United News of Bangladesh

There are multiple reasons that has made Dhaka unlivable and one of those that keeps its residents in constant and invisible agony is sound pollution. Loudspeakers, hydraulic horns, or sound of construction works, factory work, generators continue from morning to night amid people’s ignorance about its health hazards. Lack of public awareness and official apathy has turned sound pollution into a largely overlooked offense in Bangladesh despite its serious health impacts. Although the government has introduced some measures, results on the ground remain disappointing. Noise pollution control must to protect hearing health: Rizwana Despite the declaration of the area surrounding Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka as a “Silent Zone,” nothing has changed. Previously, the Department of Environment announced 12 silent zones across Bangladesh, with five located in Dhaka, including the Secretariat, Agargaon, and the Parliament area but vehicles kept honking horns ignoring the restriction. A recent study by the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) revealed that no silent zones in the country were effectively enforced. The Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) at Stamford University carried out a year-long study from April 2021 to March 2022, measuring noise levels across ten locations in Dhaka. Adviser Rizwana urges students to join in reducing noise, plastic pollution The study found that noise pollution exceeded acceptable limits in every area surveyed. Specifically, excessive noise was recorded 96.7% of the time in designated quiet zones, 91.2% in residential zones, 83.2% in mixed-use areas, 61% in commercial zones, and 18.2% in industrial zones. These results highlight the widespread nature of noise pollution in Dhaka, with 82% of monitored sites consistently registering noise levels above 60 decibels. This occurs despite the Noise Pollution Control Rules of 2006, which cap permissible noise levels at 45 decibels at night and 55 during the day in residential areas, and 60 at night and 70 during the day in commercial zones. However, enforcement of these regulations remains a major issue. Aiming to fight the silent killer, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has planned to amend the Sound Pollution Control Rules,  2006 with provision of harsher punishment and some restrictions to combat the severe noise pollution. A draft of the new Noise Pollution (Control) Rules, 2025 has been prepared with proposal to increase the penalty for violation of rules. Battling the nighttime noise nightmare in Dhaka Under the old rules, the maximum penalty for causing noise pollution was one month imprisonment or a fine of  Tk 10,000 or both. Violations related to noise limits, unauthorised use of loudspeakers, firecrackers, or failure to follow noise regulations at construction sites and factories can lead to up to one month imprisonment, fines up to Tk 50,000, or both per offense. Specific violations related to vehicle horns may attract up to one month imprisonment, a fine up to Tk 20,000, or both per incident. Manufacturing, importing, or marketing horns beyond prescribed limits may result in up to two years imprisonment or a Tk 200,000 fine, or both. Unauthorized selling or distribution of excessive noise horns may lead to one month imprisonment or a Tk 50,000 fine. The draft rules also include a prohibition on the import, marketing, and use of vehicle horns that produce noise beyond accepted limits. Besides, specific permissible decibel levels for different types of vehicle horns have been set in the proposed law. Besides, the use of noise-producing firecrackers and crackers will be banned unless special permission is obtained. Restrictions on the use of microphones, loudspeakers, and music systems will also be introduced, prohibiting loud music or cultural programs after 9 pm. Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry, said the 2006 rules lacked clarity on several points. The new draft clearly addresses issues related to horns, firecrackers, and other noise sources, alongside increasing penalties, she said She added that the draft law is expected to be finalised soon.  “We have already held inter-ministerial meetings and received feedback from 21 ministries. The draft was published on our website for public comments. After collecting opinions, another meeting will be held,” she said.The draft law is slated to be finalised by the end of August before being sent to the Ministry of Law for vetting and then published in the official gazette. The draft exempts noise rules for religious places such as mosques, temples, churches, pagodas, and other worship sites; religious events including Eid prayers, sermons, funerals, and processions; ambulance and fire services; government broadcasts during Iftar and Sehri; and certain official government activities. According to the draft law, the Ministry of Commerce and relevant authorities will not grant permission for importing or marketing horns exceeding the acceptable noise limits. Use of such horns on motor vehicles, boats, or other transport means will be strictly prohibited. Vehicles that ill not allowed to honk horns in designated quiet zones. Drivers, owners, and operators won’t be allowed to  install or use any devices or parts that produce excessive noise, nor authorise others to do so. The proposed law set noise limits based on area type: Silent zones: 50 dB (day), 40 dB (night) Residential: 55 dB (day), 45 dB (night) Mixed-use: 60 dB (day), 50 dB (night) Commercial: 70 dB (day), 60 dB (night) Industrial: 75 dB (day), 70 dB (night) Daytime is defined as 6 am to 9 pm, and nighttime from 9 pm to 6 am. For vehicle horns, permissible noise levels are: Light vehicles (two/three-wheelers, cars, microbuses, pickups): 85 dB Medium vehicles (minibuses, medium trucks, vans): 90 dB Heavy vehicles (buses, trucks, lorries): 100 dB Mechanical boats: 100 dB Authorities must install noise barriers near overpasses, flyovers, elevated expressways, or railway lines to reduce noise pollution , according to the draft. Noise pollution awareness training and testing will be mandatory for obtaining or renewing professional or non-professional driving licenses. The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, in consultation with the Department of Environment, will design the training curriculum. Use of noise-producing firecrackers is prohibited unless special permission is granted for festivals or events, with strict limits on timing and noise levels. Local bodies such as Union Parishads, municipalities, city corporations, and urban development authorities will identify noise zones and install standard signage.    

