Bangladesh
Govt to procure 261 new vehicles for DCs, UNOs
The government is going to procure some 261 vehicles (Jeeps) for deputy commissioners (DCs) of different districts and Upazila Nirbahi Officers(UNOs).
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in a meeting on Wednesday in-principle approved a proposal of the Ministry of Public Administration in this regard.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the virtual meeting.
Jamalpur DC transferred after making political statement
Additional secretary of the Cabinet Division Sayeed Mahbub Khan confirmed the decision.
As per the decision, the 261 Jeeps will be procured using the direct procurement method (DPM) of the Public Procurement Rule 2008 meaning that the Ministry of Administration will not need to go through the open tender process to maintain the competitiveness in buying the vehicles for the government officials.
Jamalpur DC's comments 'inappropriate': State Minister Farhad
Officials, however, the proposal will come to the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) for receiving a final approval.
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Wealth and consumption inequality widens in Bangladesh: Debapriya
Bangladesh has witnessed growing inequality in wealth and consumption over the last 15 years, said Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and convener of Citizen Platform Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya on Wednesday.
He said this at a media briefing on 'Citizen Agenda for Inclusive Development and Equity: Education, Health, Climate Change and Social Security' at BRAC Centre at Mohakhali in the capital on Wednesday.
“Inequality not only in wealth or money but also in consumption and getting state benefits has widened. Backward people could not be pioneers in terms of education, health, and consumption,” Debapriya said.
Safeguards are needed to protect vulnerable people under IMF-backed reforms: Debapriya
Shaheen Anam, executive director of the Manusher Janya Foundation, presided over the function. The media briefing was conducted by Professor Dr Mostafizur Rahman. Three separate presentations on education, health, and climate-focused topics were released at the event.
Debapriya said, “I was not motivated to give advice because of the pre-election situation in 2014 and 2018. But this time, on the eve of the national election, we have tried to evaluate the development experience of the last decade and a half.”
Economic mismanagement creating instability in market: Debapriya
It is necessary to understand how true and strong the narrative of national development the people always are hearing.
“Understanding that, I discussed with about 500 people of endangered and backward communities in seven places of Bangladesh,” he said.
Economy needs transitional policy to overcome the crisis: Debapriya
In response to a question the economist said, the middle-class society of Bangladesh has become weak and decayed. The decline of middle-class society has economic, political, and cultural significance.
The middle class played a major role in the cultural values and political values of Bangladesh. But in recent times that role has become murky. Because of this, we have fallen behind, said Debopriya.
Glad to work with GCA as special representative for climate, health: Saima Wazed
Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), an international organization working as a solutions broker to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions, has welcomed Saima Wazed Putul as its special representative for climate and health.
“We welcome Dr Saima Wazed as GCA’s special representative for climate and health,” GCA wrote on X, formerly known as twitter on Wednesday.
With over two decades of professional work and advocacy in public health regionally and globally, Dr Wazed is a strong ally in helping the most vulnerable adapt to climate health risks, GCA mentioned.
“Very pleased to be working with GCA as special representative for climate and health,” Saima wrote in reply to GCA comments.
Read: DoE-Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics ink MoU on climate change information management
Saima Wazed has been nominated by the Government of Bangladesh for the post of Regional Director of World Health Organization’s (WHO) South-East Asia Region (SEARO).
WHO SEARO is one of the six regional offices of the WHO, composed of representatives of the member states.
Read: Is climate change bad for democracy? Future-watchers see threats, and some opportunities
Saima Wazed, appointed as WHO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Autism in South-East Asia region in 2017, is a licensed school psychologist. She is the daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
She has been involved in advocacy for supporting the needs of people with disabilities since 2009. She is an expert on neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health, and an accomplished speaker and author.
Read more: Climate change and the shift to cleaner energy push Southeast Asia to finally start sharing power
Woman, nephew die being hit by truck in Dinajpur
A woman and a five-year-old boy died after a truck hit a motorcycle they were on at Bochaganj Upazila of Dinajpur on Wednesday afternoon.
The deceased were identified as Champa Rani Roy (26) of Jalgaon village of the upazila and her nephew Joy Chandra Roy (5) of the same village.
Also read: Chuadanga road accident leaves two dead
Witnesses said the aunt and nephew died while returning home on the motorcycle after shopping in the market.
