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PM recommends measures for ESCAP to attain quick recovery
 

Human Rights Report
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday recommended the UN-ESCAP to take four measures, including one that will help the developed world, development partners and international financial institutions (IFIs) come forward to ensure quick recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.
Sheikh Hasina made the recommendations in her recorded speech delivered at the 77th Annual Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP).
ESCAP's four-day (Monday-Thursday) virtual session is being held under the theme "Building back better from crises through regional cooperation in Asia and the Pacific".
The four measures that the Bangladesh Prime Minister recommended for ESCAP include: The developed world, development partners and IFIs should come forward in attaining quick recovery from the COVID pandemic; to 'build back better' from any crisis and the development approach should be more inclusive, resilient and environment friendly one.
The measures also include the Asia-Pacific region should take efficient policies and strategies for a strengthened and universal public health system; and Establishing seamless connectivity in the areas of trade, transport, energy and ICT, science and technology.
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BHRC Human Rights Report on April- 2021
2024 people died of Covid-19 in April 2021
Total 324 person killed in April 2021

Human Rights Report:

The documentation section of Bangladesh Human Rights Commission (BHRC) and International Human Rights Commission-IHRC jointly furnished this human rights survey report on the basis of daily newspapers and information received from its district, sub-district and municipal branches. BHRC survey found a total of 324 deaths in the killings. According to official figures, 2420 people died of the Covid-19 in all over the country. In April 2021, there were an average of 80 Covid-19 deaths and 11 deaths in killing per day. The Law enforcing agencies and related Govt. departments should be more responsible so that percentage of killing May be brought down to zero level. To institutionalize the democracy and to build human rights based society the rule of law and order must be established everywhere. Through enforcing rule of law only such violation against human rights can be minimized. It appears from documentation division of BHRC:
Total 324 persons killed April in 2021.
Killing for dowry 1, killing by family violence, Killed due to social discrepancy 7, Political Killing 7, Killed by Law enforcing members 8, Killed by BSF 1, Abduction 3, Assassination 4, Mysterious death 52, Killed by acid throwing 1.
Killed by several accidents:
Killed by road accident 179, Suicide 10.
Besides victims of torture:
Rape 26, Torture for Dowry 1.
2024 persons died by corona virus in April 2021 according to official estimates.
 

Biden promises India Covid support in call to Modi

Human Rights Report:
US President Joe Biden promised emergency assistance to Covid-ravaged India in a telephone call Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two countries said.
Biden "pledged America's steadfast support for the people of India who have been impacted by the recent surge in Covid-19 cases," the White House said.
The United States "is providing a range of emergency assistance, including oxygen-related supplies, vaccine materials and therapeutics," Biden told Modi, according to a statement.
The United States announced emergency aid Sunday after rising criticism in India, an increasingly close partner of the United States, that Washington had a glut of vaccine doses and was not sharing.
Modi, according to an Indian statement, "conveyed his heartfelt appreciation for the offer of assistance."
In one point not touched on by the White House, India said that Modi raised with Biden a call to ease intellectual property requirements on Covid vaccines.
Such a move would "ensure quick and affordable access to vaccines and medicines for developing countries," the Indian statement said Cruz accused the White House of "hiding the truth" by preventing journalists from visiting border facilities, particularly those holding children.
 

WHO chief criticises 'shocking' global vaccine divide
 

Human Rights Report:
The World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has criticised what it describes as a "shocking imbalance" in the distribution of coronavirus vaccines between rich and poor countries.
The group's chief said a target of seeing vaccination programmes under way in every country by Saturday would be missed.
The WHO has long called for fairer distribution of Covid-19 vaccines.
It is leading the Covax scheme which is designed to get jabs to poorer nations.
So far, more than 38 million doses have been delivered to around 100 countries under the scheme.
Covax hopes to deliver more than two billion doses to people in 190 countries in less than a year. In particular, it wants to ensure that 92 poorer countries will receive access to vaccines at the same time as wealthier countries.
What did the WHO say?
"There remains a shocking imbalance in the global distribution of vaccines," WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference on Friday.
"On average in high-income countries, almost one in four people have received a Covid-19 vaccine. In low-income countries, it's one in more than 500," he said.
The Covax scheme had been expected to distribute at least 100 million doses worldwide by the end of March, but only 38 million jabs have been delivered so far.
"We hope to be able to catch up during April and May," Dr Tedros said.
 

