09-08-2022

TUESDAY, AUgUST 9, 2022
3
World Health Organization Representative in Bangladesh Dr. Bardan Jung Rana paid a courtesy call
on Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman yesterday at the latter's office of
the university.
Photo : Courtesy
Dhaka mayors
get minister
status
DHAKA : Dhaka North City
Corporation (DNCC) Mayor
Atiqul Islam and Dhaka
South City Corporation
(DSCC) Mayor Barrister
Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh
have been given the status of
minister.
Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina approved the new
status of the two mayors of
Dhaka, said a handout on
Monday.
Besides, the Narayanganj
City Corporation (NCC)
Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy and
Chattogram
City
Corporation Mayor (CCC)
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury
were given the status of state
minister.
The authorities concerned
have been asked to issue a
gazette notification in this
regard.
Dengue: 79
new patients
hospitalised
in 24 hrs
DHAKA : Another 79
dengue patients were
hospitalised in 24 hours till
Monday morning, according
to the Directorate General of
Health Services (DGHS).
Among them, 59 patients
were hospitalised in Dhaka
while the 20 in other places,
it said.
As many as 360 dengue
patients including 286 in the
capital are now receiving
treatment at hospitals across
the country.
On Sunday, this year's
death toll from the
mosquito-borne viral
disease rose to 15 with one
more death reported from
Cox's Bazar
Among the total deaths,
ten were reported from
Cox's Bazar while five from
Dhaka.
On June 21, the DGHS
reported the first death of
the season from the viral
disease. In July, the country
reported 1,571 dengue cases
with nine deaths.
This year, the DGHS has
recorded 3,263 dengue cases
and 2,888 recoveries so far.
ASEAN Dhaka Committee
celebrates 55th ASEAN Day
DHAKA : ASEAN Dhaka Committee (ADC)
on Monday celebrated the 55th anniversary
of the founding of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Momen joined the
event as the chief guest by delivering a prerecorded
video speech.
Haji Haris Haji Othman, High
Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam; Heru
Hartanto Subolo, Ambassador of the
Republic of Indonesia; Haznah Md Hashim,
High Commissioner of Malaysia; Aung Kyaw
Moe, Ambassador of the Republic of the
Union of Myanmar; Makawadee Sumitmor,
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand;
Pham Viet Chien, Ambassador of the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Sheela Pillai,
Head of Mission of the Singapore Consulate,
Dhaka; Christian Hope V. Reyes, Charge
d'Affaires, a.i of the Republic of the
Philippines; Foreign Ministry officials and
diplomats from ASEAN Member States were
present.
The celebration started with the ASEAN
flag raising ceremony followed by ASEAN
food festival, which reflects ASEAN unity
and harmony based on cultural diversity.
Ambassador Aung Kyaw Moe, the current
Chair of ADC, highlighted the achievements
of ASEAN throughout the past 55 years since
its founding; the activities of ADC; the
cordial relations between ASEAN countries
and Bangladesh as well as the cruciality of
"ASEAN Unity" among the Member States.
The ADC was established in the year 2014
and is comprised of eight ASEAN Missions
based in Dhaka.
The ADC chair is rotated every six months
and is currently being chaired by the
Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
ASEAN was founded on 8 August 1967
through the signing of ASEAN Declaration
(Bangkok Declaration) comprises ten
Member States, namely Brunei Darussalam,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
and Vietnam.
The celebration of the 55th ASEAN Day
resumed physically after the 54th
celebration in 2021 was held virtually due
to COVID-19.
This was the first on-site event organised
by the ADC after the relaxation of the
pandemic preventive measure by the
Bangladesh government, highlighting a fresh
start to boost the relations between ASEAN
and Bangladesh.
Dhaka's air quality turns 'good'
DHAKA : With an air quality index (AQI)
score of 41, Dhaka's air quality turned
'good' Monday morning.
The metropolis ranked 37th in the list
of world cities with the worst air quality
at 9 am.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered
to be 'good' while between 50 and 100
'moderate'.
Kuwait's Kuwait City, Pakistan's Lahore
and Saudi Arabia's Riyadh occupied the
first three spots in the list, with AQI
scores of 158, 155 and 141, respectively.
An AQI between 101 and 200 is
considered 'unhealthy', particularly for
sensitive groups.
Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300
is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301
to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing
serious health risks to residents.
