Gazipur, May 22 (UNB) – Four members of a family were killed in a gas cylinder explosion at Islampur in the city on Wednesday night.

The deceased were identified as Shah Alam, 38, his wife Monira Begum, 30, and their son Bayezid, 8, and daughter Fatema, 4. Hailing from Bauphal upazila of Patuakhali, the family had been living in a rented house at Islampur.

Assistant director of Gazipur Fire Service Akhtaruzzaman said the gas cylinder went off with a big bang at the kitchen around 9:30pm, killing them on the spot.
 

Cox’s Bazar, May 22 (UNB)-  Cox's Bazar Journalists Union has given a three-day ultimatum to stop what they allege to be harassment of journalists in Rohingya camps here.

Journalist leaders announced the ultimatum at Cox’s Bazar Press Club at 2 pm on Wednesday following a special general meeting.

Leaders urged the authority to ensure working environment for journalists within next three days. They threatened to take strict measures if their demand is not met.

Speakers at the meeting said many crimes are being committed inside Rohingya camps. There have been many irregularities including militant activities, Yaba smuggling and human trafficking. Besides, many NGOs working there are said to be corrupt.

They are obstructing the journalists to hush up these irregularities. Speakers drew the attention of the authorities concerned to these matters.

Chaired by CJU president Abu Taher, BFUJ member Ayasur Rahman, CJU member Priyotosh Paul Pintu, Tofayel Ahmed, among others, addressed the program.

Dhaka, May 22 (UNB) - In association with rain/thundershowers, temporary westerly/nor'westerly kalbaishaki squalls packing a speed of 60-80 kph or more and lightning flashes is likely to occur in the regions of Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Pabna, Bogura, Tangail, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Faridpur, Jessore, Kushtia, Khulna, Barisal, Patuakhali, Cumilla, Noakhali, Chattogram and Sylhet during the next 12 hours from 8:30pm on Wednesday, said Met office.

Dhaka, May 22 (UNB) – Noting that development is impossible without good governance, Prime Minister's International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi on Wednesday said it is important that everyone benefits from the development of a nation. 

“A good government ensures that the benefit of development is distributed among all the citizens,” he said while addressing a seminar on ‘Good Governance and National Development’ jointly arranged by the 9th BCS Forum and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at the Officers’ Club Dhaka. 

Dr Rizvi said it means no development if the lifestyle of the country’s citizens does not improve.

He said development gets sustainable if the government plays its part and delivers social justice.

The PM’s adviser also underscored the need for concerted efforts of the government and people for stamping out corruption from society.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said there is no alternative to good governance to continue the current development trend.

Describing good governance as another side of development, Bangladesh Bank Governor Fazle Kabir underlined the importance to turn Bangladesh’s economy into an export-oriented one. “Our economy is currently import-oriented one and we should become an export-driven economy by 2034,” he said.
 
He expressed satisfaction over the remittance inflow, saying Bangladesh will fetch Tk 16 billion as remittance by the year end.
 

Dhaka, May 22 (UNB) – The Food Ministry will purchase 10 million jute hessian bags from the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) as a Cabinet body approved a proposal on Wednesday to this end.

At a meeting, the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase with Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in the chair also approved a number of procurement proposals of different ministries.

As per the Food Ministry’s proposal, the Food Department will have to pay Tk 54 crore for procuring 10 million jute hessian bags.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, the finance minister said although some workers and employees of state-owned jute mills are on a movement for arrears, it will be possible to supply the bags as per the requirement as still 44,000 workers are working at different mills getting regular salaries.

The committee approved a proposal of the Power Division to set up a 3.77 MW solar power plant in Bera upazila of Pabna district in the private sector.

Mostafa Motor Limited and Solarland Electric Science and Technology will jointly establish the plant from which state-owned Power Development Board (PDB) will purchase electricity for the next 20 years at a levelised tariff of Tk 8.59 per kilowatt hour.

The committee gave its go-ahead to a proposal of the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry to construct a bridge over the Dudhkumar River at Bhurungamari-Sonaihat-Vitarband-Nageswari highway.

MM Builders won the contract to construct the bridge at a cost of Tk 135 crore.