Bangladesh
Chad replaces Bangladesh as country with most polluted air in 2022
Chad replaced Bangladesh as the country with the most polluted air in 2022.With the only real-time, publicly available source of air quality data for the entire country of Chad being provided by a single air quality monitor in the city of N’Djamena, the spotlight on global air quality data coverage disparities shines bright on the continent of Africa, according to the 2022 World Air Quality Report.N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, ranked number one as the most polluted regional city with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 89.7 µg/m3, a 12 percent increase from 2021, the report said.In 2022, Bangladesh ranked fifth in the overall rankings with 65.8 points.
Read More: River pollution: Artists take to unique protest in Habiganj In some of the capital cities in the region (Dhaka, Bangladesh; Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; Islamabad, Pakistan; Colombo, Sri Lanka) the percentage of low-cost sensor stations is more than 80 percent.Iraq, Pakistan and Bahrain held the second, third, and fourth positions in the AQI ranking for 2022 respectively with 80.1, 70.9 and 66.6 points.The top five most polluted cities in the world in 2022 were: N’Djamena, Chad (89.7); New Delhi, India (89.1); Baghdad, Iraq (86.7); Manama, Bahrain (66.6); and Dhaka, Bangladesh (65.8).The 2022 World Air Quality Report reviewed the state of global air quality in the year. The study contains statistics on PM2.5 air quality from 7,323 cities in 131 nations, regions, and territories.
Read More: Govt committed to doing all it can to defeat pollution: Environment MinisterThis report's data was compiled from over 30,000 regulatory air quality monitoring stations and low-cost air quality sensors, the report said.
Governing authorities, research institutes, non-profit non-governmental groups, universities and educational facilities, commercial corporations, and citizen scientists run these monitoring stations and sensors all around the world, said the report.The PM2.5 data in this report is measured in micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3) and uses the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality recommendations and interim objectives from 2021 as a basis for data visualization and risk communication.
Read More: 6 vehicles, 5 institutions fined in anti-pollution drive in Dhaka
Tourism banned again in Bandarban's 3 upazilas
Bandarban district administration on Wednesday imposed a ban on tourist movement in Ruma, Rowangchhari, and Thanchi upazilas till the next order as a part of high security measure.
A public notice signed by Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Yeasmin Parvin Tibriji was issued in this regard on Wednesday.
The ban has been issued as a part of security measures for tourists as the perpetration of armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA) has increased recently.
Read more: Bandarban: Ban on tourism in 3 upazilas extended till Dec 11
Earlier, on Sunday, a senior army warrant officer was killed and two other soldiers suffered injuries when members of KNA opened fire on a patrol team in Rowangchhari upazila of Bandarban district.
Last week, KNA members opened fired at a truck at Thanchi upazila and kidnapped 10 workers, leaving a worker injured.
Filing cases, arresting BNP people a weapon to suppress opposition: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday alleged that filing cases against opposition leaders and activists and arresting them are the biggest weapons of the Awami League government to suppress its political opponents.
Speaking at a rally, he also warned that people’s legitimate movement can never be suppressed by using any weapon.
“The Awami League government very successfully used the state machinery, including police, Rab and other forces, to terrify people. Their biggest weapons are filing cases and arresting BNP leaders and activists to subdue its opponents,” the BNP leader said.
He alleged that the government picks up the dissidents using law enforcers and puts them in jail to thwart a democratic movement.
Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal arranged the rally in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office demanding the immediate release of its general secretary Abdul Monayem Munna and its Dhaka North City unit former president SM Jahangir Hossain, who were arrested from the city’s Malibagh area last week.
Fakhrul said many BNP leaders and activists were made disappeared, tortured, maimed and killed while 35 lakh others were made accused in different ‘false’ cases. “But the government could not subdue BNP and foil its movement. I would like to ask Awami League to take a lesson that people’s justified movement can’t be blocked by using any weapon. No one also could do it in the past.”
