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Banned Indian drugs worth Tk 30 lakh seized at Benapole
A covered van carrying a large quantity of banned Indian drugs was seized by the customs IRM team at Benapole port Wednesday.
According to customs house sources, Deputy Commissioner (DC) SM Shamimur Rahman with IRM team after receiving a tip-off that a large consignment of banned drugs was being smuggled through Benapole port, raided the port and seized a large quantity of drugs in a covered van.
Read: 10 Bangladeshis who illegally entered India, return via Benapole
However, the driver and helper of the vehicle managed to escape.
Benapole customs house DC SM Shamimur Rahman, said a covered van with a large quantity of banned Indian medicines worth Tk 30 lakh was seized.
Operations were underway to nab main culprits of the smuggling gang, he said.
UK to provide assistance to Bangladesh regarding climate change
The United Kingdom will provide necessary assistance to Bangladesh in the areas of climate change mitigation, said British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson on Wednesday.
The British envoy said this during a meeting with Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin at the ministry.
Referring to Bangladesh as a very close ally of Britain, Dickson said that the cooperation between Britain and Bangladesh would continue at an increasing pace.
Assistance would also be provided in overall waste management including single use waste and medical waste, environmental conservation, renewable energy use, biodiversity conservation and technical and research, he said.
Minister Shahab Uddin told the envoy that Bangladesh is playing a significant role in the international arena on climate change as the president of the Climate Vulnerability Forum and Vulnerable-20.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan for the overall prosperity of Bangladesh. The environment minister said Bangladesh would finalize the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and submit it to the UNFCC before August 31.
The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) was also being finalized in consultation with the concerned stakeholders, he said.
Wishing success to the UN Climate Change Conference to be held in UK’s Glasgow in November the minister also sought the cooperation of Britain in all the areas related to climate change.
Arrest warrant issued against Khandaker Mushtaq’s son
A Cumilla court has issued an arrest warrant against Khandaker Ishtiaq Ahmed Babu, son of Khandaker Mushtaq Ahmed, a mastermind behind August 15 mayhem, in connection with various fraudulent activities.
Cumilla cognizance court- 3 senior judicial magistrate Ghulam Mahbub Khan on Tuesday issued the arrest warrant against Ishtiaq who reportedly lives in Canada.
The court ordered Daudkandi police to arrest Ishtiaq, confirmed plaintiff's lawyer Advocate Iftekhar Ahmed on Wednesday.
It was learnt that Ishtiaq sold many property of his relatives, counterfeiting signatures. He also maintains a gang in the locality that helps to accomplish his illegal and fraudulent activities.
The plaintiff in the case, Khandaker Jabir Ahmed Sarwar said that Khandaker Ishtiaq haas deprived them of their legal rights. From Canada he controls a group of miscreants in the Doshpara area.
“Counterfeiting signatures of our heirs he sold several properties and some other properties are being sold.”
He alleged that Nizamuddin, the caretaker of Mushtaq's house, looks after all illegal affairs under Ishtiaq’s direction.
Officer-in-charge (OC) of Daudkandi Police Station Nazrul Islam said, accused Khandaker Ishtiaq Ahmed Babu had fled the country and now lives abroad. As an arrest warrant has been issued necessary legal action will be taken in consultation with the higher authorities, he said.
Retailers, unions extend Bangladeshi apparel workers' safety accord
Negotiations between major global retailers and trade union signatories to the former Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh have resulted in an agreement.
The pact will continue legally binding commitments to workplace safety in Bangladesh and promises to expand the programme to other countries.
The new agreement – the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry – takes effect on September 1 this year, according to a media statement.
Like its predecessor agreement, this is a legally binding agreement between companies and trade unions to make ready-made garments (RMG) and textile factories safe.
HSBC, BEZA, Brac team up to make Mirsarai Economic Zone greener
HSBC Bangladesh has recently partnered with the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and Brac to build a green economic zone in Chattogram's Mirsarai.
The collaboration will ensure over 40,000 mangroves plantation across 10 acres of coastal land at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar (BSMSN) in Mirsarai.
The mangrove plantation is estimated to capture 492 tonnes of carbon each year.
To mark the inauguration of this initiative, HSBC CEO Md Mahbub ur Rahman planted saplings at the Shilpa Nagar.
He was accompanied by M Erfan Sharif, additional secretary, executive member, BEZA, Md Liakath Ali, director, Climate Change Program, Brac and Brac International, and colleagues from HSBC.
"Mangrove forest is known for its incremental carbon capture capacity and can grow well in the coastal areas where water salinity is high. This is the very first mangrove initiative by a private sector among all the economic zones in Bangladesh and will play its part in ecological development in the area," Mahbub ur Rahman said.