AQI, an index for reporting daily air
quality, is used by government agencies to
inform people how clean or polluted the
air of a certain city is, and what associated
health effects might be a concern for
them.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five
criteria pollutants-Particulate Matter
(PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and
Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air
pollution issues. Its air quality usually
turns unhealthy in winter and improves
during the monsoon.
A report by the Department of
Environment (DoE) and the World Bank
in March 2019 pointed out that the three
main sources of air pollution in Dhaka
"are brick kilns, fumes from vehicles and
dust from construction sites".
With the advent of winter, the city's air
quality starts deteriorating sharply due to
the massive discharge of pollutant
particles from construction work,
rundown roads, brick kilns and other
sources.
Air pollution consistently ranks among
the top risk factors for death and
disability worldwide. Breathing polluted
air has long been recognised as increasing
a person's chances of developing a heart
disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung
infections and cancer, according to
several studies.
As per the World Health Organization
(WHO), air pollution kills an estimated
seven million people worldwide every
year, largely as a result of increased
mortality from stroke, heart disease,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
lung cancer and acute respiratory
infections.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin addressing a program on the
occasion of 92nd birth anniversary of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib. Photo : Courtesy
WHO Representative
calls on DU VC
World Health Organization
(WHO) Representative in
Bangladesh Dr. Bardan
Jung Rana paid a courtesy
call on Dhaka University
(DU) Vice-Chancellor Prof.
Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman
yesterday at the latter's office
of the university. Director of
the Institute of Leather
Engineering and
Technology of DU Prof. Dr.
Mohammed Mizanur
Rahman was present on this
occasion.
During the meeting Vice-
Chancellor Prof. Dr. Md.
Akhtaruzzaman appraised
WHO representative of
holding a Special
Convocation of DU to confer
Honorary D.Litt. Degree
(Posthumous) on the Father
of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
This Special Convocation
will possibly be held
sometime in-between
October-December 2022.
The VC has already invited
WHO DG Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus to attend this
Special Convocation as a
Convocation Speaker. They
discussed regarding possible
schedule of WHO DG to
attend this prestigious
occasion.
Int'l Confce on Bangamata
concluded at DU
The 2-day long international conference
on 'Bangamata: A Paragon of Women's
Leadership and Nation-building in
Bangladesh' was concluded yesterday at
Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate
Bhaban of Dhaka University (DU), a
press release said.
As a part of this conference a
roundtable discussion on 'Bangladesh at
50 and Beyond: A journey towards
Gender and Sustainable development'
was held today. Bangamata Sheikh
Fazilatun Nessa Center for Gender and
Development Studies of Dhaka
University organized this event.
Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences
of DU Prof. Dr. Zia Rahman presided
over the roundtable discussion while
Principal Coordinator (SDGs Affairs) of
Prime Minister's Office Ms. Zuena Aziz,
Member of Publicity and Publication
Sub-committee of Bangladesh Awami
League Rasheq Rahman, Martyred
Intellectual Dr. Alim Choudhury's
daughter Dr. Nuzhat choudhury,
Professor of DU Law Department Sheikh
Hafizur Rahman, Chairperson of DU
Women and Gender Studies Department
Dr. Umme Busra Fateha Sultana and
Chief News Editor of News 24 Shahnaz
Munni took part in the discussion as
panelists. Earlier two key-note papers
were presented and a special session on
'Gender Equality and Future Bangladesh:
Voices from Young Generations' was held
at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate
Bhaban.
President of Bangladesh Mahila
Parishad Dr. Fauzia Moslem delivered
the key-note speech on 'Ensuring
Women's Right in Bangladesh: Realities
and Challenges' while President of
National Press Club Farida Yasmin took
part in the discussion.
Distinguished Professor of McGill
University Dr. Ratna Ghosh delivered the
key-note speech on 'Women Access to
Justice in Bangladesh: Availability,
Accessibility and Inclusion' while Senior
Secretary of PM Office Mohammad
Tofazzel Hossain Miah presided over the
session. Acting Dean of DU Law Faculty
Prof. Dr. Sima Zaman took part in the
discussion.
State Minister of ICT Division, Ministry
of Posts, Telecommunications and
Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed
Palak, MP attended special session as
chief guest while State Minister of the
Ministry of Disaster Management and
Relief Dr. Md. Enamur Rahman, MP and
former Captain of Bangladesh National
Cricket Team Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, MP
spoke as guest of honor. Director of
Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nessa
Center for Gender and Development
Studies Prof. Dr. Tania Haque conducted
the special session.
