25-06-2022

Saturday, Dhaka : June 25, 2022; Ashar 11, 1429 BS; Zilquad 24, 1443 Hijri
Covid-19
BD reports 1,685 more cases,
positivity declines to 12.18 pc
DHAKA : Bangladesh reported 1,685 new
cases of Covid infection in 24 hours till
Friday morning taking the total caseload
to 19,62, 213, said the health authority .
The country's total fatalities, however,
remained unchanged at 29,135 as no death
was reported during the period, according to
the Directorate General of Health Services
(DGHS). On Thursday the country recorded
one death and 1,319 cases from Covid-19.
The country recorded over 1000 Covid
cases (1409 cases) with 11 deaths last on
February 25. The daily-case positivity rate
declined to 12.18 per cent from Thursday's
14.32 per cent as 13,833 samples were
tested during the period, said the DGHS.
The mortality rate also declined to 1.48
per cent. The recovery rates declined to
97.16 per cent from Thursday's 97.23 per
Japan seeks stronger cultural ties with
Bangladesh engaging younger generation
DHAKA : Japan's Ambassador to
Bangladesh Ito Naoki has laid emphasis on
engaging the younger generation in promoting
cultural bondage through Ikebana, a traditional
Japanese art of flower arrangement.
"I hope Ikebana will be loved by young
people in Bangladesh," he said on Friday
while speaking at a function organized by
Bangladesh Ikebana Association (BIA).
The ambassador said there is a strong interest
among the young students in Bangladesh
about Japan, its language and culture. He
urged the BIA to continue playing its role to further
promote the friendship through better
cent as185 patients recovered during this
period. In May, the country reported only
four Covid-linked deaths and 816 new
cases, while 7,356 patients recovered from
the disease, according to the DGHS.
Among the four deaths during the period,
one was vaccinated with a single dose of
Covid vaccine while three were vaccinated
with two doses.
The country reported its first zero Covid
death in a single day on November 20 last
year, along with 178 cases, since the pandemic
broke out here in March 2020.
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its
previous highest positivity rate of 33.37
per cent. The country registered its highest
daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last
year and daily fatalities of 264 on August
10 in the same year.
understanding of Japanese culture. "I hope the
activities of BIA will further be increased. We
will be very happy to provide further moral support
to BIA," said ambassador Naoki. Life
patron and BIA founder Prof Dr AKM
Moazzem Hussain, life patron and BIA CEO
Masud Karim, BIA President Shahinoor Baby
and BIA Assistant General Secretary Salma
Akter, among others, were present.
Apart from Ikebana demonstration on stage,
a short documentary on Ikebana in Bangladesh
was screened at the function which was hosted
marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic
relations between Bangladesh and Japan.
Flood situation
worsens in
parts of Sylhet
SYLHET : The flood situation in some
parts of Sylhet has worsened, with the
rise in water levels of the Kushiara river
in the past 48 hours, officials have said.
According to the local Water
Development Board, the Kushiara was
flowing above the danger level at various
points on Friday morning.
Zakiganj, Beanibazar, Gopalganj,
Phenchuganj, Osmaninagar, Biswanath,
South Surma of Sylhet, Borolekha,
Kulaura, Rajnagar, Juri, and
Jagannathpur of Sunamganj have been
inundated by the waters of the Kushiara.
On the other hand, flood waters have
receded in many areas of the district,
including Sylhet city, officials said.
Although the water levels in the Surma
river have decreased in the last four days,
it was still flowing above the danger mark
till Friday morning.
Sylhet City Corporation chief engineer
Nur Azizur Rahman said that relief materials
have been distributed among the
flood-hit people. "Ward councillors are
coordinating the distribution."
Meanwhile, a sexagenarian went missing
in floods in Jagannathpur of
Sunamganj on Friday.
Jagannathpur police station officer-incharge
Mizanur Rahman said, "Efforts
are on to rescue the elderly citizen."
The record-breaking floods were
caused by the onrush of hilly waters from
neighbouring India and heavy downpours
that inundated several areas of the
district, affecting over 50 lakh people.
The flood survivors have been shifted
to more than 1,000 shelters across
Sylhet.
Some 48 people have died in flood-hit
Sylhet so far, said the Directorate
General of Health Services (DGHS).
Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) has installed a replica of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge
at the foot of Raju Memorial of Dhaka University.
Photo : Star Mail
Flood water receding in Sunamganj, clogged
wastes pollute municipal area air
SUNAMGANJ : As Surma river was
flowing 13 cm below the danger level
in Sunamganj on Friday morning,
flood water started receding but smell
of rotten clogged wastes made the
municipal area air heavy.
The UNB reporter visited the municipal
area and saw wastes that remained
clogged in flood water at North Arpin
Nagar, Shaheb bari Ghat, Moddho bazar,
Surma Market, Alfat Square Point,
Kalibari, old bus stand, jamai Para, Hazir
Para and many other areas. Residents of
the area are struggling to go out to run
daily errands even after the water began
receding.
"The area was stinking so much that I
couldn't step out from the house since
morning," said Ruhul Amin , a resident
of the North Arpin nagar area. "The
flood water has receded but our sufferings
did not end due to this rotten
waste," said Ashim Ray from Natun
Para area.
However, Sunamganj municipal
mayor Nader Bakht said, "We have
started cleaning the city immediately
after the water started retreating."
Sunamganj Civil Surgeon Dr
Ahmmed Hossain said," No one fell ill
with water borne diseases yet and 123
medical teams are ready to provide
services."