He recalled that no powerful rulers, including Hitler, Mussolini and Ayub Khan, could stay in power against the will of the people. “We repeatedly told the government that they could not realise the eye-langue of people and the wall writings. Please, try to understand it.”
He said people are struggling to cope with the unusual price hikes in power, gas and daily essentials. “We don’t know what happen in the future as Ramada is forthcoming.”
Amid such a situation, the BNP leader alleged that the government is importing electricity from India's Adani Group at almost double the price. “When the country’s people and we’re strongly demanding cancellation of the deal, they imported 50mw power from the company. How much audacity and mockery it is! They have done it ignoring people as they have given an undertaking (to Adani).”
He said the current government has destroyed all the achievements of the country and its people.
He also alleged that the ruling party leaders and activists are indulging in widespread corruption in the name of mega projects. “When 42% of people are living below the poverty line and when people can’t afford rice, oil, other commodities and tuition fees of their children, the government is destroying the country by taking such mega projects and indulging in massive corruption. “
Fakhrul alleged that most of the banks have got depleted through the plundering by the ruling party.
He called upon the BNP leaders and activists to be more organised to oust the current government by intensifying their ongoing movement.
Fate of EVMs in the 12th parliamentary elections hanging in the balance: EC Secretary
The use of the electronic voting machine (EVM) in the upcoming general election is hanging in the balance as it has not received the finance ministry's concession, an official said on Wednesday.
Election Commission secretary Md. Jahangir Alam said this after the 16th commission meeting at the election building on Wednesday.
After the government put on hold a new project proposal of around Tk 9.5 thousand crore, the government is now delaying the release of money for maintenance and repair of old EVMs.
“EVM manufacturing company Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory (BMTF) said that we have 100,000 EVMs, which we will try our best to repair and use in the parliamentary elections subject to receipt of funds from the Finance Ministry. We can finalise the number of seats in which EVMs can be used,” he said.
The Election Commission bought 1.5 lakh EVMs in phases since 2018 at Tk 2.35 lakh each, almost 11 times more than in India.
Now, around five years later, 40,000 of those machines are beyond repair while the rest 1.1 lakh can be fixed but that requires around Tk 1,260 crore, according to a proposal from Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory (BMTF).
Jahangir Alam said that the EC will send a letter to the Ministry of Finance to release the money. If the finance ministry agrees to pay, then in the next step EC can tell you in how many constituencies EVMs will be used.
In response to a question from reporters, the EC secretary said that they are thinking of using as much as possible. “The number of voters is different from place to place. So if smaller areas can be taken, more EVMs will be used and if in a large area, there will be less. So I can say rhat clearly after receiving the final report,” he added.
In response to another question, he said that the commission has always been saying that they will try their best to use EVMs in 70 to 80 seats.
“We have not moved away from that. The number of seats where EVMs will be used will depend on the number of EVM machines available. It depends on how many machines are available, how many of them can be made usable,” he added.
The then KM Nurul Huda Commission bought two lakh EVM machines before the 11th national elections in 2018. At that time they used EVMs in six constituencies in the national elections. The rest are used for local elections including by-elections to various constituencies. Some machines are stored in the BMTF warehouse. A total of one lakh machines became unusable.
Kazi Habibul Awal, after taking charge in February last year, discussed with various stakeholders and took up the plan to use EVMs in 150 seats. About four lakh machines are required for this. The Election Commission made a new proposal of Tk 8,711 crore to the government for the purchase and maintenance of two lakh more machines. But the Planning Commission decided to shelve the project proposal citing the global financial crisis.
Khandaker Delwar, Moudud’s death anniv Thursday
BNP and its associate bodies will observe the 12th death anniversary of its former secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain on Thursday.
Besides, the second death anniversary of the party’s late standing committee former Moudud Ahmed will also be observed on the same day.
Central and Manikganj unit BNP and Khandaker Delwar Hossain Smriti Parishad have taken various programmes, including placing wreaths at Delwar's grave, offering fateha there and holding milad mahfil and discussions in observance of the death anniversary of the former party secretary general.
