Bangladesh
Bangabandhu as revered in India as he is in Bangladesh: Jaishankar
India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said Indians consider Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman an icon — a man of action, courage and conviction.
“He (Bangabandhu) is as revered and remembered in India, as he is in Bangladesh,” he said.
Jaishankar mentioned that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said Bangabandhu is their “hero” too.
As a mark of respect to him, both countries have commissioned a biopic on him, which is nearing completion, said the Indian minister.
Jaishankar was speaking at the award giving ceremony of the "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Student Scholarship" in New Delhi today (September 7, 2022).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina conferred the first Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Scholarship on descendants of Indian armed forces personnel who were martyred or critically wounded during the Liberation war of 1971.
Read: Getting Kushiyara water is a big success of PM’s India visit: Quader
"Prime Minister, under your and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership, India-Bangladesh relations have taken great strides forward in ways that have not only shaped the contemporary but also the future trajectory of the partnership in mind," said the Indian foreign minister.
Jaishankar said for many years, freedom fighters have acted as a bridge between the two countries.
"That bond is now reaffirmed as the families of our war veterans and of those who made supreme sacrifices in the Liberation War, gather here today," he said, adding that the decision of the government of Bangladesh to award Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Student Scholarship is a testament of how the Liberation War of 1971 continues to inspire the bilateral relationship.
He congratulated the youths who received the scholarship and wished them success.
"You inherit a brave and historic legacy. Please honour and cherish it. As you will move ahead in life, you will be the custodian of the memory of that epochal war that gave birth to a new nation. So, do well and be true to everything that you do. That would be one of the finest tributes to a heroic leader, in whose name you receive this scholarship today," he said.
Jaishankar thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for this generous gesture of her government. "It is truly a symbol of our unique history."
DNCC to launch school bus services
School bus services will be introduced on a trial basis in four schools under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), said its mayor Md Atiqul Islam on Wednesday.
The move is expected to ease traffic congestion in the city, said the mayor at a meeting on launching the school bus service.
Although the service will be launched for English medium schools first, all schools will gradually be brought under this.
He said pollution and carbon emissions will also be reduced to a large extent after introduction of this service. “We are talking to stakeholders. Many teachers have also agreed to this.”
Regarding the safety of students, Atiq said modern technology including CCTV cameras will be installed inside the school buses as well as tracking systems through apps.
Read: Nagar Paribahan buses to ply two new routes from Oct 13
Besides, training for school bus drivers and staff will also be provided. There will be a hotline number through which parents can contact round the clock, he added.
Regarding the bus routes, the mayor said this will be determined according to the address of all the students. Through ride-sharing, students of schools on a certain route will travel in one bus.
The mayor also said no private vehicles carrying students will be allowed to enter within 100 yards of schools if the school bus service is made mandatory.
“In many families, both parents are employed. A safe school bus will free them from the hassle of picking and droping their children to schools,” he added.
Bangladesh, India sign first contract under US$500 million defence LoC
Bangladesh and India have signed the first contract under the US$500 million line of credit (LoC), which India considers an "important first step" in strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries.
“I think the first contract under the defence Line of Credit was signed earlier this week. I'm sure you have been following this closely. It was a modest amount but it was an important first step," said Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Tuesday night.
The Indian foreign secretary said it may be a defence LoC but it is also a part of the development partnership framework.
Read:India offers free transit to Bangladesh for exports to third countries
"Our effort is that this will open up a path for further engagement between the two countries in the field of defence and security and take our cooperation further,” he added.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi expressed satisfaction at the "intensification" of bilateral defence ties.
They also agreed for early finalization of projects under the LoC for defence, which would be beneficial for both countries, according to the joint statement issued after the bilateral talks between the two leaders.
India welcomed the finalization of "initial procurement plans" for vehicles for the Bangladesh Armed Forces in this regard and looked forward to enhancing bilateral defence ties.
