People all over the country are suffering from load shedding day and night in the uncomfortable heat. Even the weather office could not give any good news in this situation. Saying, there is no sign of this fever coming down anytime soon. It will be sickly hot for a few more days.

Due to load shedding in intense heat, the people of the capital Dhaka are suffering. The temperature in Dhaka was recorded at 37 degrees Celsius on Saturday. But the heat is felt more than 40 degrees Celsius.

Azwad Rahman, a resident of Khilkhet, said that the electricity has been going off for several days around 12 o'clock at night. It comes after an hour. Then the electricity went out again around 3 o'clock. There is no electricity for an hour about 3 to 4 times a day.

Rahim Sheikh, a resident of Panthpath, said that no light or air enters the house where I live. Then there is no electricity twice a night during intense heat. He said he sleeps only a few hours a night. After that, I have to go to the office again in the morning.

The workers say that it is not possible to work in summer. There are less people on the road. It has reduced income.

Regarding load shedding, the electricity department said, on Saturday (June 3) at 12 noon, 11 thousand 674 megawatts of electricity was generated against the demand of about 14 thousand (13921) megawatts. 2 thousand 247 megawatts have been produced less than the demand.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Power Nasrul Hamid told reporters after a program in Savar on Saturday that one unit of the Payra power plant has already been closed due to the coal shortage. Another unit will also be closed after June 5.

He further said that it will take at least 20 to 25 days to import coal. Load shedding has increased in the country due to the shutdown of several power plants. About 1700 MW load shedding is going on.

Nasrul Hamid said, we are struggling with oil. Now we are diverting most of the gas to industry. And the heat increased, went above 38 degrees, in some places it became 40-41 degrees. This has increased the demand for electricity, resulting in increased load shedding. This situation will remain for some days.

The Meteorological Department has said that there is no chance of rain in most parts of the country. The heat wave may continue for another four to five days.

Assistant meteorologist Kazi Zebunnessa said, severe and mild to moderate heat waves are flowing in some parts of the country. The heat wave may continue for another four to five days. But it has rained in Sylhet. Khulna, Barisal, Chattogram and Sylhet are likely to rain at one or two places, but there is no chance of rain elsewhere.

Journalist leaders and teachers have complained that journalists are being repeatedly attacked with the help of the Chittagong University (CU) administration. They said, "The officials of the administration are rather happy to beat up the journalists." Because journalists are highlighting various corruption and irregularities in the administration. That may be why the attackers are treated humanely instead of facing punishment.

The speakers of the human chain organized by Chittagong University Journalists' Association (CUSS) and Chittagong University  ex-Journalists Network (CUGN) to protest the torture of journalists said these things.

 The human chain was organized in front of the administrative building of the university at 11:30 on Tuesday (September 26).

Chattogram Journalist Union President Tapan Chakraborty, General Secretary Md. Shamsul Islam, Chattogram University Communication and Journalism Alumni Association President Shimul Nazrul, CUJN President Hamid Ullah and others.

The dean of the Faculty of Sociology of the University, Siraj Ud Daullah, the teacher of the Communication Journalism Department of Chittagong University spoke in solidarity with the human bond. Ali Azgar Chowdhury, Khandkar Ali and Raji and Shahab Uddin.

President of CUJN Hamid Ullah said, "The character of none of the BCL has changed since the camp. Today, those who are carrying out various anarchy in the name of Chhatra League, it will be seen from the news that they were followers of some other party earlier. Journalists are being attacked because they are writing about injustices and irregularities. We don't want to stand in such protest anymore. In the future, we will stand in front of the houses of the administration officials.

Sabur Shubo, general secretary of CUJN said, "Instead of bringing the attackers to justice, the university has received humane treatment from the authorities." Remember, as we know how to write, we also know how to protest.

Professor of mass communication and journalism department Ali Azgar Chowdhury said, "The attack on Musharraf was completely planned. The attackers were punished as show. If you fail to punish, we will assume you are patronizing them. We have even seen those who attacked journalists get an opportunity to take the exam despite being expelled. It is not possible without the help of the administration.

