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Govt plans to send 8.10 lakh workers abroad in 2022-23: Document
The government has worked out a plan to send 8.10 lakh Bangladeshi workers abroad and provide skills development training to 5.20 lakh ones in the current fiscal year(2022-23).
Besides, to train up more workers for meeting the demands overseas job market it expected to start operation of some 100 technical trainer centres in different parts of the country.
According to an official document, it is necessary to provide necessary training to workers for their skills development and ensure their better jobs abroad.
To this end, all the training programmes of technical training institutes and institutes of marine technology are conducted under the National, Technical and Vocational Qualification Framework (NTVQF) from the last fiscal year( 2021-22).
Also read: Friendly conditions to be created for Bangladeshi immigrants in Portugal: Francisco Andre
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) activities has been taken up for effective use of the learning by migrant workers abroad to increase their earnings in the overseas labour market.
Apart from this, foreign language teaching courses are going on in the 43 Teachers Training Colleges (TTCs).
In addition, for bringing discipline in the immigration system three new online systems titled- ‘Employee Connectivity Reporting System’, ‘Online Grievance Management System’, and ‘Recruiting Agencies Information Management system (RAIMS)’ have been introduced, said the document.
The government has taken up a range of initiatives for the welfare of both expatriate workers and workers returning from abroad.
The discipline in the immigration system has been ensured through monitoring the activities of the recruiting agencies on regular basis.
The document mentioned that this sector has been completely digitalised through different programmes like- creating professional database for employee recruitment; scrutinizing visa forms through mobile apps; separate portal for receiving grievance petitions and automation of the activities of the ‘Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training’ (BMET).
Also read: ‘Incentive still inaccessible for most migrant workers’
A number of activities are going on for the purpose of re-integration of migrant workers who have returned home and providing soft investment loans for their self- employment; providing scholarships to the meritorious children of the expatriates and providing medical assistance to the disabled expatriate workers on their return.
A plan of action for establishing technical training institutes at every Upazila in phases has been taken up for inspiring the marginalised communities across the country.
The document said that in 2020-2021 FY the growth of remittance stood at 36.10 percent. However, since the very beginning of fiscal 2021-2022, the income from remittances slightly decreased.
With a view to encouraging remittance through legal channel, the government has raised the rate of incentives 0.5 percentage point to 2.5 percent from January, 2022.
The government has withdrawn the mandatory provisions for submission of earning documents of the remitters in the case of availing cash incentives against remittances exceeding the amount of US$ 5,000.
It is expected that, a satisfactory growth of remittance will be back on track soon, said the document.
In 2019, $18.32 billion was remitted to Bangladesh, the third-highest recipient of remittance in South Asia.
Over 10 million Bangladeshis are living and working abroad, mainly in the Middle East. They are the second largest contributor of the country’s foreign remittances after the garment sector. Last year alone, they sent over $22 billion back home, according to Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training data.
According to the BMET, in 2019 alone, over 700,000 migrant workers left the country in search of employment abroad and over 73% of remittances were sent from Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Remittance inflows to Bangladesh directly impact socio-economic development and act as a lifeline to vulnerable communities.
There should be an investment in education and skills upgrade so that lower-skilled migrant workers can earn more and break the cycle of debt, International Organisation of Migration suggests.
Bangladesh may prefer to import Russian oil via third country
Bangladesh may prefer to import Russian oil via a third country to avert possible risks of the business.
According to official sources at the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, neighboring India might be such a preferred third country with regard to importing Russian oil.
"Currently, India has been importing Russian oil defying the US sanctions while Bangladesh has a long term contract with India to import refined oil from its refinery at Numaligarh in Assam state, '' said an official at the ministry preferring anonymity.
“If there is a bilateral arrangement between the two nations, such a business is very much possible,” he said, adding it could be a possible way to avert the risk in import of Russian oil at a cheaper rate.
The possibility of importing petroleum fuel from Russia came into discussion at the policymaking level following an offer from a Russian company to sell its refined petroleum, specially diesel, at a cheaper rate to Bangladesh.
Russneft, a Russian oil company headquartered in Moscow, recently offered the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) petroleum fuels at $59 per barrel against a global market price of over $100 per barrel.
