Bangladesh
Three people killed in Dinajpur road accident
Three people were killed and eight others were injured after a pickup van crashed into a BRTC bus in Dinajpur’s Doshmile area.
The accident occurred today around 6 pm in front of the Darbarpur Jame Masjid on the Dinajpur-Rangpur highway, UNB’s Dinajpur correspondent reports.
The deceased were identified as Mostakim Ahmed (27), Sohanur Rahman Sohan (26) and pickup driver Foyzar Uddin (40) of Dinajpur’s Chirirbandar upazila. They were all passengers of the van.
The injured were rescued by the locals and sent to Dinajpur’s M Abdur Rahim Medical College and other hospitals. Most of them were sent home after primary treatment. The pickup fell on the side of the road after the crash.
Contacted, Golam Maola, inspector of Dinajpur Kotwali Police Station, said the Thakurgaon-bound BRTC bus crashed with the speeding pickup van coming from the opposite side of the highway.
Unique's 585 MW Meghnaghat power plant to be ready by Oct, but questions hang over gas supply
Though Unique Meghnaghat Power Limited (UMPL) has completed 92 percent of the construction of its 585 MW gas-fired power plant and is getting ready to be addeds to the national grid by October, there is no certainty that it will get its requisite supply of gas to start operating.
The state's hydrocarbons agency Petrobangla, which had signed a gas supply agreement for the plant in July 2019, said until adequate gas is available it has no obligation to supply gas to the plant.
“We don’t have any obligation to ensure gas supply to the plant in this situation when adequate gas is not available,” said Petrobangla chairman Zanendra Nath.
He also claimed that the agreement with UMPL has the same provision as others that Petrobangla will supply gas depending on availability.
He said that only Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) can divert gas to this plant from any other plants from its total allocation.
Recently the US Ambassador Peter Haas urged the government to consider its efficiency to supply gas to the UMPL project.
During a visit to the plant on March 15, he said the power plant is highly efficient in terms of environment as it will generate electricity consuming half of the gas required for other power plants of similar capacity.
"This power plant will serve 700,000 homes using half of the gas compared to other power plants," Haas said.
Unique Meghnaghat Power Limited (UMPL), a consortium of Strategic Finance Limited, Unique Hotel & Resorts Limited and General Electric (GE) of USA, has been implementing the 584 MW Gas-based combined cycle power plant as independent power producer (IPP) at Meghnaghat in Narayanganj under a contract with the government.
State-owned Power Development Board (BPDB) will purchase electricity from the plant over a period of 22 years at a levelised tariff rate of around US cents 3.69 per unit (1 kilowatt-hour) if it is run by locally produced gas. Each unit is 1 kilowatt-hour.
The tariff would be US cents 6.80 per unit, if it is run by imported LNG.
State-run Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd (TGTDCL), a subsidiary of Petrobangla, will provide gas to the power plant, either local gas or LNG.
According to officials, the plant will consume about 100 mmcf gas per day.
Project officials said that about 92 percent of the total construction work has been completed and the plant will come into commercial operation in October 2023.
Mohd. Noor Ali, Chairman of UMPL said that it is a symbol of the capabilities of the private sector of Bangladesh. This is a highly efficient power plant and it will surely take top position in the demand order or merit order from the off-taker (BPDB).
UMPL Managing Director Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat acknowledged the contribution of US companies, including GE, in providing the latest technology gas turbines to Bangladesh's much-needed power infrastructure.
Mentioning the project as a lower carbon emitter, he said the project will be a big contributor to the commitment of Bangladesh to achieve nationally determined contributions as per Paris Agreement.
In this plant, GE’s latest 9HA.01 Gas Turbine has been used, which will operate at more than 62% efficiency whereas the traditional gas turbine efficiency is around 30-40 percent.
Deepesh Nanda, CEO of GE Gas Power, South Asia said, “GE Gas Power is committed to bring affordable, reliable and sustainable power generation technology to Bangladesh and has been contributing to transform the power sector in the country by offering advanced powering technology and power services solutions."
GE has been working as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the project.
Prevent corruption in every sector: President to ACC
President Abdul Hamid on Monday directed the Anti-Corruption Commission to make all-out efforts to prevent corruption in every sector of development to make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country.
The President gave this order when Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah presented the commission's annual report 2022 to the President at Bangabhaban in the evening.
President's Press Secretary Md Zainal Abedin said that during the meeting ACC Chairman briefed the President about various aspects of the report and the overall activities of the Commission.
President Hamid said corruption is the main obstacle to development and progress.
Highlighting the development and progress of the country, the President emphasized on building a social movement against corruption.
Hamid also ordered to ensure that no officers and employees of the commission is involved in corruption.
ACC Commissioner Dr. Md. Mozammel Haque Khan and Md. Zahurul Haque and Secretary Mohammad Mahbub Hossain were present at this time.
