Bangladesh
Is an electricity tariff hike imminent?
In a recent statement, State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, Nasrul Hamid, hinted at a forthcoming increase in electricity tariffs starting from March to counter the widening gap between production costs and sales revenues.
This move aims to alleviate financial pressures on the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and the national economy.
"We've to adjust power tariff at both the retail and bulk level to cover the production cost. However, gas prices may be adjusted only for the power plants," Hamid declared, assuring that the impact on retail consumers would be kept to a minimum.
Nepal sends tariff proposal to Bangladesh to export 40 MW electricity
Sources within the government reveal plans to implement a 5 percent hike in bulk electricity prices and a 3 percent increase at the retail level through an administrative order, bypassing traditional regulatory hearings.
This decision comes after months of deliberation among top policymakers, torn between raising tariffs or leveraging the banking system to issue more bonds.
The dilemma underscores the challenge of managing the substantial financial deficit incurred by the BPDB, with current electricity production costs nearly double the selling price.
According to the BPDB’s Annual Report 2022-23, the fiscal year saw the production of 87,024 million kilowatt hours of electricity at a total cost of TK 986.46 billion.
Electricity demand may rise to about 17,500 MW in coming summer: Nasrul
Its per unit production cost was Tk 11.33, while it was selling electricity at Tk 6.7 per unit — incurring a loss of about Tk 4.63 per unit.
This imbalance has led to a staggering loss of Tk 47,788 crore for the fiscal year, as the government grapples with purchasing power from private and international sources at significantly higher rates.
With this huge loss, the government has been facing great trouble as it has to purchase electricity worth Tk 82,778 crore from private sector power producers, while it generates electricity worth Tk 13,307 crore from its own generation plants.
The annual report also shows that the BPDB’s average per unit production cost from its own plants is Tk 7.63, while it is Tk 14.62 at the independent power producers or IPPs (private sector), at rental plants Tk 12.53, at public plants Tk 6.85, and imported power from India at Tk 8.77.
The government purchases electricity from the private sector and India in dollars.
The disparity in production costs between government and private sector plants further exacerbates the financial strain, with the government incurring a cumulative outstanding bill of approximately $5 billion in the energy sector alone.
Hamid also addressed the critical foreign exchange challenge, stating, "The crisis is not in local currency... But the main crisis is the dollar. We’re not getting dollars from Bangladesh Bank as per our needs," highlighting the sector's urgent requirement for $1 billion monthly to meet payment obligations.
In response, the government has initiated the issuance of bonds valued at Tk 5,000 crore, potentially rising to Tk 12,000 crore to mitigate some of the financial distress. However, officials acknowledge that this measure, coupled with ongoing subsidies, may not suffice, prompting further considerations for tariff adjustments or additional bond issuances.
As Bangladesh navigates this economic quagmire, the impending decision on electricity tariffs looms large, with potential implications for both the national economy and the everyday lives of its citizens.
Amar Ekushey: President, PM lead nation in honouring Language Movement heroes
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tonight paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar marking ‘Amar Ekushey’ -- the International Mother Language Day and Shaheed Dibosh.
They placed floral wreaths at the Central Shahid Minar here at one minute past midnight.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived at the Shaheed Minar nine minutes before the clock struck 12. On her arrival, she was received by Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Prof. Dr. A. S. M. Maksud Kamal.
Later, the Prime Minister and the VC received the President when he arrived seven minutes before the zero hour.
Read: DCAB pays respect to language martyrs
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proceeded to the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar together as the immortal song on Amar Ekushey—'Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushey February’-- was playing.
The President was the first to lay the wreath. Just after the President, the Prime Minister placed the wreath at the Shaheed Minar.
They stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the language heroes.
Ministers, advisers to the Prime Minister, MPs, the chiefs of the three services, diplomats, senior Awami League leaders, high civil and military officials were present on the occasion.
Read: Nation honours Language Movement martyrs on Amar Ekushey
Flanked by Cabinet members and senior leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Awami League, later placed another wreath at the Shaheed Minar on behalf of the party.
Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury also paid tributes to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement by placing a wreath at the Shaheed Minar.
Read more: 1039 govt primary schools in Jashore lack permanent Shaheed Minar
Visiting Ghanaian foreign minister meets her Bangladeshi counterpart
The visiting Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey on Tuesday met Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and discussed ways to strengthen the relations between the two countries through cooperation and collaboration.
