Bangladesh
Chinese firm gets cabinet body’s nod to set up Chinese economic zone in Ctg
China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) has won the contract to set up “Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ)” in Chattogram as a Chinese government’s nominated developer.
Committee on Economic Affairs in a meeting, with Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in the chair, gave in principle approval to a proposal of Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) to award the contract to the CRBC through direct procurement method (DPM).The Chinese firm will establish the economic zone on a G2G basis on 784 acres of land in Anwara Upazila of Chattogram district.
The CRBC will also provide the necessary utility services along with the development of the economic zone.
Earlier in June 2014, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her visit to China had offered the Chinese investors to set up an exclusive economic zone in Bangladesh.
She made her call while addressing the 9th China-South Asia Business Forum held at Haigeng Conference Centre in Kunming, China.
The Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), a government body under the Prime Minister's Office, also signed an agreement with the Commerce Ministry of China during the visit.
BEZA took up the plan to implement the project by June, 2016.
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As follow-up, on September 15, 2015, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the proposed Economic and Industrial Zone involving Tk 420.37 crore exclusively for Chinese investors.
The approval was given to the project, officially known as Acquisition of Land for Development of Anwara-2 Economic Zone, at the 7th Ecnec meeting of the current fiscal year held at the NEC conference room held with Ecnec chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The project aims to create a congenial business environment for attracting Chinese companies there as well as creating scopes for jobs for ensuring sustainable economic development.
As per the deal signed with the Chinese Commerce Ministry, Bangladesh will provide land to Chinese investors on a long-term lease basis and a firm nominated by China will set up the economic zone on the land.
It was said during the deal that once the project is implemented, huge jobs will be created for Bangladeshis.
Meanwhile, the BEZA and the CRBC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the development of CEIZ in southeastern Bangladesh.
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Under the MoU signed on August 11 in 2022, the Chinese company was assigned to develop the economic and industrial zone dedicated to Chinese investors at Anwara some 242 km southeast of the capital Dhaka.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming attended the signing ceremony, saying that the zone, as the first industrial park built by Chinese enterprises in Bangladesh, is of landmark significance.
Li said that economic cooperation between China and Bangladesh enjoys a sound foundation and broad prospects, and China will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to cooperate with their Bangladeshi counterparts in more areas.
The ambassador expressed hope that more Chinese enterprises could participate in building more industrial parks in the future and further deepen economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
The economic and industrial zone covering 778 acres is expected to generate 30,000 jobs, according to BEZA Executive Chairman Shaikh Yusuf Harun.
He said the zone is fully dedicated to Chinese entrepreneurs and investors.
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Chemical, automobile assembly, garments and pharmaceutical factories will be built in the economic and industrial zone.
Bangladesh reports 26 more Covid-19 cases
Bangladesh reported 26 more Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours till Wednesday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,045,103, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read: Bangladesh sees one more Covid death, 12 cases in 24hrs
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,476 as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity stood at 2.46 percent as 1, 057 samples were tested.
Read: Brain fog and other long COVID symptoms are the focus of new small treatment studies
The recovery and death rates remained unchanged at 98.39 and 1.44 percent respectively.
Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 in 2021 and highest number of fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.
Read more: Bangladesh sees one more Covid death, 77 cases in 24hrs
Community Clinic seeks to ensure universal health care for all in a community: Syed Modasser Ali
The idea that the Community Clinic is a private and public initiative to ensure universal health services for the community, said Chairman of Community Clinic Health Service Trust (CCHST) Dr. Syed Modasser Ali on Wednesday.
CCHST is run under supervision of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
“The government is planning to increase the number of Community Health Care Providers (CHCP) from one to two for each of the Community Clinic in Bangladesh,” he said.
He was speaking at a discussion at BMRC Bhaban at Mohakhali in Dhaka on “Sustaining quality primary health services and nutrition activities in southwest Bangladesh” organized by World Vision Bangladesh (WVB) under USAID’s Nobo Jatra Project II (NJP II).
Read: UN recognition of community clinic means support for Sheikh Hasina’s leadership: Information Minister
Dr. Md. Quiume Talukder, Line Director, Community Based Health Care (CBHC), CCHST, presided over the discussion which was attended by Dr. Tulshi Ranjan Saha, Managing Director (Additional Secretary) of CCHST; Dr Shahana Parveen, National Coordinator, Community Group (CG) and Community Support Group (CSG) of CCHST as special guests, according to a press release.
Lima Hanna Daring, Chief of Party (CoP) delivered the opening speech.
Nirmal Sarker, Senior Technical Advisor, NJP II, WVB, shared a presentation on the project experiences and activities from the implementation of integrated GMP session at the EPI sites. Feroz Ahmed, MCHN Advisor, NJP II, was present at the event.
The Line Director appreciated the NJP’s financial aids for the marginal pregnant women and said that the CBHC will continue supporting World Vision Bangladesh, he confirmed.
Read: Community clinic trustee board reconstituted
USAID’s Nobo Jatra Project II is a 24 months (October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2024) sustainability and system-strengthening phase of Nobo Jatra Project (NJP). World Vision Bangladesh is implementing the project to sustain and solidify key service delivery systems that build the resilience of vulnerable populations in southwest Bangladesh.