Bangladesh’s power sector stranded assets are increasing by leaps and bounds, exposing a new Achilles heel of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), which bled fiscally dry after pursuing a flawed energy policy during the 15-year rule of the past Awami League government. With large power plants awaiting commissioning for months or sitting substantially idle after launch, the stranded asset problem is more pronounced than ever before. Newly-built or under-construction fossil fuel-based power plants worth about 7,000MW are set to add to BPDB’s financial burden, energy experts said. The 2,400-MW nuclear power plant expected to join the power fleet by next year might deepen the problem even more, energy experts pointed out, rendering many power plants currently in use redundant amid a rather dull economic scenario with no increase in power demand for almost a year. “Stranded assets might become a significant burden for the BPDB over the next three years,” said Shafiqul Alam, lead energy analyst, the US-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. assets are investments that have stopped yielding return before the expiry of their economic life.With an installed power generation capacity of 28,132MW, the peak power demand this year barely touched 16,000MW, marking a drop in the demand compared with last year. The decline in the power demand is due to industrial consumption declining. There were widespread power outages during this summer as for one reason or the other about half of the installed power production capacity could not be used. Mounting stranded assets imply an increase in capacity charge payment. The BPDB paid over Tk 1 lakh crore in capacity charge, a sum payable by the government to private power producers regardless of electricity produced, guarantying the investors 16 per cent return. The payment of huge capacity charge, often in dollars, incurred the BPDB astronomical losses while draining Bangladesh’s foreign currency reserve. An acute fuel shortage, owed to factors such as the dollar crisis and inadequate import infrastructure, was to a great extent responsible for creating stranded assets. Machinery problem was also a reason behind some power plants going frequently out of order. “Some power plants regarded as stranded assets were dropped from the official list over the last several years,” said Hasan Mehedi, member secretary, Bangladesh Working Group on External Debt, a platform of green activists. BPDB moves to meet this summer’s power demand with capacity production at gas-based plants   Energy experts believe the need to scrap more power plant will become more evident over the next few years to keep overcapacity from further growing to reduce energy subsidy. Years of arbitrary energy project implementation without any tender, protected under a controversial indemnity law, bred power projects that would remain under use or unused within years of or immediately after their costly construction. Some Scrapped Power Plants Performance Record At least seven power plants worth 582MW were scrapped since 2013. Three of the scraping took place after the incumbent government took over last year. power plants included some of the most controversial business groups with a shady record of doing business under Awami League rule.Two of the power plants - Bosila 108MW and Jamalpur 95MW - were scrapped in September last year after passing of only 50 per cent of their supposed lifetime. Based on furnace oil, Bosila 108MW power plant, which commenced operation on 22 February 2017 for 15 years, was supposed to retire on 21 February 2032. The plant did not generate any electricity in the three years prior to itsscrapping. The Jamalpur power plant, also based on furnace oil, was supposed to retire on November 28 in 2031 after running for 15 years. Jamalpur had also been out of operation for a while before it was scrapped. Companies owning both the power plants were at the center of shady loan deal scandal, one of them involving Tk 1,732 crore. Independent private power plants contracted to supply uninterrupted electricity for 15 years are allowed to have time off for maximum 17 per cent of their lifetime for repair and maintenance. The power purchase agreement with a power plant is liable for termination for willful and unexcused abandonment for 30 consecutive days without BPDB’s consent. Failure to return to operation for 30 days after repair and maintenance also makes a power plant eligible to be cancelled, among other reasons. An analysis of official data revealed that the furnace oil-based Kathpotti 52 MW (Sinha) power plant was scrapped in December last year, more than five years before it was supposed to retire. The plant produced no power in a year before it was scrapped. BPDB's tender floating for 10 key grid-connected plants faces setback The diesel-based 110MW Bheramara power plant scrapped in June 2013 after three years of operation gave its best output in 2011-12 with 26.7 per cent of its generation capacity used. In the three years of operation, the power plant took away over Tk 510 crore in capacity charge. Despite