Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the authorities concerned not to hold Iftar party on a large scale at government expense during the holy month of Ramadan. At the same time, the head of the government has discouraged organizing such iftar parties privately. The directives came from a cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday (Feb 28). Cabinet Secretary, Mahbub Hossain briefed reporters after the meeting. Responding to a question Mahbub Hossain said that private iftar parties have also been discouraged by PM. She also said that if anyone wants to hold such events then they should buy food with that money and distribute it among the poor people.

The government has approved Taka 2 crore and 3 lakh for distributing among journalists and their families from Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust (BJWT). State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat today signed a document in this regard, said an official release. The amount will be distributed among a total of 263 journalists soon. Earlier, in the first phase of the current fiscal year, Taka 1 crore 89 lakh and 50 thousand was distributed among 236 journalists and their families. The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina established the BJWT in 2014 to provide financial support to poor, sick and insolvent journalists and their families.   The trust has so far distributed Taka 33.74 crore among 3,932 journalists and their families since 2015-2016 fiscal year. Source: BSS

The students of primary and secondary schools are not able to participate the ‘book festival’ on the very first day of the new year due to coronavirus pandemic situation in the country. In that case the teachers are bringing new books at the door steps of the students. Taking books students are engulfed with joy. Teachers are thinking that this is a new initiative to distribute books. Learning activities are not stopped in this pandemic situation due to different initiatives taken by the government. Teachers are taking classes through online and television. Cumilla High School has taken an exceptional initiative to distribute new books in the new year. Teachers of the school are bringing books at the door steps of the students boarded on rickshaw van. On Friday a group of teachers of Cumilla High School reached at the homes of students with books on rickshaw van at Chanpur area of Cumilla town. They distributed books according to the list. They also brought books on hands where road for rickshaw was not available. After getting the new books a student of Cumilla High School Abul Hasan said, we used to go to school to collect new books in the new year but in this year teachers are giving books going door to door. This is not bad. In this regard Headmaster of Cumilla High School Md. Humayun Kabir said, book festival was not held due to corona pandemic. So we are delivering books at the door steps of the students. Education is the most affected sector in this pandemic situation. In spite of that education ministry is handing over textbooks to the students. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the activities on Thursday. AH   

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a US$9 billion vaccine initiative—the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX)—offering rapid and equitable support to its developing members as they procure and deliver effective and safe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines. “As ADB’s developing members prepare to vaccinate their people as soon as possible, they need financing to procure vaccines as well as appropriate plans and knowledge to be able to safely, equitably, and efficiently manage the vaccination process,” said ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa, said a press release on Friday. “APVAX will play a critical role in helping our developing members meet these challenges, overcome the pandemic, and focus on economic recovery,” he added More than 14.3 million positive cases have been identified in Asia and the Pacific, causing more than 200,000 deaths. As the pandemic persists, economic growth in developing Asia is projected to contract by 0.4 percent in 2020—the first regional gross domestic product contraction since the early 1960s. Promoting safe, equitable, and effective access to vaccines is a top priority for ADB’s COVID-19 response efforts. Vaccination programs can break the chain of virus transmission, save lives, and mitigate the negative economic impacts of the pandemic by restoring confidence in people’s ability to work, travel, and socialize safely. The APVAX provides a comprehensive framework and resource envelope for supporting developing Asia’s vaccine access, using two complementary components. The Rapid Response Component will provide timely support for critical vaccine diagnostics, procurement of vaccines, and transporting vaccines from the place of purchase to ADB’s developing members. The Project Investment Component will support investments in systems for successful distribution, delivery, and administration of vaccines along with associated investments in building capacity, community outreach, and surveillance. This may include such areas as cold-chain storage and transportation, vehicles, distribution infrastructure, processing facilities, and other physical investments. The component may also be used to develop or expand vaccine manufacturing capacity in developing members. ADB financing for vaccines will be provided in close coordination with other development partners including the World Bank Group, World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (COVAX), GAVI, and bilateral and multilateral partners. APVAX promotes safe and effective vaccines to be accessed in a fair manner. For a vaccine to be eligible for financing, it must meet one of three criteria. It must be procured via COVAX, prequalified by WHO, or authorized by a Stringent Regulatory Authority. Additional access criteria, such as a vaccination needs assessment, a vaccine allocation plan by the developing member, and a mechanism for effective coordination among development partners also help ensure that vaccine support under APVAX can be fairly and effectively implemented. ADB is also making available a $500 million ‘Vaccine Import Facility’ to support the efforts of its developing members to secure safe and effective vaccines, as well as the goods that support distribution and inoculation. The facility is part of ADB’s Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program. Source: BSS AH

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said, Oxford invented three crore doses of coronavirus vaccines will be distributed among the people of Bangladesh after buying those from the Serum Institute of India. He delivered the information after informing the virtual cabinet meeting about the latest development of facing second Covid-19 wave and vaccine procurement situation with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair on Monday. On October 14 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the proposal of selling 3 crore doses Oxford invented Covid-19 vaccines to Bangladesh produced by Serum Institute of India. In this regard on November 5, a tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed between Health Services Division and Serum Institute of India and Beximco Pharmaceuticals. Later on November 16 the financial division allocated taka 735 crore 77 lakh 50 thousand to health services division. The Cabinet Secretary said, these vaccines will be distributed free of cost. The government has paid the amount. Three crore vaccines will be distributed for free. Anwarul Islam said, the World Health Organization (WHO) has a guideline. They have developed a program regarding who will get the vaccine at first phase or who will get it on the second phase. There is a protocol like frontline workers- police, administrative officials who work in field level, then elderly people, children and vulnerable groups. AH  

‘Alor Ferywala’ Polan Sarkar will not distribute books for free anymore by visiting village after villages. He breathed his last at the age of 98 years on Friday at his residence of Bausa village under Bagha upazila of Rajshahi due to old age complications. Haider Ali, son of Polan Sarkar confirmed the information. He said that his father was suffering from different old age complications for the last several days. Polan Sarkar waged a social movement of reading books by distributing books for free after going home to homes. For his achievement he was awarded the ‘Ekushey Medal’ in 2011. Many receptions were accorded to him. A drama named ‘Sayanne Surjodoy’ was made centering him. Following the death of Polan Sarkar State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam in a condolence message said that the nation lost a social worker due to the death. He said, Polan Sarkar waged an extraordinary education movement throughout 20 villages in Rajshahi. After buying books with his own money he distributed those among the backward villagers. The people of Rajshahi and the nation will memorize him for eternal period. Polan Sarkar was born in 1921. His real name is Harej Uddin. But he was popularly known as Polan Sarkar. His father died when he was just five months old. He had to conclude his education when he was in class six. But he continued his lessons with his own efforts. Polan Sarkar was the president of a high school governing body. He was a book lover. Every year he distributed books among the students who stood 1st to 20th  in the merit list. From there his journey of distributing books began. After that he distributed books among all. When he was diagnosed as a diabetic patient he then used to distribute books by walking. He did the job for more than 30 years. AH     

The ruling Awami League (AL) will distribute its nomination papers for parliamentary reserved women seats among the aspirants in the 11th Jatiya Sangsad from Tuesday (January 15). The aspirants can collect the nomination papers from Awami League President’s Dhanmondi office after 10 am. The information came through a press release signed by Awami League office secretary Dr. Abdus Sobhan Golap, MP. Earlier on December 30 the eleventh national parliament election was held in 299 constituencies. The Grand Alliance led by Awami League won 288 seats in that election. Jatiya Oikyafront led by BNP got 8 seats. AH