Bangladesh in world media this week

In an increasingly globalised world, it pays to know how other countries are viewing our own nation. That is especially true for this week, since the entire world stood beside us in celebrating the International Mother Language Day.

So, let us see through which stories Bangladesh made it to the international media between February 19 and February 26. Here are our top 5 picks for the week:

Bangladesh inoculates older sex workers at biggest brothel

On February 24, Thomson Reuters Foundation reported that Bangladesh started inoculating older sex workers at the country’s biggest brothel in a push to protect the most vulnerable in the pandemic.

At least a dozen women, all over 40, in the Daulatdia brothel were inoculated this week.

Among the 1,400 sex workers who live in the brothel, one of the biggest in the world, few knew how to register for the jab, workers said.

“If I don’t reach them, they may not come. They are a group that does not frequently mingle with the mainstream community and may be forgotten. It’s important to encourage groups like them who are disadvantaged,” said Dr Asif Mahmud of the Goalanda district told Reuters.

Bangladesh: Pandemic takes toll on kids’ mental health

Turkish media outlet Andalou Agency reported on February 22 that many children in Bangladesh are facing severe physical and mental discomfort, particularly in the capital Dhaka, as they have been kept at home for a long time and are unable to socialise with other children due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Though the government has kept remote teaching methods accessible to students since the closure of educational institutions in March last year, parents and experts prefer in-person teaching as virtual classes have been causing physical and physiological stress on children for almost a year now.

A field-based study conducted by 15 international and local organisations, including UNICEF, Save the Children and World Vision International, has shown that children are facing mental and psychological discomfort as their normal childhood is missing during the current pandemic.

The study unveiled that 55% of children shared their frustration with the state of staying at home, while another study said 42% of students’ lives have become troublesome due to the pandemic’s long-term closure of schools. And, 52% were concerned about the effects of the pandemic.

Bangladesh clear Shakib to play in IPL

AFP reported on February 19 that Bangladesh had allowed all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to skip a Test and one-day international series against Sri Lanka to play in the big-bucks Indian Premier League (IPL).

"Shakib gave us a letter stating that he would like to skip the series against Sri Lanka to play in the IPL. We accepted his plea as we don't want to force someone who is reluctant," BCB operations chairman Akram Khan told AFP.

Shakib was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for 32 million rupees ($441,304 dollars) in an auction held in Chennai for the next IPL beginning in April.

It has become increasingly common for players to miss international duties to play in the lucrative IPL Twenty20 tournament.

6,500 migrant workers have died in Qatar as it gears up for World Cup

On February 23, The Guardian reported that more than 6,500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have died in Qatar since it won the right to host the World Cup 10 years ago.

The findings, compiled from government sources, mean an average of 12 migrant workers from these five south Asian nations have died each week since the night in December 2010 when the streets of Doha were filled with ecstatic crowds celebrating Qatar’s victory.

Data from India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka revealed there were 5,927 deaths of migrant workers in the period 2011–2020. Separately, data from Pakistan’s embassy in Qatar reported a further 824 deaths of Pakistani workers, between 2010 and 2020.

Bangladesh witnessed massive anti-Pakistan protests on International Mother Language Day

On February 21, Indian outlet Economic Times reported that on the occasion of International Mother Language Day, different socio-cultural organizations and civil society platforms took part in processions-cum human-chain programmes, bicycle-rally and Seminars in Dhaka and other divisional towns in Bangladesh.

While paying homage to the brave-hearts who lost their lives, speakers recalled with horror the role of Pakistan occupation forces to suppress the movement and brutal crackdown on innocent citizens.

Bangladesh Social Activists Forum (BSAF), a prominent NGO having roots in the nationalist movement of the country, held memorial meetings and processions in various parts of the country. In Dhaka, volunteers of BSAF offered floral tribute at Dhaka Central Shaheed Minar followed by a rally of over one hundred people which passed through Dhaka University, National Museum and culminated at Dhaka Press Club. Freedom fighters, intellectuals, scholars etc participated in the function.

In Khulna a rally of over hundred people including twenty motor bikes was held from Shaheed Hadith Park and culminated at Gallamari Shaheed Budhijeevi Memorial. Similar rallies and memorial meetings were held in Rajshahi, Benapole and Patuakhali (Bangladesh).

During the rally, posters condemning Pakistan for its brutal attempt to suppress the Bengali language movement in 1952 were displayed.