The Indian side reiterated its request for implementing the 2019 MoU for providing a coastal radar system for greater maritime security at an early date.
At the 4th Bangladesh-India annual defence dialogue held in New Delhi in August, both sides emphasised the need to work closely to implement the $500 million line of credit extended from India for defence items.
Bangladesh and India, at the dialogue, expressed commitment to elevating engagements between their armed forces and reviewed the progress of bilateral defence cooperation initiatives.
Read:Dhaka, Delhi reiterate strong commitment to eliminate terrorism
Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh, Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, and Indian Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar co-chaired the dialogue.
Different aspects of defence industrial and capability-building cooperation came up for detailed discussions.
Both countries explored potential for cooperation in defence trade, co-development and joint production.
Meanwhile, Indian news outlet The Hindu reported that Bangladesh has recently shared a wish list of military platforms and systems that its armed forces would like to procure from India, according to official sources, marking some progress on the delayed implementation of the $500 million defence LoC extended by India to Bangladesh.
This includes a diverse range of equipment, including a floating dock, logistics ship and oil tanker for the Bangladesh Navy, among others.
Quoting unnamed source, The Hindu reported that the Bangladesh Army has approved procurement of three items, so far, under the LoC — five Bridge Layer Tanks (BLT-72) at a cost of approximately $10 million; seven portable steel bridges at a cost of around $2.2 million; and 11 Mine Protective Vehicles from the Tata Group at an approximate cost of $2.2 million.
Other items proposed to be procured by the Bangladesh Army are Mahindra XUV 500 off-road vehicles; hard top vehicles from Mahindra at an approximate cost of $2.35 million; heavy recovery vehicles; armoured engineer reconnaissance vehicles; and bulletproof helmets.
The Bangladesh Navy has proposed the procurement of a logistics ship, floating dock, oil tanker, and an ocean-going tug, the source stated.
Parts of Dhaka to face 24-hour gas supply disruption Thursday
Gas supplies will remain suspended in different parts of the capital for 24 hours – from 8am to 8pm – Thursday due to an emergency shutdown of the system.
The areas that will see the 24-hour supply shutdown include Evercare Hospital, North South University and the US Embassy in the Bashundhara area, according to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company.
The consumers in Uttara residential area may experience low pressure in their gas supplies as well, the distribution company said.
Read: Gas supply to remain suspended in B'baria for 3 days
2 held with 10 gold bars in Jashore
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) today (September 7, 2022) detained two men with 10 gold bars weighing 1.166 kg from Putkhali border of Jashore.
The detainees were Md Habibur Rahman, 29, and Md aktarul Islam, 25, resident of Jashore.
Read: Man held with 17 gold bars in Jashore
Tipped off that gold bars were being smuggled to India from Jashore, a team of BGB-21 conducted a drive and detained the duo with the gold bars worth Tk 86.20 lakh from the border at noon, said battalion commander Lt Col Tanveer Rahman.
Legal action will be taken in this regard, said the officer.
2 die of suffocation while cleaning septic tank in Dinajpur
Two men died while working inside a septic tank reportedly without any protective gear in a newly constructed building in Chirirbandar upazila of Dinajpur today (September 7, 2022), said police.
The deceased were identified as Abdul Mabud, 35, and Saidul Islam, 38, residents of the upazila.
Mason Altaf Hossain entered the septic tank at Noukhoir village around 9am. When he failed to return, van pullers Abdul and Saidul climbed down the tank.
Read: Chandpur: 2 suffocate to death working inside septic tank
After a while, locals rescued the trio in unconscious condition from inside the septic tank and rushed them to Sayedpur General Hospital where doctors declared Abdul and Saidul dead, said Bazlur Rashid, officer-in-charge (OC) of Chirirbandar police station.
Altaf was shifted to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital where he is undergoing treatment in critical condition, he added.
Read: 3 siblings killed in Feni septic tank blast
The bodies were handed over to their respective families without any post-mortem, said the OC.
