05-05-2021

Wednesday, Dhaka, may 5, 2021, Baishakh 22, 1428 BS, Ramadan 22, 1442 hijri
Covid-19 claims
61 more lives in
Bangladesh
DHAKA : As Covid-19 infections and fatalities
keep soaring, Bangladesh logged 61
more deaths from the deadly virus in 24
hours until Tuesday morning.
Health authorities recorded 1,914 new
cases during the period, according to a
handout issued by the Directorate
General of Health Services (DGHS).
The latest figures pushed up the death
toll to 11,705 while the caseload to
7,65,596.
However, the infection rate fell to 8.71
percent from Monday's 8.95 percentwhile
the fatality rate rose to1.53 percent.
The pandemic keeps
sweepingBangladesh since the country
reported its first active virus cases on
March 8 last year. Later, on March 18,
the country reported its first death from
the virus.
Brahmanbaria mayhem
Ex- secy of Qawmi Chhatra
Oikya Parishad among
6 arrested
BRAHMANBARIA : Police on Monday
evening arrested Maulana Belal
Hossain, former secretary of
Brahmanbaria Qwami Chhatra Oikya
Parishad and teacher of Jamia Yunusia
Madrasha, in connection with the recent
violence in the district.
Five more Hefazat leaders and
activists have been arrested in the last
24 hours for their alleged involvement
in the violence.
During preliminary interrogation,
Maulana Belal Hossain reportedly confessed
that on March 26, 27 and 28 students
and teachers of various
madrashas , including Jamia Yunusiya
Madrasha, went on a rampage at the
behest of the central leaders of Hefazat.
So far, 414 people have been arrested
in 55 cases in connection with the violence,
according to a press release issued
by the district police.
Farmers in Faridpur
relying on Fatema's
dhan for good yield
FARIDPUR : Cultivation of the rice variety
'Fatema' has started in Alfadanga
upazila of Faridpur through a young
man named Riazul Islam.
While talking to the UNB correspondent,
he said that he hoped to achieve
bumper yield after cultivating this special
variety of paddy on 75 percent of his
land.
While visiting the site, it was observed
that the rice has already started to ripen.
Harvesting of paddy will also start soon.
Riazul said, "I first came to know
about this variety of rice from a Youtube
video. I have collected the seeds of
Fatema paddy from Labuyat's mother
after waiting for six months."
It is to be noted that 'Labuyat's mother',
the woman from whom Riazul collected
the seeds of this variety of paddy
is none other than Fatema herself.
Prime minister Sheikh hasina addressing the opening session of
the first meeting of the "One health Global leaders Group on
antimicrobial Resistance" on virtual platform. Photo : Star mail
AMR to be more devastating than
coronavirus if not addressed: PM
DHAKA : Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina today said, if not contained
properly, antimicrobial resistance
(AMR) will be more devastating than
the coronavirus pandemic as it can
endanger every living creature alongside
food security and progress towards the
SDGs attainment regardless geographical
location.
"The COVID-19 pandemic is the
defining public health crisis of our time
that has already taken more than three
million lives. However, the impending
pandemic, in the form of antimicrobial
resistance will cause even more harm to
the global health," she said.
She was addressing the opening session
of the first meeting of the "One
Health Global Leaders Group on
Antimicrobial Resistance" on virtual
platform.
In her pre-recorded speech broadcast
at the function, the Prime Minister
warned the global leaders that the antidrug
resistance will not only endanger
human, animal and plant health, but
also threaten food security and progress
towards the attainment of SDGs
(Sustainable Development Goals).
Sheikh Hasina continued that the
AMR can affect anyone, regardless of
geographical location and socio-economic
condition.
The premier called upon the international
community to ensure strict adherence
to Infection Prevention and
Control-IPC measures to contain AMR,
saying, "It is possible through implementation
of Global Action Plan-2015
and UN political declaration-2016 on
AMR."
As co-chair of the Global Leaders
Group on AMR, Sheikh Hasina reiterated
her commitment to work together
with the Prime Minister of Barbados
Mia Amor Mottley and other global
leaders to establish AMR as top priority
issue in political agenda to combat the
threat of AMR and create universal
health care.
The Prime Minister appreciated the
ongoing efforts of WHO (World Health
Organisation), FAO (Food and
Agriculture Organisation), and OIE
(The World Organisation for Animal
Health) to formulate global strategies
for tackling the upcoming challenges of
AMR through comprehensive and collaborative
approach with diverse stakeholders.
Against the backdrop of the impending
AMR pandemic, Sheikh Hasina has
placed seven suggestions before the
world for their execution to contain the
AMR effectively.
The Prime Minister, in her first proposal,
called for setting up of global,
regional, and national targets and inclusive
monitoring as well as reporting system
to achieve the goals of
Antimicrobial Resistance Containment-
ARC.
She also suggested developing guidelines
and policies at different tiers for
appropriate use of antimicrobials and
sharing of scientific knowledge and
technical assistance for ensuring effective
and inclusive AMR surveillance and
capacity building in her second and
third proposals.