As per the offer, the Russian company will reach its refined petroleum to Chattagram port at the rate which includes the premium and shipping cost as well.
However, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has not yet officially disclosed anything about the Russian company’s offer.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid declined to give any detail of such an offer.
Read: Russian oil shipments to central Europe expected to resume
“No more update as yet,” he told UNB on Thursday.
Sources at the BPC said the import of Russian oil is not like fuel import from other countries.
They said Bangladesh is assessing its possible risks to import petroleum fuels from Russia as such imports may invite anger from the USA and its Western allies.
Russia has been facing huge economic sanctions from the USA and its European allies following its war with Ukraine.
If any country directly imports Russian oil it may face similar sanctions, said the officials, adding that is why any move in this regard will not only depend on the decision of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
According to official sources, after receiving the offer from Russia on petroleum fuel sale, now different concerned ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources are assessing the potential risks and different processes of such import.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the ECNEC meeting on August 16 said that the government wants to buy fuel oil, fertilizer and wheat from Russia.
In this connection she mentioned she had given the responsibility to her Principal Secretary to talk to the Russian Ambassador regarding the matter.
“The Foreign Ministry can take initiative in this matter, we will procure fuel oil from them (Russia) with our own funds as the SWIFT is closed and the price of dollar is very high,” she said.
Meanwhile, Power Cell director Mohammad Hossain said that if the government can manage the import of diesel at cheaper rate, operation of the diesel-run power plants will be resumed to increase the power generation.
As part of an austerity measure, the government suspended the operation of the diesel-fired power plants from July 19 and introduced area-wise load shedding to reduce diesel imports and save foreign currency.
Although area-based load-shedding was scheduled for one hour, it continued for three hours at a time in some city areas across the country. Load-shedding in rural and remote areas, however, stretched for more hours, consumers claim.
Markets and shopping malls can now stay open until 8:00 pm. The government also prohibited illumination in different social gatherings in community centers, shopping malls, shops, offices and houses since July 7.
Finally, it introduced a holiday staggering for industries on August 11 as part of the plan to save power and natural gas.
Why farmers of Jhenaidah are in distress
Already hit hard by a drought-like situation in the district and rising fertiliser rates, farmers of Jhenaidah have been dealt another severe blow -- this time, by the recent fuel price hike and power crisis in the country.
Farmers say their agricultural fields have dried up due to inadequate rainfall and their inability to continuously irrigate the same using diesel-powered pumps that entails a huge operational cost given the recent fuel price hike in Bangladesh.
Besides, the prices of fertilisers have also increased over the past year, multiplying the losses of the farmers.
Majnur Rahman of Rangiyarpota village in Sadar upazila, cultivated Ropa Aman on just five-and-a-half bighas of his eight-bigha land this year. "Rising fuel and fertiliser prices forced me to take such a decision."
Another farmer, Jamal Uddin Biswas, expresses frustration over the recent fuel price hike. "If the fuel prices are not reduced, we will have to bear huge losses as the cultivation target will not be met this year," he says.
Farmer Somir Uddin says the Aman paddy needs plenty of rainfall. "Due to scanty rains this year, farmers need to spend an extra Tk 1,200 per bigha for irrigation."
Read:Why fuel price hike through gazette notification should not be declared illegal: HC
Many farmers have demanded the provision of low-cost diesel through agricultural cards if the government cannot reduce fuel prices.
"If the prices of fertilisers, fuel and electricity are increased in this agriculture-dependent country in this way, farmers will be forced to give up farming at some point,” Somir Uddin adds.
Azgar Ali, deputy director of Jhenaidah Agricultural Extension Department, says a target has been set for the cultivation of Ropa Aman on 1,04,750 hectares of land in the district this year.
"By mid-August, 53,262 hectares have been cultivated only. Besides, various types of vegetables are being cultivated on 2,554 hectares of land," he says.
According to Azgar, there are two lakh farmer families in the district. "The target has not been met yet as the farmers could not irrigate their fields due to lack of water amid this fuel price hike and power crisis.We are advising the farmers to try their best to meet the target of Aman cultivation.”
The government hiked the prices of fuel by a big margin on August 5.