Together they highlighted the possible areas of bilateral cooperation between two countries especially in contract farming, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and ICT sectors. There was a detailed discussion on whether Ghana is suitable for contract farming and whether Dhaka and Accra can come to an agreement on this or not.
Read: Ghanaian foreign minister calls on PM, seeks enhanced trade relations
They also discussed future collaborative approaches under the Commonwealth Platform to deepen the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Ghana. Exports of pharmaceuticals, jute and jute products were discussed.
The Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, and the Ghanaian Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland KC, have announced that the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be held in Apia, Samoa, beginning on October 21, 2024.
After the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director General (Africa wing) AFM Zahid Ul Islam and Spokesperson of the Ministry Seheli Sabreen briefed the journalists.
Ghana's foreign minister arrived in Dhaka on Monday on a three-day visit.
Read: Ghanaian Foreign Minister in Dhaka
On the first day of the tour, she paid tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi 32 and visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.
Prior to her visit to MOFA, she also met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday.
Read more: Momen meets Ghanaian counterpart, Indian Defence State Minister
Nigerian president's letter of congratulations reaches PM
President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated Sheikh Hasina on her reelection as Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the record fifth term and fourth in a row.
In a recent letter sent to the Prime Minister, the Nigerian President wrote: "Your victory at the elections reflects the confidence of the people of Bangladesh in your administration."
Read: Melinda Gates congratulates PM Hasina on re-election, lauds Bangladesh’s dev
He also said that he is convinced that this re-election will further boost the cordial relations between Nigeria and Bangladesh.
"I therefore wish to assure you of Nigeria's readiness to collaborate with the Government of Bangladesh in exploring new areas of cooperation for the mutual benefit of our two countries and peoples."
Read more: UNDP administrator congratulates PM Hasina
Russian representatives foresee increased engagement with Bangladeshi youth, future generations
Russia's cooperation in the education, culture, science and technology for the youth of Bangladesh will be stronger in the future, said Pavel Shevtsov, Deputy Head of the Moscow Head Office of Rossotrudnichestvo.
Rossotrudnichestvo is the organisation that works to preserve and promote Russian culture globally, with all the Russian Houses - previously known as Russian Cultural Centre located in foreign countries attached to the embassy falling under its purview.
A press conference titled "The Role of Rossotrudnichestvo in the Educational, Scientific, and Youth Activities of Bangladesh" was held today with the Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo, the head office in Moscow of Russian Houses worldwide, Pavel Shevtsov, and representatives of Bangladeshi media.
It was organized by the Russian House in Dhaka in cooperation with the Bangladesh National Museum, the Russian Friendship Society with Bangladesh, and the Liberation War Affairs Academy.
At the beginning, Pavel Dvoychenkov, Director of the Russian House in Dhaka, said in his welcome speech that since its inception in 1974, the Russian House (previously known as Russian Cultural Centre) has always been active in every activity, including education and culture for the youth of Bangladesh, through various programs run by the Rossotrudnichestvo head office in Moscow, Russian Government scholarships for higher education in Russia, as well as opportunities for Bangladeshi students. Also working on developing Russian language courses.
Read: Russian House holds seminar on 'Russian Language as Native' in commemoration of International Mother Language Day
Shevtsov said in the press conference that Russia is a very friendly country to Bangladesh. Skilled manpower is very necessary for Bangladesh to compete in the current digital world. Due to the increasing interest of Bangladeshi students in pursuing higher education in Russia, the Russian government has gradually increased the number of scholarships to 124, from the next academic year this number will increase in the future, and the Bangladesh representative office of Rossotrudnichestvo is quite active in the process at the Russian House in Dhaka for any developmental activities in Bangladesh.
He thanked the youth representatives of Bangladesh for their interest in the Russian Government's New Generation and World Youth Festival 2024 and welcomed them to Russia. He answered in detail various questions from media representatives and other participants.
Dr. Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad, Chairman of the Liberation War Affairs Academy Trust, presided over the event.
After the press conference, inspiring patriotic songs and dances were performed by the Bangladeshi artists.
Read more: At meeting with Zelenskyy PM Hasina calls for ending Russia-Ukraine war
JU fires Johnny following prolonged probe into allegations of sexual harassment
In a significant development, the Jahangirnagar University administration has terminated the employment of assistant professor Mahmudur Rahman Johnny of the Department of Public Health and Informatics.
