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Bangladesh power generation capacity to cross 30,000 MW this year: Official sources
-Surplus electricity to rise by 50 percent
-Capacity charges to go up to Tk 36,000 crore in 2023-24
-BPDB’s pending payable bills to private power Tk 25,946 crore uptil April
The country is going to cross the benchmark of 30,000 MW of installed capacity in power generation pushing up the unused generation capacity by 50 percent within the current year 2023.
Official sources told UNB this week that the country’s total installed electricity generation capacity currently is 28,159 including, grid and off-grid power.
According to official statistics, within the current year it will be 31,273 MW leaving over 50 percent of it idle against the existing demand of 16,000 MW.
Also read: Nuclear fuel for Rooppur power plant to arrive in Bangladesh in September, Rosatom DG tells PM
The official figure of the state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) shows that currently the grid-connected installed power production capacity is 24,911 MW while the off-grid power generation capacity is 3,248 where captive and renewable energy is included.
There is no major change in off-grid power generation, specially, in captive power, mainly used by industries.
As per official statistics, the grid power generation was 22,482 MW on August 1 in 2022 while it is now 24,911 MW meaning that the installed capacity has increased by 2,429 MW in the last one year.
Also read: Matarbari coal-fired power plant’s unit-1 synchronised with national grid
Now another 3,114 MW of installed capacity is in the pipeline which is coming to the national grid in the next six month totaling the country’s power generation capacity to 31,273 MW.
“All together, this year the grid will get 5,543 MW of new electricity though the demand may rise by 1000 MW”, said a top official of the state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).
“Interestingly, all the new electricity is coming from the private sector, not from the public sector plants”, said the official on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media on the sensitive issue.
Also read: Rampal power plant shut down again due to coal shortage; load shedding increases
However, sources familiar with the subject said that during this period some 400 MW of rental power plants might be retired from the grid.
Officials said many consumers might be happy with the huge growth in power generation capacity, but this will be a cause for concern for the authorities in paying the capacity charges keeping the 50 percent of the capacity idle.
“In the last fiscal year 2022-23, we had to pay Tk 26,000 crore as capacity charges and in this current fiscal the amount will go up to Tk 36,000 crore”, said a top BPDB official, adding that the amount was about Tk 21,000 crore in 2021-22. He also spoke on condition he can't be named.
Another challenge with the capacity payment is that more than 90 percent of the payment will be made in foreign currency when the country’s forex reserve has come down to $23 billion from $48 billion just one year ago.
Also read: Radical change in power system network in Dhaka city and beyond expected by end 2024: Chinese official
Capacity charge is a kind of guaranteed payment under a power purchase agreement (PPA) no matter the BPDB takes power from the private producer or not.
“This fiscal year our capacity payment will increase by 80-90 percent compared to two years back”, said another BPDB official.
The official statistics revealed that new power plants which have already came to the grid or under process to be connected with grid are 1,600 MW from Adani Group’s coal-fired power plant, 620 MW from Rampal Power Plant, 1,224 MW from S Alam Group’s power plant in Bashkhali of Chattagram, 718 MW electricity from Reliance Power LNG-based Plant in Meghnaghat, 590 MW from LNG-based GE-Summit Meghnaghat-2 power plant and and 584 MW from LNG-based Unique Group’s power plant in Meghnaghat.
The official statistics also revealed that the BPDB has been in trouble with fund shortage as it’s payable outstanding bills to the private sector has now stood at Tk 25,946 crore upto April this year.
“But if the private sector’s bill for May and July is added, it may reach Tk 35,000 crore”, said a BPDB official.
Terming the situation in power sector an outcome of the wrong policy persuasion based on import-dependent fuel supply, Research Director of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem said the authorities should immediately apply “force majeure” to stop capacity payment by introducing “no electricity no payment” to reduce the burden of the state-owned BPDB.
Secondly, the government has to come out of the plan to set up import-based LNG-run power plants and put priority on setting up renewable-based power plants. In this case, initiative should be taken to explore local gas.
Otherwise, the situation will go out of control, he said.