Local BNP leaders will offer fateha and place wreaths at Delwar’s grave in Manikganj’s Pachuria at noon.
Later, they will join a milad mahfil at Pachuria Jame-e-Mosque.
Besides, BNP will hold a milad mahfil on the ground floor of its Nayaplatan central office at 10am.
Khandaker Delwar Hossain Smriti Parishad will arrange a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital on March 20 (Monday), marking the ex-BNP secretary general’s death anniversary.
Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir issued a message on Wednesday recalling Delwar’s contributions to the party and his role after 1/11 political changeover in foiling various plots against BNP.
Born in Manikganj on February 1, 1933, Delwar was elected MP for four times and became Chief Whip of Jatiya Sangsad. A valiant freedom fighter, Delwar had been involved with BNP politics since its birth.
Delwar died of old-age complications at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on March 16, 2011.
Meanwhile, local units of BNP will arrange different programmes to mark Moudud Ahmed’s first death anniversary in his constituency in Noakhali’s Companiganj upazila.
They will offer fateha at Moudud’s grave at Manikpur village in Companiganj at 10am and arrange a discussion there, highlighting the colorful political life of Moudud.
Besides, BNP will hold a milad mahfil at its Nayapaltan central office on Thursday morning, seeking the salvation of the departed soul of Moudud.
On March 16, 202, Moudud, also a former vice president, law minister and six-time MP, died at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore at the age of 81.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also issued a message on Wednesday recalling Moudud's contributions to the party. He also prayed for the salvation of the departed soul of the BNP leader.
Sitakunda blast: Director of Sheema Oxygen put on one-day remand
A Chattogram court on Wednesday placed one of the directors of Seema Oxygen Limited on a one-day remand in a case over the death of seven people in a massive explosion in the oxygen plant in Sitakunda on March 4.
Chattogram Chief Judicial Magistrate Kamrun Nahar Rumi passed the order after hearing a petition in this regard, Jakir Hossain Mahmud, inspector of Chattogram district court, said.
He said accused Parvez Uddin Santu was produced before the court with a seven-day remand prayer but the court granted one day.
On March 4, a massive cylinder explosion and fire at Seema Oxygen Plant inKadam Rasul area of the Bhatiari union of Sitakunda left seven people dead and 30 others wounded.
Rokeya Begum, the wife of Abdul Quader who died in the explosion, filed the case against 16 people, including three brothers, who own the oxygen plant.
A seven-member committee was formed by the district administration with Chattogram Additional District Magistrate Rakib Hasan as the head to investigate the blast.
The committee submitted its report to the deputy commissioner on Tuesday.
Read more: Sitakunda explosion: MD of oxygen plant arrested
Although the details of the investigation report have not been disclosed yet, the report has given nine recommendations to prevent such incidents.
The investigation found evidence of negligence on the part of the owner in operating the factory.
LabAid Cancer Hospital launches new online video commercial
LabAid Cancer Hospital and Super Specialty Center on Wednesday launched a new online video commercial (OVC) on social media.
The OVC was directed by actor and director Ziaul Hoque Polash.
Officials present at the inauguration program said the OVC will be circulated on other platforms gradually.
At the launching ceremony Sakif Shamim, managing director of LabAid Cancer Hospital and Super Specialty Center, said: "The 180-bed multi-disciplinary LabAid Cancer Hospital and Super Specialty Center has been set up with the latest treatment services for all types of cancer diseases and renowned doctors to eliminate the fear in people about cancer treatment in Bangladesh."
Actors FS Nayeem, Polash, and LabAid Cancer Hospital and Super Specialty Center Head of Business Amitavo Bhattacharyya were present.
Project to dredge 19 rivers in Haor regions to be taken soon: State Minister
The government will soon take a project to dredge 19 rivers in the Haor (Water body) regions, said State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque on Friday.
He said this while talking to reporters after visiting the Tufankhali Crops protection dam at Boram Haor in Derai Upazila under Sunamganj district, said a PID a handout.
