Archive for August, 2009
Sunday, August 30th, 2009Thirty-one new cases of swine flu were detected yesterday with experts warning Bangladesh's alert level may soon be upgraded to "level 3" as the virus is quickly spreading from small clusters to the wider community.These new cases bring the number of swine flu infection in Bangladesh to 194 since June 18."The situation is still at level 2, but as the infection is spreading rapidly, we're taking preparations to manage the patients presuming a level 3 ahead," said Senior Scientific Officer of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Moshtaque Hossain.He was speaking at a seminar on swine flu ...
(read more) Sunday, August 30th, 2009As the prime minister sought explanation from Petrobangla chairman why he was so eager to award US company Chevron a $52.7 million contract to install a gas compressor station over the Gas Transmission Company Ltd (GTCL) system by cancelling an open tender, the chairman gave a smoky response last week.Sources said the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) asked Petrobangla Chairman M Muktadir Ali to explain a host of issues related to the gas compressor scheme, including why the GTCL tender for compressors was cancelled and whether he had taken into cognisance 16 technical questions raised by a GTCL consultant.While seeking the ...
(read more) Sunday, August 30th, 2009Due to lack of manpower, other facilities and increasing number of patients, doctors at the outdoor departments of important city hospitals can only see a patient for as little as less than two minutes.While the number of patients has more than doubled in the last few years, the number of doctors has not increased at all.After buying a ticket and waiting in line for hours, outpatients often see that the doctor has finished writing the prescription before they had even finished telling what their problem was.An attendant of a patient at the outdoor section of Suhrawardi Hospital said, "We ...
(read more) Sunday, August 30th, 2009The United Nations has asked its staff not to fly Biman Bangladesh Airlines for lack of safety and security arrangements and flight delays, landing another blow to the reputation of the national flag carrier.The UN Division for Security Services issued a directive two years ago deeming Biman too risky for its staff. Any UN employee wishing to fly Biman would have to do so at their own risk, said several UN officials in Dhaka and New York.The decision was based on Biman's past records of safety, regularity, delays or cancellation of flights, service quality, condition of aircraft and business goodwill, ...
(read more) Sunday, August 30th, 2009Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought strong international support and high technological and financial assistance for implementing comprehensive programmes being undertaken for adaptation to climate change and mitigation of its severe adversities in Bangladesh.“Bangladesh is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. It deserves strong international support as the country is being terrifically affected by global warming for no fault of its own,” she said.The prime minister made the remarks when newly appointed Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Urs Herren paid a courtesy call on her at her official residence Jamuna yesterday.Sheikh Hasina told the Swiss envoy that her ...
(read more) Sunday, August 30th, 2009The government is going to introduce exclusive bus services for school children by late October as part of its effort to ease terrible traffic jams that waste valuable time and energy of people living in Dhaka.Following an inter-ministry meeting on traffic congestion held on August 20, the Dhaka Transport Coordination Board decided this."Our aim is to create easy public transportation for students and at the same time reduce traffic jams by 40 percent," SM Salehuddin, additional executive secretary of DTCB, told The Daily Star.The DTCB has already come to an agreement with Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Bangladesh Road ...
(read more) Sunday, August 30th, 2009Six alleged robbers were beaten to death by mobs and another was killed in a 'shootout' with cops in separate incidents yesterday.A mob beat four alleged robbers to death in South Fedai Nagar village of Sitakunda upazila in Chittagong early yesterday, reports our Chittagong correspondent.Two of the deceased were identified as Yunus, 30, and Bablu, 22, of the same village.Police said a gang of ten robbers was preparing to commit a robbery in the village at around 3:00am.Some of the villagers sensed it, captured four of the robbers and beat them to death.Police recovered two choppers and ...
(read more) Sunday, August 30th, 2009Swine flu spreads four times faster than other viruses and 40 percent of the fatalities are young adults in good health, the world's top health official warned in an interview appearing yesterday."This virus travels at an unbelievable, almost unheard of speed," World Health Organisation Director General Margaret Chan told France's Le Monde daily in an interview."In six weeks it travels the same distance that other viruses take six months to cover," Chan said."Sixty percent of the deaths cover those who have underlying health problems," Chan said. "This means that 40 percent of the fatalities concern young adults -- in good ...
(read more) Sunday, August 30th, 2009Thugs beat up an Iranian national and snatched her cash and jewelries on August 26 while she was traveling on a taxi.The victim Ashraf Aghazadeh alias Mina is the vice-principal of Bailey Road branch of Gateway International School.She said she fell victim at Paribagh around 8:30pm while she was returning home on a taxi from Lalmatia."My taxi driver pretended that the car broke down and stopped it at Paribagh. In no time, three armed muggers got into the cab and sat on my both sides. Right then the taxi started and took me in front of the Prime Minister's ...
(read more) Sunday, August 30th, 2009The present government has no authority to hold the trial of 1971 war criminals, BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Chowdhury said yesterday."This government may have the power to hold the trial of war criminals but it doesn't have the authority to do so," Salauddin said at BBC Bangladesh Sanglap at Bangabandhu International Convention Centre.The BNP leader said the trial of war criminals is a very serious issue but it has been used for political gains."Allegations of war crimes have been brought against people for political reasons. Various ministers have accused a few people of committing war crimes but ...
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