National plan needed to bring dengue under control: Experts
Health officials and experts have stressed coordinated efforts and a national plan to battle the current onslaught of dengue.
Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) adviser and infectious disease expert Dr Mostaq Hossain said it is not possible to control dengue without concerted efforts.
“To eliminate the breeding ground of Aedes mosquitoes in Dhaka and across the country, a coordinated initiative has to be undertaken,” he told UNB.
Also read: Dengue infection rate stable in Dhaka, rises slightly outside the capital: DGHS
"We have a directive from the inter-ministerial task force. There are many initiatives that can be handled individually and many that have to be done in coordination. To clean your flat, you need the coordination of experienced city corporation workers, flat owners association volunteers and local public representatives,” he added.
Dr Hossain warned that preaching would not work if there is no concerted effort to destroy Aedes mosquitoes' breeding grounds.
He also cautioned that fines won’t solve issues related to public health.
Also read: 38,429 dengue cases reported in July: DGHS
“When the city corporation workers come, people will not open the door, they will not allow them to enter. Because they knew if they open the door they would be fined,” he said.
“Fines can be imposed in general matters,” he said, adding: “But you shouldn’t drive people away by imposing fines on public health matters. Follow the framework of community engagement outlined in the local government department's guidelines.”
The IEDCR adviser stressed on increasing infrastructure and workforce under the city corporations to efficiently tackle the dengue outbreak.
Jahangirnagar University entomologist Dr Kabirul Bashar told UNB that a national plan should be prepared to protect the people of the country from dengue.
“In the coming days, a national plan should be prepared with all stakeholders by discussing, analyzing what can be done to control the dengue outbreak in Bangladesh,” he said. “If necessary, a national institution called the Institute of Vector Control should be established.”
Also read: Dengue patients overwhelm govt hospitals in Dhaka; Patients suffer amid bed, staff shortage
Dr Bashar warned that the dengue situation could worsen in the next two months.
"The next two months (August and September) are very worrying for us as the death and dengue infection rate might surpass the previous records," he said.
“In the next two months, we will see 7-8 times more dengue patients than July. That's why we have to be more careful.”
He urged the authorities to identify and destroy Aedes breeding grounds in a bid to control the outbreak.
"So far, we were talking about dengue in the two city corporations of Dhaka. Now we are seeing Aedes mosquitoes spreading all over the country. Dengue has spread in other upazilas. No one knows why dengue is spreading in areas outside Dhaka,” he said.
Also read: Bangladesh Red Crescent Society takes urgent action to combat escalating dengue caseload
Dr Bashar called on the government to fund research to determine how the onslaught of dengue is spreading to other areas outside Dhaka.
Kabirul Bashar said that earlier 40 percent of Aedes mosquitoes in Dhaka city used to breed in under-construction buildings which has now come down to 19 percent due to the city corporation's drive.
“But this time, in the study, we found 43 percent of mosquitoes in multipurpose buildings. We have seen that the city corporation officials and residents do not go to the multipurpose buildings where the vehicles are parked. As a result, aedes larvae are growing in accumulated water there,” he said.
Director (MIS) of the Directorate General of Health Services Prof. Md. Shahadat Hossain said the total number of dengue patients in the country in June was 5,056, compared to 38,429 dengue patients in July -- a staggering seven-fold rise in Dengue cases.
“In this situation, DGHS has urged the general public to come forward along with strengthening the mosquito eradication program of the city corporation to tackle the outbreak,” he told UNB.
“At present, many hospitals in the capital have been filled with patients infected by the mosquito-borne disease. We are making all efforts from the Department of Health to control the situation so that dengue patients can come to the hospital and get proper medical care.”
Besides, the Department of Health is carrying out various awareness activities to make people aware, the DGHS director added.
Chandpur wholesale market flooded with hilsa, price coming down
Price of the much sought after hilsa fish is coming down as the largest wholesale ‘Boro Station Market’ in Chandpur district is flooded with catches.
After the 65-day ban on fishing in the Bay ended on July 23, the Boro Station Market is abuzz with the presence of fishermen, traders and workers related to the fishing industry.