The state minister said the project for building permanent dams or river excavation in the Haor areas is expensive. It takes a lot of time to implement these projects as well.
He said though there has been a global downturn for the last three years, the Prime Minister is approving the projects even amid the global recession. “The (development) works in Haor don’t remain halted. It continues,” he added.
“The project of dredging 19 rivers in Haor area will be taken up soon. Besides, another project involving Tk 600 crore is awaiting approval. If these are implemented, the problem regarding the dams (in the Haor regions) will be solved,” said Zaheed Farooque.
He, however, said it is not possible to take a sustainable project in a hasty manner to protect the Haor crops without feasibility survey as it needs to consider the biodiversity and ecology of this region.
Awami League MP Shamima Akter Khanam, Additional Secretary to the Water Resources Ministry Mallick Syed Mahbub and Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner Didar-e Alam, among others, were present.
This year, the Water Development Board has constructed 745-km crop protection dams in 43 Haors (water bodies) at a cost of Tk 203 crore. More than 4 lakh farmers of the district have planted Boro seedlings on 2.23 lakh hectares of land this season.
HSBC recognised as 'Market Leader' in Bangladesh
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) has been voted "Market Leader' in Bangladesh in the Euromoney Trade Finance Survey 2023.
The survey also announced HSBC's global leadership in trade finance and top regional positions across Asia Pacific, Latin America, North America and the Middle East.
Euromoney Trade Finance Survey findings are based on a poll conducted among the businesses engaged in international trade, asking them to rank the top providers of trade finance.
Md Mahbub ur Rahman, chief executive officer of HSBC Bangladesh, said: "This Euromoney award is a testament to our customers' confidence in us and our ability to provide them with appropriate solutions. We aspire to continue to be the leading trade bank and meet the expectations of our customers for their evolving needs and connect them to a world of opportunities."
Gerard Haughey, country head of HSBC wholesale banking, said: "We are proud to be named market leader in trade finance. This achievement reflects our team's commitment to delivering exceptional services to our clients."
4th industrial revolution have profound impact on job opportunities: PM’s advisor
Prime Minister’s Economic Affairs Advisor Dr Mashiur Rahman on Wednesday said the fourth industrial revolution is having a profound impact on traditional employment opportunities.
"This impact is extensive, as it can create opportunities while also presenting new challenges," he said while speaking at a seminar as the chief guest.
Dr Mashiur expected that the gig economy will create several positive outputs including creatinga significant number of new jobs.
The gig economy—also called sharing economy or access economy—is activity where people earn income providing on-demand work, services or goods. Often, it's through a digital platform like an app or website.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organized the seminar on “Gig Economy and Bangladesh: Opportunities, Challenges and Way Forward” at the BIISS auditorium.
BIISD Director General Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin delivered the welcome remarks and Dr Zaidi Sattar, Chairman, Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh (PRI) chaired the session.
Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin noted that the evolution of the gig economy is gaining popularity due to the nature of flexibility at work. In the gig economy, the concept of employment has become flexible withthe use of technology and the rise of remote work.
As the economy of the country struggles under the weight of an expanding population and high unemployment rates, the gig economy can play a crucial part in keeping the economy moving, he said.
With the appropriate mix of policies, digital infrastructure, and supporting services, the gig economy has the potential to become a growth engine for the country by producing jobs for many people.
Three presentations were made in the seminar.
Dr Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director, BIISS, delivered a presentation on “Market Characteristics, Growth and Contributions of the Gig Economy”.
A presentation titled “Services Outsourcing, Challenges and Opportunities” was made by Mr Wahid Sharif, President, the Bangladesh Association of Contact Center and Outsourcing (BACCO).
Mike Kazi, founder and CEO, Apex DMIT Ltd presented on “Export of IT-Enabled Services, Skills, and Way Forward”.
There was an open discussion session during the seminar.
Senior officials from different ministries, ambassadors and high commissioners, senior civil and military officials, media, academia, think tanks, business personalities, students and teachers from different universities participated in the session.