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Govt to sign new deals with Summit Group, Excelerate Energy to get long-term LNG supply
The government is going to sign new deals with Summit Group and Excelerate Energy to get supply of LNG on a long term basis beyond their existing contracts as LNG terminal service providers.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs at a meeting on Wednesday approved two separate proposals in principle, placed by Energy and Mineral Resources on behalf of the Petrobangla.
Also read: Summit’s LNG terminal likely to start operation by Apr
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the virtual meeting.
As per a proposal, the Excelerate Energy Bangladesh Ltd., which set up a floating terminal and re-gasification unit (FSRU) at Moheshkhali in Cox's Bazar, will supply 1 to 1.5 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) of LNG from 2026 for a period of 15 years under a long term contract.
Under a similar proposal, Summit Oil & Shipping Co.Ltd, a subsidiary of the Summit Group, which established a FSRU at Moheshkhali in Cox's Bazar, will supply 1.5 MTPA of LNG from 2026 for a period of 15 years under a long-term contract.
Also read: Summit’s LNG terminal goes into operation
Cabinet Division additional secretary Md Aminul Ahsan, who briefed reporters about the Cabinet body's meeting outcomes, did not disclose any detail of the offers of Summit and Excelerate Energy, specially the rate of LNG.
"You will learn about the rates of LNG when they come to the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) for final approval, “he told reporters.
Currently, both the Excelerate Energy and Summit have been providing the FSRU service to the government since 2018 and 2019 respectively to re-gasify the LNG imported by the Petrobangla from Qatar and Oman.
Also read: Bangladesh to import LNG from Malaysia
The two companies have been pursuing the government to set up another two FSRU, one at Moheshkhali by Summit, another at Payra of Patuakhali.
The Summit Group has received the in-principle approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs to set up the second FSRU at Moheshkhali while the US-based Excelerate Energy's offer is waiting to receive the similar approval.
Bangladesh has been desperately looking for LNG imports to meet its growing demand for natural gas.
Petrobangla has been supplying 3000 MMCFD gas of which about 2300 MMCFD is locally produced of which 700 MMCFD is imported.
As a result, the country is experiencing a huge shortfall of about 1000 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) gas to meet the demand for 4000 MMCFD.
Recently, Petrobangla signed two new deals with Qatar and Oman to receive more LNG supply from 2026 beyond the two existing deals with the two nations.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Economic Affairs body approved in-principle a proposal of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) to receive the repair service for its damaged compressor of Gas Turbine of Ghorashal 3rd Unit Re-Powered Combined Cycle Power Plant from the main manufacturer of Electric (Switzerland) GmbH under the direct procurement method (DPM).
The Cabinet body also approved another proposal in-principle to implement the project "Construction, Operation and Maintenance of Water Treatment Plant at Purbachal New Town" of the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkhay (Rajuk) under the public private partnership (PPP).
The Rajuk has taken up the project for constructing an environment-friendly and sustainable sewage system in Purbachal New Town.
Man gets death penalty in Ctg for murder
A Chattogram court on Wednesday sentenced a man to death for killing a day labourer in Chattogram six years ago.
The condemned convict is Md. Hossain, 29, son of Rafiqul Islam.
Sixth Additional Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Sirajam Munira pronounced the verdict. The convict was tried in absentia.
Read: Missing man’s body recovered after 32 hours in Chattogram
According to the prosecution, Maksudur Rahman Maksud, 28, arrived in the city in January, 2017 to work as a day labourer. On March 12, 2017, he was stabbed to death in a tea shop following an altercation with Md Hossain.
Maksud's brother Md. Ripon filed a murder case against Md. Hossain at Halishahar police station.
Read: Injured Kushtia Swechchhasebak League leader dies at DMCH
After investigation, sub-Inspector (SI) Sohel Rana submitted the chargesheet, and the trial began on November 11. The court pronounced the judgment after examining testimonies of 12 witnesses.
Missing man’s body recovered after 32 hours in Chattogram
The body of a man who went missing on Monday after his boat capsized in the floodwater in Chattogram’s Raozan upazila has been recovered.
The deceased was identified as Shahed Hossain Babu, 37, of Urkirchar area of Raozan upazila. He was a farmer and fish cultivator by profession.