Also read: College student killed in Ctg road crash
A doctor declared them dead when they were taken to the Upazila Health Complex, said Bochaganj Police Station Sub-inspector Raja Mia.
Also read: Biker dead, two pillion riders injured in Magura road accident
Bochaganj Police Station in-charge Abu Bakar Siddique Rasel said they detained truck driver Aminul Islam and seized the truck.
Two women die in separate road accidents in Chattogram
Two women died in separate road accidents in Chandanaish upazila and in Anwara Upazila of Chattogram on Wednesday morning.
One of the deceased was a 24-25-year-old unidentified woman in Anwara Upazila and another deceased was identified as Diluara Begum (45), a daily wage earner from Ward-1 of Dohazari Municipality of Chandanaish upazila, said police.
Read: 4 dead as human hauler plunges into a pond in Manikganj
The unidentified woman died when a vehicle hit her at Jheori Mazar Gate of Anwara Upazila, said Sohel Mahmud, officer-in-Charge of Anwara Police Station.
Meanwhile, in another incident in Dohazari area Ward-1, Diluara Begum died when a leguna lost control and rammed the bathroom on the side of the road, said Khan Mohammad Erfan, officer-in-charge of Dohazari Highway Police Station.
Read: RMG workers block Dhaka-Mymensingh highway demanding dues
Bangladesh an important and growing trade partner: Sweden
Swedish State Secretary for International Development Cooperation and International Trade Diana Janse has said her country will continue to work to enhance the partnership with Bangladesh and support its path towards sustainable economic growth and inclusive development.
“Bangladesh is an important and growing trade partner,” she said while wrapping up her two-day visit to Bangladesh.
Janse said Swedish development cooperation has been a cornerstone of bilateral relations and today the ties between the two countries are “multifaceted, dynamic and growing”.
"I am happy to pay my first visit to Bangladesh. Last year’s 50th anniversary between our countries was a milestone and we are proud to have been part of Bangladesh impressive development journey. Our partnership is in transition,” she said.
Read: Bangladesh seeks greater support from Sweden for digital transformation, market access
During her visit, the state secretary had “constructive discussions” with representatives of the government of Bangladesh, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and State Minster for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, as well as civil society representatives and development partners.
She discussed bilateral trade relations, the business environment and how to further support for the green transition with representatives of Swedish companies, said the Swedish Embassy in a media release on Wednesday.
In the meetings with Bangladeshi counterparts, discussions revolved around bilateral ties, focusing on areas where Sweden and Bangladesh see possibilities for enhanced partnership, including finding synergies between development and trade, sustainability and the green transition.
Topics related to democracy, including the importance of free, fair and participatory elections, human rights and the situation of the Rohingya refugees were also discussed.
Read: Sweden wants to see free, fair and inclusive election in Bangladesh: State Secretary tells PM
Both sides exchanged views on the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Indo Pacific.
Jansen visited Swedish supported community activities on WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) and Urban Health Care Services in Dhaka.
In addition, the Swedish delegation also visited the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, following up on Swedish support to the crisis.
Diana Janse is State Secretary to the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forsell since November 2022.
The current Strategy for Development Cooperation covers the years 2021-2025. It focuses on four areas: inclusive economic development; democracy, human rights, rule of law and gender equality; health and climate and environment.
Read more: Sweden, UNDP continue to work on climate adaptation in Bangladesh
In addition, Sweden is actively engaged and supports efforts to provide assistance to the Rohingya refugees as well for as the host communities in Cox’s Bazar District.
More than 50 Swedish companies are active in Bangladesh, many of them well known global brands.
3 fugitive accused held from different parts of country
Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested three fugitive accused from different parts of the country on Tuesday night.
The arrestees were Mintu Miah, 35, son of Mojit Basunia, Morsheda Begum, 30, wife of Mintu Mia, of Kurigram district and Abul Kalam Azad, 53, son of Habibur Rahman of Bhola district.
Read: BGB's seized contraband in September worth Tk 192 crore: BGB
All of them were accused in murder cases.
Tipped off, a team of Rab-3 conducted drives in separate parts of the country and arrested the accused, said Arifur Rahman, senior assistant director (media) of Rab headquartes.
