More 205 passengers have reached at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet from United Kingdom (UK). The health department physicians’ team of the airport has directed them to maintain home quarantine. On Thursday morning a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight reached at Osmani International Airport from Heathrow International Airport in UK. Earlier on Monday 144 passengers arrived in Sylhet from UK. They were also directed to maintain home quarantine. According to Osmani Airport source, a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines landed at the Sylhet Osmani International Airport at around 10:30 am with 237 passengers from UK. At that time 205 passengers left the aircraft in Sylhet and the rest 32 passengers started for Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. AH

Bangladesh recorded 28 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths and 1,014 fresh cases overnight. The recovery count rose to 4,57,459 after another 1,389 patients were discharged from the hospitals during the period, a press release of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said today (Thursday). “Twenty-eight more COVID-19 patients died in the last 24 hours, increasing the death toll from the pandemic to 7,559,” the release said. It said the tally of infections has surged to 5,13,510 as 1,014 new cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours. A total of 13,254 samples were tested at 180 authorized laboratories across the country during the time. Of the total sample tests in the past 24 hours, 7.65 percent tested positive, while 15.91 percent cases were detected from the total tests conducted so far, the release added. Among the total infections, 89.08 percent patients have recovered, while 1.47 percent died so far since the first COVID-19 positive cases were reported in the country on March 8. Source: BSS AH

Noting that online study will continue until the educational institutions reopen, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Thursday) reiterated her call to countrymen to maintain proper health guidelines to stop Covid-19 spread. “The second wave of Covid-19 hit the country when the government started thinking of reopening the educational institutions. If the COVID-19 situation is not improved till January 15, online academic activities will continue,” she said. The premier said this while inaugurating free textbook distribution activities for pre-primary, primary and ethnic students for 2021 at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC), joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban. She urged the parents to give special attention to the children to keep their mental and physical health sound by encouraging them to read other books alongside textbooks and continue playing and physical activities in this Coronavirus situation. Sheikh Hasina said the students can continue their study staying at home as educational institutions are running academic activities using online platforms such as Zoom, Messenger, Facebook, YouTube etc. Emphasizing the evolution of the mental health of the children, the Prime Minister also called upon the parents to give more time to their kids in this pandemic situation as it is very difficult for the children to confine themselves at home for a long period. “Although Coronavirus gives us a lot of pain, but you (parents) have got a scope of spending time with your kids alongside daily workloads. So you should utilize this opportunity,” she said. The premier said an initiative has been taken to impart training to the educational institution’s head and focal point teacher on how to deal with the mental health problems of secondary level students caused by the longtime closure of schools. A counseling manual with the help of top psychologists has also been prepared to this end, she added. Putting emphasis on maintaining the health protocols again, Sheikh Hasina urged all to wear facemask during movement outside. “Wearing face mask and washing hands with soap are the main protection from Coronavirus,” she said. She also highlighted different initiatives taken by the government for students and teachers in this Covid-19 pandemic period. She said salaries, allowances and retire benefit were provided to 2,055 teachers and employees of 1,646 schools and colleges through MPO enrollment and appointment of 676 trade instructors by introducing stipend courses in 640 educational institutions was made. Besides, retire benefit of Taka 517.33 crore was given to 5,351 non-government teachers and employees and Taka 218.63 crore to 5,446 teacher and employees by solving application of welfare allowance, she went on saying. Amid the Coronavirus situation, the government is distributing new books to about 4.5 crore students free of cost at the beginning of the New Year. A total of 34,36,62,412 textbooks are being distributed in the academic calendar-2021. On behalf of the Prime Minister, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md. Zakir Hossen handed over the new books to few primary, secondary and technical and madrasa levels students following health protocols. On January 1, the book distribution will begin at educational institutions across the country. New books will be distributed among sixth to ninth grade students in the next twelve days in phases. The students are getting free books at the beginning of the year despite the book festival is not being held on January 1 due to the closure of educational institutions amid COVID-19 pandemic. Around 35 crore books are being printed in this regard. Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md. Zakir Hossen spoke on the occasion. Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury and Chairmen of the Parliamentary Standing Committees on Ministry of Education and Ministry of Primary and Mass Educations Afsarul Amin, MP and Mustafizur Rahman, MP respectively were present at BICC. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Kaikaus conducted the function. Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam and concerned officials were present at Ganabhaban. According to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, the total number of text book is 10,25,82,555 for next year. Still images or pictures of Bangabandhu, independence, great liberation war, language movement and various development activities of the present government have been added with captions to the new books this time on the occasion of Mujib Borsha. Of the books, 2, 59,92,671 are for first-second class students while 6,96,97,374 books for third-fourth and fifth grade students. Special language books will be distributed to 94,275 tribal students (Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Garo and Sadri) from pre-primary to third grade and the books have been printed in five languages. This time, Braille books will be distributed to 9,196 visually impaired students. According to the Ministry of Education, in the academic year of 2021, work is underway to print 24 crore 33 lakh 34 thousand copies of books for secondary students. Awami League (AL) government had been holding a ‘book festival’ on January 1 every year in a festive atmosphere since 2010 with the aim of making education standard and preventing dropout rates. But, currently it is not possible to hold a book festival due to the global coronavirus. In the last ten years since 2010, about 331.47 crore primary and secondary books have been distributed across the country. Source: BSS AH