Following the conclusion of a prolonged investigation into the allegations, all of which had a sexual harassment component, while some were exacerbated by academic misconduct, the decision was announced on Tuesday night during a syndicate meeting of the university, according to University Registrar Abu Hasan.
Committee formed to further probe sexual harassment allegations against JU teacher
Mahmudur Rahman Johnny, a former Chhatra League leader who even led the JU campus unit of the ruling party student front sought a career in academia, was facing multiple accusations of sexual harassment, which were substantiated by the findings of a structured committee report.
Prior to the conclusion of the trial, there were visible signs of unrest among the students and teachers due to the absence of Vice-Chancellor Nurul Alam Siddique. A committee member, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Johnny had admitted to all allegations of sexual harassment in a written statement. The committee members were convinced of his guilt, leading to his dismissal from the university.
Rape in JU campus: accused students' certificates revoked
The decision to take disciplinary action against Johnny in the syndicate meeting has brought relief to the students and faculty who were disturbed by the prolonged trial. Activists involved in the movement against sexual harassment believe that the recent incidents have increased pressure on the university administration to address such issues seriously.
Alif Mahmud, convenor of the JU Chhatra Union, commented on the situation, stating, "Despite being accused of ethical misconduct, Johnny has openly admitted to his involvement, and the current Vice-Chancellor, Nurul Alam, continues to hold the chair with his support. If he is judged, he will reveal four to five more faces, including the Vice-Chancellor. We believe this is why the Vice-Chancellor is afraid to conduct the trial."
Anisa Parveen Jolly, a professor in the History Department, expressed optimism that such incidents of sexual harassment would decrease in the future, creating a safer environment for both students and faculty.
Prof. Jolly stated, "Johnny has violated the sanctity of the classroom, despite being a part of the Environmental Science department. He has roamed the campus with influential teachers from the administration. They have turned the campus into a place where perpetrators, miscreants, and murderers are safe."
Husband held captive, wife raped on JU campus
Johnny, a member of the 36th batch of the Department of Environmental Science, served as the president of the JU branch of the Bangladesh Chhatra League in 2012.
In 2018, he was appointed as a lecturer in the Department of Public Health and Informatics, eventually rising to the position of Assistant Professor. Since his appointment, he faced multiple allegations of "unethical" relationships with several female students.
On November 21, 2022, an intimate photo (selfie) of Johnny and a lecturer appointed in the same department, was put up on posters across the sprawling JU campus.At the same time, the audio of an intimate conversation with a student of Batch #43, who had applied for a teaching post at the department, came to light, where Johnny forced the victim to have an abortion. Besides, pictures and information of “immoral” relations between Johnny and several BCL leaders and “indecent” chats came to light.
In view of this, a section of teachers and students protested demanding proper action against Johnny. Later, on December 8, 2022, a preliminary investigation committee was formed to probe Johnny for allegedly having immoral relations with multiple students. The committee ordered the investigation report by January 31 this year. At that time, Johnny was forced to leave the post of assistant proctor of the university. Still the authorities seemed too indifferent to this plight suffered by - proportionately - a small section of the female student body.
End/UNB/Corr/MB/ssk
25 Young Leaders from three political parties graduate from Democracy International
Twenty-five young political leaders from the country's three most successful political parties have recently graduated from the USAID-funded Strengthening Political Landscape Young Leaders Fellowship Program (YLFP), implemented by Democracy International (DI).
These graduates are promising, active leaders of Bangladesh Awami League (AL), Bangladesh Jatiyotabadi Dal (BNP), and Jatiyo Party (JaPa).
The graduation ceremony of the programme was organized on Tuesday in Dhaka at a city hotel.
The Young Leaders Fellowship Program aims to improve the political skills of young leaders, propel their careers within respective parties, and foster understanding between leaders of different political affiliations. The program creates a professional network that can help bridge the divide in the polarized political landscape of Bangladesh.
The YLFP is widely acclaimed among young political leaders in Bangladesh, offering a rare opportunity to acquire knowledge and training in leadership and politics that is not commonly available.
The young politicians received comprehensive training over four months, covering a wide range of topics including politics, leadership, democratic practices, conflict mitigation, political party building and media relations.
Organisers informed that a total of 561 young leaders have successfully completed the program till now
During the intensive four-month program, participants received detailed training on leadership skills, political practices, conflict resolution, team building and media relations, they also said.