Diesel prices were increased by Tk 34 to Tk 114 per litre, octane by Tk 46 to Tk 135 per litre and petrol by Tk 44 to Tk 130 a litre. The government also recently embarked on rationing of power to tackle the ongoing energy crisis in the country.
7 sub-committees formed to address challenges of LDC graduation
Some seven sub-committees are preparing draft strategies with a time-bound action plan to meet the challenges of Bangladesh's LDC graduation.
According to an official document,Bangladesh will be facing some challenges, such as loss of duty free – quota free access, unilateral, preferential market access, reduced scope for concessional or low interest funding from international and bilateral development partners, preference erosion, and strict compliance with stringent standards.
The government has formed a committee under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office to prepare for the possible challenges that Bangladesh will face as a result of its graduation from a least developed country to a developing country.
Also read: Bangladesh’s creditworthiness becomes high after graduation from LDC
The document mentioned that there will be seven sub-committees under this committee. Each sub-committee has members from private sector stakeholders and development researchers.
“These sub-committees are preparing draft strategies with a time-bound action plan to meet the challenges of LDC graduation,” it said.
The document mentioned that the present government has adopted the policy of executing Bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) in the context of potential trade challenges arising from LDC graduation.
Read Tax corporates at par with region to face challenges of LDC graduation: DCCI
Strategies for Preferential Market Access and Trade Agreement have been formulated as ways to address these challenges.
In this context, Bangladesh has signed the Preferential Bilateral Trade Agreement (PTA) with Bhutan, under which 34 products of Bhutan will be duty-free in the market of Bangladesh and 100 products of Bangladesh will be duty-free in the market of Bhutan.
In addition, a prioritization list for the execution of PTA/FTA/CEPA with 13 potential trading countries/trade organizations such as India, China, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Nepal, USA, Canada, Eurasian Economic Union, ASEAN, and Mercosur has been prepared.
Read EU assures continued trade benefits to Bangladesh after LDC graduation
“A preliminary draft of the Regional Trade Agreement (RTA) Policy Guideline has been prepared with the aim of signing bilateral trade agreements with various countries,” the document said.
In 2021, the United Nations made the final recommendation for the graduation of Bangladesh from the least developed country category for its progress in various socio-economic fields in recent years.
LDC graduation is one of the important milestones that Bangladesh has achieved in its journey towards development.
Read UK with Bangladesh in achieving smooth graduation: Dickson
After graduation, Bangladesh’s participation in international trade and productivity in industrial production will rise to the next level fuelled by new-found zeal and confidence.
The transition will improve the country’s credit rating, increase productive efficiency, and enhance our ability to compete globally, broadening our scope of export earnings. International financial institutions and credit rating agencies will evaluate Bangladesh more favourably after graduation.
This will enhance our scope of attracting foreign funding both in the public and also in the private sector for investment and development financing purposes. Foreign direct investment will get a boost enabling new developments.
Also read: Post-LDC Bangladesh: Pharmaceutical experts for amendment of Patent Act 2022
This will lead to massive development of infrastructure in the country, new job creation, and overall better living standards for the people of Bangladesh.
As per the document, Bangladesh is pursuing hard at the WTO, along with other LDCs, to extend this exemption for some more years for the graduating countries.
The loss of the LDC specific benefits will create an obligation for the country to increase its productive capacity and efficiency to compete in the export market, diversify our export basket and create new markets.
Read BGMEA seeks UN support for smooth, sustainable LDC graduation
Besides, this will both encourage and force the country to go for higher value added products.
The document said that Bangladesh will have to utilise with farsightedness the period from 2022 to 2026 for our preparation to the graduation from Least Developed Countries so that Bangladesh can move forward even after graduation and sustain its position as a graduated country.
To that end, it said, the ongoing development process must continue to ensure smooth graduation.
“The Government of Bangladesh is fully committed to make this graduation smooth and sustainable. In this context, various policies, strategies, programs, and measures have been adopted.”
Read Rebuilding Bangladesh: A resolute plan for resilient recovery
According to the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDP) recommendation, Bangladesh's transition will be effective in 2026. It means until 2026, Bangladesh will be able to enjoy all these benefits applicable to LDCs.
However, under the current rules, Bangladesh will be able to enjoy duty-free and quota-free market access for another three years, i.e. until 2029, into the EU market after completing its graduation in 2026.
