Bangladesh
Chattogram head teacher kills himself
A primary school head teacher took his own life in Chattogram's Karnaphuli upazila Wednesday after suffering a swift decline in his mental health, police said.
Joy Chatterjee, 52, from Char Patharghata union of the upazila had been head teacher at Charlakhya Government Primary School.
Being deep in debt, living alone, and the death of his mother triggered an immense amount of pressure on the teacher.
READ: Man dies after falling off under-construction building in Chattogram
"This was not the first time that the head teacher had tried to end his life. He had tried to commit suicide before by jumping into the River Karnafuli a few years ago," Md Dulal Mahmud, officer-in-charge of Karnaphuli Police Station, said.
"However, this time Joy was found hanged in his rented flat. Police recovered the body and sent it to the hospital for an autopsy."
Austrian, Libyan envoys present credentials to President Hamid
Austrian Ambassador to Bangladesh Katharina Wieser and Libyan Ambassador Abdul Mutaleb Suliman Mohammed Suliman presented their credentials to Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban Wednesday.
The president thanked Austria for its support on the Rohingyas issue. He hoped that the country's cooperation would continue in the future for the dignified return of the Myanmar nationals.
Also, Hamid expressed his gratitude to Austria for its cooperation in helping Bangladesh vaccinate its people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Noting the excellent relations between Austria and Bangladesh, he hoped that it would be further expanded in different areas, including trade and investment.
Hamid told the Libyan ambassador that there was ample opportunity to expand the existing multi-dimensional Bangladesh-Libya ties in trade and commerce.
READ: President Hamid unveils inaugural envelope of census
He said Bangladesh produces world-class products, including ready-made garments (RMG), medicines, jute and leather products, and plastic materials. "Libya can get benefitted from importing them."
Libya could meet their demand for workers by recruiting skilled ones from Bangladesh in different sectors, including agriculture, information technology and health, he added.
Hamid sought the cooperation of the new envoy to solve the problems of Bangladeshis working in Libya.
Seek apology, pay compensation, Momen asks those who made "false" corruption allegations
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has asked those who made “false” corruption allegations against the people involved in Padma Bridge project and defamed Bangladesh to seek an apology and compensate the individuals.
"Under the courageous leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the historic Padma Bridge has been built with our own funds and resources and now represents a nation on the road to self-reliance and prosperity," he said.
Momen was speaking as the chief guest at Bangladesh High Commission, London's celebration titled "Padma Bridge: Milestone of a Decade of Growth and Prosperity" held in East London, the heart of the British-Bangladeshi community recently.
Highlighting the significant economic growth that Bangladesh achieved in the past decade, the Foreign Minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's timely and innovative initiatives made Bangladesh a self-sufficient country in staple crop production, which increased fourfold from 11 lakh tonnes to 44 lakh tonnes, and her business-friendly government boosted export earnings from USD 7 to 8 million to USD 48 million.
Apart from this, he said, Bangladesh's economy gained a strong foothold during the pandemic as expatriate Bangladeshi including from the UK and Ireland remitted 25 billion US dollars to their homeland.
Momen expressed solidarity with the flood victims in Sylhet and other areas of Bangladesh and spoke in detail about the relief and rescue operations the government has been implementing since the recurrence of the natural disasters.
The Foreign Minister said he had discussed the latest flood situation as well as relief and rescue operations with the high authorities of the government and relevant ministries to ensure that the flood victims received adequate support.
Teesta swells in Lalmonirhat, forces opening of 44 barrage gates
The Teesta River has started swelling again triggered by heavy rainfall and the onrush of the upstream water in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat.
Teesta was flowing at 52.55cm, only 5 cm below the danger level, at Teesta Barrage Point in Hativandha Doani of the district on Wednesday noon, said Md Asfaudoula, executive engineer of Lalmonirhat Water Development Board.
Authorities have opened 44 gates of the barrage to cope with the water pressure.
About 5,000 people have been marooned on the banks of Saniajan and Teesta in five unions of Hatibandha.
Besides, the water level of Saniajan and Dharla has also increased, inundating the low lying areas along the banks of Saniajan River in Burimari, Srirampur, Baura, Hatibandhar, Fakirpara, Barkhata, Gaddimari and Saniajan union of Patgram upazila this morning.
Fakir Para Union Parishad UP member Lalchan Hossain said the water level in the Saniajan River has risen since last night. “As a result, about 4 to 5 hundred families in this ward including my house have been marooned.”
Mozammel Haque, 55, of Panibandi Ramniganj village, said there was no way to lit the stove as water entered the kitchen. “I have taken shelter on the road of the dam with cows and goats.”
