Bangladesh
LPG Price: Operators demand an increase but consumers want reduction
Consumers right groups stiffly opposed the operators’ demand for raising the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as the energy regulator held a public hearing on price re-fixing on Monday.
The rights groups urged Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to proceed on the issue cautiously to avert litigation in higher court, while the operators insisted on increasing the price further to cover losses in their business.
Both the sides placed their respective arguments during the public hearing held at BIAM Auditorium in the city. Convened by the BERC, it was presided over the commission chairman Abdul Jalil. Other members of the BERC were also attended the hearing.
The BERC has been re-fixing the LPG price on monthly basis since April 12 this year. But LPG Operators of Association of Bangladesh (LOAB) oppose the process saying that much of their costs were not calculated and considered in the price fixing that resulted loss in business.
LOAB and its members also appealed to the BERC to review the price fixing formula and accommodate all costs in re-fixing the LPG price. Responding to the appeal, the BERC convened the public hearing to discuss the issue in an open meeting.
Advisor of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Prof Shamsul Alam, while placing his arguments at the hearing, alleged that much of the LPG price related information, provided by the operators, lacks accuracy.
He said documents show the shipping charge per metric tons of LPG is $69 while the LPG operators are demanding $126 while such charge is about $20 in neighbouring India.
He said the LPG operators are demanding the price of 12-kg LPG at Tk 1381 while it is selling at Tk 1,100.
READ: Beximco LPG sings deal with Jamuna Oil to sell LPG at pumps
“If a retailer can sell 12-kg LPG at Tk 1100, how could they argue for a price at Tk 1,380?” he raided the question.
He also said public hearing on re-fixing the price of LPG should not be held as there is no scope to entertain the appeal of the LPG operators as the appeal was made beyond the BERC provision.
“Concerned provision says any appeal for review a decision should be made within 30 days while the appeal for review was made beyond 30 days”, he added.
Head of Marketing of the Bashundhara LPG Jakaria Jalal said there are so many anomalies in the price calculations as many cost were not considered by the BERC while fixing the price.
He said distributors’ cost is calculated at Tk 24 per 12-kg LPG while it is Tk 50 for public sector LPG which is a clear discrimination.
The LPG Auto Gas Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association president Mohammad Sirajul Mawla demanded that Auto LPG gas price should be fixed once a year instead of monthly basis at the consumer level. In this case, he urged the BERC to fix the price at Tk 45 per litre.
Hasin Parvez, general secretary of the organization, demanded a commission of Tk 8 per litre for the owners of Autogas stations and said the government should encourage this environmentally friendly fuel in every possible way.
Eminent economist Prof MM Akash said if the LPG operators do not abide by the BERC rules, the government should go for open market and select the international firms through a competitive bidding process to run the local LPG business.
President of Bangladesh Mobile Phone Customers Association Mohiuddin Ahmed said the LPG operators threatened to shut down their business which in no way should be allowable by the BERC.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) leader Ruhin Hossain Prince and Ganasamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki also addressed the public hearing.
READ: LPG prices to go up again from Sept 1
In the concluding remarks BERC chairman Abdul Jalil requested all stakeholders and participants to submit their additional information and documents by September 19.
As per provision, BERC takes 90 days to make its decision on any issue after holding a public hearing.
Climate change could move 200 million people by 2050: report
Climate change could push more than 200 million people to leave their homes in the next three decades and create migration hotspots unless urgent action is taken to cut global emissions and bridge the development gap, a World Bank report has found.
The second part of the Groundswell report published Monday examines how the impacts of slow-onset climate change such as water scarcity, decreasing crop productivity and rising sea levels could lead to millions of what the report describes as "climate migrant" by 2050 under three different scenarios with varying degrees of climate action and development.
Under the most pessimistic scenario, with a high level of emissions and unequal development, the report forecasts up to 216 million people moving within their own countries across the six regions analysed – Latin America, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, South Asia, and East Asia and the Pacific.
READ: Dhaka seeks support to address climate change challenges
In the most climate-friendly scenario, with a low level of emissions and inclusive, sustainable development, the number of migrants could be as much as 80% lower but still result in the move of 44 million people.
It's unfair, discriminatory: FM on UK's Covid red-listing
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has reiterated Bangladesh’s call to remove it from the red-listed countries with travel restrictions terming UK's decision unfair and discriminatory.
"It's unfair and it's discrimination (to Bangladesh)," he said while talking to a select group of journalists at his office on Monday.
Referring to the sufferings of more than 7000 British-Bangladeshis currently stranded in Bangladesh, Dr Momen said the UK government is doing disservice to its own citizens.
He said the UK government argued that the vaccination rate is low in Bangladesh but Bangladesh says the UK is allowing people from other countries having lower vaccination rate.
READ: Policy towards Afghan depends on its attitude: FM
Responding to a question, Dr Momen said Bangladesh has lined up for 24 crore vaccine doses, and over 2.22 crore people have already been vaccinated.