5 get death sentence for raping teenage girl in Khulna
A tribunal in Khulna today (September 7, 2022) sentenced five men to death for raping a teenage girl in Khalishpur of the district in 2011.
The death row convicts are-Ali Akbar alias Hridoy, Mehedi Hasan alias Ibu, Sohel, Abdullah and Mohon.
Khulna Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-3 Judge Abdus Salam Khan pronounced the judgment.
Read:Primary school teacher sued for raping 9th grader in Kurigram
On March 23 in 2011, convict Mohon abducted the girl from the Bihari Camp in Khalishpur and took her to a banana orchard in Charer Haat.
Ali Akbar and some others raped the girl there, leaving her unconscious near the camp.
Later, a case was filed at Khalishpur police station.
Read: 23 year-old girl invited by ‘friend’ to visit Sylhet, raped by 7
On June 20 of the same year, the investigation officer of the case sub-inspector (SI) Kazi Rezaul Karim submitted a chargesheet against the five.
Among the convicts, Sohel, Abdullah and Mohon were tried in absentia.
India offers free transit to Bangladesh for exports to third countries
India has offered free transit via its territory to Bangladesh for exporting its products to third countries through specified land customs stations, airports and seaports.
In this regard, the Indian side invited Bangladesh business community for using its port infrastructure for transshipment to third countries.
The Indian side informed it during delegation level bilateral talks visiting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi held at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Tuesday.
India has also been providing free transit to Bangladesh for exporting its products to Nepal and Bhutan, according to the joint statement issued on Wednesday.
The Bangladesh side requested rail connectivity with Bhutan through the newly inaugurated Chilahati – Haldibari route.
The Indian side agreed to consider the request, based on its viability and feasibility.
Read:Hasina asks Indian and Bangladeshi youth to interact more to foster friendship
To make this and other cross border rail links viable, the Indian side requested the Bangladesh side to remove port restrictions, inter alia at the Chilahati – Haldibari crossing.
The two leaders agreed to expedite efforts to improve bilateral and sub-regional connectivity through early operationalisation of the BBIN motor vehicle agreement.
The Indian side requested the Bangladesh side for cooperation for initiating new sub-regional connectivity projects including a highway from Hili in West Bengal to Mahendraganj in Meghalaya through Bangladesh and, in this regard, proposed preparation of a detailed project report.
In the same spirit, Bangladesh reiterated its eagerness to partner in the ongoing initiative of the India – Myanmar - Thailand trilateral highway project.
The two leaders underscored the importance of implementing bilateral and sub-regional rail, road, and other connectivity initiatives.
Both sides welcomed the ongoing bilateral initiatives, such as, conversion to dual-gauge of Tongi-Akhaura line, supply of railway rolling stock, capacity building for the personnel of Bangladesh Railway, sharing of IT solutions for improved services of Bangladesh Railway etc.
Both sides also welcomed the new initiatives, namely, Kaunia-Lalmonirhat-Mogalghat-New Gitaldaha link, establishing a link between Hili and Birampur, upgradation of track and signaling systems and railway stations along the Benapole-Jashore line, link restoration between Burimari and Changrabandha, construction of a container depot at Sirajganj.
And both sides agreed to explore funding of these projects through a range of financial instruments under the bilateral development cooperation.
The Bangladesh side welcomed the gesture of India for providing 20 broad-gauge diesel locomotives on grant.
Read:Dhaka, Delhi reiterate strong commitment to eliminate terrorism
The two leaders welcomed the successful completion of trial runs under the agreement on the use of the Chattogram and Mongla Ports (ACMP) and looked forward to its full operationalisation at the earliest.
The Indian side reiterated its request to work towards the expansion of the bilateral Coastal Shipping Agreement of 2015 to include third-country EXIM cargo.
The two sides agreed to expeditiously explore direct shipping links between the two countries.
