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Banglar Samriddhi: Hadisur's family gets $500,000 in compensation
Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) awarded over $500,000 in compensation to the family of deceased naval engineer Hadisur Rahman, and 7 months' pay to other crew of the Banglar Samriddhi, that came under a rocket attack at the port of Olvia in Ukraine.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury handed the $5,05,000 cheque to Hadisur’s family and seven months’ salary to other crew members at a programme held at the city’s BSC Tower.
Besides, Hadisur’s brother has also been appointed at BSC as compensation.
The state minister said, "We will not get Hadisur back."
He said Hadisur's father told him over the phone, “Hadisur was our only source of income what would we do without him? This check is the answer for that also Hadisur's brother has been arranged a job BSC and later he will be given a permanent job in an agency under the Ministry of Shipping according to his qualifications.”
On March 3, Hadisur, 47-year-old third engineer of Bangladeshi vessel ‘Banglar Samriddhi’, was killed in a rocket attack on the ship stranded at Ukrainian port Olvia.
The BSC ship was positioned in the inner anchorage of Olvia port (Ukraine) when Hadisur was killed.
On March 9, 28 surviving crew members of the Bangladeshi ship who were stranded in war-torn Ukraine, arrived back in Dhaka. They went from Ukraine to Moldova to reach Bucharest in Romania, from where they flew to Dhaka.
The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation ship had been stranded at Olvia port in Ukraine since February 23, following Russia's invasion of its eastern European neighbour.
Hadisur’s body was preserved in a bunker near Ukraine as the procedure to bring it back was delayed due to the worsening situation in Ukraine. Later, on March 14, his body did reach Dhaka.
Also read: Hadisur buried in Barguna
Bangladeshi businessman shot to death in US
A 47-year-old Bangladeshi businessman was gunned down by an unidentified assailant in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States on Wednesday.
Abu Saleh Mohammad Mahfuz Ahmed was from Noakhali and lived in Atlanta with his father Abu Taher, wife Mahmuda Begum, son Faruz Ahmed (4) and daughter Faiza Mahfuz (9), the deceased's younger brother Masum Ahmed told UNB.
Saleh went to America about 12 years ago in search of a living after winning the Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery or DV Lottery. He set up his own business in Georgia after working at a shop.
On Wednesday morning Bangladesh time, a man fired bullets at him inside his shop, killing Saleh on the spot, Tarek Hasan, a Bangladeshi who lives in Georgia, said.
Saleh's father said he will be buried at a local cemetery after funeral prayers in the small hours of Friday (Bangladesh time).
Also read: Police make 'significant' arrest over London teacher's death
ADB provides $143 million to improve trade facilitation in Bangladesh
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Bangladesh government have signed an agreement for a $143 million policy-based loan to improve the volume,efficiency, predictability and security of cross-border trade in the country.
Economic Relations Division Secretary Fatima Yasmin and ADB Country Director Edimon Ginting virtually signed the agreement, said a media release Thursday.
"Aligning with Bangladesh's policies and strategies, the ADB is helping enhance export diversification and competitiveness for accelerating growth with industrialisation and trade, and expanding subregional trade and commerce," Edimon Ginting said.
The assistance will help increase the volume of imported and exported cargoes at the Akhaura, Sonamasjid, and Tamabil border crossing points (BCPs) by 50 percent by 2027 while reducing average customs clearance and cargo transshipment time by 50 percent, he added.
"E-payment at the three BCPs will be implemented, with their capacity increased to handle 520,000 tonnes per year of international transit cargoes, and central customs laboratory, customs warehouse, and customs regional training academy will be designed," Ginting said.
Also read: ADB to provide $250 million to Bangladesh to boost social protection system
Proposed budget’s social safety allocation not enough, speakers say at CPD dialogue
The allocation for the social safety programmes in the proposed budget for FY2022-23 is not enough, experts at a dialogue of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) said Thursday.
The inclusion of pension benefits and interests on saving certificates included in social safety programmes is depriving the lower-income group, they said.