Read: 6 Ansar Al Islam operatives held by RAB from different areas of capital
High-level regional meeting on Rohingya refugees in Bangkok October 17
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi is scheduled to visit Thailand from October 15-17.
As part of the visit, High Commissioner Grandi will be opening a high-level regional meeting on Rohingya refugees in Bangkok on October 17.
Read: Tokyo wants dignified return of Rohingyas to Myanmar, a top Japanese official tells PM Hasina
This closed-door meeting will seek international support for over a million Rohingya refugees and their hosting communities – most of them in Bangladesh - in the lead up to the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) in Geneva, December 2023.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, UK's Minister of State for Indo-Pacific and the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration are among the key delegates attending the high-level meeting, according to UNHCR.
Read: Two members of ARSA, RSO killed in Ukhiya Rohingya camp
Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s bazar district and Bhasan Char.
A certain country claims to be friend of Bangladesh, but imposes visa curbs: Chinese Ambassador
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Wednesday (October 11, 2023) said a certain foreign country claiming to be friend of Bangladesh is imposing unilateral visa restrictions on Bangladeshi people.
Without naming the country the ambassador said they keep talking about human rights, democracy and free and fair elections in Bangladesh.
Read: China to provide large-scale anti-dengue aid in a few days: Ambassador Yao
His comments came amid controversy centering the US decision to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals. Washington, however, said it will not release the names or numbers of people in Bangladesh subject to the visa restrictions.
Ambassador Yao reiterated that China does not meddle with the internal affairs pf other countries.
“China never intervenes in internal affairs of other countries. Instead, we want to help Bangladesh make greater economic success and improve the livelihood of local people,” he told reporters after attending a programme, noting that a friend in need is a friend indeed.
Read: Momen attending COM meeting of IORA in Colombo
“Who is the genuine friend of Bangladesh? The people have the say?” said the Chinese ambassador.
The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh handed over 700 sets of dengue kits to Enam Medical College and Hospital, which would meet the demand of tests for over 18,000 people.
Ambassador Yao said that President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government are "deeply concerned" on the dengue epidemic in Bangladesh and announced that China will provide 25 million RMB (USD 3.5 million) anti-dengue aid to Bangladesh.
This marks only a starting point, and there will be more anti-dengue aid in larger scale coming from China in a few days, said the ambassador.
"With our joint effort in mitigating the current dengue surge, the bond of friendship between the two countries and peoples would be further enhanced," said the ambassador.
As a time-tested friend and strategic partner of Bangladesh, the envoy said, China is committed to working with Dhaka in addressing public health challenges, which was manifested by their joint fight against the Covid-19 pandemic over the past three years.
Read: Padma Bridge Rail Link a landmark project under China's BRI: Ambassador Yao
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief, Dr Md. Enamur Rahman, and Chief Executive Officer of Enam Medical College and Hospital, Dr. Anawarul Quader Nazim, among others, were present.
Hilsa price high due to profit-mongers’ greed: Fisheries Minister
The price of hilsa in the market is high due to greed of profit-mongers at different levels, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim.
He said this at a press briefing organised on the occasion of the implementation of ‘Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign 2023’ during the main breeding season on Wednesday.
Asked why the price of hilsa is so high, he said although there is no separate cost in hilsa production the amount of expenses to collect and preserve hilsa is not less. “But the government is giving incentives, we are helping those who help us to harvest hilsa from VGF.”
Demand for salted hilsa up in north Bangladesh
“Those who harvest hilsa have to use boats, nets, and hire workers. After harvesting the fish the fishers bring those to the landing stations and the locations are changed several times for icing and other processes, some people earn huge profit at different levels. I think the price of hilsa is more than it should be due to their profit,” said the minister.
22-day ban on hilsa fishing begins tomorrow
“In this regard, we have also urged those who are involved in market management, competition commission, and consumer rights. They're already doing some work. If they do this more proactively and monitor the market management from the centre of fish harvesting to the marketing, I believe it is possible to bring the price of hilsa to a tolerable level,” he added.
"It is the work of our ministry that those who catch fish, we arrange food for them when the fishing remains prohibited. Those who fish with boats are often supplied with boats. We often provide them with nets,” he added.
173 tonnes of Hilsa exported to India in 3 days through Benapole port