Read more: Community Clinic Trust Bill lands in Parliament
Bangladesh’s New Delhi mission pays homage to Bangabandhu
Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi has observed the National Mourning Day and 48th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with respect and due dignity.
High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India Md. Mostafizur Rahman hoisted the national flag at half mast on the embassy premises in the morning and started the day-long program by placing wreaths on the portrait of the Father of the Nation.
A discussion was organized in the morning to mark the day. At the beginning, a minute's silence was observed to pay respect to Bangabandhu and his family members.
Speeches given by the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs were read out on the occasion.
Brigadier General Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Defence Adviser of the Mission, also spoke on the occasion.
A documentary on Bangabandhu was screened and an open discussion was held on the life and work of the Father of the Nation, said the High Commission on Wednesday.
High Commissioner Rahman respectfully recalled Bangabandhu's farsighted leadership and all struggles that took place on the way to the establishment of independent-sovereign Bangladesh.
He said, "Bangabandhu became the 'poet of politics' by combining the qualities of character with the political acumen."
The High Commissioner also said that Bangabandhu unearthed nationalism among a thousand-year-old ethnic group and united them and transformed an exploited nation into an independent nation through a long struggle.
Following the great ideals of the Father of the Nation, the High Commissioner asked everyone to continue their efforts to build the 'Golden Bangla' of Bangabandhu's hunger and poverty free dream under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In the evening, a special discussion program titled 'Bangabandhu: Pioneer of Human Rights and Freedom' was organized.
At the beginning, High Commissioner Rahman gave an opening speech by highlighting the working life of Bangabandhu.
Professor Sanjay Bharadwaj of Jawaharlal Nehru University presented the keynote speech on the occasion.
Pankaj Sharan, the former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, who participated as a special negotiator, said, "The viable socio-economic development of Bangladesh today bears the testimony that Bangabandhu's political decision was correct in realizing the rights of the common people."
Another speaker of the event, Smita Pant, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs of India, said, "Bangabandhu laid the foundation of Bangladesh-India relations, and a 'golden chapter' of bilateral relations has started on that basis."
On the occasion of the day, a special exhibition was also organized with some notable photographs of Bangabandhu's eventful life.
Special prayer was offered for the souls of Bangabandhu and his martyred family members.
Ambassadors and diplomats of various countries, dignitaries of the host country, journalists, mission officers and employees and expatriate Bangladeshis attended these events.
NID server down since this morning: Election Commission
National Identity Card (NID) server of the Election Commission (EC) has been down since this morning.
Muhammad Ashraf Hossain, system manager of EC's NID division, confirmed the development to UNB.
He said that NID service has been temporarily suspended for maintenance purposes.
EC to tighten cyber monitoring to protect NID data
Progress has been made in rectifying the issue, and it will be resolved shortly, he said.
Interruption in the NID service has raised concerns due to the absence of a disaster recovery site (DRS) or a proper backup system for this crucial database, which contains the personal information of approximately 12 crore citizens.
Officials have expressed apprehension about the potential risks posed by the lack of a DRS, and stressed the vulnerability of this national database.
This pressing matter was recently highlighted during a meeting of the EC's Information Technology Implementation Committee. The issue has garnered attention, especially in light of the upcoming National election.
Cyber teams working on leaked NID info: Home Minister
The EC initially embarked on the task of compiling a comprehensive voter list with photographs in 2007. Subsequently, voter information was updated through door-to-door visits in the years 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019. The entirety of this vital voter data is stored on the Election Commission's servers.
250 sued over Jamaat-police clash in Ctg over Sayeedi’s 'gayebana janaza'
Two cases have been filed against 250 leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir over Tuesday’s clashes with police in Chattogram over the gayebana janaza (funeral prayers in absentia) of war crimes convict and Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayeedi.
Police filed the cases against 65 named, including 40 people who were arrested on Tuesday and 185 unnamed people at Kotwali Police Station.
Police, Jamaat-Shibir activists clash in Ctg over Sayeedi’s 'gayebana janaza'; 30 held
Mostafizur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan police (south), said, “Police prevented the Jamaat-Shibir leaders and activists from blocking road from Jamiatul Falah Mosque to Almas crossing in the city on Tuesday (August 15) as they had planned sabotage.”
They attacked police, leaving five of them critically injured, he said.
Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali police station Jahedul Kabir said that 40 were detained and taken to court before noon.
Jamaat not allowed to hold Sayeedi's ‘gayebana janaza’ in Sylhet
A plea seeking their remand has been submitted to the court, he said.
Police detained 30 activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami after the clashes that broke out in front of Kazir Dewri and Almas cinema hall on Tuesday afternoon.
Later, it spread to different parts of the city including Kazir Dewri Mor, Wasar Mor, GEC Mor and Lalkhan Bazar.
Ghaibana janaza for Sayeedi won't be permitted in Dhaka: DMP chief
According to witnesses, the leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami were preparing to offer gayebana janaza for Sayeedi at Jamiyatul Falah Mosque ground in Wasa Mor area of the city but police obstructed them, leading to the clashes.