They also agreed to implement the decision to start riverine services under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) routes 5 & 6 (Dhulian to Rajshahi -extension to Aricha) and 9 & 10 (Daudkandi to Sonamura).
The Indian side requested Bangladesh to complete remaining infrastructure, immigration, and customs facilities for the operationalisation of the Maitri Bridge over River Feni, connecting Tripura with Bangladesh, at an early date.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is making an official visit to India from September 5-8 at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
During the visit, she called on President of India Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region G. Kishan Reddy called on her.
Cabinet committee approves contract extension of 4 rental power plants, 200,000 MT rice import from Myanmar
Some 11 proposals including extension of four rental power plants and import of 200,000 metric tons of rice from Myanmar received the nod of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) on Wednesday.
Agriculture Minister Mohammad Abdur Razzaque presided over the meeting due to non-availability of Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.
According official sources, rental plants are 100 MW Julda, Chattagram, plant of Acorn Infrastructure Services Ltd, 50 MW Katakhali, Rajshahi power plant of Northern Power Solutions Ltd, 100 MW Keraniganj plant of PowerPac Mutiara Keraniganj Power Plant Ltd and 50 MW Amnura, Chapainababganj plant of Sinha Power Generation Company Ltd.
Read: Nasrul to businesses: Stop talking about rental power plants
They said the four HFO-based power plants received the approval for two year extension of their contracts under which the state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) will purchase electricity for next two years.
“But contracts will be extended under a new term and condition—No Power, No Payment—basis. The operators will not get any capacity payment as per new condition”, said a senior official at the Power Division.
He also informed that as a result of the new condition, the new tariff will be applicable in purchasing electricity.
“The sponsors of the rental plants will get only fuel cost plus a minimum operation and maintenance expense”, he added.
The CCGP approved a Food Ministry’s approval to import 200,000 MT of while rice (Atop) from Myanmar under a G-to-G contract.
The entire consignment will cost a total of $90.1 million while each ton will cost $465.50, said a top official of the Food Ministry.
The Cabinet committee also approved proposals on import of a total of 115,000 metric tons of fertilisers.
Read: Despite 40 pc surplus capacity, BPDB buys 6 pc of electricity from pricier rental power plants
Of these, 50,000 MT of MOP fertiliser from Canadian Commercial Corporation, 40,000 MT of DAP fertiliser from Maadeen of Saudi Arabia and 25,000 MT of TSP fertiliser from GCT of Tunisia will be imported by the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) of the Agriculture Ministry.
However, the price of the fertiliser was not learnt as there was no briefing from the Cabinet Division about the outcomes of the CCGP meeting.
National Committee for reducing metro rail fare by 50%
The National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR) has urged the government to reduce the fare of metro rail by 50 per cent.
President of the organization Md. Shahid Mia and General Secretary Ashis Kumar Dey issued a statement in this regard today (September 7, 2022).
Read: Dhaka Metro Rail fare set at Tk 5/km
Criticizing the government's decision to set the fare at 5 taka per kilometer and a minimum of 20 taka, the statement of the civic organization said, where the minimum fare of private buses is 10 taka, the fare of state transport companies like railways is completely unfair, unexpected and unacceptable.
As a result, travel expenses of general people will increase, on the other hand, private transport owners, including buses and minibuses, will be benefited more, the statement said.
The leaders of the NCPSRR said that due to increase in fuel price, the cost of transportation has increased excessively.
Read:Metro Rail (MRT Line-6) project cost goes up by Tk 11,486 cr; Gets Ecnec nod
At the same time, due to abnormal hike in prices of essential goods, including medicines, people's living cost has increased by more than 40 percent.
The statement said, low and fixed income people are struggling to support their families.
The National Committee strongly demanded that the minimum fare of this state-run transport should be reduced by 50 percent to Tk 10 and the fare per kilometer should be reduced from Tk 5 to Tk 3.