bangladesh
Gas supply from another floating LNG terminal resumes after 9 days
Full scale gas supply from one of the Maheshkhali floating LNG terminals, which remained off from May 11 due to the impact of cyclonic storm Mocha, resumed on Saturday.
Aslam Alam, public relations officer (information officer) of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, said the operation of one of the floating LNG terminal in Mahishkhali of Cox’s Bazar district resumed on Saturday night.
Earlier, the gas supply from the two LNG terminals in Maheshkhali remained suspended due to the impact of Cyclone Mocha from May 11.
On May 16, the authorities resumed the operation of one the floating LNG terminals.
Also read: Gas supply from two floating LNG terminals to remain off due to cyclone
With the resumption of gas supply from the second floating LNG terminal, some 800 million cubic feet of gas (mmcfd) is being added to the national pipeline from the two LNG terminals.
People of the country, especially the residents of Chattogram, faced frequent load shedding for several days due to the suspension of the gas supply from two LNG terminals.
Production in many factories also remained suspended due to the lack of gas supply.
END/UNB/Corr/MAS/SH /FH
PM Hasina to leave for Doha on Monday to attend Qatar Economic Forum 2023
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka for Doha on Monday on a three-day official visit to attend the Qatar Economic Forum 2023 to be held on May 23-25.
A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airline, carrying the premier and her entourage, will depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 3:00 pm.
The flight is scheduled to land at Hamad International Airport at 6:00pm local time (9:00pm Bangladesh Time).
Also Read: PM Hasina to attend Qatar Economic Forum May 23-25
The Prime Minister will attend the Forum titled “3rd Qatar Economic Forum: A New Global Growth Story” at the invitation of Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The Qatar Economic Forum is the Middle East's leading voice dedicated to global business and investment. The main objective of this forum is to find a solution by increasing mutual cooperation among the international community to deal with the multi-faceted challenges and crises going on globally and the adverse economic consequences arising from them.
On May 23, Sheikh Hasina will join the opening session of the 3rd Qatar Economic Forum, address the students of Qatar University in Doha, and hold meetings separately with Qatar Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi and Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia Khalid A. Al-Falih.
On May 24, the PM will join the forum, have a meeting with Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (at Amiri Diwan) and visit Awsaj Academy (a specialized school).
Sheikh Hasina is expected to return home in the morning of May 25, leaving Doha the previous night.
Worker dies after falling off ladder in Dhaka’s Jatrabari
A 30-year-old worker died after falling off a ladder at Samadnagar in Jatrabari area of the city on Sunday.
The deceased was identified as Mainul Islam, a welding worker.
Hailing from Barishal district, Mainul used to live in Shanir Akhra area.
Also Read: 11-year old dies falling off madrasah roof in Dhaka’s Hazaribag
Inspector Bachhu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police camp, said Mainul was working at a warehouse of a pipe godown in the area.
At one stage, he tried to go to the roof of the godown with a ladder for welding work and fell down around 1 pm.
Also Read: 2 construction workers die after falling off building in Dhaka
Later, he was taken to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared him dead around 2:15 pm.
Police sent the body to hospital morgue for autopsy.
Dengue death toll rises to 13; 33 more patients hospitalised
Bangladesh has been experiencing a sharp rise in dengue cases and the death toll from the mosquito-borne disease reached 13 with the death of another patient on Sunday.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 33 more people were hospitalised with dengue in 24 hours till this morning.
Of the new patients, 22 were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside it.
According to DGHS, 151 dengue patients, including 125 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
Also read: 3 more dengue patients hospitalised in 24 hrs
So far, it has recorded 1,447 dengue cases and 1,283 recoveries.
The country logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019. Also, it recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries last year.
Protest against tree felling: Police foil bid to lay siege to Nagar Bhaban
Police on Sunday foiled an attempt of some demonstrators to lay siege to Nagar Bhaban, the Dhaka South City Corporation’s headquarters, protesting its decision to cut down trees in Dhanmondi’s Saat Masjid Road in the capital.
Around 200 people took part in a possession under the banner of Saat Masjid Gaach Rakkha Andolan (Movement to protect trees on Dhanmondi’s Saat Masjid Road) in the morning, said our correspondent from the spot.
The progamme was announced from a press conference on Saturday by Saat Masjid Gaach Rakkha Andolan to protest felling of trees by DSCC in Dhanmondi’s Saat Masjid Road in the name of development.
As part of the programme, the protesters gathered at Shahbag’s Doyel Chattar on Sunday morning. Various cultural and environmental organizations including Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers’ Association (BELA) and people from different walks of life joined the possession.
The protesters left Doyel Chattar in Shahbagh at 11:30am to lay a siege to Nagar Bhaban to press home their 4-point demand.
