The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) under India's drug regulator has recommended granting the Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) to the country's first mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine, people in the know told ET. The SEC recommended the authorisation in a meeting held on Friday. The vaccine is developed by Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals. The recommendation has been sent to the Drugs Controller General of India which will soon decide on the approval, the same people said. In its meeting on Friday, the SEC reviewed data on Gennova's mRNA vaccine. "The experts were satisfied with the data and recommended EUA for the vaccine," a senior government official said. Earlier this month, Gennova had approached the drug regulatory authority seeking EUA for the vaccine. Gennova had in April submitted interim data on the indigenously developed vaccine to the drug regulator. After that, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation had sent some queries to the company. "The company had later come back to the drug regulator and submitted additional data," the official said. The company has conducted Phase-2/3 trials on 4,000 participants to evaluate the vaccine's safety, immunogenicity and tolerability. Gennova had earlier said its vaccine would not require sub-zero temperature for storage, a feature that would make its roll-out in India easy. While India's eligible population has received the primary dose of the Covid-19 vaccines, NITI Aayog member VK Paul had said the mRNA platform continued to be "important in the medium term, near future and beyond". "We need the mRNA platform because it is a new platform, it has shown to be effective worldwide," Paul had said. According to him, the mRNA platform would be useful for developing vaccines for other diseases like malaria, dengue and TB as well. Gennova is also developing an Omicron-specific vaccine on its mRNA platform, with the Omicron variant of Covid-19 becoming the dominant strain. Source: The Economic Times

The Cabinet Division on Sunday formed a five-member committee to look into the leaked video showing Jamalpur’s Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Kabir, who was made OSD, in a compromising situation with a female colleague. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification in this regard, said Additional Secretary (Zila and Field Administration) Gaffar Khan. Reports UNB.   Joint Secretary (Zila and Field Administration) Dr Mohammad Mushfiqur Rahman was made convener of the committee. The other members include representatives of the Public Administration Ministry, Mymensingh Divisional Commissioner and Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).  Cabinet Division’s Deputy Secretary (Field Administration Discipline) was made member secretary of the committee.  The committee was directed to submit its report to the Cabinet Division within 10 working days.  Earlier in the day, Ahmed Kabir was made an officer on special duty (OSD) and attached to the Public Administration Ministry. He was replaced by Mohammad Enamul Haque, who was serving as the personal secretary to the planning minister. Talking to reporters at the secretariat over the incident, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said the virtuousness certificate of Kabir will be withdrawn as he had committed an unethical deed. Replying to a query about having a private room for the DC, he said, “This incident has taught us to be careful in future.” The State Minister said if the woman involved in the incident is identified to be a government employee, both the DC and the woman will be punished. The video of Jamalpur DC and his female colleague was uploaded from a Facebook account named Khandakar Shohel on Thursday night but was removed on Friday. In the meantime, it went viral through the Facebook Messenger App within few hours that turned into the talk of social media platforms and drew public attention. Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam on Saturday told UNB that they were looking into the matter. AH

In the Bangladesh Garments Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) polls the Sammilita Forum led by Rubana Huq has won all the 35 posts of directors. Rubana Huq is the Managing Director of Mohammadi Group and wife of late mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation Annisul Huq. The voting took place at BGMEA bhaban at Karwan Bazar area in the capital from 8 am to 4 pm on Saturday. After the voting BGMEA election conducting board declared the result. After the voting one of the board members Barrister Nuhad Kabir said, voting was completed in a fair and peaceful manner. 1492 votes were cast out of 1956 voters and of those 99 votes were cancelled. Voting rate is 76.27 percent. The winner directors are-Rubana Haque, SM Mannan, Faisal Samad, Mohammad Nasir, Asif Ibrahim, Arshad Jamal, MA Rahim, KM Rafiqul Islam, Shahidul Haque, Mashiul Azam, Inamul Haque Khan, Masud Kader, Iqbal Hamid Koraishi, Nasir Uddin, Kamal Uddin, Sajjadur Rahman Mridha, Rezwan Selim, Munir Hossain, AKM Badiul Alam, Miran Ali, Abdul Momen, Mosharraf Hossain Dhali, Shihab Uddoza Chowdhury, Mahiuddin Rubel, Sharif Jahir and Nazrul Islam. The winner under this panel from Chattogram region- Abdus Salam, AM Chowdhury, AM Mahbub Chowdhury, Enamul Aziz Chowdhury, Mohammad Atiq, Khondoker Belayet Hossain, Anjan Shekhar Das, Mohammad Musa and Meraj-e-Mostafa. In the biennial election for 2019-21 tenure 53 candidates took part in the election for 35 director posts. The voting was held for 26 posts as 9 candidates from Chattogram were elected uncontested. There 44 candidates competed. Of them 26 from Sammilita Forum, 17 from Swadhinata Parishad and one independent candidates. According to BGMEA election conducting board, the elected directors will elect president, senior vice president and vice president through votes on April 18. Later the existing committee will hand over responsibility to the new elected BGMEA committee on April 21. Swadhinata Parishad panel led by Design and Source Managing Director Jahangir Alam was the lone competitor of Sammilita Forum in the election. AH      