poor power generation record, the purchase deal with the power plant had been extended for eight years until December, 2018. The furnace oil-based 105MW Nawapara power plant was scrapped months after its tenure was extended for eight additional years after the completion of its initial deadline in early 2014. power plant used sub-standard machines. The Nawapara power plant’s best production record comes with the use of 16.7 per cent of its capacity in 2011-12.Brand New Large Power Plants Facing Stranded Asset Risk The gas-based 800MW power plant in Khulna’s Rupsha has been awaiting commission since early 2024. There was no gas even to test-run the power plant, built with $1.14 billion, mostly given as loans by the Asian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction. The fuels crisis is unlikely to be over soon with domestic gas reserve fast depleting. Bangladesh’s capacity to import gas is also limited because of infrastructure shortage. Construction of new infrastructure to raise liquefied natural gas import capacity from the existing 1000mmcfd could take three to six years, given the type of infrastructure – floating storage and regasification unit and land-based LNG terminal. No such infrastructure construction is currently going on. Constructed with $235 million given by the ADB, the 225MW dual-fuel Khulna power plant, commissioned in 2013-14, has been running at a reduced capacity on diesel as there is no gas supply. In 2019-2020, the plant factor of the Khulna power plant plunged to 0.3 percent, producing a unit of electricity for a staggering Tk 533. BPDB to prepare position paper on its financial and economic condition within a week The best use of the power plant – at 50.5 per cent of its capacity – was recorded in 2017-18. Gas shortage delayed the commissioning of the 718MW JERA power plant at Meghnaghat in Narayanganj, built with $200million ADB loan. Following commissioning, the JERA power plant often remained shut down due to gas shortage. Similar situation caught the two large gas-based Meghnaghat power plants - 583MW and 584MW. The public sector is building four new gas-based power plants worth 1,865MW which are set to be operational by the start of 2027. During the time, another private gas-based power plant worth 590MW will come online beside a 1,247MW coal-based power plant. On August 13, Power Grid Company data showed, power generation peaked at 15956MW at 9:00pm, with 36 percent generated from Gas, 19 per cent from furnace oil, 28 per cent from coal, and 15 per cent from import. The day’s peak generation was achieved using less than 50 per cent of the installed gas generation capacity, 55 per cent of the installed oil generation capacity, and 78 per cent of installed coal generation capacity. Energy transition, replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy, threatens to add to Bangladesh’s stranded asset capacity over time amidst forecast of coal and gas power generations becoming too costly – financially, physically and environmentally, compared with new technologies. “The problem highlights the mismatch between forecast and reality,” said Zahurul Islam, member, generation, BPDB. “Careful planning is needed to deal with the stranded asset problem,” he said, explaining, “Industrial power consumption will have to be increased and construction of new power plants in the pipeline will have to be delayed or cancelled for the time being."

In the quiet farming villages of rural Bangladesh, a sick cow can mean far more than an animal in distress, as it can threaten a family’s livelihood.  But for many farmers, the nearest veterinary hospital is miles away and help often comes too late. Now, a mobile app developed by a professor at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) is changing that reality.  Digital Khamari, meaning 'Digital Farmer', is putting vital livestock care advice directly into the hands of those who need it most. The app’s creator, Professor Dr Md Sahiduzzaman from BAU’s Department of Parasitology, says the idea was born from witnessing the struggles of rural farmers. “The shortage of veterinarians in rural areas is acute. Farmers often cannot reach remote veterinary hospitals. This app helps by providing the names and addresses of nearby veterinary doctors, giving farmers timely assistance when they need it most," he said.  From identifying swollen udders in cows to spotting the signs of worm infestations, the app guides farmers through recognising and preventing common livestock diseases, Dr Shahiduzzaman said.  It even offers advice on tackling lumpy skin disease, a serious condition that has affected cattle in many parts of the country, he said.  Online veterinary service launched in city One of its most valued features is a built-in directory of local veterinary doctors, complete with contact numbers.  Once downloaded from the Google Play Store, 'Digital Khamari' can be used entirely offline, critical in areas where internet coverage is unreliable. The app also contains disease-specific treatment guidelines, awareness material, and practical farm management tips. All of it is free.

