Health minister Samanta Lal Sen said about 90-100 percent of the bodies of most of the victims were burnt in the gas cylinder blast in Gazipur. All of them are in critical condition. He said this to the reporters while visiting the burnt victims admitted to the hospital on Wednesday (March 13) evening. Five adults and seven children are undergoing treatment at the ICU of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, he added. At least 35 people, including women and children were burnt in the incident at around 5:30 pm. According to some sources, a cooking gas cylinder started leaking at a house in the colony. The resident of the house brought the it to the main door and threw the gas cylinder on the road, leading to the unfortunate explosion.  

Shakib Al Hasan has been diagnosed with a retinal condition in his left eye, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed that on on Wednesday (Jan 24). "Shakib has been complaining of subtle issues with his left eye. After consulting Ophthalmologists in Bangladesh and abroad and after multiple eye assessments, it was confirmed that he is suffering from Extrafoveal Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSR) of the left eye,” BCB Senior Physician Dr Debashis Chowdhury said. "It is a condition that affects the retina, leading to visual disturbances. The medical team overseeing Shakib's case is optimistic about managing the condition effectively with a conservative approach,” he said.

Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, the famous director, recently suffered a mild brain stroke and was hospitalised. According to his wife, Nusrat Imrose Tisha, his health condition has improved. In an update provided by Tisha, she mentioned that Farooki spent another day in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit (ICU).  The doctors have indicated that he may be transferred to a regular hospital cabin soon, and if his condition remains stable, he might even be allowed to go home. Tisha shared this information in an interview, emphasising the need for Farooki to get proper rest for a full recovery.    In a post on her official social media handles on Wednesday (Jan 24) evening, she expressed hope that he will resume work soon, stating, "Mostofa is still under doctors' observation in the Neuro ICU. His health is improving, but he needs proper rest for a proper recovery. He will soon resume work, Inshaallah,"   Farooki's most recent web-film, "Something Like An Autobiography", was released on the OTT platform Chorki. This film also marks his first on-screen leading role.

Cold day condition may prevail at places over thecountry due to thick fog for the next two or three days and weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).   Air navigation, inland river transport and road communication may be disrupted due to thick fog which may occur over the country during midnight to morning and it may continue till noon at places over the country. Night and day temperature may rise slightly over the country. Source: BSS

Pakistan is one of the fifty-two countries facing a severe debt crisis and the repayment and servicing of external debt are amongst the most severe issues faced by the country. According to Islam Khabar, persistent borrowing creates a spiral with more borrowing leading to an impending economic crisis. Evidence supports the view that a large portion of the government debt has a negative impact on economic growth potential, and in many cases, the impact gets more pronounced as debt increases. Reports say that the high degree of indebtedness has made Pakistan more vulnerable to economic shocks and weakened it politically vis-a-vis external lenders. With an external public debt of over USD 90 billion, Pakistan is clearly on the brink of an economic disaster.   Citing the Ministry of Economic Affairs data, Islama Khabar reported that Pakistan made a net addition of USD 4.77 billion in the first half (July-December 2021) of the current fiscal year to its total external public debt of USD 90.6 billion. Consequently, reserves of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) plummeted to USD 10.308 billion, a decrease of USD 190 million. External debt repayments resulted in the rapid descent in reserves. According to official figures, reserves which the SBP currently possesses can cover imports, for only about 1.54 months. In addition, the decline of foreign exchange reserves is a result of Pakistan's inflation of twin deficits, a lack of foreign currency inflows, and a sharp increase in the foreign debt servicing obligations, Islam Khabar further reported. Notably, Shehbaz Sharif's government has increased the petrol and diesel prices by PKR 30 per litre causing a surge in the cost of production in the country.   This price hike came after talks between the Pakistan government and IMF in Doha. These discussions were aimed at reaching an agreement on policies at the conclusion of the IMF's seventh review of its USD 6 billion programmes for Pakistan, which has been stalled since early April. The IMF had refused to revive the USD 6 billion programme if Pakistan fails to remove the fiscally unsustainable fuel and electricity subsidies. It had given Islamabad two days to lift the cap for the continuation of talks. Source: ANI