Asked about Rohingya issue as the UNGA is approaching, Dr Momen said many countries are much interested to see restoration of democracy in Myanmar and Bangladesh also wants it.
But, he said, Bangladesh wants the repatriation of Rohingyas too without any delay. "Our priority is repatriation."
READ: FM reiterates call for removing Bangladesh from UK's Covid red list
An on-duty Rab constable killed by bullet triggered from his own firearm
A Rab member died after being by a bullet reportedly from his own firearm at the main gate of Rapid Action Battalion headquarters in Uttara, Dhaka on Monday, an official said.
However, it was not immediately clear whether Constable Shovo Mallo, 26, died by suicide or accidental firing of the bullet.
Contacted, ASP Imran Khan, assistant director (legal and media wing) at the Rab told UNB that Shovo was on duty at the main gate of the Rab headquarters. Suddenly, he was hit by a bullet triggered from his own firearm at around 2:30 pm.
READ: Rab arrest three members of a human trafficking gang
He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where the duty doctor declared him dead at around 5:15 pm, said Imran.
Replying to a question, he said it was not immediately clear how the incident occurred. However, an investigation has been ordered to ascertain the actual reason, he added.
READ: ‘Rohingya robber’ killed in ‘gunfight’ with Rab in Cox's Bazar
BNP’s meetings with central leaders to begin Tuesday
BNP policymakers are going to sit with the party’s vice-chairmen and advisory council members of its chairperson on Tuesday as part of their planned series of meetings with central leaders to work out their next course of action.
The meeting will begin at 3:30pm at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office.
The BNP policymakers will also hold a meeting with the party’s senior joint secretary general, secretaries general, organising secretaries and assistant organising secretaries on Wednesday and another with the leaders of different associate bodies on Thursday.
The meetings are meant for taking opinions of the party central leaders about the next general election, anti-government movement and work out the party’s next course of action.
Talking to UNB, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said they have decided to hold a series of meetings with their party’s central leaders to discuss the overall political situation in the country.
“We’ll take their views on what we should do for waging a movement to restore democracy,” he said.
Fakhrul said their party wants a permanent solution to the issue of the formation of an Election Commission. But before that, we want a neutral government under which a neutral election commission will be formed.”
READ: Now state ‘backs corruption’: BNP
He said the problem over the formation of a polls-time impartial government must be resolved for holding an inclusive and credible national election.
BNP organising secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and the standing committee members will initially hold three separate meetings with the central leaders.
Later, the BNP policymakers will hold meetings with the members of the party's national executive committee and district-level leaders.
READ: BNP criticizes PM for her Ashrayan house remarks
He said BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman will virtually join each of the meetings.
‘I look up to Bengali people for justice’, said Rehana in 1983 interview
Sheikh Rehana, daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had demanded justice from the people of Bangladesh for the assassination of almost every one of her family -- her father, mother and brothers.
"I demand justice from the people of Bangla," Rehana said in a rare interview published in Chitra Bangla in 1983.
Bangladesh Awami League shared the interview on its verified Facebook page on Monday marking her birthday in which she expressed all her grief that she had harbored since the assassination of her family members.
READ: Sheikh Rehana shares tales of her father's childhood
The interview has time-traveled to the page of the ruling Awami League on her 67th birthday at a time when the political landscape is entirely different from that in 1983 as her sister, Sheikh Hasina, later reclaimed her space in the country and became the Prime Minister.
Decision to keep CNG re-fuelling closed from 5 pm to 11 pm suspended
Authorities have put off a decision to keep CNG re-fuelling stations closed every day during 5 pm to 11 pm peak hours of electricity supply from September 15 (Wednesday).
“We have suspended the decision until further notice and asked the Petrobangla to discuss the issue with stakeholders, especially CNG station owners, to take the decision”, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told UNB in the evening.
Earlier a meeting resolution, distributed by the public relation offer of the ministry Aslam Alam, said the CNG re-fuelling stations will remain shut from 5 pm to 11 pm from September 15.
Also Read: No CNG re-fuelling from 5 pm to 11 pm from Wednesday
He said the state-owned Petrobangla took the decision following a resolution made in a virtual meeting of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources on July 19 this year.
The meeting was presided over by Nasrul Hamid and attended by the prime minister’s energy advisor, said a letter of the ministry.
Official sources said the move came against the backdrop of the government’s decision to operate gas-fired power plants to generate electricity.
Also read: Introduce tracking system for LPG, CNG cylinders: Nasrul Hamid
Meanwhile, a press release of the ministry issued in the evening said Petrobangla will hold a meeting with CNG station owners on Tuesday to take a decision on the issue.
Dengue: 321 more hospitalized in 24 hours, no death reported
Another 321 dengue patients were hospitalised in 24 hours till Monday morning, but no death was reported, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Among the new patients, 246 were undergoing hospital treatment in Dhaka while the remaining 75 cases were reported from outside the division, according to DGHS.