Clash with medicine traders: KMCH students boycott classes
Students of Khulna Medical College Hospital boycotted classes and held a sit-in programme in front of the college on Wednesday morning over a clash with medicine traders.
At the time, the students locked the hospital director's office. Intern doctors are also on work abstention for the second day.
Earlier on Monday night, a clash occurred between medicine traders and students in front of Khulna Medical College. At least 20 students and nine medicine traders were injured in the clash.
Read: KMCH intern doctors call for work abstention over clash between students and medicine traders
Due to the incident, the intern doctors are on a work abstention from August 15. On the other hand, the medicine traders kept their drug stores closed for the second day.
Students claimed that a student of Khulna Medical College locked into an argument with a shopkeeper at a drugstore over price of medicine.
At one point, several shopkeepers beat him up. When the other students learned about it, they went to the drugstore, and the shopkeepers beat them up too.
Efforts on to make ship breaking industry safe,environment-friendly: Minister
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin on Wednesday said that the government has taken various initiatives to make the ship breaking industry safe and environment-friendly.
As a result of various far-reaching measures taken by the government, 4 shipyards have already become green and more than a dozen shipyards are in the process of becoming green, he said.
The environment minister said these while addressing a workshop organized by the Department of Environment on the environmental management of ship breaking industry.
Bangladesh has recently ratified the the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, said the minister adding that the Bangladesh Ship Recycling Act, 2018, Bangladesh Ship Recycling Rules, 2011 and Medical Waste (Management and Processing) Rules, 2008 have been enacted aimed at building a sustainable ship breaking industry.
Read: "Climate Promise-From Pledge to Impact" launched to drive ambitious climate action in Bangladesh
“Although the ship breaking industry has made a significant contribution to the economy of Bangladesh, we all have to work to ensure its environmental protection. First of all, the safety of the workers involved should be ensured. They should be provided with technical support,” he said.
“It is important to explore how to advance this growing industry by identifying and eliminating environmental hazards. All stakeholders must work together to ensure sustainable and environment-friendly economic development,” added the minister .
Secretary of the Ministry of Industry Zakia Sultana and Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Farhina Ahmed also spoke as special guests with Dr. Abdul Hamid, Director General of the Department of Environment, in chair.
Students of XI can pay college admission fees thru’ Nagad
Mobile financial service provider Nagad has come up with a special offer that enables aspiring students of Class XI to pay their admission fees charge-free using its app or USSD *167#, aiming to their college admission process as well as giving them extra benefit.
Nagad customers will get an instant cashback of Tk 2.5 after paying the application fee amounting to Tk 150, said a press release issued on Wednesday.
For the fee payment using Nagad’s app, a student needs to go to “Bill Pay”, tap XI Class Admission 2023, and enter roll number, contact number, board name, and passing year.
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Then they will press the NEXT button and enter the amount. In the next step, they will type the PIN number and tap again.
Once the payment is successfully completed, users will receive a confirmation notification.
On the other hand, to pay the fee using the USSD, a customer will dial *167# and a menu will appear on the screen from where they will select “Bill Pay” by pressing the menu number 5.
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In the third step, another new menu will pop up and users have to go to the “Other” option by pressing the menu number 12 and then will select 1. After that, they will type 1300 as the biller account number.
In the following steps, students need to enter roll number, board, mobile number, and passing year. In the final step, they will type PIN number and will get a payment conformation SMS.
Read also: Establishing Digital Bank paramount to build smart Bangladesh: Nagad MD
A Nagad customer will be eligible to get cashback only for paying the application fee of Class XI admission through the “Bill Pay” option on Nagad app or USSD.
The “Class XI Admission” payment campaign, which started on August 10 this year, will continue till September 31st.
A Nagad user will enjoy the cashback once during the entire campaign.
Besides, a customer must have an active and full-profile Nagad account to avail this offer.
Md Shihab Uddin Chowdhury, chief commercial officer of Nagad, said, “Nagad always works to make financial transactions convenient and affordable. We have now introduced an option for students to pay their college admission fees free of charge using Nagad’s platform to facilitate their admission process.”
In this way, students will get relief from hassles they would face while paying the fee in person.
Besides, they will get accustomed to digital payments, he added.
“We believe the easier we will make digital payments, the more people will embrace it,” he noted.
Weather forecast: Light to moderate rain likely to continue in Dhaka, 7 other divisions
Bangladesh Meteorological Department has predicted light to moderate rain in Dhaka and seven other divisions of the country.
“Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind are likely to occur at many places in Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at a few places in Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal and Dhaka divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls in places across the country”, said a regular bulletin of Met office.
Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country.
BMD forecasts rains in eight divisions
The axis of monsoon trough runs through India’s Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,West Bengal to Assam across the central part of Bangladesh.
Torrential rains inundate Khagrachhari with hundreds of families stranded
One of its associated troughs extends up to northeast Bay. Monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate elsewhere over north Bay.
More rains likely on Tuesday