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that the health condition of Begum Khaleda Zia who is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital, is developing. He informed that she has no breathing problem at the moment and the oxygen saturation is good. But she is suffering from some post Covid complications. It is a matter of concern. Referring the physicians he also informed that there are some problems in her heart and kidneys. In this situation she needs better treatment which is not available in the country. She needs to provide treatment abroad but the government did not permit. The BNP leader was speaking at a program at National Press Club on Friday. Thanking journalist Rozina Islam, Mirza Fakhrul said, thanks to Rozina. Because she upheld corruption of the health ministry and government bravely. For this reason health ministry and the government are angry over Rozina. About not granting bail to Rozina he said, bail process is being delayed illegally. The habit of Awami League government is to file cases. He commented that unjust act should be termed as unjust. At present people are being killed after torturing him during remand under police custody. Mirza Fakhrul said that due to the division among journalist society movement does not come out as successful. The program presided over by Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal president Afroza Abbas where BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwer Chandra Roy and party vice chairman Shawkat Mahmud delivered their speeches. AH

Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, BNP vice chairman and one of the members of medical board assigned to treat BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia delivered information to the journalists about the party chief’s latest health condition. He said that BNP Chairperson is currently receiving treatment at CCU and her physical condition is stable. Mentionable, Begum Khaleda Zia is undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital at Basundhara residential area in the capital. Dr. Zahid Hossain said, the treatment that the medical board provided after examining her physical condition is being continued. About shifting BNP chief abroad he said, you know that appeal was made on behalf of the family members to the government for shifting her abroad. Now it is the matter of government how they would approve it. Currently Begum Zia is undergoing treatment under supervision of a medical board formed by the renowned physicians of the country. BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia detected with Covid-19 on April 10. Soon after her treatment began at her Gulshan residence ‘Firoza’ led by her personal physician Professor FM Siddique. After 14 days her corona test report again came out as positive. Then she was admitted at Evercare Hospital on April 27. Later a 10-member medical board was formed led by Dr. Shahabuddin Talukder to treat her. AH  

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has decided to resume international commercial flight operation under strict conditional basis in this corona pandemic situation. The information was delivered through a notice of CAAB on Saturday. The notice said, decision has been taken to resume international commercial flights under special conditional purpose from May 1 except the countries which are considered as the most risky. It said, a notification was issued for resuming international flight operation on behalf of CAAB after imposing special conditions to travel 38 countries considering the current Covid infection rate. According to the notification air bubble flights have been remained suspended, temporary communication cut with the most risky countries and 14-day institutional quarantine has been made compulsory for the passengers from the risky countries. It was also mentioned in the notification, the passengers arriving from the countries out of the list have to bring the negative certificate and also they have to maintain strict 14-day home quarantine. As an exception the passengers coming from three Middle East countries (Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait) have to follow three-day institutional quarantine management though those are in the list of risky countries. Later they will be considered to maintain 11-day home quarantine or isolation based on their health examination results.   The notification mentioned that through this management the stranded immigrant passengers will be able to get opportunity to go to their destination or work station and they were also urged by the authority to provide all types of cooperation to ensure and implement the health guidelines and other conditions. AH     

The condition of Ghoraghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Wahida Khanam, who suffered serious injuries in an attack by miscreants on Thursday, is now stable, said a physician at the National Institute of Neurosciences & Hospital. “Her condition is stable after doctors conducted a surgery from 9:30 pm to 11 pm on Thursday. She’s undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit (ICU),” said Dr Badrul Alam, joint director of the hospital. “Doctors at the ICU have informed me she (Wahida) is stable now and today they’ll conduct some tests,” he said while talking to UNB over phone. Wahida Khanam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Ghoraghat, was seriously injured in an attack by miscreants at her home on the Upazila Parishad premises early Thursday. Her father Omar Ali was also injured in the gruesome attack. They were taken to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital. Later, the UNO was airlifted from Rangpur to Dhaka by a Bangladesh Air Force MI-171SH helicopter. She was admitted to the National Institute of Neurosciences & Hospital, Dhaka. Source: UNB AH

The physical condition of former health minister and Awami League presidium member Mohammad Nasim is very critical. The information was confirmed by his son Tanvir Shakil Joy. He informed the newsmen about it on Saturday and sought doa from all for his recovery. Mohammad Nasim is currently being treated with ventilator at the ICU of a private hospital in the capital. Joy said that the physicians will take their further decision after 72 hours. The former health minister was tested corona positive and suffered a stroke on Friday early morning. As his condition deteriorated he was undergone a successful surgery. AH