Chairman of Fakirpara Union Parishad Fazlar Rahman Khokon said about 12 hundred people in 4 wards of Fakirpara Union have been marooned. “I have informed the Upazila Nirbahi Officer for relief assistance.”
Hatibandha Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Nazir Hossain said a list of how many people have been affected in the flood is being compiled. The families have pleaded to the deputy commissioner for relief assistance that will be distributed among the flood-hit families soon.
Aga Khan School holds first in-person graduation ceremony after 2019
The Aga Khan School Dhaka recently held its first in-person graduation ceremony after 2019.This ceremony served as a special celebration for the 82 graduates of the class of 2022.These students underwent a unique learning experience consisting of a combination of virtual, hybrid and in-person learning due to the Covid pandemic.Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, students succeeded in completing their International Baccalaureate diploma programme studies and the Cambridge Assessment International Education A-Levels.AKES Bangladesh Chairman Amyn Saleh congratulated the graduating class of 2022 on behalf of the board of directors.He noted that despite the extraordinary and unprecedented times during the last two years of their education, the graduates had excelled in their studies, receiving admissions offers at prestigious universities including the University of California-Berkeley, the University of Oxford, the University of Melbourne, the University of Toronto, while also securing $1.4 million in university scholarships.
State-owned entities in power sector sign APA with the Power Division to achieve annual target
Different state-owned entities in the power sector on Wednesday signed annual performance agreement (APA) with the Power Division to achieve their respective annual targets.
An official of the Power Division informed that a total of 18 state-owned entities including Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB), Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC), Dhaka Power Supply Company Limited (Desco), West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZPDCL) and North West Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL) signed the APA at a function at Biduyt Bhaban in the city.
Under such APA all the entities as organsations and the senior officials as individuals are given targets to achieve under specific timelines.
The function was addressed by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, additional secretary Muhsin Chowdhury, BPDB chairman Delwar Hossain and Power Cell director general Mohammad Hossain.
Addressing the function, Nasrul Hamid said that all the organizations as entities and officials have to be responsible for achieving targets and also be accountable for any failure.
READ: Nasrul Hamid’s prompt alert on temporary power disconnection in Sunamganj
He said though the Power Division could not keep its top position among the divisions and ministries in the last two years it stood first in the performance rating in the past.
He said the responsibilities of the organizations and also officials of entities under Power Division have increased with the increased coverage of peoples’ access to electricity.
“Now, the target to provide electricity to cent percent people has been achieved. The teamwork was the key factor behind this great achievement,” he said adding that now services have to be improved further to gain peoples' satisfaction.
Texas Clothing to invest $8.5m in Uttara EPZ
Bangladeshi company Texas Clothing is going to set up an apparel factory in Uttara Export Processing Zone (UEPZ) with $8.5 million.
The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and Texas Clothing signed an agreement in Dhaka Wednesday.
BEPZA Member (Investment Promotion) Ali Reza Mazid and Texas Clothing Managing Director Md Forhad Hossain inked the deal.
Texas Clothing will annually produce seven million pieces of different garment items like woven shirts, denim pants, twill pants, and jackets.
The company hopes to create employment opportunities for 1,450 Bangladesh nationals.
Heated exchange of words between Mosiur and Harun animates the House for a while
The Parliament on Wednesday witnessed an exchange of unpleasant words between Opposition Chief Whip Mosiur Rahman and BNP lawmaker Harunur Rashid taking the members by surprise.
Mosiur, a Jatiya Party MP, got angry when Harun advised him to move to the Treasury Bench during a discussion over proposed amendments to finance bill 2022.
"Harun often quoted from holy Quran partially just for creating hype,” the JP leader said.
Responding from the side bench, Harun advised Mosiur to rather sit on the Treasury Bench.
An offended Mosiur then challenged the BNP lawmaker saying, “Who are you to suggest this? Are you the chief whip?”
At this stage addressing the speaker Mosiur said if he (Harun) behaves this way in future, “I will not allow him to speak."
Earlier, Harun complained that the speaker gave them limited time while Treasury Bench lawmakers were allowed to speak longer.
He also sought protection from the speaker as ruling Awami League lawmakers thumbed the benches when Harun started his speech.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury also reacted to Harun saying that she is running the House as per rules of procedure and always try to give maximum time to opposition lawmakers.
Besides, BNP lawmaker Rumeen Farhana termed the budget session as Padma Bridge session.
She said that AL lawmakers talked about the Bridge or against BNP more than the budget issues.
PM’s gesture to Raushan in JS, enquires about her health
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday enquired about the well-being of Begum Raushan Ershad, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and also the chief patron of the Jatiya Party.
The opposition leader attended the parliament session for the first time on Wednesday, three days after her return home from about seven months of treatment in Thailand.
