|
Jan 10, 2021 NEWSLETTER |
|
|
Bangladesh plans mass COVID-19 vaccination for 140 million people, positivity dips 8 month low The government will inoculate in phases nearly 14o million people against Covid-19 with double-dose vaccine from the COVAX facility under a pandemic preparedness project. The COVAX facility is a global initiative coordinated by WHO, GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance and Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). Healthcare professionals, law enforcers, government officials and employees, media professionals and public representatives are among the 11 top-listed groups to get the vaccines. Last week, the country approved the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India, paving the way for bringing the vaccine for emergency use. Moreover, a total of 684 people tested positive for the Covid-19 in the past 24 hours the lowest in around eight months, according to the health directorate. |
|
HPM Sheikh Hasina highlights her government’s successes and priorities in address to nation 
While addressing the nation marking the second anniversary of the incumbent government Honourable Prime Minister (HPM) Sheikh Hasina set the GDP growth projection for the current fiscal year to 7.4% taking into account the fallouts of the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, the Awami League led governmenthas completed two years of its third consecutive term in office, continuing with various development activities as per its 2018 electoral manifesto. During this long period, the country saw massive development in all sectors and as a result, Bangladesh has emerged as a role model of development in the world. She also earned acclamation for her diplomacy with super powers along with neighbouring countries as no other head of the government was seen equally, striking a balance among China, America, Russia, India and Japan. Moreover, the international communities, including the United Nations, have given awards to HPM Sheikh Hasina for her outstanding contributions to various fields. |
|
|
Bangladesh Economy 2020: Rising from the rubble, remittance hits $21.7b, an all-time high 
While a cloud of uncertainty gripped the global economy with the outbreak of the Covid-19, the government, in a bid to protect the people and the economy, rolled out a massive stimulus package, one of the largest in the world. It capped bank interest rates below single digit to help firms and businesses borrow at a record low rate. Moreover, the reopening of the economy in June was a very bold move and proved to be a judicious one. The food production, remittance, the stimulus package, the reopening, and the uptick in domestic demand and exports put the country on the path of recovery. On impact, despite the pandemic, Bangladesh is set to post the third-highest growth in the world and the highest in Asia in 2020, according to the International Monetary Fund. In addition, the robust flow of remittance lifted the country's foreign exchange reserves to record highs and put the country on a firm footing. |
|
|
School textbook distribution begins across Bangladesh 
The nationwide textbook distribution among school students began on the first day of the year, as has been the tradition for the last 10 years - but without the usual fanfare because of the ongoing pandemic. It came just a day after HPM Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the distribution through a videoconference from her official residence Ganabhaban in Dhaka. Braving the pandemic, the government took all-out measures to distribute new textbooks among more than 41.6 million students from pre-primary to secondary levels. A total of 2,13,288 books printed in special language will be distributed among 94,275 ethnic students (Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Garo and Sadri) of pre-primary to third grades. The books have been printed in five languages. |
|
IT keeps all activities afloat during pandemic 
Information technology has become a blessing for the people of the country when the business sector and economy faced huge loss due to the coronavirus pandemic. The entire education system of the country has become online based now. The use of mobile internet including broadband internet has increased tremendously. Smartphone sales have increased due to the introduction of virtual meetings and classes. Shopping through e-commerce accelerated in the pandemic. Meetings, seminars and press conferences are also held on virtual platforms. Breaking the traditional process to get advice from a doctor during the pandemic the different virtual platforms have become widely popular. On impact, the country's telemedicine market is getting bigger and bigger. |
|
BANGLADESH AWAMI LEAGUE |
|