"BEZA is always supportive of sustainable industrialisation – plantations to restore the environment have been part of our key activities," BEZA Executive Chairman Shaikh Yusuf Harun said. "In collaboration with HSBC, this initiative of mangrove plantation at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar is a phenomenal example of partnership with a financial institution for climate solution in an economic zone."
"Mangrove plantation is a nature-based solution and one of the most effective actions for offsetting the global emission of GHGs. Brac has been doing similar work for long and is happy to be part of this noble initiative jointly with HSBC," said Md Liakath Ali, director, Climate Change Program, Brac and Brac International.
Also, HSBC will support the Covid-19 awareness campaign and skills development programme at the BSMSN.
Dr Razzaque urges large companies to invest in agro-processing sector
Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Wednesday called upon the country’s large business organisations to invest in the agro-processing sector for building a proper marketing system of agro products.
“There is no problem in production (of agricultural goods). But the marketing and supply system is somewhat disrupted. It is not possible to develop a proper and sustainable marketing system unless the large companies come forward in the agro-processing sector,” he said while addressing a webinar as the chief guest.
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) arranged the webinar on Ensuring food safety and supply chain during a pandemic.
The Agriculture Minister said the country’s rice production hit a record even during the Covid-19 pandemic, while production of other crops has also increased.
He said the production of mango and potato is higher this year. “In case of high production, problems arise while marketing of goods,” he said.
“If we can make mango juice and jelly or potato chips and other items on a large scale by processing mango and potato, the marketing problem will be solved and farmers will get fair prices,” said Dr Razzaque, who joined the virtual seminar from the Bangladesh Secretariat.
In this context, he asked the FBCCI and DCCI to come forward in investing in the agro-processing sector.
The Minister said the present government has been working with utmost importance to ensure safe and standard food.
The BSTI and Bangladesh Safe Food Authority will have to play a stronger role in this case, he said.
He mentioned that the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) also approved a Tk 156-crore project to modernise the Central Packing House at Shyampur in Dhaka in a bid to boost agricultural export and ensure the proper standard of the agro-goods.
Food Secretary Dr Nazmanara Khanum said public private partnership (PPP) can be useful for ensuring safe food in the country. “We have a plan to train up and create a skilled workforce. Motivation of all concerned in the food value chain is important. There are a lot of problems. But we have to solve all constraints gradually,” she said.
BSTI Director General Dr Md Nazrul Anwar said BSTI has already developed software with QR code facility to check duplication of BSTI logo. This software would be effective in the next three months, he said.
Nazrul also said BSTI is also trying to expand its activities in the district level.
DCCI President Rizwan Rahman, who chaired the webinar, said Bangladesh needs to focus on relevant regulations like GAP, GMP standards, safety-net, health-hygiene, e-commerce in order to create a friendly ecosystem to face the challenges of any pandemic or disaster.
Noting that 15 percent VAT on f-commerce will hamper this sector, the DCCI President requested the government to withdraw this VAT to give them some time to grow.
Chairman of Kernal Foundation Dr Saleh Ahmed, Managing Director of Foodpanda Ambareen Reza, Advisor (Value Chain and Market Development) of the World Bank Dr Mahbub Alam and CEO of Bengal Meat AFM Asif, among others, spoke at the event.
Quader wants good relationship between politicians and bureaucrats
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday called for a good relationship between politicians and bureaucrats for smooth functioning of the government.
He made the remarks at a discussion meeting to mark the Aug. 15 national mourning day organised by Bangladesh Secretariat Officials and Employees Oikya Parishad.
"Politicians should have a good relationship with government officials. Politicians make decisions and government officials implement those" he said.
He sounded a warning against the neo-Awami Leaguers who are seen in flattering the government chanting slogans for “Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina.” “Is this really what they believe in their heart?, he wondered.
He reminded the audience about how many people started wearing “Mujib coat” before the Aug. 15 massacre. “The same people were seen scrambling to hide the coats after Aug. 15,” he said.
Quader said he gets scared when he sees billboards and posters all around the Secretariat. “It reminds me of the scenes before Aug. 15 when people came to Bangabandhu with flowers and bouquets,” he said. They just vanished after Bangabandhu was assassinated, he added.
Obaidul Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government does not want flattery. It believes transparency, honesty and neutrality.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Md Tajul Islam and Deputy Minister for Water Resources Enamul Haque Shamim also addressed the meeting, while the President of the parishad presided over it.
Mass Vaccination in Bangladesh: Administering 2nd dose to start on Sep 7
The government will start administering the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine under its mass vaccination campaign on Sep 7, according to the chief of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Director General of DGHS Professor Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam disclosed the matter while talking to reporters after an event at the Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD) auditorium on Wednesday.