Arbitrary railway construction deals with India and policy shift by the Bangladesh Water Development Board left mountains of mined stones unsold at the state-owned Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Limited (MGMCL), which has the capacity to meet a maximum of 8 per cent of the country’s annual power demand, the mine authorities said. The unsold mountains of stone attracted media attention after stone theft in picturesque Sada Pathor of Sylhet stripped stretches of the Dhalai River of its magnificent white stones, carried along by the onrush of water from the great hills of Meghalaya, particularly during monsoons, leaving behind pits and holes. Though the stone theft in Sylhet has been going on for years, the crime surged after the political changeover in last year’s August. Stones theft from ‘Sada Pathor’ are of the sizes of five to 20mm and 20 to 40mm, the MGMCL officials said, used in small projects of the Local Government Engineering Department and Road and Highways and in the private construction of residences. The MGMCL produces monthly about 1,000 tonnes of stones measuring five to 20mm and maximum 250 tonnes of stones measuring 20-40mm. The entire production gets sold as soon as they are made at prices of Tk 3250 a tonne and Tk 3600 a tonne, which is competitive to the market price. “The largest mountain of stone at the yard is of the size of 40-60mm, also known as blast stone,” said Abdullah Al Mamun, deputy general manager, MGMCL.

Bangladesh Bank’s latest revision of the agro-rural credit policy announced on Tuesday failed to excite farmers, who are in need of financial support more than ever before being hit by recurring disasters and inflation. The credit policy is annually revised and the latest revision of the policy was completed with nine additions or changes, none of which, however, dealt with core concerns of the farmers. Farmers complain about inadequate allocation for agricultural loans and its existing high interest rate, which varies between 5 and 8 per cent, a burden for all farmers for their crops not fetching legitimate prices. For a long time Bangladesh's mostly subsistence farmers are trying to prop up their lives, particularly after disasters or crop failures or price falls, by turning to microcredit lenders or local loan sharks to access some cash. Farmers end up being caught in a debt cycle. The central bank’s credit policy does not say anything about relieving these farmers caught in the debt cycle. The overall increase in loan allocation is insignificant while there is a high possibility of the allocated loan never reaching farmers who really needed it. “Agricultural loan is a burden,” said Abu Bakar Siddique, an agro-entrepreneur from Mymensingh. “Even after going through hurdles to get loans from private banks, repaying them often forces us to sell farmland. Interest rates, though initially low, keep increasing over time. Crop damage and fish farm flooding make repayment almost impossible,” he said. BB announces Tk 39,000cr agro and rural loan target for FY2025-26 Abu Bakar represents the unfortunate lot of farmers who often fail to repay their loans. After failing to pay five installments in the last five months against Tk 12 lakh loan, Bakar was recently served a notice by a private bank, warning him of a police case unless he soon cleared his installments. “We barely get our production cost back from selling crops, let alone making money to repay loans with high interest,” said Samsuddin, another farmer from Mymensingh. The inevitable harsh fiscal reality often compels farmers to switch their profession by taking agricultural loans. Many farmers set up makeshift retail shops or find a better way of making money. Farmers in Barishal’s Bakerganj upazila said that many of their colleagues took agricultural loans and invested it in non-farm ventures such as retail shops or land trading. Farmers have long been demanding interest-free farm loans. Currently, Bangladesh Bank instructs banks to lend at a concessional rate of 4 percent for certain import-substitute crops, while most other farm loans carry 5–8 percent interest—sometimes more. The central bank guidelines allow banks to set their own rates, within the ceiling it prescribes. Abdul Bayes, agricultural economist and a former vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, however, warned against a blanket interest-free policy. “If loans are interest-free, funds will end up in the wrong hands. Banks incur operating costs. While interest must remain farmer-friendly, the government should ensure proper oversight,” he said. Bayes recommended targeted subsidies, longer grace periods, and repayment relief in disaster-hit areas, stressing that crop losses in one season should allow farmers up to 12 instalments to repay, without facing legal harassment. Bangladesh’s banking sector pulled back from the brink: BB Governor Private bank officials admitted they often lack the field-level capacity to screen and monitor agricultural loans, with many not having rural branches in upazilas and unions—making it harder to reach small and marginal farmers, who avoid travelling to urban centres for loans. Under Bangladesh Bank’s crop hypothecation policy, marginal farmers owning 0.49 to 2.47 acres can secure loans using crops as collateral. But many private banks are reluctant, saying it is difficult to recover dues from crop sale proceeds from a farmer. Private bankers' view exposes another aspect of farmers’ hardship. Crop prices fall routinely during harvest, forcing farmers to sell their crops at throwaway prices or dump them. Lack of storage capacity is the reason behind the situation. The Bangladesh Bank credit policy has nothing to help farmers store their crops. Ripon Kumar Mondal, professor of agricultural