Bangladesh
Build ‘Padma Bridge’ as economic corridor for greatest benefit: Speakers
Speakers at a discussion termed the ‘Padma Bridge’ as a symbol of national aspirations and urged the government to build it as an economic corridor for both sides of the river for the greater benefits of the country.
They emphasize that this bridge needs to be made an economic corridor. If economic zones and industrial parks can be built around the river, it will be able to contribute to economic development and employment.
They came up with the suggestion while speaking in a discussion on 'Current Status of the Macroeconomic: Bangladesh Perspective,' jointly organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) and Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) at the CA Bhavan Auditorium in Karwanbazar on Saturday.
Also read: All 64 districts to celebrate Padma Bridge's inauguration
Planning Minister MA Mannan, the chief guest of the discussion, said the government is working to check waste of state money in every sector of the country.
"We are working to prevent waste, sometimes we are relaxed. It has to be rushed. Now there are 1800 projects. We are designing the priority projects based on importance and need,” the planning minister added.
Prof Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow, Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said the Padma Bridge is a symbol of national aspiration. It should not only be used for transportation, it should be made an economic corridor.
“There were plans to build 17 economic zones around the Padma Bridge. They have to do that. Then it will be able to contribute to the national economy and employment,” he said.
Ahsan H. Mansur, Executive Director, the Policy Research Institute (PRI) and Chairman Brac Bank, said that it is important to keep the exchange rate of taka stable, it is also important to strengthen local currency.
“The price of the US dollar was between 82, 83 and 84. But suddenly the taka depreciated severely, there is a reason also. But a stable exchange rate is important for the economy,” he said.
Also read: Padma Bridge is a blessing for southern people: Minister
Regarding the budget, Mansur said, “Our budget is only 14 percent of GDP, which is less than other countries. Again, a large expenditure of our budget goes to pay salaries and allowances. The rest of the money is used for government development work. It is better to make the budget at least 20 percent of GDP.”
Rains to cool off Bangladesh
As high temperatures continue to bake large swaths of Bangladesh, the weather department has predicted showers across the country in the next 24 hours.
Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Rajshahi, Khulna, and Barishal divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said Saturday.
Also Read: Rain's coming, says weatherman
The mercury today reached 36.4 degrees Celsius – the highest – in Jashore, while the minimum temperature was 22.4 degrees in Bogura and Mymensingh.
The weather department recorded 61mm rainfall – the highest – in Bogura in the last 24 hours till 6pm Saturday.
Day temperature may rise slightly, and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged, the BMD said.
Decision on gas price hike proposal Sunday
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) is set to announce its decision on Sunday on the proposal to raise the price of natural gas.
BERC chairman Abdul Jalil will announce the decision at 3 pm at a virtual briefing.
The state-owned transmission company and 6 gas distribution companies submitted their final proposals to the energy regulator on January 25 seeking a 117 per cent hike in gas price at the retail level.
Besides, principal gas supplier Petrobangla also placed its proposal to raise the price of the natural gas at the bulk level.
Also read: Hike in power, gas prices won’t be big burden on people: Nasrul
Earlier on March 21-23, the BERC held a 4-day public hearing at at the city’s BIAM auditorium where state-run Petrobangla’s proposal to hike retail gas price faced stiff opposition from consumers, citizens, businesses and professionals.The consumer rights groups said that any rise in gas price will be totally illogical and unfair at this moment when the people are struggling amid price hike of essentials resulting from Covid-19 pandemic shock.The Petrobangla officials claimed that the annual expenditure of the organization will increase to Tk 65,225.75 crore due to import of LNG (liquefied natural gas) and other cost escalations.As a result, on an average gas price needs to be increased to Tk 20 from the existing Tk 12.60 per cubic meter.A technical team of the BERC disagreed with the claim of Petrobangla and placed its report saying that state-run agency still has a unutilized fund of about Tk 2500 crore as surplus after meeting its expenses.
Also read: Consumers in five south-western districts brace for gas price hikeOpposing the claim of the Petrobangla, Prof Shumsul Alam, advisor of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) challenged the authenticity of the data and statistics provided by its officials.
Next election sans BNP won’t be acceptable: Ex-CEC Nurul Huda
Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda on Saturday said the next general election will not be acceptable without the participation of BNP, one of the major parties in the country.
Speaking at a shadow parliament debate competition programme, he also said it is the responsibility of the ruling Awami League to ensure BNP’s participation in the polls.
“I think the next election will not be acceptable if BNP does not participate in it as BNP is a very big political party,” he said.
Also read: Quader asks BNP to shun undemocratic path, join polls
Huda, however, urged BNP to take part in the election as he thinks no problem can be solved by boycotting the election. “You should sit in talks and discuss how you will go to the polls.”
The debate for Democracy arranged the programme at Film Development Corporation (FDC), Bangladesh.