The 2-day long international conference on 'Bangamata: A Paragon of Women's Leadership and
Nation-building in Bangladesh' was concluded yesterday at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate
Bhaban of Dhaka University (DU).
Photo : Courtesy
HC directs to
protect 952 ponds
in Rajshahi city
DHAKA : The High Court on
Monday directed Rajshahi
City Corporation (RCC) to
protect 952 ponds under its
jurisdiction.
A bench of Justice Zubayer
Rahman Chowdhury and
Justice Kazi Ebadat Hossain
made the direction during
hearing on a writ petition filed
by environment human rights
organization Human Rights
and Peace for Bangladesh
(HRPB).
The court also asked to
ensure no more ponds get
occupied or filled in the city.
RCC mayors, Rajshahi
Directorate of Environment
and Deputy Commissioner
have been asked to implement
the order. The court also
directed to return the ponds of
RCC to their previous state
and said the trial in this regard
will continue, said HRPB
president Manzil Morshed.
Manzil Morshed said the
writ petition was filed in 2014
to stop the filling up of ponds
in the RCC area.
The High Court then issued a
rule questioning why a direction
to stop filling and protecting the
ponds in the RCC area will not
be issued and asked Rajshahi
DC to inform the numbers of
ponds. After that, Rajshahi DC
submitted a report to HC
informing there are a total of
952 ponds in RCC.
On February 23, this year, a
supplementary appeal with the
writ was submitted adding a
report published in a national
daily titled, ''Conserved pond
filled up to sell as plots'", said the
HRPB president.
Mild heat wave sweeps
parts of country
DHAKA : A mild heat wave is sweeping different parts of the
country including Sylhet division.
"Mild heat wave is sweeping Sylhet division and Rajshahi,
Rangpur and Nilphamari districts and it may continue,"said
Bangladesh Metrological Department (BMD).
Besides, light to moderate rain or thunder showers
accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at
many places over Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet
divisions; at a few places over Mymensingh, Dhaka and
Rangpur divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi
division with moderately heavy falls at places over the
country, it added. Day and night temperatures may remain
nearly unchanged over the country.
The weather office
recorded the highest rainfall 77mm in Sylhet in 24 hours till
6am on Monday.
The highest temperature was recorded at 36.4 degrees
Celsius in Sayedpur of Rangpur division, while the lowest
temperature was recorded at 24.5 degree Celcius in
Sitakunda of Chattogram division.
Meanwhile, the low pressure area over Northwest Bay off
Odisha-West Bengal coast intensified into a well-marked low
and lies over the same area. It is likely to intensify further.
The axis of monsoon trough runs through Rajasthan, Uttar
Pradesh, Odisha, centre of the well-marked low to Assam
across central part of Bangladesh, it added.
Bangladesh reports 3 more
Covid deaths, 296 cases
DHAKA : Three more people died from Covid, and 296
tested positive for the virus in Bangladesh in the 24 hours to
Monday morning.
While the country's total fatalities reached 29,307, the new
number took its caseload to 2,007,631, according to the
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily case positivity rate dropped to 4.99 percent from
Sunday's 5.10 percent as 5,929 samples were tested.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.46 percent.
The recovery rate rose to 97.06 percent from Sunday's 97.05
percent.
Bangladesh reported its first zero Covid death Sunday after
June 29. In July, the country reported 142 Covid-linked
deaths and 31,422 cases, the highest monthly death toll and
caseload since March this year.
Students
stage protest
against fuel
price hike at
Nilkhet
DHAKA : Students from
various educational institutions
staged demonstrations in the
capital's Nilkhet intersection
on Monday protesting the
latest hike in fuel prices.
The students demanded
lowering the prices of fuel to
their previous rates within
48 hours, cancelling the
decision of raising the fares
of public transports, and
ensuring half fare for
students in public
transports.
The prices of fuel
were increased
abruptly on Friday
night following which
the fares of public
transports also shot up.
Ismail Samrat, Chief
Coordinator of the Seven
College Movement, said,
"Anarchy is going on in
the name of fares in the
public transport sector. It
must be stopped.
Commuters have to pay
two to three times more
than the previously fixed
fare due to the
unbearable condition
created by the transport
owners."
After the programme, the
protesting students went to
Modhur Canteen to join
another program called by
the left leaning alliances to
protest against police attack
on their procession against
fuel price hike on Sunday.