The Prime Minister in her fourth proposal
stressed the need for ensuring
equitable access to affordable and effective
antibiotics and other medical facilities
through technology transfer and
sharing of ownership.
BNP demands Khaleda's better
Treatment outside of country
Shafiqul iSlam
BNP chairperson and former Prime
Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has been
admitted to Ever Care Hospital in the
capital for some tests due to corona. She
was transferred to CCU on Monday
(May 3) due to shortness of breath.
Meanwhile, the leaders and workers are
very worried about the physical illness of
the chairperson of the party. They are
holding prayers and milad mahfils and
donations for the recovery of their
leader. In such a situation, BNP has
informed Home Minister Asaduzzaman
Khan Kamal about Khaleda Zia's physical
illness. The party's secretary general
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called the
minister on Monday night and
informed him about Khaleda Zia's treatment
outside the country. But the home
minister replied that it was a matter for
the court.
According to a BNP source, Khaleda
Zia's family wants her to be treated outside
the country. The matter has been
reported to the higher levels of the government
on behalf of the family.
However, quoting the name, no BNP
central leader or any family member
wanted to say anything to the journalists
about the matter now.
It is learned that the BNP's senior
leaders also wants to take Khaleda Zia in
abroad for such better treatment. The
party's high command has already
made this demand to the government
more than one. Party leaders said this
information. Though Begum Khaleda
Zia has been under house arrest in
Gulshan's home since her conditional
release on March 25, 2020. The condition
of release given by the government
is- Khaleda Zia will get treatment at
home, she will not be able to go abroad.
On Tuesday BNP secretary general
Mirza Fakhrul said about Khaleda zia's
health condition that, we are all worried
about the illness of Khaleda Zia. We are
still worried about her physical condition.
She is still in CCU. Oxygen is being
given. However, her condition is stable
and doctors say she will recover quickly.
We ask Allah to bless her. The whole
nations are praying today that Khaleda
Zia, the only guardian of democracy, will
recover very quickly.
Khaleda Zia, who is undergoing treatment,
sat in the hospital's medical board
at noon to review her latest health condition.
Her medical team member Dr.
Zahid Hossain said Madam's (Khaleda
Zia) condition is Alhamdulillah. A 10-
member medical board was sat in a
meeting at noon with all the reports of
her examination. Then everything can
be informed.
The BNP chairperson had been undergoing
treatment under a private doctor
from her rented house Firoza in
Gulshan, since April 11 after corona virus
infected. When she was tested again after
14 days, her corona virus report came
back 'positive' on April 24. She was taken
to Evercare Hospital on the night of April
27 for some medical tests. After a CT scan
of the chest and a few tests, she was
admitted to the hospital
Blaming govt in
all issues becomes
BNP's intrinsic
habit: Quader
DHAKA : Awami League General
Secretary and Road Transport and
Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader
yesterday said blaming the government
in every issue has become an
intrinsic characteristic of BNP.
"BNP leaders see darkness in
moonlit night. Making comment on
democracy doesn't suit BNP. When
BNP was in power, they created a
stigmatized chapter of holding
February 15 voter-less polls," he told a
regular press conference at his official
residence here.
Mentioning that BNP is champion
in the record of making the election
system controversial, Quader said
more than one crore fake voters were
enrolled in voter's list during the BNP
tenure and the then Chief Election
Commissioner MA Aziz took preparation
to hold a farce election.
Because of that, the country went to
1/11 situation, he said, adding that the
people didn't forget the forgery in bypolls
to Magura and Dhaka-10.
The AL general secretary said the
voting had been ended within 10 am
during the BNP's term while at that
time, polls results of a center in
Chattogram were announced in
radio and television before the polls
counting.
Court orders release of
Ctg woman wrongly put
behind bars
CHATTOGRAM : A Chattogram court
on Tuesday ordered the release of
Hasina Begum put behind bars wrongly
one and a half years back.
Additional Metropolitan Session Court -
4 Judge Shariful Alam Bhuiyan passed
the orderthis noon, said bench assistant
of the court Omar Fuad.
Hasina Begum, 28, wife of Hamid
Hossain of Teknaf upazila in Cox's Bazar
district, has been serving the jail term
instead of real convict Hasina
Akther,42, in a narcotic case as law
enforcers arrested her wrongly for the
similarity of her name to the convict's.
The incident came in the limelight on
Sunday as defence lawyer Golam Mawla
Murad drew the attention of the Judge
of Chattogram Additional Metropolitan
Session Court -4, Shariful Alam
Bhuiyan, following a police investigation.
Defence lawyer Golam Mawla Murad
told reporters on Tuesday that they are
yet to receive the full verdict of the court.
Earlier in the morning, the jail authorities
were asked to submit a report to the
court saying Hasina Begum and Hasina
Akther are two different persons, and
Hasina Begum is not an accused.