Some 1,271 patients diagnosed with dengue fever are receiving treatment in the country as of Sunday morning.
Of them, 1,080 patients are receiving treatment at different hospitals in the capital while the remaining 191 were listed outside Dhaka.
Also read: Dengue: 301 more hospitalized in 24 hrs, no fresh death
This year’s total death toll from dengue stood unchanged at 54 for the last four days.
Among the deceased, 50 died in Dhaka city alone, two in Chattogram division, one in Khulna and one in Rajshahi.
Some 14,221 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January.
So far, 12,896 dengue patients have left hospitals after recovery, said the DGHS.
The number of dengue patients hospitalized in a single day was the highest with 343 patients on September 7.
In the month of August the country recorded the highest number of 7,698 dengue cases of the current year.
Also read: DSCC conducts drive against Aedes mosquito as dengue cases rise
In July, 2,286 people were diagnosed with dengue and 12 died while in June 272 cases were recorded with no deaths.
Health authorities have been recording over 200 dengue cases per day since August 1.
British High Commission congratulates Bangladesh’s Chevening awardees
Acting British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Javed Patel has congratulated this year’s cohort of Chevening Awardees from Bangladesh.
A total of 22 Bangladeshi Chevening Awardees will soon be leaving for the UK to start one-year Master’s degree courses at some of the UK’s most prestigious universities.
Successful applicants will be sharing their stories under the #ChosenForChevening hashtag on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Javed Patel said the UK government’s Chevening Scholarships seek to build an international community of the people who are committed to working together to drive positive change.
"We do this by bringing together incredible people from around the world and supporting them, through education, to achieve their goals."
Also read: British envoy congratulates 16 Chevening awardees from Bangladesh
Chevening represents the very best of the UK and Chevening can be a transformative experience, not just for the scholars, but for Bangladesh as they return and use the benefit of their UK experience to make a positive difference in their chosen field, said the acting High Commissioner.
"I wholeheartedly congratulate 22 Bangladeshi Chevening Awardees from this year’s cohort. I’m consistently inspired by the passion and commitment of those in the Chevening community," said Javed Patel.
Chevening Scholarships applications for 2022/23 is now open.
Full details can be found at www.chevening.org/scholarship/bangladesh/
"We look forward to hearing from this year’s applicants.”
Chevening Scholarships are the UK government’s global scholarships programme. Since the programme was created in 1983, over 50,000 professionals have had the opportunity to develop in the UK through Chevening.
The scholarship offers full financial support for scholars to study for any eligible master’s degree at any UK university whilst also gaining access to a wide range of exclusive academic, professional, and cultural experiences.
Bangladesh has had over 330 successful Chevening alumni and this year a further 22 Awardees will embark on the programme. Chevening Scholars in Bangladesh hold prominent positions in government, the private sector and academia.
Applications for next cohort (2022/23) Chevening Scholarships to study in the UK are open until 2 November 2021, with applications to be submitted via www.chevening.org/apply.
The British High Commission in Bangladesh is looking for ambitious, professional, and innovative future leaders from any walk of life who are willing to pursue Masters degrees in the UK, and immerse themselves in all the opportunities offered by the Chevening programme.
There are more than 1,500 scholarships on offer globally for the 2022/2023 academic year, demonstrating the UK’s ongoing commitment towards developing the leaders of tomorrow.
A Hatirjheel-like lake will be built at Kalyanpur: Mayor Atiqul
Another eye-catching lake (reservoir) similar to ‘Hatirjheel lake’ will be constructed at Kalyanpur in the capital with walkway and swimming pool facilities to go with it.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam disclosed this while inspecting the land recovery and eviction drive of the asphalt plant adjacent to Gabtali embankment on Monday.
The DNCC mayor said walkway and swimming pool facilities would also be added to the reservoir to be constructed in Kalyanpur.
He said that a well-planned reservoir is very much needed to solve the problem of waterlogging in the city. Although the necessary land has been acquired for this purpose, most of it is in illegal possession, which is very unfortunate.
Mayor Atiqul said 170 acres, out of the 173 acres of land earmarked for the Kalyanpur reservoir and more than half of the 52 acres earmarked for the asphalt plant and other activities, adjacent to the Gabtali embankment, are in the possession of illegal occupants.
The DNCC mayor said that about 20 bighas of land has been recovered without any hindrance in today's operation and the boundary wall will be given to the rescued land as soon as possible.
He issued a stern warning against the illegal occupants and said that no valid notice will be issued in the name of the illegal occupants from the DNCC, they will be evicted without any notice.
He said Dhaka North City Corporation is working on short, medium and long term plans to reduce water logging and control pollution in the city.
The mayor said the canal rescue and cleaning activities would continue with the help of the people. Demarcation of the two banks of each canal will be done and proper maintenance will be taken.
Chief Engineer of the DNCC Brigadier General Amirul Islam and local Ward councillors were present on the occasion.