Professor Siraj Ud Daullah, dean of the Faculty of Sociology, said, "Journalists had to stand in human chain to demand justice." It is embarrassing for the university or the state. We hope that the attack on Musharraf Shah will not be repeated. Besides, I am in complete solidarity with the demands of the journalists from the human chain. I call on the administration to implement it in action, not just in words.

General Secretary of Chattogram Journalist Union Shamsul Islam said, "Today, our colleague Musharraf is laying on the hospital bed after being attacked by the Chhatra League which we never expected. Today the expelled, non-students are staying in the hall. This makes your failure clear. Expel those who attacked Musharraf from the campus. If you can't, then leave the administration chair.

Chattogram Journalist Union President Tapan Chakraborty said to the Chhatra League, "You fight yourselves, vandalize the vice-chancellor's residence, then you also attack journalists." I want to say to the vice chancellor, why are you indulging them? We have come to know that various irregularities are taking place here under your umbrella including recruitment trade, extortion. If action is not taken against those involved in this incident within 24 hours, we will go to the honorable Prime Minister if necessary.

CUSS president Mahbub A Rahman said in the closing speech, "Those who shed the blood of Musharraf Shah, they shed the blood of all the journalists of the country." Journalists act as representatives of students. If journalists are not safe today, how safe are the students here?

Election Commissioner Md. Alamgir said that observers from SAARC countries will be invited to observe the upcoming national elections.

He said this while talking to reporters on Tuesday (September 26).

EC Alamgir said that if the 12th National Assembly elections are not held by January 29, 2024, a constitutional vacuum will be created. Although the European Union (EU) did not send a full team to that election, many other countries did.

SAARC countries (Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) will be invited by the Election Commission. He said that a letter will be sent inviting them next month.

At this time, in response to another question of the journalists, he said, we want more number of local and foreign observers to observe the election. He expressed hope that foreign observers will come before the vote.

Christina Lu, on behalf of prestigious journal 'Foreign Affairs' focuses on this week's 'World Brief', where she looks at U.S. efforts to counter China’s Pacific diplomacy, the exodus from Nagorno-Karabakh, and Bangladesh’s deadly dengue outbreak.

Bangladesh’s historic dengue outbreak

Bangladeshi officials are scrambling to respond to the country’s worst-ever dengue outbreak as rising case numbers test the country’s medical infrastructure and drive up the prices of some treatments.

Dhaka has already documented more than 900 dengue-related fatalities in 2023, officials announced on Monday—a sharp increase from 281 deaths last year.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently supporting Dhaka’s efforts to bolster lab capacity, surveillance, clinical management, risk communication, and vector control, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said earlier this month.

“We have trained doctors and deployed experts on the ground,” he said. “We have also provided supplies to test for dengue and support care for patients.”

The Election Commission (EC) lifted the ban on the use of motorcycles by journalists on the day of the 12th National Assembly elections.

EC Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath gave the information on Monday (September 25).

He said that the policy regarding the use of motorcycles by journalists has been amended. According to the new decision, journalists can use motorcycles on polling days.

Earlier, the Election Commission had issued a policy on April 12 regarding journalists gathering news on polling day.

According to the policy, a reasonable number of vehicle stickers will be issued for journalists to travel. However, motorcycles cannot be used.

The policy also states that only journalists with valid cards issued by the Election Commission can directly enter polling stations.

However, after entering the polling station, the presiding officer can be notified to collect information, take pictures and video of the polling process. However, you cannot take pictures of the inside of the secret room.

At the same time, more than two media journalists cannot enter the same polling booth and cannot stay in the polling booth for more than 10 minutes.

In addition, journalists cannot interview election officials, election agents or voters in polling booths.

Not only that, there can be no live broadcast from inside the polling booth. At that time, the EC issued a total of 13 directives for journalists.