Before the start of the day's business, Hasina, also the Leader of the House, walked to Raushan and enquired about her health condition.
READ: With Awami League in power, no one can stop Bangladesh’ development, Hasina tells JS
Chief Whip Noor E Alam Chowdhury and Awami League MP Matia Chowdhury were with the premier.
Later, Jatiya Party MP Fakhrul Imam, who took part in the discussion on an amendment proposal on the Finance Bill 2022, appreciated the PM’s gesture.
"This is the great beauty of parliamentary democracy,” he said.
Budget’s highest priority is to tame inflation: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told Parliament that the budget has given the highest priority to rein in inflation in the fiscal year beginning on July 1.
“I think the budget has been able to give the highest priority to firmly face (control high) inflation created due to the current global instability and the pandemic,” she said.
The premier was speaking during the general discussion on the national budget for FY2022-23 as the Leader of the House in the 18th session of the 11th Parliament.
She said the government has been able to give such a large budget of Tk 6,78064 crore despite an adverse situation caused by the Ukraine war that came close on the heels of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Many people couldn’t think that we would be able to place it (the budget), but we’ve been able to do it,” he said, extending her sincere thanks to the finance minister and all others involved in the budget preparation.
It is the 23th national budget placed by the Awami League government since the Liberation War and the 4th budget given during the current tenure of AL government, she noted.
“We’ll be able to implement the budget, placed for the 2022-23 fiscal year, successfully with an all-out support of the people,” said Hasina.
She said Bangladesh will have to go forward overcoming the adverse impacts of the war and coronavirus pandemic and it will be able to do so. “We’re making the impossible things possible by overcoming hundreds of obstacles at home and abroad, '' she said.
Bangladesh has successfully been able to maintain its economic progress when many developed countries are facing difficulties due to global instability, she added.
READ: PM: Connectivity is key to national development
She said the government is taking all necessary measures to control inflation fuelled by price-hike of goods in the global market.
The PM said the main strategy to keep the inflation under control would be -- raising the supply of goods and reducing the existing growth of demand. “To reduce inflation is our big target,” she added.
She said this week’s opening of the Padma Bridge to vehicular traffic is easing the supply of goods largely and will also help reduce the inflation rate because of a revolutionary change in the communication network.
Noting that the government is discouraging the import of luxury goods, the PM urged businesspeople to stop importing items which are not very essential.
PM Hasina said the government will take proper measures to reduce dependency on imported goods.
In this context, she urged all to go for the consumption of made-in-Bangladesh products and services.
Nothing to worry about foreign exchange reserve: PM
Sheikh Hasina said the country’s reserve of foreign currency has declined as the import of goods, largely capital machineries and fertilizers, went up after the Covid-19 restrictions.
She said the country will be benefited when the capital machineries are installed and the related industries go in operation. So, there is nothing to worry about it,” she added.
Though the reserve of dollars has declined slightly for this, it is not an alarming matter, said the prime minister, adding that the reserve came down to US$ 41.2 billion from US$ 48 billion during the Covid-19 pandemic.
She said the government has taken a number of measures to control the foreign exchange rate. The government enhanced the import duty on luxury goods, suspended the foreign trips of the government officers and employees, strengthened the Bangladesh Bank’s monitoring on illegal stock of dollars, and enhanced cash incentive to 2.5 per cent on remittance inflow in legal channels, she mentioned.
She said the government is not imposing the increased prices of fuels, electricity and gas on the people rather providing these at subsidized rates. But the amount of the subsidy is very high, she added.
Padma Bridge is symbol of our dignity: Hasina
Citing that the Padma Bridge was constructed with own fund of Bangladesh, Hasina said the bridge is the symbol of the heroic ability of the Bengali nation.
She again extended her sincere thanks and gratitude to the people of Bangladesh. “Their courage is my only resource,” she added.
Talking about the fresh wave of Covid-19 infection, the premier asked the people to follow the health protocols, as they did in the past, and receive the boaster doses of vaccines in order to retain the success of Bangladesh in facing the pandemic.
About the graduation of Bangladesh from a least developed country, she hoped that Bangladesh will be able to overcome the post-graduation challenges with remarkable success. “I hope that Bangladesh will set an example for development as a developing country across the world,” she added.
Master plan on blended education to be taken:
Sheikh Hasina said the government will put further importance to the standard technical and vocational education with a view to create skilled manpower in the country.
“We’ll take a master plan on blended education…. We’ve started to prepare a plan for blended education,” she said.
The PM said the government has taken a plan to increase the ICT-based employment to 30 lakh people by 2025
About the recent flood, she said there will be a fund of Tk 5000 crore to face disasters in the upcoming fiscal year. The government will also provide cash support to the flood-hit people whose houses were damaged, she said.