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ASEAN leaders start talks with Myanmar military coup leader
 

Human Rights Report:

Southeast Asian leaders have met Myanmar's top general and coup leader in an emergency summit in Indonesia and are expected to press calls for an end to violence by security forces in which hundreds of protesters have died, as well as the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political detainees.
The gathering of leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta on Saturday is the first coordinated international effort to ease the crisis in Myanmar, an impoverished country that neighbours China, India and Thailand.
Myanmar is part of the 10-nation ASEAN.
With participants attending in person despite the pandemic, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said on Friday that the summit reflected the "deep concern about the situation in Myanmar and ASEAN's determination to help Myanmar get out of this delicate situation".
Myanmar's coup leader Min Aung Hlaing was seen disembarking after arriving on a special flight from Naypyidaw, Myanmar's capital, according to footage on the official video channel of Indonesia's presidential palace.
The leaders' convoy later entered the ASEAN Secretariat in the Indonesian capital, the venue for the meeting. About two dozen protesters gathered nearby, beating pots and pans and holding signs saying "Democracy for Myanmar" and "We stand against the military coup".
Several protests were also held in Myanmar's main cities but there were no immediate reports of violence. Following the coup, ASEAN, through Brunei, issued a statement that did not expectedly condemn the power grab but urged "the pursuance of dialogue, reconciliation and the return to normalcy in accordance with the will and interests of the people of Myanmar". Amid Western pressure, however, the regional group has struggled to take a more forceful position on issues but has kept to its non-confrontational approach.

Britain's Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth, dies aged 99
 

Human Rights Report:
Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth and a leading figure in the British royal family for almost seven decades, has died aged 99, Buckingham Palace..
The Duke of Edinburgh, as he was officially known, had been by his wife's side throughout her 69-year reign, the longest in British history, during which time he earned a reputation for a tough, no-nonsense attitude and a propensity for occasional gaffes.
"It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh," the palace said in a statement.
"His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. Further announcements will be made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss." A Greek prince, he married Elizabeth in 1947 playing a key role in modernising the monarchy in the post-World War Two period, and behind the walls of Buckingham Palace being the one key figure the queen could turn to and trust. "He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years," Elizabeth said in a rare personal tribute to Philip made in a speech marking their 50th wedding anniversary in 1997.
 

Bangabandhu would have been proud of Bangladesh's achievements: Macron

Human Rights Report:
French President Emmanuel Macron appreciated Bangladesh's progress and said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman would undoubtedly have been proud of the achievements of his country.
"Bangladesh indeed deserves our admiration for the progress made in economic and human development, including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic," he said in a message sent to President Abdul Hamid.
On the occasion of the National Day of Bangladesh, he sent the message on his behalf and the people of France with warm congratulations.

Together We Can Restore Our Earth
 

Human Rights Report:
The world is celebrating the 'Earth Day' on 22 April. This year's celebration will coincide with a 'Leaders' Climate Summit'. The United States has convened the summit on 22-23 April 2021. Forty leaders of different countries of the world including Bangladesh Prime minister have been invited to participate in the virtual meet. This is a major initiative by the United States after its return on January 20, 2021 to the 'Paris Agreement'. Here it may be mentioned that it will also be the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
On this very day, Earth Day was first celebrated in the United States to develop awareness about the importance of environment. Since then, it has been an annual event. After several years of advocacy and support by activists across the globe, it gradually gained prominence. The Earth Day aims to raise awareness among masses about climate change and global warming. The day also calls for to act towards the protection of the environment and focus on the need for conservation by all. The theme for Earth Day, 2021 is 'Together, We Can Restore Our Earth' and it will focus on natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world's ecosystems.
To some extent, it indicates a departure for the notion that mitigation and adaptation are the only ways to face challenges posed by climate change. Instead of reactive we also need to take pro-active measures and actions of holistic nature against the adverse effects of climate change. This year's Earth Day and 'Leaders' Climate Summit' will be followed by the Conference of Parties (COP) that specifically deals with issues relating to climate change in November at Glasgow, Scotland. It is expected that these two events will make significant contributions to already going on global initiatives in combating the crises ushered in by climate change across the world.
 

Chopra requests for help as India is suffering from Covid-19
 

Human Rights Report:
Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra took to Twitter on Monday to express her concerns about India's struggle during the horrific second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The country is in a dire need of vaccines to avoid more Covid-19 related deaths, the actress said.
She also requested US President to help and 'urgently' share vaccines.
Tagging the president of the United States of America Joe Biden and other high ranking officials, Priyanka said that "the situation in my country is critical. Will you urgently share vaccines". She also stated that while India is suffering from a horrific second wave of the pandemic, the US has ordered 550M more vaccines than needed."
While some Twitter users remarked that Priyanka's appeal is a delayed response to the Covid-19 situation in her country of origin, others lauded her for taking an important first step.
 

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