With complaints, Chandpur fishermen gear up to catch hilsa
Visiting the market recently, UNB’s Chandpur correspondent found a large number of fishing trawlers and trucks coming to the Fisheries Ghat carrying hilsa netted from the coastal areas of Bhola, Hatiya, Char Fashion, Laxmipur and adjacent areas.
Locals were busy loading and unloading the catches at the fisheries ghat.
Traders said a total of 500 maunds of fish reached the market, forcing them to lower the price of hilsa due to abundant supply.
2-month ban on Hilsa fishing to end Sunday midnight
One kg hilsa fish is being sold at Tk 1800 which was Tk 2200 before, while a fish weighing 500-750 grams is being sold at Tk 1200-1300 which was Tk 1500 before.
Bari Manik Jamadar, president of Fish Traders Association, Chandpur, said the supply of hilsa has increased over the last three days but not as much as in the previous year.
Some traders said some dishonest fishermen netted ‘jatka’ (fry), which negatively impacts the catches.
Cox’s Bazar fishermen rejoice as Bay swarms with Hilsa
Dr. Md Anisur Rahman, an expert in Chandpur Fisheries Research Institute, told UNB, “River water has degraded due to climate change, pollution and unabated sand lifting. We should save the rivers. Besides, the natural movement of fish has been disrupted due to the shoals.”
He also hoped for satisfactory catches of hilsa fish in the coming days during the full moon.
After 21 years, Thakurgaon silk factory set to resume production on August 3
After being closed for a staggering 21 years, Thakurgaon Silk Factory is all set to resume operation formally on August 3.
Activities to make the factory operational is currently underway, with machines being cleaned and fit for weaving cloths.
Once known for producing smooth silk fabrics, the factory houses 20 power looms and 20 hand looms, all of which will be operational again. The reopening has brought excitement among both old and newly recruited workers.
The closure of the silk factory had a significant impact on around 5,000 silk farmers, leaving them unemployed. The reopening of the factory is expected to create job opportunities for over 5000 farmers associated with sericulture as the factory will produce smooth silk fabric using their silkworms' yarn.
Read: Assured Rohingyas that EU hasn’t forgotten them despite worldwide crises: Special Representative Gilmore tells UNB
Supriya Group in Thakurgaon has taken the factory on lease for five years, aiming to export the silk fabric.
Local MP Ramesh Chandra Sen will inaugurate the resumption of production in the factory, said Md. Bablur Rahman, chairman of Supriya Group.
All preparations for the factory's operation have been completed, and about 25-30 workers, including eight old factory workers, have been employed, he said.
Despite a minor issue with some of the machines, efforts are underway to resolve it, and additional new machines will be procured if required, he added.
Read: 28 officials and 2 govt departments to receive ‘Bangabandhu Public Administration Award’
The journey towards reopening the factory began in 2019 when an investigation team, led by Moniruzzaman, a joint secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, submitted a report confirming the feasibility of restarting the factory.
A technical committee of nine members was subsequently formed in October 2020 to outline the operational procedures, leading to the leasing of the factory to Supriya Group.
Belayet Hossain, the newly appointed General Manager of the factory, said that all technical work has been successfully completed, and they have already reached out to the former factory workers who are willing and able to return to work.
Thakurgaon District Commissioner Md. Mahbubur Rahman said the factory's revival will generate employment opportunities for many.
Read: Dengue patients overwhelm govt hospitals in Dhaka; Patients suffer amid bed, staff shortage
The silk fabric produced in Thakurgaon has a high demand both nationally and internationally, he said.
Established by private organization RDRS in 1977-78, the modernization work of the factory was completed in December 1998. It was shut down in November 2002 due to repotedlosses.
Over the years, the people of Thakurgaon, along with sericulturists, persistently called for its reopening, leading to its lease of life to the private sector after 21 years.
Assured Rohingyas that EU hasn’t forgotten them despite worldwide crises: Special Representative Gilmore tells UNB
European Union’s Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore has said they will talk to other countries about what more needs to be done to resolve the Rohingya crisis, and they are particularly conscious about the reductions in food rations that are being made this year.