The UNCDP upon the request of the government has recommended that against the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic, the preparation period for the transition will be five years instead of three. During this period, that is, until 2026, all international facilities will continue.
Read Capacity building needed for sustaining growth, tackling trade-related challenges
The LDC Group of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has put forward a proposal to ensure that all trade facilities pertaining to LDCs remain in force for another 12 years after transition.
Bangladesh has actively participated in this process, and is continuing its efforts to get this proposal accepted.
The document said that the government has already taken steps to avail the advantage of GSP+ in EU countries after the graduation.
Read Life after LDC graduation: BGMEA steps up economic diplomacy
Moreover, the government has taken effective steps to improve its ranking in the Ease of Doing Business Index to increase the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI), although the index itself has been discontinued by the World Bank.
The benefits of these steps are becoming evident, the document reads.
The government is also in discussion with development partners, trade partners and relevant international organisations will continue to ensure that some important international facilities remain available even after the graduation.
Read IMF keen to work closely for Bangladesh’s RMG sector’s development
Training arrangements will be made for stakeholders to enhance their ability to deal with post-graduation situations.
To develop human resources, steps will be taken to enhance efficiency as per the demand of the market at home and abroad.
"Steps have been initiated to conduct sector-wise research activities on the opportunities created by Bangladesh's LDC graduation and what can be done to meet the challenges," the document reads.
Read Plans afoot to transform Bangladesh’s economy in view of LDC graduation
With Hilsa catch declining, Bagerhat fishermen stare at penury
The fishing community in Bagerhat is at its wit's end.
From fishermen to traders, all are worried that the reign of the Hilsa may soon be over due to their Indian counterparts who enter Bangladeshi waters to net at the confluence of two prominent rivers -- the Pashur and the Baleshwar -- in the Bay of Bengal.
This netting at the confluence is hampering the movement of the 'king of fish' that travels from the sea to the sweet river waters, according to Bagerhat fishermen.
Read Hilsa Ilisha: The National Fish and Silver Pride of Bangladesh
"Many of us just can't afford to venture into the sea for fishing and rely on the rivers for our livelihoods. But netting of the fecund fish at the conference of the two rivers by our Indian counterparts leaves us worried," a local fisherman said.
In fact, this has hit the entire supply chain -- there's not enough supply of the Hilsa in the wholesale markets of the district.
"For long, we have been demanding a ban on fishing at the conference of the rivers so that the 'king of fish' can move and breed freely in the many rivers of Bagerhat," he added.
READ: 2-month ban on hilsa fishing, selling begins Tuesday
Govt focuses on result-based skill training of industrial workers: Official document
The government of Bangladesh is undertaking a more result-based training project to ensure updated skills of the industrial workers so they can sustain in the competitive market, according to an official document.
This has been inspired by the success of Skills for Employment Investment Programme (SEIP) project considering the challenges of the 4th Industrial Revolution.
According to the document, considering the ongoing and future demands of industry and trade, the government has provided training to about five lakh workers through the SEIP.
The document said that the growth of real wage of the workers will be ensured if the productivity of labour can be increased. This will raise their living standards.
Also read: RMG factory wage digitisation trends turn back: survey
“With this end in view, the government laid special emphasis on skill development,” it said.
Apart from this training, the SEIP is playing a vital role for human resource development and the skill development of the workers of the country through a range of initiatives like- capacity building of training institutes; developing the standard of training; developing skilled trainer; providing certificate of international standard.
According to available information, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a Multi-tranche Financing Facility (MFF) Agreement with Bangladesh Government in 2014 in order to support long-term and comprehensive skills development efforts in Bangladesh assessing its potential contribution to higher GDP growth.
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is also co-financing the programme.
Read Banglalink signs MoU with BRACU to facilitate students’ skill development
Finance Division is the executing agency of the SEIP project while three Ministries (Ministry of Expatriate Welfare, Education and Industries), Bangladesh Bank, PKSF and 13 Industry Associations are partnering with this Division.
Apart from this, BRTC under the Ministry of Ministry Road Transport & Highways is working with this project to develop 1,00,000 trained and licensed drivers to drastically reduce road accidents.
Support to Skills Development Coordination and Monitoring Unit (SDCMU) is working as the implementing agency.
