30-07-2021

friday, Dhaka : July 30, 2021; Srabon 15, 1428 BS; Zilhaj 19, 1442 Hijri
Poor hosts fume as Rohingyas start
grabbing local labour market
COX'S BAZAR : An anger is growing among
poor hosts as the Rohingyas, living in
Bangladesh's tourism hub of Cox's Bazar,
are increasingly joining the local labour
market, leaving many locals out of their jobs
and small businesses, reports UNB. The
host communities claimed that Rohingyas
can easily come out from their camps and
get engaged in work at the local labour market
with their increased presence.
"You need to pay a local labourer Tk 600
a day and you can do the same job engaging
a Rohingya with only Tk 200-300.
Naturally, the Rohingyas get a preference
when someone hires a day-labourer," one of
the locals told UNB, wishing not to be
named. Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million
Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar district and
Bhasan Char. The UN is likely to begin its
operational activities in Bhasan Char in
September if the current negotiation ends
with the signing of a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) in August.
Palangkhali UP chairman in Ukhiya upazila
M Gafur Uddin Chowdhury said locals are no
longer getting desired jobs as Rohingyas are
preferred for lower wages. "Even, no one is
stopping it... even the Rohingyas are getting
involved in small businesses."
Hamidul Haque Chowdhury who works
to protect the interests of locals said the
Rohingyas are even working in various
NGOs. "They also work in various shops and
doing household works. I myself saw them
doing all this," he told UNB, adding that
Rohingya workers and employees are outnumbering
the locals. Mohammad Shamsu
Douza, Additional Refugee Relief and
Repatriation Commissioner, said they have
no such information that the Rohingyas are
working in various NGOs.
"Probably, the Rohingyas are working as
volunteers. They might work as labourers
outside the camps but we've no such information.
You (journalists) have better
sources to know about that," he told UNB.
Douza said they will take proper steps if
they find authentic information that the
Rohingyas are working for NGOs.
When approached, the spokesperson at
the UN refugee agency - UNHCR- said:
"Livelihoods and skills training opportunities
provide refugees with a sense of purpose
and autonomy while they are in exile,
while preparing for return to and reintegration
in Myanmar when conditions allow
them to return home.
As Rohingya refugees are not allowed to
work in Bangladesh, humanitarian actors
working in Cox's Bazar engage volunteers
from the refugee community for specific
activities in the camps and provide them with
a modest stipend for doing so," he said.
Delhi records zero Covid-19
fatality third time
NEW DELHI : No death due to COVID-19
was recorded in Delhi on Thursday, while
51 fresh cases were reported with a positivity
rate of 0.08 per cent, according to data
shared by the city health department.
This is the third time, since the starting
of the second wave of the pandemic in the
national capital, that zero fatality has been
logged in a day.
On July 18 and July 24 too, no death due
to COVID-19 was recorded, according to
official data, while 51 and 66 cases were
reported, respectively.
On March 2 this year, the national capital
had reported zero death due to the
virus. On that day, the number of singleday
infections stood at 217 and the positivity
rate was 0.33 per cent. The second
wave swept the city during April-May period.
On Thursday, the city registered 51
cases and zero fatality, while the positivity
rate stood at 0.08 per cent, according to
the latest bulletin.
The death toll in the city on Wednesday
had stood at 25,049. On Wednesday, the
city had registered 67 cases and three fatalities,
while the positivity rate was 0.09 per
cent. The infection rate which had reached
to 36 per cent in the last week of April, has
come down to 0.08 per cent now.
On February 16, ninety-four people
were diagnosed Covid positive while the
daily tally was 96 on January 27, according
to official figures.
Despite fall in daily cases in the last several
days, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
had recently cautioned that the chances of
the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
were quite real, while he asserted that his
government was preparing on a "warfooting"
to combat it.
The Delhi Disaster Management
Authority (DDMA) recently had passed a
colour-coded response action plan under
which curbs will be implemented in accordance
with the severity of the COVID-19
situation here to deal with a possible third
wave of the pandemic.
Delhi had been reeling under a brutal
second wave of the pandemic that is
sweeping the country, claiming a massive
number of lives daily, with the recent oxygen
supply shortage issue at various hospitals,
adding to the woes.
Since April 19, both daily cases and single-day
deaths count had been spiralling
up, with over 28,000 cases and 277 deaths
recorded on April 20; rising to 306 fatalities
on April 22. On May 3, the city registered
a record 448 deaths, as per the official
data.