“Administering the 2nd dose won’t be a problem as we’ll have available stocks by then,” he reassured.
Read DU asks students to provide their vaccination status
Responding to a question whether the jab seekers can walk in to their vaccination centers without SMS from the concerned authorities, he replied that details on the second dose will be elaborated after a meeting within the high officials of DGHS and the health ministry.
Dr Abul Bashar also claimed that the first phase of the mass vaccination campaign has been a huge success apart from a few isolated incidents.
He also informed that around 60 lakh doses of Pfizer vaccine will arrive in the country soon.
Read DU asks students to provide their vaccination status
He mentioned that they have received 561 ventilators from friendly sources which would soon be dispatched to 300 Covid designated hospitals across the country.
Bangladesh on August 7 kicked off its mass vaccination drive aimed at inoculating as many adults as possible in a short period of time.
However, on Monday, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said that Bangladesh will not conduct any new mass Covid inoculation drive as the supply of vaccine doses is much lower than the demand.
Read PM orders speeding up vaccination of industrial workers, families
“No more mass inoculation drives will be held in the country now as we do not have adequate vaccines in hand and we’ll not use the word ‘mass’ in future,” he told reporters at the Secretariat.
Cabinet body okays proposal for setting up 42,500 solar systems in 3 hill districts
The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on Wednesday approved four proposals including one for installing 42,500 solar systems in the country’s three hill districts.
Of these, 40,000 are solar home systems (SHS), each having 100 watt-peak capacity, while the remaining 2,500 are solar community systems, each having 320 watt-peak capacity.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the meeting.
According to officials, the Parbatya Chattagram Unnayan Board (PCUB) under the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MCHTA) will install solar home and community systems at a cost of Tk 204.37 crore.
Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory (BMTF) Ltd, an enterprise of Bangladesh Army, won the contract through direct procurement method (DPM) to supply and install the solar systems.
Under the DPM, any government entity can purchase any product or service through negotiation without any bidding process.
A senior official at MCHTA said that the same proposal was approved by the Cabinet body on April 29 to award the contract to Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) Welfare Trust in the same process.
“But after objections from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the contract was cancelled and later awarded to BMTF through negotiation”, he added.
Contacted Kazi Mokhlesur Rahman, Deputy Secretary of the MCHTA, said about 40,000 families at the off-grid remote areas will benefit from the solar home systems.
He said the government will provide the solar systems to the families free of cost which will enable a consumer to use four LED bulbs, each having 3 watt capacity, a mobile recharging panel, a 12 volt fan and a small TV.
There will be a battery to provide 5-6 hours backup power supply for the solar system.
The committee approved a proposal of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) of the Education Ministry to award a contract for printing and supply of about 1.68 crore textbooks for students of different classes at a cost of Tk 59.36 crore. Six bidders won the contract.
The committee approved two separate proposals of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation under the Ministry of Industries for import of bulk fertilizer.
Of this, Muntajat, of Qatar will supply 30,000 mts of bulk prilled urea fertilizer at a contract value of Tk 117.65 crore under the state-to-state contract while Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) will supply the same quantity of bulk granular urea at a cost of Tk 117.44 crore.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved a proposal of the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh to cancel “Matarbari-Banshkhali- Madunaghat 400kV Transmission Line” project under the public-private partnership (PPP).
Shamsul Arefin, Additional secretary to the Cabinet Division, said that the proposal was placed by the PGCB as the private partner of the PPP failed to execute the project as per deadline.
Covid-19 : Positivity rate reduces further to 14.76 %, 114 more die
Bangladesh logged 114 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours until Wednesday morning amid a steady decline in both cases and positivity rate raising hope for further improvement.
This was for the second consecutive day the number of fatalities stood at 114, the lowest in last two months.The number of fresh Covid cases is also seeing a downtrend as 4,966 people were tested positive during this time compared to 5,249 in the previous day.
READ: UNGA: No scope for side events this time due to Covid-19
The fresh number pushed the country’s total fatalities to 25,627 while the cases reached 1,477,930, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).The country last saw 112 Coronavirus- related deaths on June 29 and the fatalities jumped to 264 on August 5 and 10 when the country was under a strict lockdown.
The latest cases were detected after testing 33,640 samples during the last 24 hours, which reduced the daily case positivity rate to 14.76 % from Tuesday’s 15.12% and Monday’s 15.54 %, said the DGHS.
READ: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Both fatalities and cases drop in 24hrs
The recovery rate rose to 94.02%, but the case fatality remained unchanged at 1.73 % compared to the same period.