Stating that the work of Election Commission is challenging not only in Bangladesh but also in the entire world, the former CEC said fair elections are not possible without political consensus.
“The Election Commission has no role in creating political negotiations. The Election Commission also should not interfere in it. The government and the political parties should reach an agreement on the issue through discussions," he said.
Huda thinks the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) should be used in the elections for checking various irregularities like snatching ballot boxes.
“We have seen how people snatched ballot boxes and cast fake votes. This culture has been stopped by using EVMs… considering the political practices in Bangladesh, I think EVM should be used for at least the next 20 years,” he observed.
The ex-CEC also said if people participate in the election in unison braving intimidation and obstacles, no force can suppress them.
Replying to a question, he said, “It is challenging for the Election Commission to conduct polls under a partisan government, but it is possible to overcome this challenge if voters can come to the polling stations freely.”
Also read: No scope to manipulate polls flexing muscle power: CEC
Huda also bemoaned that it was uncomfortable for him as hundred percent votes were cast at some polling stations and some MPs were elected unopposed during his tenure as the Chief Election Commissioner. “Because we can't take any action after the presiding officer announces the results. Only then the court can resolve the issue.”
He suggested the use of CCTV cameras in the polling stations to ensure transparency.
Three held over gang rape of schoolgirl in Chattogram
Police have arrested three youths for raping a ninth-grader in Boalkhali upazila of Chattogram.
The arrestees were identified as Emran Hossain Sagar, 19, son of Md Badshah Mia, Saniullah Ali Rimon, 20, son of Mohammad Rustom Ali Basek and Md. Kamal Uddin, 26, son of Mohammad Kofil Uddin.
Read: Councillor arrested for rape attempt in Gazipur
They were arrested after girl’s mother filed a case with Boalkhali police station Saturday morning.
According to the case statement, she left her home following a dispute with her mother around 10:00pm on Friday night and met Alamgir, one of her friends, on the way.
When they were crossing the area some youths appeared there and picked them up in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw and took them to a place adjacent to the Boalkhali Fire Service Station.
Read: Crimes against humanity: Fugitive death row convict held
They consumed drugs and raped the girl in the autorickshaw by turns after holding her friend hostage around 2:00am, it said.
Officer-In-Charge(OC) of Boalkhali police station Md Abdul Karim said that they were sending the girl to Chattogram Medical College Hospital(CMCH) for medical examinations.
Garments workers burn 3 police bikes at protest demanding pay rise
Workers of several garments factories blocking Mirpur-10 intersection from Friday noon demanding pay rise had a clash with police trying to disperse them and later burnt three motorcycles.
“Police held some eight to ten of the protesters over the incident”, a police officer from Pallabi police station told UNB reporter on the spot.
The garment workers were blocking Gol Chattar intersection of Mirpur-10 from 2 pm today and around 5 pm police members dispersed them from the spot, he said.
Also read: 20 injured in clash over land dispute in Sylhet
Later the protesting workers took position at Mirpur-11 and had a chase and counter chase with police.
To take control of the situation, police baton charged and shot tear shells at the protesters.
After that, the protesters burnt three police motorcycles and vandalized a vehicle of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) parked in front of Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium at Mirpur-10.
Also read: Tension mounts as BCL, JCD clash at DU
After police detained some of the protesters they left the area.
BNP can't accept Padma Bridge: Anisul Huq
Law Minister Anisul Huq said BNP cannot accept the Padma Bridge as Sheikh Hasina has built the much-hyped bridge with the money of the people.
“Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Dr. Kamal Hossain along with their accomplices made the conspiracy to stop World Bank financing on the Padma Bridge. But Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had announced building the bridge with the government fund. Now she has done it,” Anisul said.
Anisul made the remarks while addressing the Kasba upazila Awami League council at the T Ali Degree College ground in Brahmanbaria on Saturday.
Also read: BNP, other political parties to be invited to Padma Bridge inaugural function: Quader
Urging the BNP leaders not to talk too much, he said, “We have no objection about your politics. But, if you said you will make another August 15, we will respond to it by the law of the country. You will get punished as per the law. We want all political parties to operate their political activities maintaining the democratic system. You can’t do anything by hatching conspiracy.”
Brahmanbaria district Awami League president R.A.M Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury inaugurated the council while central Awami League presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak was the chief guest.
While addressing, Jahangir Kabir Nanak said 1975 will not come back to Bangladesh.
“The poisonous teeth of conspiracy will be removed,” he said.
Also read: Padma Bridge is a blessing for southern people: Minister
Jatiya Sangsad whip and Awami League organizing secretary Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon, Brahmanbaria-1 lawmaker B M Forhad Hossain, lawmaker Umme Fatema Nazma Begum (reserved for women's seat), central Awami League relief and disaster affairs secretary Sujit Roy Nandi and district Awami League senior vice-president Md. Helal Uddin, among others, spoke at the council.