The experts also called for increasing allocation for labour welfare and keeping a portion of industries' or factories' profit for workers.
Dr Famida Khatun, executive director of CPD, chaired the discussion. Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director of CPD, delivered the keynote presentation on the proposed budget.
Planning Minister MA Mannan joined the dialogue as chief guest.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Anisul Islam Mahmud, Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Finance Kazi Nabil Ahmed, and former commerce minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury attended the discussion.
Mannan said, "The government cannot slash incentives in different sectors suddenly. It will take time."
"The government provides food assistance to the lower income groups through family cards and open market sale (OMS),” he said.
Amir Khosru questioned the transparency of the government's inflation and forex reserves data.
The Bangladesh Bank has so far disbursed $7 billion EDF loans from its reserves.
However, the International Monetary Fund said the central bank overstated foreign exchange reserves by showing the EDF with it.
At the dialogue, different NGOs urged the government to make the grant disbursement process, which also adds to the forex reserves, easier.
At present NGOs are receiving around $700 million as grant.
Also read: Budget offers no good news for lower, middle income groups: CPD
Car fire at Chandrima Udyan put out
A fire that started in a car Thursday night in front of the capital's Chandrima Udyan was brought under control.
The blaze was reported at 8:30pm. Two firefighting units responded to the fire and managed to tame the flames after one hour.
"A spark from the car's engine started the fire as the vehicle was heading towards Gulshan. Fortunately, no one was hurt," Ershad Hossain, duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters, said.
Also Read: Garment factory catches fire in Gazipur
BIWTC announces 20pc rise in ferry, ship fare
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) has increased the fare for its passenger ships and ferry services by 20 per cent effective from Sunday.
This was announced in a BIWTC press release on Thursday.
Also read: Return rush at Paturia ferry terminal
It said the authority has re-fixed the fare in the wake of price hike of fuel oil.
“From 6 am on June 19 the fare will be effective for all kinds of vessels, including passenger ships,” it said.
Also read: Barishal: 3 ferry owners fined for overloading
Committee: Print of Bangabandhu’s 7th March speech in constitution contains 136 errors
A High Court-directed committee has found that the print version of Bangabandhu’s historic 7th March in the constitution contains 136 errors.
A report in this regard from the Ministry of Law was submitted to the relevant bench of the High Court on Thursday.
The HC bench of justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Khizir Hayat Khan will hear the writ petition in this regard but the date has not been fixed yet, said, petitioner’s lawyer Subir Nandi Das.
“Hopefully the High Court will hear the petition next week,” he said.
On March 10, 2020, a HC bench of Justice Tariq ul Hakim and Justice Md. Iqbal Kabir passed the order after a hearing on a writ filed by Supreme Court lawyer Subir Nandi Das on behalf of Kashed Ali, a resident of Raynagar village in Rajbari district on March 5.
The court also sought a report with all the documents after analysing every audio and video of the speech within six weeks.
Also Read: Khaleda gets permanent bail in defamation cases
According to the order, a committee was formed led by Professor Shamsuzzaman Khan (late), former chairman of Bangla Academy. Journalist Zafar Wazed, director general of Bangladesh Press Institute, was made the member secretary of the committee. The other members of the committee are prominent historians and writer Muntasir Uddin Khan Mamun, former Deputy director general of Bangladesh Betar Ashfaqur Rahman, Director General of Bangladesh Betar Hosne Ara Talukder, Director General of the Department of Film and Publications, M. Golam Kibria and Director General of Bangladesh Television S. M. Harun-ur-Rashid.
Besides, the court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned why directives should not be given for attaching to the constitution the accurate speech delivered by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 7, 1971.
Nearly 4 lakh posts vacant at ministries: Farhad
A total of 392,117 posts are now vacant under different ministries, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said Thursday.
He made the disclosure while replying to a query from Awami League lawmaker Benjir Ahmed at the parliament.
Replying to another question from ruling party lawmaker Ali Azam, the state minister said the public administration ministry recommended the recruitment of 41,566 candidates for cadre posts through Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations from 2010.