Delimitation: 186 applications filed regarding redrawing of JS constituencies
The Election Commission has said 186 applications have been submitted so far regarding the redrawing of the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies.
“On February 26, the preliminary list of the boundaries of the parliamentary constituencies was published. The deadline for submitting claims and objections to the list was March 19. A total of 186 applications have been submitted during this period," the Election Commission's Joint Secretary SM Asaduzzaman told reporters on Monday.
The highest number of applications have been received in Comilla (84). The lowest number of applications have been filed in Mymensingh (1) and Chattogram (1).
Meanwhile, no applications were filed in Rangpur and Sylhet, Asadduzzaman said.
Among other districts, 43 applications have been received from Rajshahi, 29 from Barisal, 18 from Dhaka, and five each from Khulna and Faridpur.
Election Commissioner Anisur Rahman said: “The applications will be arranged based on constituencies. Then, the secretariat will work on how many objections have been received in which constituencies. The committee will then hold a hearing where the decision on any redrawing of constituencies will be made.”
Cop withdrawn after alleged extortion using crossfire threats in Munshiganj
A police officer in Munshiganj was ‘closed’ and attached to the district police line for allegedly trying to extort money through threats of crossfire from a businessman.
The accused is Mohammad Suman, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of Gazaria police station.
Mahfuzur Rahman Al Mamun, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Munshiganj, said the officer was closed and attached to the district police line today.
The businessman, Shakil Farazi, said the police officer informed him on Sunday that a narcotic case was filed against him at Narayanganj port police station.
The ASI picked him up on a white microbus on Monday morning, he said.
The microbus went to a remote area of Char Baushia area.
Shakil said there were three other persons in the microbus- constable Rafiqul, unidentified man who claimed to be an ASI, and the driver.
“They held me at gunpoint and demanded TK 2 lakh,” he said.
They snatched away his mobile phone, and money, beat him, and tried to handcuff him, he said.
Meanwhile, some locals gathered on the spot and rescued him.
The accused ASI, Suman, told UNB that one of his friends, a police officer at Narayanganj port police station, informed him about a case filed against the businessman.
“My friend came to Gazaria, and we took Shakil there to talk in ‘private’.”
22 universities to be part of uniform entrance test for 2022-2023 academic session
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced that 22 universities in the country will join the uniform entrance test for university admission in the 2022-2023 academic session.
Quoting Prof. Mohammad Alamgir, UGC member and convenor of the uniform admission test committee, a media release said a uniform admission test will be organized in all the universities of the country that are part of the process for the next (2023-2024) academic session.
Also Read: Islamic University won't join combined admission test system
The commission directed the universities to take the test and complete the admission process promptly, reads the release. Authorities of the universities were advised to make the admission test process easy and student-friendly, it said.
The decision was made in a meeting at the UGC on Monday.
Prof. Kazi Shahidullah, Chairman of UGC, said there are some challenges, but there’s no scope to opt out of this system.
Mahi’s husband gets bail in DSA Case
A Gazipur court on Monday granted bail to Rakib Sarkar, husband of actress Mahiya Mahi, in a case filed under Digital Security Act.
Gazipur Metropolitan Magistrate Niaz Makhdum passed the order when his lawyer filed a petition seeking Rakib’s bail in the two cases.
Actress Mahi was present at the court with her husband.
Rakib Sarkar returned home from Saudi Arabia on Sunday morning. Later, he appeared before the Gazipur court on Monday and filed a petition seeking bail in the two cases.
The bail will remain in force until the police submit a report in this regard before the court.
Also Read: Actress Mahiya Mahi has been arrested on specific allegations: Home Minister
The court also fixed April 24 for next hearing in the case filed under DSA.
Earlier, on Saturday, a Gazipur court granted bail to actress Mahiya Mahi, hours after she was arrested from Dhaka airport in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA).
Rokon Mia, sub-inspector of Bason Police Station, filed the case under the Digital Security Act against Mahi and her husband Rakib on Friday night on charge of “defaming police” after going live on Facebook.
Mahi was arrested from the airport after her arrival from Saudi Arabia but husband Rakib Sarker, also an accused in the case, did not return home with her. Later, a Gazipur court sent her to jail.
Also Read: DSA case: Actress Mahiya Mahi gets bail
Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, a businessman, filed another case with Bason Police Station against 28 people including the couple on charges of assault, vandalism and land grabbing.
According to the case statement, Mahi, from her Facebook page, went live early Friday — making allegations against police.
During the live session, she said Ismail Hossain and Mamun Sarkar, through their people, carried out an attack on a car showroom, Sony Raj Car Palace, owned by Mahi, on Dhaka-Tangail highway near Bhawal Badre Alam Government College.
The actress and her husband also alleged that the Gazipur Metropolitan Police commissioner “supported the attackers” after taking bribes.