“It has to be resolved and it has to be resolved in Myanmar. The resolution of that crisis has to happen. And the circumstances need to be created whereby the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh can voluntarily go home safely, with their rights respected and in full dignity,” he told UNB in an exclusive interview.
Gilmore, who recently spent five days in Bangladesh, said the food rations for the Rohingya refugees in Cox’s bazar have been cut from $12 to $10 (per person per month) and then $8 due to funding reductions by international donors.
He spent a full day in Cox’s Bazar and met the Rohingyas who fled from Myanmar over the past six years, and heard their experiences and problems.
Gilmore, who also visited Rohingya camps four years ago, assured them that the European Union has not forgotten them despite the current crises around the world.
Japan will continue to support resolving Rohingya issues: Ambassador
28 officials and 2 govt departments to receive ‘Bangabandhu Public Administration Award’
Twenty-eight officials of the administration and two government departments will receive the 'Bangabandhu Public Administration Medal'.
Of the 28 officers, 23 will receive medals in the team category and five in the individual category.
The Ministry of Public Administration has finalised the list of recipients of the "Bangabandhu Public Administration Award" at the national level.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain told UNB that the 'Bangabandhu Public Administration Medal' will be handed over to the nominees at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on July 31 on the occasion of 'National Public Service Day'.
The nominees have already been notified, he said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be present as the Chief Guest at the award ceremony.
The state minister said since 2016, the 'Public Administration Medal' was given to the officials of the administration to encourage efficiency, mindfulness and innovative efforts.
Since last year, the name of the 'Public Administration Medal' has been changed and the award is now given to officers who have contributed in various fields in a new way.
National Public Service Day is celebrated every year on June 23. The theme of the day is 'Shobar Aage Shushashon, Jonobshebay Udbhabon (Good Governance First, Innovation in Public Service)’.
According to the Ministry of Public Administration, this time the Ministry of Food will get the award in the category of 'Policy and Administrative System Reform' and the National Heart Institute and Hospital in the category of 'Research and Its Use for Human Welfare'.
Former Deputy Commissioner of Laxmipur (now Deputy Secretary of Health Services Division) Md Anwar Hossain Akand, Civil Surgeon of Laxmipur Dr Ahmed Kabir, former Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Laxmipur and now Deputy Director of BCS Administration Academy Noor-e-Alam, former Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Sadar Upazila Imran Hossain (now Executive Magistrate of BSTI) and UNO of Raipur Upazila Anjan Das will receive the award in the 'General Administration and Management' category.
Former Deputy Commissioner of Khagrachhari District Pratap Chandra Biswas, former ADC of Khagrachhari (now Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration) KM Yasir Arafat, former Assistant Commissioner of Khagrachhari District (now Assistant Commissioner-Land) of Mohammadpur of Magura Basudeb Kumar Malo and former Assistant Commissioner of Khagrachhari (Assistant Commissioner of Magura District) Sheikh Naushad Hasan will get the award in the 'Development Administration' category.
Four officers have been nominated in the 'Economic Development' category. Among them are Former Deputy Commissioner of Shariatpur (now Additional Divisional Commissioner of Barisal) Md Parvez Hasan, former Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Department of Shariatpur Md. Matlubar Rahman, UNO of Jajira Upazila of Shariatpur Kamrul Hasan Sohel and Agriculture Officer of Jazira Upazila Md. Jamal Hossain.
Five people will receive medals in the 'Environmental Development' category. They are Former Deputy Commissioner of Habiganj (now Deputy Secretary of Economic Relations Division) Ishrat Jahan, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) of Habiganj Mintu Chowdhury, Former Executive Engineer of Habiganj District Water Development Board (now Satkhira Executive Engineer) Md Shahnewaz Talukder, Habiganj Assistant Commissioner Navid Sarwar and Habiganj Municipality Assistant Engineer Dilip Kumar Dutta.