The Skills Development Coordination and Monitoring Unit (SDCMU) is headed by the Executive Project Director who is assisted by 04 Deputy Executive Project Directors, 10 Assistant Executive Project Directors and a team of Specialists.
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A Project Management Unit (PMU) is also working at Finance Division headed by Finance Secretary. Policy issues are dealt by the PMU alongside overall supervision of the project.
ADB and SDC have been jointly financing the first tranche of the program and the industry associations are also sharing a percentage of the total cost.
SDC, however, is not financing the second and third tranche activities due to their internal policy changes.
The total cost of SEIP project for the entire period of all three tranches (2014 to 2024) is estimated at Tk 3712.33 crore.
Read DCCI inks MoU with ULAB for skill development, research
The official document said that in order to make the National Skills Development Authority (NSDA)- which has been set up for ensuring the funding of the training for skill development) fully functional the recruitment process of manpower has begun.
NSDA has started the creation of a portal on national skill development and implemented the relevant policies for national skill development
The first meeting of the NSDA was held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at her office (PMO).
The document mentioned that the present Government believes in poor-friendly and inclusive economic development. For the purpose of building a poverty-free country through inclusive growth, the most important requirements are growth of employment generation, increasing the productivity of labour and ensuring skill development and enhancing the real wages for the labourers.
Read Experts for skilling coastal fishermen to tap potentials of marine fisheries
In order to accelerate employment generation, it has taken up sector-wise initiatives. The key aspects of these initiatives are - providing incentives for labour-intensive and export-oriented production-based growth; bringing diversification in agriculture; making CMSME sector vibrant; expanding and strengthening of modern service sector including those out of the sectors; encouraging all the initiatives of information and communication sector; and extending and consolidating overseas employment generation.
Apart from this, the issue of employment generation is being considered while providing support for large public investment and other policy support measures for the newly established industry and trade.
Side by side, considering the necessity of the subject-based employment generation, the content of the educational programmes has been revised and reorganised and more emphasis is being given to creating certain linkage between education and industry.
Following the implementation of effective plan of action by the government, the document said, opportunity for employment is opening up gradually for those who have expertise in science and technology.
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For example - direct or indirect employment has been generated for 20 lakh people having expertise in IT. Apart from this, at present around 6.5 lakh people are engaged in the profession of outsourcing as a free-lancer.
The government has taken up a plan for raising the number of information and communication technology-based employment up to 30 lakh by 2025.
Besides this, for the purpose of ensuring a balanced distribution of employment opportunities all over the country, the government has established 100 special economic zones where one crore people will be employed.
On the other hand, employment opportunities are being created in the fisheries and livestock sector by engaging the poor, small and medium farmers in the income-raising activities.
Read BGMEA wants faster, smoother security clearance services for RMG
Above all, the government is attaching the highest priority to the employment generation in the outlines for rural based development of 87230 villages to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The government is working relentlessly to ensure the well- being of workers and to develop the environment of the work-place. During the period of COVID-19 pandemic, the prompt declaration of incentives packages and policy support measures of the government has contributed a lot to maintaining normalcy in labour condition of the country and ensuring the security of the workers of the industrial organisations.
The government is carrying out continuous inspection to the factories for identifying risks and inserting these risks in the National Work-Plan for Bangladesh Labour Sector 2021-2026.
Again, for the purpose of new employment generation and creating a central database for employment generation with education and training, steps are being taken to establish the “Directorate of Employment”.
Read BGMEA, Deshifarmer to offer fresh food to RMG workers at fair prices
The government activities towards abolishing child labour and ensuring the due wages for women workers will be more accelerated in the upcoming days.
Feni's death traps: 9 killed in 7 months at unmanned level crossings
Unauthorised level crossings have become a death trap in Feni district where nine people were killed in the past seven months, thanks to the dereliction of the authorities concerned.
Every year, a number of people die in rail accidents in Bangladesh, despite trains being considered one of the safest modes of travel. In 2021, some 147 people lost their lives in 123 railway accidents, according to the official data of Road Safety Foundation released in January, 2022.
Many people have died in train accidents in Bangladesh and a number of probe bodies were formed to look into the accident but the authorities concerned have only fallen on deaf ears.