Meanwhile, Law Minister Anisul Huq and Kashba upazila chairman Rashedul Kaiser Bhuiyan have been announced as the president and secretary, respectively, of Kashba Awami League.
JS budget session set to begin Sunday
The 18th session of the 11th Parliament, which is the budget session, will begin on Sunday to approve the budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year.The session will start at 5pm. Before it the Business Advisory Committee will sit after lapse of two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will fix the schedule of the session and other matters.Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal will place the budget on June 9.
Read: New budget to focus on agro investment President Abdul Hamid summoned the 18th JS session exercising power bestowed upon him by Article 72(1) of the Constitution. The 17th session of 11th parliament was prorogued on April 6 after eight sittings.According to the Parliament Secretariat, there will be no roaster system for attending the session by the lawmakers, anyone with negative certificate of COVID-19 test can join the session.This time the COVID-19 test will be done after 4-5 working days which was1-2 working days in earlier sessions.This time, the officials of the parliament secretariat will be allowed to enter Parliament and journalists will also be allowed to go to the press gallery but they will have to use mask.The budget session was comparatively shorter in the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this time it will continue till end of June, according to the information from the parliament secretariat.
Read: Budget to include scheme for whitening black money againThe proposed budget will be passed by Parliament on June 30.So far, four bills have been deposited at the parliament secretariat. These are Bangladesh Gas, Oil and Mineral Resources Corporation Bill, National Freedom Fighters Council Bill, Bangladesh Nuclear Power Commission (Amendment) Bill and Bangladesh Supreme Court Judges (Vacation, Pension and Privilege) Bill.
On May 17, the National Economic Council (NEC) approved the annual development programme for FY23 with an outlay of Tk 2,46,066.09 crore, up by 9.23 per cent from the previous year.
The highest allocation has gone to the transport and communication sector apart of prioritising optimum utilization of public fund by checking misuse, Planning Minister MA Mannan told reporters.
Read: Bangladesh kicks off week-long booster dose campaign
Some 1,435 projects are in the new ADP including some 1,244 investment projects, some 106 technical assistance projects and some 85 projects to be financed from the own fund of the autonomous bodies and corporations.
NEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
13 more dengue cases reported
Bangladesh confirmed 13 more dengue cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning.
All the new patients were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Seventy dengue patients, including 68 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
Also read: 17 more dengue cases reported
This year, the DGHS has recorded 411 dengue cases and 341 recoveries so far. The directorate has not yet reported any death from the mosquito-borne viral disease.
Dengue – a leading cause of serious illness and death in some Asian and Latin American countries – was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000 and claimed 93 lives. In three years, the fatality number almost fell to zero.
However, 105 dengue patients, including 95 in Dhaka division, died in 2021.
Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas.
Also read: Bangladesh sees rise in Dengue cases; 20 patients hospitalised in 24 hrs
About 4 billion people, almost half of the world's population, live in areas with a risk of dengue, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Each year, up to 400 million people get infected with dengue while approximately 100 million get sick from infection, and 40,000 die from severe dengue, it says.
Because there are four different dengue viruses, a person can be infected by the virus up to four times in their life. The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, aches and pains and a rash.
"There is no specific treatment for dengue or severe dengue. Early detection of disease progression associated with severe dengue, and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates of severe dengue to below 1 percent," according to the World Health Organization.
First hajj flight from Bangladesh to leave Sunday
The first hajj flight from Bangladesh carrying 419 pilgrims slated to depart for Saudi Arabia on Sunday
As the Coronavirus situation has improved a bit this year, the Holy Hajj is going to be held on July 08 depending on the moon sighting with participation of one million pilgrims from all over the world.
Of them, 57,585 hajj pilgrims will attend from Bangladesh.
Also read: Hajj cost goes up by Tk 59,000
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday inaugurated the Hajj Programme-2022 (1443 Hijri) urging everyone to uphold the dignity of Islam, the religion of peace.
She asked the pilgrims to abide by the rules and laws of Saudi Arabia while performing their hajj rituals there.
Biman will carry 31,000 pilgrims through 75 dedicated flights, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.
Pilgrims will have to spend minimum TK 5,21,150 to perform hajj this year.
This year, the government has fixed Tk 1.40 lakh as plane fare.
Hajj is open to those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and are under the age of 65, added the statement.
Pilgrims travelling from abroad will also need to have a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before their departure for Saudi Arabia, the statement added.
Also read: First hajj flight from Bangladesh rescheduled for June 5
Last year, 58,745 pilgrims performed Hajj in the world because of the COVID-19 pandemic
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, 127,198 pilgrims from Bangladesh performed hajj in 2019.
Before the pandemic, some 2.5 million people used to travel every year to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.