Dhaka University (DU) Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman has formed a seven-member probe panel to look into the allegations of irregularities in the elections to DU Central Student's Union (DUCSU) and hall unions. Sajeda Banu, a Supernumerary Professor of the Mathematics department, has been made chief of the committee while Assistant Proctor of the university Dr M Maksudur Rahman its member secretary, said a DU press release on Thursday. Reports UNB. The other members of the investigation committee are Dean of Biological Science faculty Dr Md Imdadul Hoque, provosts of Sir PJ Hartog International Hall Dr Md Mohiuddin, Chairman of Economics department Dr Shafique uz Zaman, Syndicate member Mohammad Humayun Kabir and Prof Dr Sharmin Rumi Alim of Nutrition and Food Science Institute. The committee has been asked to submit its report within seven working days. AH

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) nominated candidates have won all the posts of Haji Mohammad Mohsin hall union election in Dhaka University. The responsible Presiding Officer of the hall declared the results on Monday afternoon. BCL nominated candidate Shahidul Haque Shishir won the Vice President post while under the same panel Mehedi Hasan Mizan won the General Secretary post. Shahidul Haque Shishir obtained 760 votes. His nearest competitor Shakil Mia got 217 votes. Mehedi Hasan Mizan obtained 621 votes while his nearest competitor Mizan Rahman got 251 votes. Besides BCL candidates also won the rest 11 posts. Earlier, at 8 am on Monday Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election began. But the voting in Rokeya hall began one hour later. Besides, voting began after three hours in Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree hall as the student protested over the incident of recovering ballot papers in a sack. The incident triggered changing of hall Provost. Meanwhile, all panels of student organizations boycotted the DUCSU election except BCL. The declaration came in after holding press conference at Madhu’s Canteen on Monday afternoon by the student organizations and panels. AH

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has announced panel for Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and hall council elections. The BNP associated students organization has announced 25-member panel for central council and 13-member panel for hall council elections. JCD central committee general secretary Akramul Hasan announced the panel at BNP’s central office at Nayapaltan in the capital on Monday. No top central and university level leader was kept in the JCD panel. They were excluded for the condition of 30 years age limit to be a voter and candidate for DUCSU election. According to the declared panel Md. Mostafizur Rahman will contest for the VP post, Khondoker Anisur Rahman for the GS post and Khorshed Alam Sohel will contest for the AGS post. Though no important central and university level leader of JCD is not participating in the top three posts of DUCSU election but Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) has nominated central and university committee top leaders for the said posts. The other JCD nominated candidates for the secretarial posts are- Jafrul Hasan Nadim for independence and liberation war affairs secretary, Maksudur Rahman for science and technology secretary, Kaneta Islam for common room and cafeteria secretary, Ashraful Alam Ujjal for international affairs secretary, Minhaj Ahmed Prince for literature and publication secretary, Kaiyum Ul Islam for cultural affairs secretary, Moniruzzaman Mamun for sports secretary, Mahfuzur Rahman Chowdhury for students transport secretary and Touhidul Islam for social service secretary. Those who will contest for member posts are- Habibul Bashar, Arif Hossain, Iqbal Hossain, Sahab Uddin, Mahmudul Hasan, Safayat Hasnain Sabit, Tanvir Azadi Sakib, Sultan Md. Salauddin Siddik, Shariful, Imam Al Naser Mishuk and Alamgir Hossain. After long 28 years the DUCSU and hall students council elections are going to be held on March 11. The last date of nomination paper collection was on February 25. After scrutiny on March 2 the final candidate list will be published on the following day. AH 