Read: Two more upazilas to be declared free of homeless and landless in Chandpur
His body was found floating in Chhayarchar area of the Halda River on Wednesday morning, 32 hours after he went missing.
Sub-inspector Mahfuzul Hasan, in-charge of Halda outpost of River Police, said, “Locals recovered the body a few kilometers away from the place he had gone missing. His body was handed over to the family.”
Earlier on Monday night, Shahed's cattle farm in Urkirchar village was submerged due to heavy rains.
Read: University student drowns in Chattogram floodwater
Some of the cows of his farm were washed away in a nearby canal. After rescuing the cows, when Shahed along with three others were returning by boat in the evening the boat capsized. The other three managed to swim ashore but Shahed was swept away by floodwater as he did not know how to swim.
Injured Kushtia Swechchhasebak League leader dies at DMCH
A Swechchhasebak League leader who was seriously injured in an attack in Bheramara upazila of Kushtia on August 2 died on Wednesday while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
The deceased was identified as Pramanik Sanjay Kumar Pramanik, 35, president of Bheramara municipality Swechchhasebak League.
Bheramara police station Officer-in-Charge Md Jahurul Islam said Swechchhasebak League leader Sanjay's younger brother Sampad confirmed the death news over phone in the morning.
Read: University student drowns in Chattogram floodwater
Earlier, on August 2, Sanjay was returning home with some people after attending in a party meeting when a group of people, led by Jubo Jote (the youth wing of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal) district sports affairs secretary Mustafizur Rahman Shovon, opened indiscriminate fire on them, leaving Sanjay and two others critically injured.
Read: Flood situation in Ctg, Feni, Bandarban and Cox`s Bazar may improve in 24 hrs: FFWC
Later, locals rescued the injured and took them to Bheramara Upazila Health Complex, where doctors referred them to Kushtia General Hospital. However, from there Sanjay was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for better treatment.
On August 3, Sanjay’s wife Bithi Rani Dey filed a case with Bheramara Police Station accusing 14 people including Jubo Jote leader Mustafizur Rahman Shovon.
OC Md Jahurul Islam said five people, including Shovon, are currently in jail in the case. The other accused are on bail.
90-year-old Pabna woman grateful to PM Hasina for providing her a home
At 90 Sundari Begum relies on a wooden stick to move around.
Until last year Sundari had no home that she could call her own. With a son, a daughter and several grandchildren she used to live in a ramshackle house that belonged to a neighbor.
The housing woes of her family ended when she was given a house and a piece of land last year under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Ashrayan Project-2 at Pabna Sadar union.
PM declares 12 districts, 123 upazilas free of homeless people
“Since I got the house no one can call me a homeless destitute. I am happy now as Hasina (Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina), gave me the house,” she told a visiting UNB correspondent. “May Allah give her a long life.”
The project has provided land and shelter to thousands of poor people since the celebration of Mujib Year marking the 100th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during 2020-21.
Two more upazilas to be declared free of homeless and landless in Chandpur
On Wednesday another 22,101 people became beneficiaries of the project after PM Hasina declared another 12 districts and 123 upazilas free of homeless and landless people under Ashrayan-2 project.
She made the announcement and opened the distribution of the semi-pucca houses to the homeless and landless families through a videoconference from her official residence Ganabhaban.
With the 12 districts and 123 upazilas, a total of 21 districts and 334 upazilas throughout the country have so far become homeless and landless family-free ones.
The keys of 22,101 houses and the ownership documents of a two-decimal of house lands were handed over to the families in different districts of the country. Some 115,000 people are being rehabilitated in the houses.
The premier was connected virtually with the beneficiaries and local people of three places while distributing the houses to the landless and homeless families on the sixth occasion since Mujib Year.
PM Hasina to provide free houses and lands to over 22,000 families Wednesday under Ashrayan project
The three places are Barasat Sonar Bangla Palli Ashrayan Project site in Terokhada Upazila under Khulna, Chakla Ashrayan-2 project site in Bera Upazila under Pabna, and Amanullahpur Ashrayan project site in Begumganj Upazila under Noakhali district.