Five people are getting medals in the 'Human Resource Development' category. They are Gaibandha Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) Deputy Director Md Abdus Sabur, Gaibandha Sadar Upazila Rural Development Officer Md Tahajul Islam, Sundarganj Upazila Rural Development Officer Abul Kamal Azad, Gobindaganj Upazila Rural Development Officer Md Enamul Haque and Palashbari Upazila Rural Development Officer Md Hasanuzzaman.
Gazipur Civil Surgeon Dr Md Khairuzzaman has been awarded the award in the category of 'Disaster and Crisis Management'.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Bishwambarpur upazila of Sunamganj district Md Saadi Ur Rahim Jadid has been awarded the award.
On the other hand, Former Intelligence Officer and Commander of RAB-11's Anti-Terrorism Unit (now Deputy Police Commissioner of DMP) Mirza Salahuddin will receive the award in the 'Crime Prevention' category. Sohag Chandra Saha, UNO of Panchagarh's Tetulia, will also receive the award in the category of 'Innovation in Public Service'. In the 'Science and Technology' category, Naogaon Upazila Livestock Officer Dr. Md. Nazmul Haque will receive the Bangabandhu Public Administration Award.
The state minister said the government awarded the Public Administration Medal for the first time on July 23, 2016, to increase the creativity of the employees working in the public administration, encourage skill development and accelerate the achievement of the government's development goals.
The award was given as part of the celebration of National Public Service Day on July 23. The 'Public Administration Medal Policy 2015 (revised in 2016)' was formulated to give the award. This year, the policy was scrapped and the 'Bangabandhu Public Administration Medal Policy, 2022' was formulated.
According to the new policy, Bangabandhu Public Administration Medal is being given for its important contribution in the field of general administration and management, development administration, social development and management, human development, economic development, environmental development, disaster and crisis management, crime prevention, innovation in public service, reform of policy and administrative methods, its use in research and human welfare and science and technology.
The government employees who receive the ‘Bangabandhu Public Administration Medal’ and employees belonging to the person/team who have already received the ‘Public Administration Medal’ at the national level can use the title 'BPAA' at the end of the name.
According to the policy, the monogram of “Bangabandhu Public Administration Medal’ approved by the government can be used along with the dress in the official program of the government.
Farhad Hossain said that the nominees will be given a gold medal (weighing 15 grams) and a certificate with a state monogram as prizes.
Tk 2 lakh will be given for individual contribution and Tk 5 lakh for team contribution. In terms of team contribution, the maximum number of members of the team is five. Each member of the team will be given a gold medal, a certificate and a crest and a cash prize of Tk 5 lakh will be distributed equally among the members. Gold medals, crests and certificates will be given in the case of the institution.
EU expects next election in Bangladesh to be free, fair and free from violence: Gilmore in exclusive interview
Noting that the election is Bangladesh’s political business, European Union’s Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore has expressed their hope that the forthcoming national election will be “free, fair and free of violence.”
“So, our expectation will be that the elections will be without violence, and that they will be free and fair,” he told UNB in an exclusive interview before leaving Dhaka on Friday night.
Gilmore said he is not going to offer a political opinion on how the election will be organised but when they think about elections, they do not think of just about what happens on polling day. “We also think about the environment coming into the election. That's what the exploratory mission was looking at.”
Also read: Reject violence, support genuinely peaceful democratic process: Uzra Zeya's message to political parties in Bangladesh
He said most elections in most democracies and countries in the world take place without violence. “The conduct of politics is about democratic engagement. It's about people making their case, peacefully, democratically, respectfully, and then voters making their decisions.”
Gilmore said they have just had an exploratory mission here over the last number of weeks and they did not get into a great deal of detail on it because they are waiting for the report of the exploratory mission on which a decision will be made whether or not to deploy an election observation.
He thinks that the country has more work to do on ensuring that there is more space for civil society organisations.
Also read: Wish to see fair polls conducted in peaceful, democratic atmosphere: EU Special Representative
“We also talked about the Digital Security Act, and the concerns that we've been expressing for some time about how that Act is being used to silence and to limit press freedom to work and civil society actors," Gilmore said.