Also Read: Fatima made new Finance Secretary, Sharifa ERD secretary
During this time, 5,143 candidates were recommended for non-cadre first-class posts and 7,161 for second-class posts (10th -12th grades), said Farhad.
PM seeks support of Japan to become a developed nation
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday sought the support of Japan and Japan International Cooperation Agency-JICA to fulfill the vision of Bangladesh to turn into a developed nation by 2041.
“I hope Japan and JICA will be with us to fulfill our vision to become a developed nation by 2041,” she said.
The premier said this in her video message aired in the celebration programme of the 50 Years of Cooperation between Bangladesh and JICA.
Also read: Southern region won’t remain neglected anymore: PM
She said Bangladesh is marching forward to fulfill the Father of the Nation’s dream of turning Bangladesh into a developed nation. Bangladesh has already attained recognition for graduating to a developing country in 2026, she added.
Recalling the visit of the then Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe to Bangladesh in 2014, she said the both countries affirmed commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
“We have launched the ‘Japan-Bangladesh Comprehensive Partnership’ to elevate the friendly relationship to a new height. Our comprehensive partnership is now poised to be raised to a strategic partnership in the near future,” she said.
Hasina said Bangladesh and Japan have been maintaining and furthering relations based on those values and common interests.
“We believe that sincerity, friendship and mutual respect are the core values for long-lasting bilateral relations,” she said.
The PM said Bangladesh and Japan have been enjoying excellent relations since Bangladesh's independence in 1971. “We remain deeply grateful for the invaluable support and contribution of Japan and its people during our War of Liberation,” she said.
“We recognize that Japan is one of our most trusted friends and the single largest development partner,” she said, adding that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman laid the foundation of Bangladesh-Japan relations through his maiden visit to Tokyo in 1973.
Also read: Mega projects won’t affect the economy: PM
She said it was an honour for her to carry on her father’s legacy and she visited Japan in 1992, 1997, 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2019 to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
Starting from 10.6 million USD commodity grant aid in the financial year 1971-72, JICA's financial assistance portfolio to Bangladesh now stands at 28 billion USD, the PM mentioned.
Matarbari Coal-based Power Plant, Matarbari Port Development Project, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Rail Bridge over the river Jamuna, Metro-rail network at Dhaka city and Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Expansion Project are some of the transformational projects currently being implemented with JICA's assistance, she cited.
On the occasion of the golden jubilee of the cooperation, Hasina conveyed her warmest greetings to the Emperor, the Empress, the Prime Minister and the friendly people of Japan.
Fatima made new Finance Secretary, Sharifa ERD secretary
Fatima Yasmin, a senior bureaucrat, has been appointed the country’s first woman finance secretary, according to an official announcement on Thursday.
She will transfer to the new assignment on July 11 from the finance ministry’s Economic Relations Department where she has been serving also as a secretary since February 23, 2020.
She succeeds Finance Secretary Abdur Rouf Talukder who has been named as the governor of Bangladesh Bank, according to the Public Administration notification.
In another development Planning Commission member (secretary) Sharifa Khan is joining ERD as secretary on July 11, said a Public Administration notification.
Fatima, also the first woman ERD secretary of Bangladesh, joined the Bangladesh Civil Service in 1991.
Also Read: Aligning with changing business trends must to remain competitive: BGMEA
She obtained an MBA from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Dhaka. She also obtained a master degree in development economics from the Australian National University.
Fatima was also a Public Policy Fellow at the US State Department's Hubert H. Humphrey at Rutgers University in the United States. She has completed the Executive Program from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
ERD's new secretary Sharifa is also a 1991 batch officer of BCS. She held various posts in the Ministry of Agriculture, BPATC, Deputy Commissioner's Office, Dhaka, WTO Cell and Ministry of Commerce.
Sharifa served as a counselor at the Bangladesh High Commission in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2011 to 2017. She has been serving as the Member (Secretary) of the Planning Commission since February 9, 2021.