The government today cleared that the Rohingyas, who were relocated to Bhasan Char, decided to be shifted there voluntarily, saying there was no question of the use of force to relocate them. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the numerous challenges associated with the temporary hosting of persecuted Rohingyas from Myanmar has compelled the government of Bangladesh to plan relocation of 100,000 Rohingyas to Bhashan Char. Accordingly, 1642 Rohingyas were relocated to Bhashan Char on 4 December 2020. The second batch, comprising 1804 Rohingyas, has been transferred from Cox’s Bazar to Bhashan Char today (Wednesday). The government would like to make it unambiguously clear that the relocation process, which was commenced on 4 December 2020, in line with the GOB’s efforts to decongest and de-risk the camps, strictly followed the principle of voluntariness and was conducted with utmost transparency. There was no question of the use of force, intimidation or the use of money to influence the decision of the participants. The Rohingyas, who were relocated, decided to be shifted there voluntarily, as was widely reported by the print and the electronic media. In fact, initially the authority arranged for the relocation of a lesser number of Rohingyas. However, due to increased interest and enthusiasm, eventually more Rohingyas volunteered and participated in the relocation process willingly, the statement said. The relocation took place in the presence of representatives of media, civil society and NGOs. None of them raised any question of coercion or use of force. Rather, when interviewed, the Rohingyas informed that they were encouraged by the positive reports on Bhashan Char that were shared with them by their relatives who were already in the island. The government would like to reemphasise that Bhashan Char is completely safe and suitable for human habitation. The 30 years’ old island has all the amenities including healthcare, drinking water, options for economic activities, cyclone shelters etc. The island offers enough space for the free movement of the Rohingyas. Bangladesh Inland water transport corporation (BIWTC) has already introduced regular sea-truck service between Bhashan Char and Noakhali. It is a known fact that the geographic location of Bangladesh has exposed the country to regular natural disasters like cyclone and flood. However, the country’s resilience in the face of natural disaster is well-acclaimed. Over the years, Bangladesh has developed effective disaster management system. For Bhashan Char, much better infrastructure has been put in place involving renowned international companies. The British firm HR Wallingford was involved in the stability survey of the island. In fact, the island was developed as per their recommendation and design. The flood and shore protection measures with 12.1 km long and sufficiently higher embankment designed by the HR Wallingford secures the island from massive tidal waves and cyclones. This is supplemented by the installation of modern hydrographic monitoring and warning system that can provide early warning on any natural hazards and enable prior evacuation. The efficacy and strength of the infrastructure of Bhashan Char and its disaster protection measures have been tested during the deadly cyclone AMPHAN. To address any extreme situation, there are arrangements for evacuation in a timely manner as per GOB’s disaster response management framework, according to the ministry. The government has also ensured sufficient safety measures for the Rohingyas in Bhashan Char. The island is under 24 hr CCTV coverage. Deployment of law enforcement agencies, female police personnel, hospitals and community clinics fully manned with trained health professionals including female health professionals, etc have ensured the security of the inhabitants of the island. Since the relocation of the first batch, three new births took place in Bhashan Char. All these three new-born along with their mothers are in good health. Efforts are also underway to involve the relocated Rohingyas in various activities such as fishing, agriculture and other livelihood activities. A high-level committee, under the direct supervision of the Principal Secretary, has been monitoring the activities in Bhashan Char. The government wishes to thank the CSOs and the NGOs that are partnering with it in its relocation efforts. The government welcomes and expects involvement of more CSOs to open their operations in Bhashan Char. At the same time, the GOB reiterates its stance on the involvement of the UN in the process and is ready to facilitate participation of the UN as per its mandate. However, the government is dismayed to see the generation of distorted and misinformation surrounding Bhashan Char and the relocation process. “It is also disheartening that instead of appreciating the good intention of Bangladesh, some quarters have resorted to orchestrating misinformation to create confusion among the international community,” the statement said. “As we repeatedly mentioned, the problem is created by Myanmar and its solution lies solely with Myanmar. Therefore, instead of mounting undue and unjustified pressure on Bangladesh, the international community including the UN/INGOs/international humanitarian and human rights organizations must focus on the egregious human rights violations that the Rohingyas have been facing for generations in Myanmar.” The statement said the UN should send a technical and protection assessment team to Myanmar to assess the situation of the existing Rohingyas and also to see the preparation for repatriation on the ground. It should be remembered that Rohingyas are Myanmar nationals. Bangladesh has been hosting them on a temporary basis purely out of humanitarian gesture. Any arrangement in Bangladesh for Rohingyas is solely temporary in nature. The ministry said Rohingyas want to return to their homeland-Myanmar and all need to work constructively to that end. “Now that the election of Myanmar is over, we look forward to visible engagement of the international community with Myanmar for an urgent and early repatriation of these displaced and persecuted Myanmar nationals to their homeland,” the statement added. Source: BSS AH

A parliamentary standing committee has recommended for suspending all the incoming flights from London as the new strain of coronavirus spread there. It also made recommendation that the London returnees have to maintain 14-day mandatory quarantine until the flights are cancelled. The recommendations were made at the seventh meeting of parliamentary standing committee of health and family welfare ministry at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday. It is known that due to the virus contraction at least 40 countries including Germany, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, Turkey and Canada have temporarily suspended aviation communication with United Kingdom so far. Even neighboring country India has imposed ban on flights coming from UK. Jatiya Sangsad public relation department Assistant Director Md. Joynal Abedin said, Beximco Pharmaceuticals will import the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine through Serum Institute of India. In the meeting the health ministry informed the committee that four crore ninety lakh doses of vaccine will be available by June 2021 from the World Health Organization under Covax. AH