However, when they reached Bangabazar intersection in Dhaka’s Gulistan area, police obstructed them from moving forward, Alamgir Kabir, the general secretary of Poribesh Bachao Andolan (PoBa) told UNB.
Bangladesh’s relation with Saudi Arabia is very good: President Shahabuddin
Saudi Arabian Ambassador in Dhaka Essa Yousef Essa Alduhailan on Sunday paid a courtesy call on President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban.
President's press secretary Md Joynal Abedin briefed the reporters after the meeting.
The president described Bangladesh's relationship with Saudi Arabia is very good and important.
Shahabuddin thanked the Saudi government for facilitating the hajj process for Bangladeshis and launching e-visa.
Also read: First hajj flight carrying 415 pilgrims leaves Dhaka for Saudi Arabia
Noting that Saudi Arabia is the biggest destination for the export of Bangladesh's manpower, President Shahabuddin said Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia are playing an important role in the economic development of both countries.
The president put emphasis on increasing mutual communication and visit-exchange both at public and private levels to enhance trade investment between the two countries.
The Saudi ambassador said Saudi investments in different sectors, including electricity and energy, are also increasing gradually along with strengthening relations with Bangladesh.
After Kuwait, Bangladesh is the second country, where mobile Umrah Visa has been implemented, he added.
Also Read: Syria, Saudi Arabia move toward restoring embassies, flights
The envoy also said many big companies in Saudi Arabia are showing interest in investing in Bangladesh.
President's Office Secretary Sampad Barua, President's Military Secretary Major General SM Salahuddin Islam were also present during the meeting.
Woman’s throat-slit body recovered in Dhaka’s Tejgaon, 1 detained
The throat-slit body of a woman was recovered from the room of a security guard in the capital’s Tejgaon area early Sunday.
Hailing from Mymensingh, 37-year-old Julekha used to work as housemaid in different houses in the city.
Shah Alam, an inspector (investigation) of Tejgaon police station, said Julekha came to the security guard of ‘Zaman Tower’ in Tejkunipara a couple of days back in search of a job.
Also Read: Ruet student found dead
Being informed by locals, police recovered the body from Siraj’s room early Sunday, he said adding that police detained security guard Siraj in this connection.
The body was sent to Surawardhy Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy, he said, adding that legal action will be taken after getting the autopsy report.
Bangladesh, India can cooperate in dev initiatives related to millet: High Commissioner
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma has highlighted the important role of millet in ensuring food security, popularizing nutritional diet, promoting sustainable agriculture, and securing financial empowerment of farmers.
He noted that Bangladesh and India have immense scope to cooperate in the exchange of knowledge, sharing of best practices, and in the research and development initiatives related to millet.
The Indian High Commissioner inaugurated an exhibition on “Food Security and Importance of Millets” at the Indian Cultural Centre in Dhaka on May 21.
Ruet student found dead
Police recovered the body of a student of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet) from a hostel in Sadhur Mor area of the city on Saturday (May 20, 2023) night.
The deceased was identified as Samiur Rahman, a 17th batch student of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department of the university. His identity was confirmed by the director of Ruet Student Welfare office Md. Rabiul Awal.
Read more: Ruet student dies drinking ‘excessive liquor’
Boalia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Suhrawardy Hossain said the student came from home a few days earlier.
“On information, we rushed to the spot and recovered the body and brought it to the hospital. Now the autopsy is going on at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. The cause of death will be known when the autopsy report will be available,” he said.
Earlier, on last Wednesday at noon, the body of Tanveer Fahad Rumi, a student of fourth year and the 18th batch of the Mechanical Engineering department of the same university, was found hanging in his room in Lieutenant Salim Hall.
Read more: Youth stabbed dead by friend in Kushtia
Decision on onion import in 2-3 days: Agriculture Minister
Agriculture Minister Md Abdur Razzaque has said a decision on onion import will be taken within two to three days after monitoring the market situation.
"I know that all middle- and limited-income people are suffering. The price of onion should not be Tk 80 per kg. At the policy level, we are putting emphasis on the interests of our local farmers,” the minister said while talking to reporters at his Secretariat office today (May 21, 2023).
"We have discussed it at the highest level of policymaking. We are monitoring the market very closely. Insha'Allah, you will get a decision on whether we will import onions in 2-3 days," he said.
Read more: Govt may allow onion import soon: Agriculture Secretary
Last week, the Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akhter said the government is considering importing onions due to the hike in onion prices in the market.
Due to government intervention, onion production in the country has increased by more than one million tonne in the last two years, according to the DAE (Department of Agricultural Extension).
This year alone, more than 34 lakh tonnes of onion have been produced in the country. Meanwhile, the demand for onion in the country is 26 to 28 lakh tonnes per year.
Read more: Govt to import 12,500 MT of sugar from US
However, due to lack of proper storage system or adverse environment, 30-35% of locally produced.