economics at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, said: “Many farmers are also unaware of loan terms or application procedures, leading them to seek credit from NGOs or specialised banks instead.” Anisuddin Ahmed Khan, independent director of Trust Bank, said that the lack of capacity of banks often causes them to disburse loans through “reputable NGOs rated by the Credit and Development Forum (CDF).” He noted that private banks’ agricultural loan recovery rate is one of the highest and stands at 95 percent. Bangladesh Bank on Tuesday set the target of disbursing Tk 39,000 crore as loan in FY2025-26, which is Tk 1000 crore higher than the year before.The loan disbursement target last year was Tk 38,000 crore. Of which Tk 37,326 crore was disbursed. A total of six state-owned commercial banks, two specialised banks, 42 private commercial banks and eight foreign commercial banks disbursed 98.23 percent of the total target in FY2024-25. In 2023-24, the agro loan disbursement target was Tk 35,000 crore. The actual disbursement was Tk 37,153 crore—up by Tk 4,324 crore compared to loans disbursed in FY2022-23. Some of the key additions to the policy are inclusion of Prabashi Kallyan Bank in the farm loan programme, CIB reports mandatory for any amount of agricultural and rural loans disbursed, relaxing charge document requirements for loans up to Tk 300000 in the fisheries and livestock sectors, raising the allocation for the livestock sector from 15% to 20%, and newly setting a 2% allocation for the irrigation and agricultural machinery sector. BB reserve heist: Court defers probe report submission to July 24 The policy also advises using information stored in crop zoning systems or farmer apps on region-based crop production or production potential, expanding the scope of contract farming, and incorporating several new crops into the loan guidelines such as cucumber, taro stolon, jackfruit, beetroot, black cumin, spice cultivation in sacks, and date molasses production. The central bank expressed confidence in the press release that these measures will bolster macroeconomic stability, ensure a steady food supply, and contribute to sustainable rural development by increasing agricultural production. In official estimates, Bangladesh has about 1.69 crore farming families, mostly subsistence farmers. Last year, loans were availed by more than 38.19 lakh farmers. Agriculture accounts for 11 per cent of GDP in 2024 after decades of gradual decline. In the 1960s, the contribution to GDP of the agricultural sector was about 62 per cent. Agriculture accounts for over 45 per cent of employment in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Bank's initiative to merge 5 crisis-prone Shariah-based banks has got momentum, and within a week, this is likely to be implemented, governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur told a group of journalists on Monday after a meeting with the officials of different banks. Economists termed this an important event in the financial sector of Bangladesh. They believe that the government's decision to merge five weak banks could be a crucial step toward reforming the country's beleaguered banking sector. However, experts are also raising concerns about potential political challenges and the need for a comprehensive strategy beyond just consolidation. The banks set for the merger are First Security, Global, Union, Social Islami, and Exim Bank. Their default loan rates reportedly range from 48 percent to a staggering 96 percent. The government plans to manage these banks under a unified, state-run structure. Speaking to journalists, Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur announced that the merger process would begin within a week and that the government has been asked to provide the necessary funds. Dr. Toufic Ahmad Choudhury, former Director General of the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM), welcomed the move, stating, "We all want the banks to return to a healthy state. The fact that the Bangladesh Bank is now active in this regard is good news." He added, "We wish Bangladesh Bank’s many efforts to succeed." Bank mergers could be counterproductive without international best practices: World Bank However, Dr. Toufic also cautioned that the mergers alone would not solve the sector's deep-rooted problems. He highlighted the potential for significant political backlash, citing the example of former Finance Minister Saifur Rahman, who was forced to abandon a plan to close 500 bank branches due to political opposition, even from within his own party. "Simply merging them won't be enough," he warned. "There will be a lot of political crises." Dr. Toufic stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of the problem, particularly the issue of defaulting loans. He questioned the basis for the mergers, noting that the plan does not seem to be based on capital adequacy. "The problem is defaulting loans, and that needs to be solved," he said. He also raised concerns about accountability, asking who is responsible for the fact that some banks are unable to repay their depositors. Dr. Mashrur Reaz, Chairman, Policy Exchange, Bangladesh told UNB that banking is a business built on trust, and if that trust is lost, the sector cannot survive. Merger of 5 Islamic banks at final stage: Bangladesh Bank Governor He called for strengthening banks and taking strict action against willful defaulters. He also questioned the plan to retain qualified employees while removing the "incompetent." He pointed out that the incompetent are often the ones who create problems, and if they start protesting, the government could face new challenges. But the government has to do the job to bring the financial sector back on the right track.