The 12 districts that earned the distinction of becoming free of landless and homeless families are Manikganj, Rajbari, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Dinajpur, Naogaon, Natore, Pabna, Kushtia, Pirojpur and Jhalakathi.
Two more upazilas to be declared free of homeless and landless in Chandpur
Chandpur’s Kachua and Matlab Dakkhin upazilas will be declared free of landless and homeless people, said Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kamrul Hasan.
He said this during a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon at the Chandpur DC’s conference room. The event marked the commencement of a housing programme for families without land or homes.
Also read: PM Hasina to provide free houses and lands to over 22,000 families Wednesday under Ashrayan project
The prime minister's land and housing programme is set to launch on Wednesday. In anticipation of this, 158 families in the district will receive essential documents for their resettlement, he said.
Also read: Another 12 districts, 123 upazilas to be declared free of homeless and landless Wednesday
Among the beneficiaries, 70 families from Chandpur Sadar upazila, 35 from Hajiganj upazila, 38 from Kachua upazila, and 15 from Matlab Dakkhin upazila will be provided with the necessary documentation, he added.
Also read: PM Hasina's Ashrayan project is enabling Bangladesh’s inclusive growth, India Today writes
The DC also said that in upazilas that have already been designated as free of landless and homeless people, if any individual falls into the same predicament once again, the relevant authorities should be promptly informed. Such individuals will have the opportunity to enrol in the programme based on the established guidelines, he said.
University student drowns in Chattogram floodwater
A private university student has drowned in floodwater in Lohagara upazila of Chattogram .
The deceased was identified as Junaidul Islam Zarif, 18, a first-year student of Computer Engineering department of BGC Trust University Bangladesh in Chandanaish. His body was recovered in the Tuesday afternoon.
Also read: Man, grandson drown in Mymensingh pond
According to locals, Junaidul was washed away by floodwater around 2 am on Monday in Jankalyan area of Amirabad union when he and his family members were being taken to a shelter due to heavy rains.
Lohagara Police Station OC (Investigation) Saiful Islam said, "We have received information about the recovery of the body of a missing youth. Police have been sent to the spot. Details are not yet to be known.”
Also read: Twin brothers drown in Cumilla
SM Yunus, chairman of Amirabad union, said, "Three people of my union have drowned in floodwater so far. The body of a young man named Junaidul was recovered. Two are still missing.”
Also read: Two children drown in Dinajpur
On Monday, Nipa Palit, an 18-year-old college student, drowned in floodwater at Islamia Haat Badamtal in Hathazari upazila of the district.
Flood situation in Ctg, Feni, Bandarban and Cox`s Bazar may improve in 24 hrs: FFWC
Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) predicted that the flood situation in low-lying areas of Chattogram, Feni, Bandarban and Cox`s Bazar districts may improve in 24 hours starting from 9am on Tuesday.
The FFWC, in its regular bulletin, said the Brahmaputra-Jamuna rivers are in rising trend which may continue in next 72 hours.
Read: Weather forecast: Bangladesh may see less rain over 72 hours, says BMD
The Ganges-Padma rivers are in steady state, which may continue in next 24 hours, it said.
All the major rivers in the North-eastern region of the country are in rising trend, said the bulletin.
Referring to the meteorological department it said there is a chance of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the north-eastern and adjacent upstream parts of Bangladesh in next 24-72 hours.
Read: Rain-fed waterlogging forces authorities to close schools in Ctg city
For this reason, all the major rivers including Surma, Kushiyara, Manu, Khowai, Sarigowain, Jhalukhali, Bhugai-Kangsha, Someswari, Jadukata in the north-eastern region of the country may rise rapidly at times during the period.
As there is a chance of medium to heavy rainfall in the southeastern hill basin and adjacent upstream parts in next 24 hours and the tendency of very heavy rainfall has decreased, all the major rivers including Muhuri, Feni, Halda, Karnafuli, Sangu, Matamuhuri in the south-eastern region of the country may fall at a slow rate, it said.
Read: Army deployed to tackle flood, landslides in Ctg, Bandarban
The Khowai River at Ballah point may cross its danger level for a short period, it added.