He said it was confirmed to them that the government intends to amend the DSA and the legislation to do so will be considered by the government in the near future.
“We hope that it will make a significant difference…so we will see what amendments will be produced,” Gilmore added.
He said the broader space for political debate and political engagement has been shrinking. “So I'm glad that DSA is intended to amend. We have to wait and see the details of that. But it's encouraging (that DSA will be amended).”
Also read: EU welcomes Dhaka's move to further develop human rights: Official sources
On the Labour rights issue, Gilmore said they need to see some improvement in that area over time. “And I did make the point in the meetings that I had with the government that the whole environment around labor rights and around trade preferences is changing.”
“That is what we are seeing, and it is one of the big changes that I've seen, I would say globally over the last four years,” he added.
Dengue patients overwhelm govt hospitals in Dhaka; Patients suffer amid bed, staff shortage
As the dengue cases surge, government hospitals in the capital are facing shortage of beds and staff to provide adequate care for patients.
Visiting various hospitals in the city, the UNB correspondent found that hospitals including Mugda Medical College Hospital, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital, Matuail Institute of Child and Mother Health, and Bangladesh Children's Hospital and Institute are treating patients on the floor, as all the beds in their respective wards have been filled with patients infected by the mosquito-borne disease.
Doctors at the hospitals said the hospitals are under tremendous pressure as a result of the growing number of dengue patients due to the lack of adequate doctors and other health staff.
There are patients in every nook and cranny of these hospitals. Not only the floors of the hospitals, but the hospitals’ balconies are now full of patients.
Mugda Hospital, which handles the highest number of patients among the government hospitals in Dhaka, has witnessed doubling of patients recently.
The acting director of Mugda Medical College Hospital, Niatuzzaman, said, “We are now admitting patients based on condition that we will not provide them with any bed. With only five doctors available, we do not have the manpower necessary to treat dengue patients”.
Niatuzzaman also highlighted the strain on the hospital's pathology department as the number of tests has increased significantly.
Currently, the hospitals are admitting two types of dengue patients: those with 'classic dengue syndrome' and those with 'complicated dengue syndrome', he said. The latter group, comprising patients who have had dengue multiple times, constitutes a considerable portion of the hospitalized cases.
As the dengue outbreak continues to worsen, the Directorate General of Health Services has designated the capital's Mohakhali DNCC hospital as a Dengue-dedicated hospital, which has led to an increase in the number of patients there.
No concentration camp in Xinjiang, it is open to all, including foreign media: Chinese officials
China has said Xinjiang remains open to all, including Western media and anyone willing to come will be well-received to see the situation for themselves.
"Door of Xinjiang is open to all, including Western media," Deputy Director General of Xinjiang Foreign Affairs Office Zhang Huazhong told UNB while responding to a question during a recent visit.
He said they wish to see "more comprehensive and objective" reports on Xinjiang, an autonomous region in China's northeast.
Claims of ‘concentration camps’ in China's Xinjiang baseless: Imam of largest mosque in region tells Bangladesh media delegation
"There is no concentration camp. Everyone can come here to see in person. You (Bangladesh media delegation) have seen our daily life. It is totally unfriendly to use words like concentration camps," Zhang said, adding that they have an "open and inclusive" attitude.
He said people in Xinjiang live a happy life and Xinjiang is an open place to all.
Referring to Bangladesh-China relations, he said the two countries should stay united and continue to focus on further domestic development for the sake of people's welfare.
10 killed in apartment fire in northwest China's Xinjiang
"Our both countries face similar challenges. Rights to survive, develop and security are the key human rights," said the Chinese government official.
He said they would like to share their experiences with Bangladesh in terms of development efforts and laid emphasis on national stability and people's welfare.
Officials from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region responded to various questions at an interaction before conclusion of the week-long visit of the 10-member Bangladesh media delegation.