However, the number of cases have
shown a downward trend and the positivity
rate too has been shrinking in the last
several days. The number of deaths per
day, has also been showing a decline in the
last couple of days.
On May 15, Kejriwal had said, "The virus
is reducing in Delhi slowly and steadily,
and I hope it diminishes completely and
does not rise again.
DU teachers to get
grants on each
published research
DHAKA : The Dhaka University (DU)
authorities have decided to provide grants
to its teachers and researchers on each
research published in international journal
with impact factor.
The decision was taken at university's
syndicate meeting with university Vice
Chancellor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman in the
chair, said a press release. Only those
researches published in any international
journal and have impact factor will be
nominated for grants, read the release.
The initiative was introduced to increase
the quality and scope of basic and applied
research among the teachers and
researchers of the university, it added.
Teachers and researchers have been urged
to increase their concentration and efforts
to conduct some quality researches.
BERC increases
LPG cylinders
prices again
SHAfiqul iSlAM (SHAfiq)
The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory
Commission (BERC) has adjusted the
price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
at the consumer level due to rising
prices in the world market. In the private
sector, the price of 12 kg cylinder
LPG including VAT has been increased
from TK 891 to TK 102 to TK 993. This
is the highest retail price, effective from
August 1.
And the price of LPG of the stateowned
company has not changed as the
cost has not changed at the production
level. The official price of 12 kg LPG has
remained at TK 591. The new price of
LPG used in vehicles is TK 48.71 per
liter. Earlier it was 44 TK.
Energy regulator authority BERC
announced the new prices at an online
press conference on Thursday. On
April 12, the company set the price of
LPG for the first time in the country.
Since then, prices have been adjusted
once a month.
It is learned that the main ingredients
for making LPG are propane and
butane imported from different countries.
Saudi Aramco publishes the price
of these two components of LPG every
month. This is known as Cargo Price
(CP). BERC has adjusted the price of
LPG in the country based on this Saudi
CP base price.
BERC chairman Abdul Jalil
announced the price at a press conference.
Also present at the time were
BERC members Mohammad Abu
Farooq, Maqbool E Ilahi Chowdhury,
Mohammad Bazlur Rahman, Md.
Kamruzzaman were present the briefing.
At the beginning the secretary of
the commission Rubina Ferdousi welcomed
everyone.
LPG suppliers companies proposed a
price hike at BERC last December. The
technical evaluation committee formed
by BERC evaluated their proposal.
Then on January 14, BERC held a public
hearing on setting the price of LPG.
Ambulance, relatives of the patient, volunteers, trolleys, media workers in front of the emergency
department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Relatives of the patient with asphyxia are coming
out of the ambulance looking for the trolley. The picture is taken on Thursday. Photo : Star Mail
Crowds are increasing at vaccination centers in various hospitals and health complexes. The line
is being long. Hygiene and social distance are being neglected in the extra crowd. The picture was
taken from Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Thursday.
Photo : Star Mail
Humayun for implementing
projects within stipulated time
DHAKA : Industries Minister Nurul
Majid Mahmud Humayun yesterday
asked officials concerned to implement
all the projects within the stipulated
time.
"Officials concerned will have to
continue the work of the project without
any excuse. The work of the project
should be taken forward in compliance
with all kinds of hygiene rules in
the Corona epidemic," he said.
The minister said this as the chief
guest at a virtual meeting of the
Ministry of Industries to review the
Revised Annual Development
Program (RADP) of the Ministry of
Industries for the fiscal year 2020-
2020.
Humayun said wherever the project
land acquisition has been completed,
the tender process needs to be started
quickly. Noting the scope of work, the
industries minister said the Ministry
of Industries has to fulfill the multifaceted
responsibilities of the government.
"So, we have to fulfill the responsibilities
entrusted to us by following the
hygiene rules," he added.
State Minister for Industries Kamal
Ahmed Mojumder was present as the
special guest at the function presided
over by Industries Secretary Zakia
Sultana.
Out of 48 projects in FY 2020-21, 15
projects have been completed.
Kamal Ahmed Mojumder said
arrangements should be made to
make every institution profitable in
the new financial year.
Ongoing projects need to be properly
implemented, he added.
Mask more effective than
Covid vaccine: Quader
DHAKA : Awami League General
Secretary Obaidul Quader has urged
the people to wear masks for protection
against Covid infections saying that the
mask is more effective than the vaccine.
Quader was addressing a function at
Bangabandhu Avenue on Thursday
organized by the party's relief and
social welfare sub-committee on the
occasion of distributing Covid safety
materials among party's delegates. He
asked the sub-committee to form teams
at grassroots level to motivate people to
wear masks properly.