She also said she feared getting arrested after returning to the country from Mecca. During the Facebook live, Mahiya’s husband Rakib alleged that police arrested security guards of the car showroom.
Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, owner of Rod Binding Factory in Itahata area of Gazipur city and plaintiff of a case, in his complaint said he has been running a factory in the area for the past 10 years after purchasing land there.
On Friday, some people on behalf of Rakib and Mahiya attacked and vandalized the factory, he said. They also beat up 5 people at the factory, leaving them injured, while trying to occupy the land, according to the complaint.
Tokyo studying prospect of economic partnership agreement with Dhaka: Japanese PM
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on Monday said Bangladesh will soon graduate from being classified as a least developed country, and they have already launched the Joint Study Group on the possibility of an Economic Partnership Agreement with Bangladesh.
He said this also reflects the important Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) principle of "excluding no one."
The Japanese Prime Minister was delivering a policy speech at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).
He described Japan's plan to develop a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific."
Also Read: Japan PM Kishida to announce new Indo-Pacific plan in India
"To achieve this, India is an indispensable partner. I believe that Japan and India are in an extremely unique position in the current international relations and, furthermore, in the history of the world," he said.
India is the largest democracy in the world, said the Japanese PM, adding that they have always viewed with great respect the way such a huge and diverse country as India has developed democracy.
"Japan, for its part, was the first country in Asia to achieve modernization and embrace democracy," he said.
Also Read: 11 Bangladeshi auto mechanics get jobs in Japan
"It is fair to say that both countries are naturally receptive to and fully committed to the idea of electing governments through general elections and deciding policies through public debate," said Kishida Fumio.
He said Japan and India have a great responsibility for maintaining and strengthening "a free and open international order based on the rule of law."
"This year, as Japan holds the G7 presidency and India holds the G20 presidency, my hope is that, through working together with ASEAN and other many countries, we will bring about peace and prosperity to the international community, which faces a time of challenges," he said.
The vision for achieving this is FOIP, a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" based on the rule of law.
"I believe that this region will be a "place where freedom and the rule of law are valued, free from force or coercion."
The PM said Japan will spare no efforts to cooperate with India for the success of the G20.
"I am looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi to Hiroshima in May and visiting India again in September," he said.
Prime Minister of Japan Kishida Fumio is paying an official visit to India on 20-21 March.
Banks' assets will decrease by 40% if international reporting standards followed: FRC Chairman
Chairman of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) Professor Hamid Ullah Bhuiyan has said no bank in the country follows International Accounting Standards or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in preparing financial statements.
Due to this, the actual picture of the financial health of the banks does not come out in the financial reports. If IFRS is followed, it will reduce banks' assets by 40 percent, he said.
Prof Hamid said this while speaking as chief guest at a ‘Meet the Press’ organized by Capital Market Journalists Forum (CMJF), an organization of stock market reporters, held in the capital on Monday.
He said, "We want IFRS to be implemented, then the real financial information of the bank will appear in the financial statements."
Also read: BB signs deal with 32 banks to accelerate disbursement of green fund
The FRC chairman said the outstanding debt is being dragged on for years. It is being rescheduled paying 2 percent only. But with this 2 percent interest income or principal does not return to the bank.
But regularly these types of loans are rescheduled. This is being done so that defaulters can take loans from other banks, he pointed out.
He emphasized coming out from this culture for the sake of the country’s financial sector.
Prof Hamid said many manipulations are done in the capital market using financial statements.
“Many weak companies go through initial public offerings or IPOs. Most of the time, there are three consecutive years of increasing profits prior to the IPO. But after the IPO, profits fell consistently,” he pointed out.
The FRC chairman said the initiative to register auditors had been taken to ensure transparency in the audit of financial statements of listed companies. It will be completed in a few months. Henceforth no auditor not registered with the FRC can audit a company listed on the capital market.
He also said that if a company has a revenue of Tk50 crore or more, that company will be considered a public interest company. There are about 3,400 such companies in the country. Apart from this, there are 2500 micro-credit institutions. These will also come under FRC.
CMJF president Ziaur Rahman presided over while Secretary Abu Ali moderated the function.
IBBL signed a green transformation finance deal with BB
Bangladesh Bank and Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited signed an agreement for participating in the 'Green Transformation Fund’ (GTF).
Bangladesh Bank formed this fund of Tk 5,000 crore from its own in order to accelerate the ongoing environment-friendly transformation and expansion of export and production-oriented industries.
Also read: IBBL conducts workshop on preventing money laundering and terrorism funding
Abdur Rouf Talukder, Governor of Bangladesh Bank, handed over a copy of the agreement to Muhammad Qaisar Ali, Additional Managing Director of Islami Bank. Kazi Sayedur Rahman, Deputy Governor, Md. Khurshid Alam, Executive Director, and Chowdhury Liakat Ali, Director of the Sustainable Finance Department, the central bank along with top officials of both institutions who were present on the occasion, a press release said.