China rejects UN report on Uyghur rights abuses in Xinjiang
Deputy Director General for Culture and Tourism Department of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Yan Naimin, Vice President of Literary Federation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Wlijan Yaqub, President of Women’s Federation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Aynur Mahset, Deputy Director General of Ethnic Affairs (Religious Affairs Bureau) of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Li Jiang, Deputy Director General of Health Commission of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Yu Miping, Director of Religious Affairs Division of United Front Work Department of CPC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Chu Jian, Chief Economic Manager of Rural Revitalization Bureau of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Ma Zhibin, Director of International Exchanges and Cooperation of Xinjiang University Li Xiaodong, Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs Division of Education Qin Shan and Director of Information and Culture Division of Xinjiang Foreign Affairs Office Gu Mei interacted with the Bangladesh media delegation.
The officials said the Chinese government is fully committed to protecting the rights of both the believers and non-believers, and the religious freedom of the people of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is fully ensured.
They said the laws and regulations enacted by the government guarantee the protection of the rights of ethnic minorities as well as the rights of believers of all religions.
A large portion of the people in Xinjiang province are Muslims and there have been allegations in a section of the media that there is a curb on religious freedom in this region, which shares borders with eight central and South Asian countries.
"It’s a fictitious lie....The anti-Chinese forces have fabricated this to undermine the huge pro-people prosperity achieved by China," said Zhang.
Li Jiang said the people in the region enjoy the full religious freedom and rights.
He said that in line with the central government’s policy, they fully respect and protect citizens’ religious beliefs.
Laws and rules have been enacted to ensure religious freedom, he added.
Chu Jian said ethnic minorities also have substantial representations in all level of policy-making forums.
Yan Naimin said that they have been promoting ethnic culture, arts and music for a long time. "It is very convenient for overseas tourists to visit Xinjiang. We provide the best and quality services."
Elijan Yaqub said the CPC stressed the need for literature and folklore and each year more than 10 million RMB is allocated for this purpose. "We would like to invite your (Bangladesh) cultural artists as part if exchanges."
“We have made a lot of initiatives to strengthen ethnic unity. For the people of grassroots level, measures are taken to improve the culture and literary lives,” he said.
Aynur Mahset said as part of social and economic development the authorities prioritise issues related to improvement of women and children.
The local government of Uyghur is committed to supporting health welfare of mother and infant, she said.
The law and regulations of the government guarantee protection of rights of women and children.
She said a large number of women are contributing to the various policy making areas and forums in the party and in the government.
The media delegation members who took part in the interactions were Daily Jugantor Chief Reporter Masud Karim, The Business Standard Deputy Editor Titu Das Gupta, The Financial Express Special Correspondent Mir Mostafizur Rahaman, The Daily Star Diplomatic Correspondent Porimol Palma, UNB Special Correspondent AKM Moinuddin, Independent TV Special Correspondent Nafiza Dawla, ATN News Chief Reporter Ashiqur Rahman Apu, Daily Samokal Diplomatic Correspondent Tasnim Mohsin Mishu, Jamuna TV Senior Reporter Ahmed Reza and Somoy TV Diplomatic Correspondent Tajwar Mahmid.
Radical change in power system network in Dhaka city and beyond expected by end 2024: Chinese official
A radical change will take place in the power system of Dhaka city and its adjacent Narayanganj after the full implementation of the project titled "Expansion and Strengthening of Power System Network" which will be the main foundation of digital Dhaka city, says a senior Chinese official.
"Over 70 percent work of the project has so far been completed," Director, International Market Management of TBEA's Ma told UNB.
He said the whole project will be completed and delivered to Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) by the end of 2024.
Banshkhali-Meghnaghat 400 kV power transmission line comes into operation
Director Ma said TBEA is working under a US$1.65 billion project under which several subprojects are being implemented.
The project is the largest power cooperation project between the two governments of Bangladesh and China since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The implementation of the project will enable the power grid system to be of better quality and serve the government departments and people of Bangladesh, and better promote the social and economic development of Bangladesh, said the Chinese side.
Shielding capital Dhaka from loadshedding masks reality of power cuts biting nation
TBEA, an international service provider of system solutions for global energy industry, dedicated to green and low-carbon development, with more than 24,000 employees from 24 countries, sees this project under the "Belt and Road Initiative" cooperation and development between China and Bangladesh.