"We must build fortress of awareness
in every house," he said.
Saying that BNP is constantly lying
about vaccines, the AL leader said the
country has enough jabs it needs now
and more vaccines will come from different
countries in phases.
Quader expressed hope that there
would be no crisis with the vaccine.
Responding to a question from
reporters about wealth statements
from MPs and ministers Quader said
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is running
an honest and transparent government.
Her government's stance
against irregularities and corruption is
very strict and clear.
Quader said that no one including the
MPs and ministers is above accountability
and the Anti-corruption
Commission (ACC) is free to investigate
and take action against any crimeas an
independent body.
The AL leader said that the ACC has
already taken action against many leaders
and activists and MPs, adding that
the government has not interfered to
protect anyone. He said none should
have any objection in submitting the
statement of assets. "I am ready to give
the statement of my wealth myself," he
said.
Quader also said that the ACC can
also take action if it finds any discrepancy
in the tax returns filed every year.
Awami League Presidium Member
Begum Matia Chowdhury presided
over the function.AL leaders Abdur
Rahman, SM Kamal Hossain, Sujit Roy
Nandi, Reazul Kabir Kausar and Syed
Abdul Awal Shamim, Kulsum Smriti
MP,President of the Institute of
Diploma Engineers MA Hamid and
General Secretary Shamsur Rahman
also spoke. Later, the leaders distributed
corona protection materials
among the delegates.
Owners urge govt
to reopen factories
amid lockdown
DHAKA : Business leaders on Thursday
requested the government to reopen garment
factories and other industries amid
the countrywide stringent lockdown,
reports UNB.
BGMEA President Farooq Hasan disclosed
the information to the reporters
after a meeting with Cabinet Secretary
Khandaker Anwarul Islam at the
Secretariat.
"We have requested the government to
reopen industries. The cabinet secretary
will take a quick decision after talking to
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he said.
He hoped that the government will consider
their request.
The government reinforced 14-day strict
lockdown restrictions following Eid vacation
till August 5.
Unlike the all out restrictions before Eid,
mills and factories were instructed to
remain closed during this time.
There are speculations that the government
might extend the lockdown as the
Covid infections are at its peak shattering
records of highest single day transmissions
and deaths every other day.
Muhith admitted
to CMH with
Covid
DHAKA : Former Finance Minister
AMA Muhith, who tested positive for
Covid-19 three days ago, has been
admitted to the Combined Military
Hospital, Dhaka for better treatment.
Muhith was initially taking treatment
at home and then admitted to the CMH
at 3pm on Thursday.
"There's no complication. He's doing
fine but a bit weak. He has been admitted
to the CMH at the Prime Minister's
directive for his better treatment," an
official told UNB.
The 87-year-old former finance minister,
known for his urbane manner,
tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday.
Those who are praying for him and
arranging doa any mahfil in Sylhet
have been requested not to crowd
anywhere and maintain safe physical
distance.
His elder son, Shahed Muhith, has
also tested positive for Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dr AK
Abdul Momen urged all to pray for his
brother's quick recovery.
He also requested all not to crowd
but maintain health guidelines while
arranging any doa mahfil in Sylhet and
elsewhere in the country.
Ferry services on
Shimulia-Banglabazar
route suspended
MUNSHIGANJ : Ferry services on
Shimulia-Banglabazar route were suspended
on Thursday noon due to
stormy weather, reports UNB.
Mohammad Shafiqul Islam,
Assistant General Manager of
Bangladesh Inland and Water
Transport Corporation (BIWTC)
Shimulia Ferry Ghat, said the ferries
on the route were operating with risk
due to strong current in the Padma
river since morning.
Around noon, the authorities suspended
the ferry services due to
strong current in the river. Some 600
vehicles were seen waiting on the both
sides for crossing the river, he said.
Besides, several hundred people
from southern and eastern parts of
the country were also seen waiting on
the ferry ghats to cross the river.
The maritime ports of Chattogram,
Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have
been advised to hoist local cautionary
number three as the well marked low
over southwestern part of Bangladesh
and adjoining area now lies over western
part of Bangladesh and adjoining
West Bengal.
"Under its influence, deep convection
is taking place and a steep pressure
gradient lies over North Bay and
adjoining areas," said a Met office bulletin.
Squally weather may affect the maritime
ports, North Bay and adjoining
coastal areas of Bangladesh, it said.
All boats and trawlers over North
Bay have been advised to remain close
to the coast and proceed with caution
till further notice.