Additionally, the members collaborated across party lines to address local issues, such as the installation of deep tube wells in underdeveloped areas of Meherpur and Mymensingh, waste management and installation of 500 dustbins in Sylhet, dengue eradication campaigns in the Chandpur municipality area, and pond cleaning initiatives in Patuakhali, among others.
Bangladesh Awami League Organizing Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, BNP National Executive Committee Training Affairs Secretary ABM Mosharraf Hossain, and Jatiya Party Presidium Member Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary.
Emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the nation's interests, they commended the collaborative efforts of political parties in the fellowship program towards serving the citizens of the country.
In her closing remarks, Dana L. Olds, Chief of Party of the SPL project at Democracy International, highlighted the significance of cross-party collaboration and collective action in addressing societal needs.
"The collaboration and collective initiative between leaders from different political parties participating in the fellowship program and working together for the common people in their own districts prove that positive, people-oriented politics is possible," said Dana.
The U.S. Government, through USAID, has provided more than $8 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh since its independence.
Capacity expanded, efficiency increased in tourism and aviation industry: Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan said the country's tourism and aviation industry has experienced continuous progress in the last 15 years.
“During this time, our skills and capabilities have increased. The cooperation of the media is important to take this trend of development forward,” he said.
He said this during a meeting with the Executive Committee of Aviation and Tourism Journalist Forum at the conference room of the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, at the Secretariat.
“With the sincere interest of the Hon'ble Prime Minister, the fleet of Biman Bangladesh Airlines has been rearranged. New routes have been introduced and Dhaka-Rome flights will be launched on March 26. It is also being considered to buy new aircraft to launch more routes later. Besides, the country's private airlines are also doing well,” said the minister.
“Work is underway to modernize all the airports of the country. The modern third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will be opened in October this year. New radars have been installed. As a result, revenue collection from aircraft operating through our airspace has increased as the entire airspace of the country has come under surveillance,” he added.
Faruk Khan said the number of domestic tourists has already increased due to various activities taken by the government and the work of private entrepreneurs. “Now we are working to increase foreign tourists. A tourism master plan has already been formulated for the planned development of tourism in the country. Efforts are being made to attract foreign investment in the tourism industry. We are giving importance to local and foreign joint investment to renovate various old tourist establishments and increase their coverage.”
"We are working so that the role of tourism and aviation industry in Bangladesh's economy can be further increased," he said. “We are emphasizing on creating skilled manpower through training. We want our media friends to highlight the potential of the country's tourism and aviation industry as our partners. We will provide maximum cooperation to them in fulfilling their professional responsibilities.”
Tourism Secretary Md Mokammel Hossain, President of Aviation and Tourism Journalist Forum Tanjim Anwar, General Secretary Baten Biplob as well as other members of the executive committee, were present at the meeting.
Ukraine’s PM makes stopover in Dhaka
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal had a brief stopover at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Tuesday night.
While returning from Japan, the special aircraft carrying the Prime Minister of Ukraine along with his 20-member entourage landed at Dhaka airport at around 8:50 pm for refueling, Additional SP of Airport Armed Police Battalion, Mohammad Ziaul Hoque, told UNB.
Ukraine’s PM scheduled to have stopover in Dhaka tonight
After the refueling, the special aircraft was set to leave the airport for its final destination, Ukraine.
Additional Foreign Secretary Dr Nazrul Islam and DG ( EE & CIS) were scheduled to be there at the airport to welcome the Ukraine Prime Minister, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB.
On February 19, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, who was attending the Japan-Ukraine Conference for the Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during her recent visit to Germany, met Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference-2024.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called upon to find a way to stop the Russia-Ukraine war.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always says we are against all kinds of war," Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said while briefing reporters about the outcome of the PM's meeting with Zelenskyy.
PM to brief media next Friday on her attendance at MSC 2024
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address a press conference on Friday to apprise the media of the outcomes of her recent three-day visit to Munich in Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference 2024.
"The press conference will be held at her official Ganabhaban residence at 10am on Friday," said an official release of the press wing of the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister went to Munich on February 15 to attend the Munich Security Conference 2024 and returned home on on February 19.
During her stay in Munich, the Prime Minister attended the Munich Security Conference and held bilateral meetings with global leaders on the sidelines of the conference.