Ruling party Awami League’s brotherly organization Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) has announced panel to participate in the upcoming DUCSU election. In this panel Rezwanul Haque Shovon was announced as vice-president and Golam Rabbani was announced as general secretary candidate. BCL formally announced the panel on Sunday afternoon. In the panel BCL Dhaka University unit general secretary Saddam Hossain will compete at AGS. The other nominated candidates are- Mazharul Kabir Shayan for literature secretary post, BM Lipi Akter for common room and cafeteria secretary, Shakil Ahmed Tanvir for sports secretary, Saad bin Kader for liberation war affairs secretary, Arif Ibne Ali for science and technology affairs secretary, Shams e Noman for cultural affairs secretary, Shahrima Tanzina Orni for international affairs secretary, Rakib Hawlader for students transport affairs secretary and Azizul Haque Sarkar was nominated for the post of social service affairs secretary. The BCL nominated panel members are-Chibal Sangma, Nazrul Islam, Rakibul Hasan, Rakibul Hasan Oitijjo, Tanvir Hasan Saikat, Raisa Naser, Sabrina Iti, Ishat Kashfia Ira, Nipu Islam Tonni, Haider Mohammad Jitu, Tilattoma Shikder, Julfikar Alam Rasel and Mahmudul Hasan. According to the declared schedule for DUCSU election, the last date of nomination paper submission on February 26 and nomination scrutiny on that day. The last date of candidacy withdrawal is on February 28. After scrutiny the preliminary list will be published on hall notice boards and website on March 3. Voting will take place on March 11 (Monday) from 8 am to 2 pm. AH   

A proposal has been sent to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to form a committee to take a decision on the quota system in public service, said Senior Secretary to the Public Administration Ministry M Mozammel Haque Khan on Thursday.   The committee will be constituted with the cabinet secretary as its head and there will be 4-5 members in it, he said. Reports UNB. On Wednesday, Bangladesh General Students’ Rights Protection Alliance gave the government a 24-hour ultimatum to publish a gazette notification on abolishing quota system in government jobs as per the Prime Minister's announcement. The protesters had threatened to go on a tougher movement from Sunday if their demand was not fulfilled by the given time. The senior secretary said the committee will decide whether the quota system will be abolished or reformed. “The gazette notification will be issued after the committee’s recommendations,” he said, adding that the proposal to constitute the committee was sent to the Prime Minister on Thursday. Mozammel expressed the hope that the Prime Minister will take a decision over the committee formation in a couple of days. “The committee will put forward its recommendations and then a decision will be taken as per all’s expectations,” he added. AH

BNP and Jamaat-backed lawyers of the country's highest court have won 10 (including president and secretary) of the 14 posts of executive committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association. On the other hand, Awami League backed lawyers win in four posts. According to the results, BNP Vice-chairman Advocate Joynul Abedin from Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikya Panel was elected SCBA president while Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon general secretary of the bar association respectively outplaying their respective rivals. Convener of SCBA election conducting committee AY Mashiuzzaman announced the results around 7:30 am. Of the total 14 posts, Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikya Forum bagged 10 while four posts including one of vice-president, went to Sammilita Ainjibi Samannay Parisad. The two-day election of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) ended on Thursday. In Supreme Court Bar Association there are 14 posts including one President, two Vice President, one Secretary, one Treasurer, two Vice Secretary and seven Member posts. Members of the council choose a leader for a year in 14 posts.   FU      

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday appointed a commission to probe the communal clashes in the violence-hit Kandy district that prompted him to impose a nationwide state of emergency, according to a media report. Anti-Muslim riots, since Monday, have left two persons dead and damaged several homes, businesses and mosques in the Kandy district. The violence erupted after the death of a man from the mainly Buddhist Sinhalese majority last week. To rein in communal violence, a state of emergency has been imposed by President Maithripala Sirisena’s government. A three-member committee comprising of retired judges will probe whether any violation of law and order is among the reasons for the clashes, evaluate the damages to lives and properties, probe whether there was any conspiratorial hand behind the incidents, Colombo Page reported. The committee will also recommend steps that need to be taken to prevent such incidents in the future, and look into the conduct of relevant authorities in controlling the situation and their accountability, the report said, adding that the retired judges will be named later. A curfew in the district was lifted at dawn on Saturday but the decision to re-impose the curfew in the Kandy administrative district would be taken after reviewing the security situation in the affected areas, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera was quoted as saying by Daily Mirror reported. A total of 146 suspects were arrested in Kandy -- 135 over violence and 11 for violating the curfew since March 4, the report said. ‘The suspects are being interrogated and action will be taken against them under the regulations of the state of emergency,’ Gunasekera was quoted as saying by the report. Tensions between Muslim groups and the majority Sinhalese Buddhist community in the country have escalated since the end of the civil war in May 2009. In 2014, violence directed against Muslim minority groups broke out in the southwestern town of Aluthgama, following a rally by hardline Buddhist nationalist monks, resulting in the death of at least three Muslims. Source: Hindustan Times.