Read 28-yr-old killed by train in Ctg
The recent Mirsarai train accident on Dhaka-Chattogram rail route is an example of the sheer negligence of the rail authorities.
Twelve tourists including students were killed when a speeding express train rammed into the microbus carrying the tourists at a level crossing in Mirsarai upazila on July 29.
The gateman was suspended after the accident, having been absent from his post at the time of the accident. But unmanned level crossings are not a rarity in Feni.
Read Mirsharai tragedy: Untimely deaths of indomitable youths, their dreams
Local sources said there are 12 unauthorised level crossings on the Dhaka-Chattogram route in Feni and the 23-km route stretching from Sashardi to Muhuriganj has 21 authorised level crossings.
Sub Assistant Engineer of Railway East, Riton Chakma, said people are stretching roads over the rail crossing as per their wish and most of the unapproved level crossings are in Muhuriganj - where there are six unmanned level crossings.
Vegetable markets in Jashore hit by fuel price hike
The price of vegetables in Jashore kitchen markets shot up due to the hike in fuel price, adding woes to the fixed-income people who are already overburdened with the soaring prices of daily essentials.
The traders have claimed that the hike in fuel price, coming into effect from Friday last, directly affected the vegetable markets as the price of all vegetables rose from Tk 5 to Tk 10 per kg.
The customers expressed dissatisfaction over the price hike of vegetables in the local markets, including the retail shops.
Jashore vegetables account for a lion share of supply in the country.
Also read: Brace for bus & ferry fare hike
During a recent visit to the Satmaile retail market on Sunday, this UNB correspondent learnt that many local traders have purchased vegetables from the market and supplied these to different parts of the country.
The traders said following the hike in fuel price, the price of vegetables also shot up ranging from Tk 10 to Tk 15 per kg and they feared suffering a loss.
Fuel price hike: Another blow to struggling Bhola fishermen
Fuel price hike has become as another blow to over one lakh fishermen in Bhola, who are already in trouble for poor netting of hilsa after the end of fishing ban in the Bay two weeks ago.
After the announcement of hike in diesel price on Friday night, many fishermen abstained from going to the sea for fishing since Saturday morning due to increased cost of fishing trawler, resulting in poor supply of fish in the wholesale fish markets of the district.
Bhola District Fisheries Officer Molla Emdadullah told UNB that the fishermen will suffer due to the fuel price hike.
Talking to the UNB correspondent, fishermen said now they cannot catch sufficient hilsa in the rivers and the sea.
With the netting of only two or four hilsa a day, it has become difficult for them to bear the expenses and now increased cost of fuel pushed up the expenses, they said.
A medium sized fishing trawler needs fuel worth Tk 3,000-4,000 a day and in return fishermen can catch fish worth Tk 1,500-2,000, they said.
Read: Fuel price hike: Govt raises bus fares
Power crisis hits Bagerhat hard
Bangladesh's escalating power crisis that is delivering hours-long outages has hit Bagerhat hard -- businesses are struggling to survive and students finding it hard to sit in classes.
Bagerhat town has been witnessing outages at least three to four times a day with discoms resorting to rationing of power across the country to tide over the energy crisis. The rural areas of the district are the worst hit.
Bagerhat Palli Bidyut Samity that supplies power to the rural areas faces a shortage of 25MW of electricity daily. On the other hand, West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd that powers Bagerhat town faces a shortfall of 2.5MW daily.
The scheduled and unscheduled power cuts have brought almost all businesses -- from small- and medium-sized shops to factories -- to their knees in Bagerhat. Production in the factories have been hit the most.
Sheikh Bashirul Islam of Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association, urged the discoms to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the commercial and industrial hubs of the district to keep the wheels of the economy moving.
“We need electricity round-the-clock to sustain our businesses. The business areas must be kept outside the purview of load shedding,” Bashirul told UNB.
According to Bagerhat District Education Officer Md Kamruzzaman, a total of 96,774 students study across 524 educational institutions in the district.
“Due to outages, multimedia classes can’t be conducted. Besides, lights and fans remain out of order most of the time. As a result, education in the district is getting hindered,” Kamruzzaman said.
Read:Power Outages: BNP announces 3-day protest programme