was from Gosairhat upazila in Shariatpur district. He lived with his family in a rented house in Dhaka’s Kadamtali.

Imran and his brother-in-law Md Sohel (32) were returning home from work when the bus hit their bike at 12am.

They were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where Imran succumbed to his injuries around 4am, Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of DMCH Police Outpost, said.

The body was sent to the DMCH morgue for autopsy, he added.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Bangamata’s 92nd birth anniversary on Monday

The 92nd birth anniversary of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, wife of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, will be observed on Monday in a befitting manner.

On this day in 1930, Fazilatunnesa Mujib was born to a noble Muslim family at Tungipara village of the then Gopalganj sub-division in Faridpur district.

She was assassinated along with Bangabandhu and most of her family members on August 15 in 1975.

The ruling Awami League (AL), its associate bodies and other socio-cultural organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes to mark her birth anniversary.

Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and electronics media will broadcast special programmes while newspapers will publish special supplements to mark the day.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages marking the day.

In his message, President Abdul Hamid said “On the night of August 15, 1975 she (Bangamata) was assassinated along with her husband, sons, daughters-in-law and close relatives the anti-liberation forces at her residence in Dhanmondi. It is a shameful chapter in the history of the nation. Bangamata is no longer among us, we hope that the young generation will devote themselves to the welfare of the motherland by upholding her ideals.”

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said “Despite being the wife of the President and the Prime Minister, Bangmata Fazilatunnesa, known as the ‘First Lady’, always lived a simple life. She used to help the poor. She was the epitome of the ideal of a Bengali woman. The ideals and examples of Bangamata will continue to be a source of inspiration for Bengali women throughout the ages.”

“I hope, through the study of her biography, the new generation will be inspired to patriotism and will know about the struggling life of the father of the nation, the independence movement, the great liberation war and many unknown chapters in the struggle of freedom,” she said.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh-China ties promoting common prosperity, shared benefits: Beijing

The long-standing friendship between Bangladesh and China is accelerating the development of both countries, promoting common prosperity and shared benefits, says the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka.

“We believe this friendship will take the two countries to unlimited heights. Happy Friendship Day, dear Bangladesh,” it said in a post on its verified Facebook page on Sunday night.

Both countries have considered each other indispensable partners for the past 47 years, with a strong belief in the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and mutual non-aggression, said the embassy highlighting non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

In the morning, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence after holding bilateral talks with his Bangladesh counterpart AK Abdul Momen.

The foreign ministers reassured their commitments to a “strategic partnership of cooperation” between the two countries and pledged to elevate it to a new level through deepening mutually beneficial cooperation.

During the meeting, they talked about different issues including bilateral trade and investment, development cooperation, the Covid-19 pandemic response, renewable energy, science and technology, cultural cooperation, people-to-people connections, and cooperation in international fora.

They also discussed the Global Development Initiative and jointly explored the opportunity for cooperation on some other new aspects.

Wang elaborated on China’s standing on Taiwan and appreciated Bangladesh’s consistent one-China policy.

He also ensured the expeditious return of all Bangladeshi students to China to resume studies.

Other issues of importance, including repatriation of the Rohingyas to their place of origin, were also discussed.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

BARVIDA pays tribute to Bangabandhu

The new executive committee of the Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA) paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi-32 yesterday.

The BARVIDA leaders, led by the association’s President Habib Ullah Dawn, placed a wreath on Bangabandhu’s portrait. They also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul of Bangabandhu.

BARVIDA Secretary General Mohammed Shahidul Islam, Vice-President I Aslam Serniabath, Vice-President II Reaz Rahman, Vice-President III Gias Uddin Chowdhury, Joint Treasurer Md Saiful Alam, Organising Secretary Dr Habibur Rahman Khan, Publication and Publicity Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, Planning and Development Secretary Abdul Awal, Cultural Secretary Jobaer Rahman; Executive Committee Members Alhaj Jafar Ahmed, AB Siddik, Abu Hossain Bhuiya, Md Raihan Azad and Mahbubul Haq Chowdhury Babur were also present.

Source: United News of Bangladesh