Although rice imports through Hili land port have begun, importers have been refraining from clearing their consignments from customs, fearing heavy financial losses due to high import duty. Despite receiving the government's permission to import rice, importers at the Dinajpur-based land port say they are unwilling to proceed because customs duties and taxes remain high. Many traders have opened LCs in anticipation of a duty reduction, but have paused imports from India. However, rice was imported through 15 Indian trucks from Tuesday till Wednesday noon but the consignments remain uncleared at customs due to the high duty. Talking to importers at the port they said that the current rate imposes about Tk 31 per kg in customs taxes. The price of rice in India ranges between 520 to 530 dollar per tonne, which equates to Tk 63–65 per kg in Bangladeshi currency. Including duties and other costs, total import costs rise to Tk 95–96 per kg, making imports economically unviable under the current scenario. They also urged the government to reinstate the earlier 2% duty rate to facilitate imports. Sources said, the government decided to allow private import of 5 lakh metric tonnes of parboiled and Atap rice to stabilise the domestic supply and consumer prices. It invited applications between July 23 and August 7 from interested importers. On August 10, import permission was granted to 242 importers in the first phase. When speaking, Lalit Keshra, owner of importing company M/s Sayram International, said “Importing rice with the current 62.5% duty is not feasible. We’ve opened LCs, but unless the government withdraws or reduces the duty to the previous 2%, importing is not possible. At the current rates, the duty alone will cost Tk 35 per kg, while rice itself will cost Tk 68–70.” “In total, the cost exceeds Tk 100 per kg. Importers want the government to lower the duty urgently so we can import rice. Otherwise, we can’t afford the losses. Besides, the market price of rice is still relatively stable,” he added. Naogaon farmers, traders dump potatoes on road demanding fair prices Abul Bashar, owner of M/s Mifa International, another importer at the port, said he received permission to import 1,000 metric tonnes of rice. “But we won’t proceed with LCs unless the government reduces the duty. No one else will either,” he said. He explained that with a 62.5% duty, customs charges exceed Tk 31 per kg. With Indian prices at USD 520–550 per tonne, the landed cost comes to Tk 63–65 per kg. “So the total cost per kg stands at Tk 96. Meanwhile, in local markets, good quality rice is being sold at Tk 70–80,” he said. Meanwhile, on Tuesday and Wednesday, 15 trucks of rice consignments arrived from India. Mithun Saha, an importer from Naogaon, imported 125 metric tonnes and 944 kg of rice via three trucks. “I imported this shipment expecting the government to cut duties. But since that hasn’t happened yet, releasing it from customs would incur major losses,” he said. Importers are in talks with the authorities, hoping for a revision. “Without a duty cut, imported rice won’t be cheaper in the local market. It will defeat the purpose of the government’s decision and may further increase prices,” he warned. Yusuf Ali, sub-assistant at the Plant Quarantine Centre at Hili Port, said that as of Wednesday noon, 32 importers had obtained import permits (IPs) from the Department of Agricultural Extension to bring in 45,000 metric tonnes of rice from India. More permits are expected to be issued gradually. Rice imports had been suspended since April 16. Meanwhile, Md. Nazmul Hossain, assistant revenue officer (ARO) at Hili Land Customs Station, said “As of 2:30 pm on Wednesday, we have not received any order from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) regarding a reduction in rice import duty. There is also no updated information about duty changes on the customs server. Therefore, the existing 62.5% duty remains in place. Importers wishing to release their rice shipments must pay this duty.”

A series of recent mechanical glitches in Biman Bangladesh Airlines flights has sparked concerns over passenger safety and the national carrier’s maintenance standards. Multiple aircraft have been grounded or returned mid-flight due to technical issues during the period amid, dealing a fresh blow to the national flag carrier’s reputation and putting its image at stake. According to Biman sources, at least nine aircraft on both domestic and international routes reported various faults last month. Although accidents could be averted repeated disruptions have led to flight cancellations, schedule chaos, missed connections and significant inconvenience for passengers. In the past 30 days, technical issues have occurred mid-air or before takeoff on several routes including Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Rise in cabin temperature forces Ctg-bound Biman flight back to Dhaka Malfunctioning of toilets, faults in engines or trouble in aircraft on the runway left passengers waiting for hours, missing connecting flights and in some cases unable to reach their destinations. The latest incident occurred on Sunday when a Boeing Dreamliner was grounded at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport after a wing flap malfunction. Two hundred and sixty two passengers were accommodated in hotels while spare parts were flown in from London for repairs. A day later, a Dash-8 aircraft operating a domestic route returned to Dhaka just 20 minutes after take-off due to a cabin temperature rise. Earlier this month, a Bangkok-bound Boeing 737 was forced to turn back on August 6 due to engine vibration, an Abu Dhabi-bound Boeing returned the next day due to toilet malfunction, and a Singapore-bound Boeing encountered problems on August 9. Biman's Bangkok flight returns to Dhaka amid mid-air technical fault On Monday (Aug 12), Biman cancelled two Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights — to Kuwait and Dubai — due to a shortage of operational aircraft. The flights will now depart on Tuesday and passengers were informed of the revised schedules. Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ General Manager (Public Relations) ABM Rawshan Kabir told UNB that the flights to Kuwait and Dubai which were canceled on August 12 will operate tomorrow. The BG 343 flight on the Dhaka–Kuwait route will depart at 7:30 pm tomorrow (August 13), while the Dhaka–Chattogram–Dubai flight will leave at 5:05 pm the same day. He said the flights were cancelled due to an aircraft shortage. The Dreamliner aircraft grounded in Rome is undergoing repairs and five of Biman’s own engineers dispatched there on August 12 to make it airworthy. Biman flight from Dubai returns to Chattogram due to technical fault The aircraft is expected to be ready for flight by tomorrow evening. Regarding the repeated mechanical glitches, he said passenger safety is the top priority and no aircraft takes to the skies until all faults are fully resolved. Aviation experts say these incidents are not sudden, rather, small faults that go unaddressed are turning into major risks. Kazi Wahidul Alam, a former board member of Biman and an aviation expert, said the repeated mechanical glitches are indeed a reality. “Many of the aircraft in the fleet are old, which is why problems occur frequently. Such faults need to be detected and addressed in advance with greater checking. However, these repeated issues are damaging the airline’s reputation.” He also said that since the aircraft are old, regular inspections and strict quality control tests are essential. Ctg airport flight operations halted for 2 hours after Biman glitch Nepotism in hiring engineers and pilots must be avoided and only qualified professionals should be recruited, he added. Several major glitches were also reported in July, including incidents that left Dreamliner and Boeing aircraft grounded in Dubai and Sharjah. Biman currently operates a fleet of 19 aircraft — 14 from US-based Boeing and 5 Dash-8 Q400 models from Canada. The Boeing fleet includes 4 Boeing 737-800s, 4 Boeing 777-300ERs, 4 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, and 2 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. To reduce passenger inconvenience the process of leasing two aircraft is in its final stage alongside plans to purchase new ones, the sources added.

Although access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in rural Bangladesh has seen considerable progress over time substantial challenges still persist in meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-6 for clean water and sanitation. To address the gaps, the interim government has undertaken a Tk 1,989.82 crore ‘Rural Sanitation Project’ aimed at improving sanitation and hygiene systems for the poorest communities in the country, with a goal of enhancing public health and living standards in rural areas. The Local Government Division will implement the project through the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) between July 2025 and June 2028 with the government’s own fund, according to a project document. The project document says the government is committed to providing safe sanitation to all citizens of the country, especially the poor. It says the project seeks to expand access to improved sanitation facilities in rural Bangladesh, especially for disadvantaged groups, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project will also address the need for safe sanitation during and after disasters in flood, cyclone and storm-affected areas. Thousands in agony as Teesta devours homes, farmland in north Past Efforts and Progress in Rural Sanitation A national baseline survey was conducted in October 2003 to assess sanitation coverage. It showed that out of about 21 million households in the country only 33 percent use hygienic latrines, 25 percent use unhygienic latrines, and 42 percent defecate in the open. After the launch of the National Sanitation Campaign in 2003, the government decided to formulate and implement many policies to promote sanitation. Various steps and activities have been taken to implement the formulated policies and achieve 100% sanitation coverage. Among the steps, the National Sanitation Project (Phase 1, 2, and 3) implemented by DPHE is notable. The National Sanitation Project (Phase 1) was implemented from July 2004 to December 2007. After the implementation of the project, the open defecation coverage stood at 6%. The National Sanitation Project (Phase 2) was implemented from July 2004 to June 2013. At the end of the project, the open defecation coverage stood at 4%. The latest, the National Sanitation Project (Phase 3) is under implementation whose activities are almost at the final stage. The coverage of improved sanitation systems in Bangladesh is currently 64.4% and Safely Managed Sanitation Coverage is 42%. Project Targets and Key Activities To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, it is necessary to ensure the provision of one improved latrine for each household. The recommendation to provide free sanitation facilities to the extremely poor was accepted as per the approved Pro-Poor Strategy 2020 for the Water and Sanitation Sector of Bangladesh. The government is committed to ensuring sanitation facilities for all at all times, safe sanitation facilities in all institutions and public places as per the SDG targets. Due to frequent disasters caused by climate change, it is necessary to ensure sanitation facilities for the people in flood-affected, storm- and cyclone-affected areas during and after the disaster. The ‘Rural Sanitation Project’ was proposed with the aim of bringing 50% of the poor population of the project area under the Safely Managed Sanitation (SMS) scheme by 2027 and, above all, increasing the overall coverage of SMS in rural areas of Bangladesh from 66% (as per Sample Vital Registration System, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics-2022) to 70%. Major activities under the project include installation of 274,351 improved twin-pit latrines for poor households at a cost of Tk 1,755.84 crore, construction of 1,984 community toilets costing Tk 178.56 crore, and awareness-building campaigns with Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials. The plan also covers consultancy services, training programmes, and transport facilities for implementation. The project will cover rural areas of 496 upazilas across 64 districts, excluding municipalities. In 98 upazilas where a World Bank-funded water supply and sanitation project is already installing twin-pit toilets, the Rural Sanitation Project will only implement other components. Bangladeshi children aren’t eating vegetables — and how it’s fueling a health crisis Economic Impact and Government Commitment A feasibility study by BEST Consulting Services Ltd. recommended the project noting significant sanitation gaps among the rural poor. The Planning Commission has also endorsed it, citing strong economic returns with an estimated Economic NPV of Tk 3,375.64 crore, a Benefit-Cost Ratio of 2.87, and an Internal Rate of Return of 43%. In the 2024-25 fiscal the allocation for the project was Tk 198.03 crore, in 2025-26 it is Tk 797.89 crore, and in 2026-27 fiscal the allocation will be Tk 993.8856 crore. Officials said the project will build on the progress achieved through three earlier National Sanitation Projects, which helped drastically reduce open defecation since the 2000s.