Advocate Murad said, "No case was filed
against Hasina Begum, now in jail. But
she has been languishing in jail for the
last one and a half years. Her only
offence is the similarity of her name to
that of the real accused. Their parents'
names are also different."
Hasina Begum is the wife of Hamid
Hossain of Teknaf upazila in Cox's Bazar
district while the real convict, Hasina
Akther, is the wife of Hamid Hossain of
Ismail Hazi Bari of the same upazila.
According to the court, police recovered
2,000 Yaba pills from Moijjartek in
Karnaphuli on February 24, 2017. A
case was then filed in this connection.
Later, police arrested Hasina Akhter on
February 25, 2017 in this connection.
On November 27, Hasina Akhter
secured bail from the court and went
into hiding.
On July 1, 2019, Judge of Chattogram
Metropolitan Court-5 Jannatul Ferdous
sentenced six years' jail to Hasina
Akhter and fined Tk 5,000.
On December 26, 2019, police wrongly
arrested Hasina Begum from
Chowdhurypara Hossain Boro Bari in
Teknaf in the case and she has been in
jail since then.
A Bangladesh startup that aims
at saving the world!
DHAKA : The year was 2018, when
Mahbub Sumon decided to do his bit for
the environment. Along with his three
friends, this young climate activist from
Bangladesh founded Shalbrikhkho, an
NGO that aims at helping people reuse,
reduce and recycle daily-use products.
Two of Mahbub's projects-BONKAGOJ
and plastic from potatoes (POLKA) -- have
already caught the attention of thousands
across social media platforms. Mahbub
opened up about his work in an interview
with UNB.
Q. What motivated you to work on
renewable energy and eco-friendly alternatives?
While doing some basic research on
the alternative power sector and renewable
energy prospects, I figured out climate
change as the biggest crisis for the
human race.
For environmental sustainability, I
soon started working on a couple of
ideas like natural agriculture for cities
and alternative sources of energy. Soon I
focussed on developing eco-friendly
alternatives to various plastic products.
I experimented with permaculture
using BONKAGOJ and succeeded. The
principle was-since paper is made from
trees, we can use that paper to grow a
tree again. I also developed POLKA
(plastics from potatoes) as an alternative
to polyethene.
I am also experimenting with different
innovative projects in the renewable
energy sector and alternative eco-friendly
lifestyle changes.
Q. What is BONKAGOJ?
It's a handmade paper that can be
used like any other ordinary paper. But
after its use, if anyone puts the paper in
a soggy pot, a flower garden will sprout
from it within weeks.
Worldwide billions of trees are
chopped down every year, many for producing
paper. Single-use paper and
paper products pollute cities. So, I
harped on the idea of turning waste
papers into a flower garden to save the
environment.
BONKAGOJ, a biodegradable product,
is made from recycled paper and
embedded with different plant seeds.
Q. When did you first think of introducing
such a recycled paper?
In fact, we first toyed with the idea of
recycling used papers and making the
same eco-friendly in the beginning of
2018. Finally we could launch the product
in December 2019.
The idea is not new. This biodegradable
eco-paper has been in use in the US since
1941. In 2016, leading Japanese daily 'The
Mainichi Shimbunsha', was the first to
introduce a 'green newspaper', a 100%
sustainable newspaper made from recycled
and vegetable paper.
The production procedure is not space
science. Discarded paper is collected,
then shredded, soaked and eventually
turned into pulp before being placed in
dice. Seeds of different vegetables and
flowers are used in the production of the
eco-friendly paper.
We are producing BONKAGOJ in different
sizes-from A4 to business and invitation
cards. While it is thicker and expensive
than any normal paper, we have
recently started making a thinner version
of this paper for writing purposes.
This special paper must be used within
a year, otherwise the embedded seeds
may not germinate.
Though we are currently producing
1,200-1,500 pieces of BONKAGOJ every
month, we plan to ramp up production in
the days to come. We can bring down its
selling price once we start large-scale production
of the same. Currently, the
demand for the product is low.
What is POLKA?
POLKA is an alternative to polythene
shopping bags. It's basically a bioplastic
product made from potatoes.
The idea of making POLKA came to my
mind first when I visited Munshiganj and
found several potato cold storages incurring
losses for years. With the help of my
German friend, Jan Schmidt, I made the
first bag using potato starch.
After many trials and errors, I succeeded
in making the biodegradable and
eco-friendly product, which is an alternative
to toxic polythene.
Bangladesh was one of the first countries
in the world to ban thinner plastic
bags in 2002, in an effort to reduce the
uses of plastic. But the ban has had little
success.
According to the Department of
Environment (DoE), Bangladesh generates
around 3,000 tonnes of plastic
waste every day. The excessive use of
polythene bags leads to numerous problems
especially in the city area, not to
mention the environmental woes.
it looks like a dustbin. in fact, it is a canal. Rajakhali canal is one of the two main tributaries of
the Karnafuli river in Chattogram. Chattogram city drains through this canal. many parts of the
canal have shrunk.
Photo : Star mail
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