Flashflood in Cox’s Bazar: Vehicular movement on Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar suspended
Vehicular movement between Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram remained suspended since Tuesday morning due to the flashflood in 90 villages under seven upazilas of Cox’s Bazar district, triggered by the torrential rainfall and onrush of water from upstream.
The low-lying areas of Chakaria, Pekua, Ramu, Sadar and Eidgaon upazilas of the district have been inundated as the flood situation worsened in the past 24 hours, rendering 2.5 lakh people marooned.
People were seen wading through waist-deep water as all the roads were submerged due to swelling of all river waters, forcing the local administration to suspend vehicular movements on Cox’s Bazar-Chattogram, Ramu-Naikhangchhari and Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf.
Army deployed to tackle flood, landslides in Ctg, Bandarban
Five people were killed in different parts of the district in landslides and drowned in floodwater on Monday and Tuesday, said Deputy Commissioner Shaheen Imran.
A man drowned in the floodwater while trying to collect the wood log while three children and a woman died in landslide.
The incidents occurred in Ukhiya Rohigya camp, Chakaria upazila and Lakkharchar over Matamuhuri River.
“We are working to avoid any big natural disaster in the district,” said DC.
The houses and educational establishments in Chakaria and Pekua upazilas were inundated by the flood water while the fish enclosures of different areas of the district were washed away.
Already people have started to take shelter in a safer place with domestic animals from Monday.
Eight villages in Feni flooded as embankment collapses
Power connection was disrupted in 15 villages under the seven upazilas of the district.
The flood-hit areas include—ten villages in Sadar upazila have been flooded while 15 in Maheshkhali upazila, 12 in Eidgaon upazila, 20 in Chakaria, 10 in Ukhiya, 20 in Ramu, 15 in Pekua and 10 in Teknaf upazilas of the district.
The Matamuhuri and Bakkhali rivers were flowing above its danger marks while flood control embankments at ten points along Matamuhuri River were collapsed, inundating the low-lying areas.
Sohel Sarwar Kajal, chairman of Ramu Upazila, said the low-lying areas of Garjania, Kacchapia, Kauwar Khop, Joarianala, Dakkhin Mithachhari, Rajarkul and Fatekharkul unions were flooded due to the swelling of Bakkhali River, causing untold suffering to the residents.
Ahsan Ullah Bachhu, chairman of Maheshkhali Dhalghata union, said roads of different villages in Dhalghata union were submerged and the river water also entered into the standing crops land.
Torrential rain causes flood in Bandarban; Around 30,000 people marooned
Jamal Morshed, Chakaria upazila officer of Water Development Board, said the embankments at Koinnarkum, BM Char and Mehernama point were collapsed due to the strong current of Matamuhuri river while many are at risk of collapse.
JP Dewan, Chakaria Upazila Nirbahi Officer, said residents living on the hill slopes have been asked to evacuate their places fearing landslides.
Khulna female footballers attack case: 3 accused sent to jail
A Khulna court on Tuesday cancelled the bail of three accused and sent them to jail in a case over the attack on female footballers in Batiaghata upazila of Khulna district.
Khulna Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Md Hadiuzzaman sent them to jail when three accused- Salauddin Kha, his mother Ranji Begum and sister Nupur- appeared before the court in the morning.
Read: Munshiganj trawler capsize: 5 still missing
The court observed that the three accused who secured bail in the attempt to murder case had violated all the conditions of their bail. They threatened plaintiff of the case and captain of the team Sadia Nasrin and other footballers to burn their bodies with acid if the case was not withdrawn and this was proved by the police investigation.
The order to cancel the bail was passed to ensure the safety of the plaintiff and other footballers.
Earlier, on July 29, 2023, Noor Alam Khan and his family members verbally abused and beat up four women footballers for wearing shorts at Tetultala village in Batiaghata upazila during their regular practice session.
Read: Woman, daughter among 3 killed in Bandarban landslides
On July 30, footballer Sadia Nasreen filed an attempt to murder case with Batiaghata Police Station naming four people. Police arrested Noor Khan, but the other three accused were granted bail by the court.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed solidarity with the female footballers who were tortured in Khulna's Batiaghata.
Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel, lawmaker from Khulna-2 constituency, conveyed the message while talking with the footballers.
Read: Heavy rain triggers severe waterlogging in Ctg for 4 days