In northern Bangladesh’s remote riverine belts, the once life-giving Teesta River now mercilessly swallows homes, farmland and hope, leaving entire communities on the brink. Over the past few weeks, as the river’s water level rose and fell, erosion has grown more vicious, snatching away the last fragments of security from countless farming families in Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Nilphamari. Arable land has vanished, homesteads have crumbled into the swirling current and with them, memories and sustenance of generations have been swept away. According to the Rangpur divisional office of the Water Development Board (WDB), 59 houses in the five districts have been swallowed in just the last seven days. More than 100 others stand at the edge, facing the same fate, their occupants warned to evacuate before the inevitable. Teesta surges above danger mark, floods low-lying areas in Rangpur Officials say erosion is now striking at 38 points along the Teesta. Emergency protection work is underway, but for many, it already feels too late. On the cracked, collapsing riverbank in Kutirpara village, 65-year-old farmer Akbar Ali sat silently, his gaze fixed on the soil sliding into the current. His voice broke as he told the UNB correspondent, “This land is all I have left from my father. The water is falling, but the erosion is rising.” In Balapara village, elderly farmer Monsur Ali could barely utter the weight of his loss. “The Teesta has swallowed my homestead. I’ve lost everything -- my land, my home. I am left with nothing.” Nearby, 45-year-old Alema Khatun wept openly, her words trembling with desperation. “Save us, our lives are finished. The river has taken everything. Where will we go? What will we eat? The river will take the rest soon.” For Tasor Uddin, once a resident of land now buried beneath the river’s bed, the nightmare is unending. “The erosion has reached right beside my current house. It may fall into the river any moment. The government officials just come and give us words,” he said in a sad voice. Another villager, Abul Hossain, voiced what many here feel.  “We don’t want relief; we just want protection. If sandbags had been placed along the bank earlier, the river wouldn’t have taken our land,” he said. The pain is just as raw for Mensur Ali, 56, from Tepamdhoopur in Kaunia upazila. Years ago, he bought 25 decimals of land to build his home. Now, 20 decimals are gone, washed away. “Only five decimals remain and even that is at risk of being washed away tonight. If the river takes my homestead, I’ll have nothing left,” he said. Flood fear looms over northern districts as Teesta swells Tepamdhoopur Union Parishad Chairman Rashedul Islam painted a grim picture saying, “Villages like Rajib, Haricharan Sharma, Hoybatkha, and Bishwanath are being eaten alive by the river. We sought 4,000–5,000 geo-bags for protection but received only 250 --far short of the need.” In Nilphamari’s Dimla upazila, six out of ten unions are flood-prone, with erosion striking even without major flooding. Villages like Purbo Duholpara and Purbo Baishpukur teeter on the brink. Residents say that if no measures are taken soon, they will be reduced to destitution. Ahsan Habib, superintendent engineer of the WDB Rangpur zone, said 38 points across the five districts are experiencing severe erosion. “We are carrying out protection work in some areas and have sought more allocations. Once we get them, geo-bag dumping will begin.” Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Shahidul Islam said the local administrations have been instructed to visit affected areas and take urgent measures, while the WDB has been ordered to intensify work to curb the destruction. But for the thousands standing on collapsing embankments, watching their land crumble inch by inch, hope is fading fast, said Chairman Rashedul Islam. For them, the Teesta’s slow, steady bite feels less like nature’s course and more like a death sentence.