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Bus burnt in High Court area
Miscreants set a passenger bus on fire near the High Court in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident occurred around 3:30 pm, said Fire service control room duty officer Ershad Hossain.
Bus set on fire in Gazipur
Members of the Fire service doused the fire around 3:40 pm, he added.
Minibus carrying guests to wedding ceremony set on fire in Ctg
Bangladesh delegation visits isotope production facility in Russia
A Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) delegation led by Ruhul Amin Khan, Project Director of the Institute of Radiation and Polymer Technologies, visited an isotope production facility at Leningrad NPP in Russia.
According to Rosatom, the Russian contractor of the 2400 MW Rooppur nuclear power plant project, for radiation processing of agricultural products and research work, Bangladesh is working with Russia on the modernization of the RPP-350 gamma radiation facility in the country.
Members of the delegation were introduced to the isotope production technology, cobalt-60 in particular.
BAEC bill placed in parliament for amendment
After visiting the plant Ruhul Amin said that presently, Bangladesh and Russia are cooperating in the field of peaceful nuclear energy including the construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, and supply of Russian isotope products for multifunctional processing centers and nuclear medicine in Bangladesh.
“We also plan to develop cooperation with Rosatom in the construction of a research reactor. This kind of reactor will allow our students to gain practical knowledge and use it in future projects”, he said.
“At the moment Rosenergoatom (Electrical Division of Rosatom) is one of the key producers of radioisotopes in the Russian Federation. The share of sterilization cobalt produced at channel reactors of Russian nuclear power plants is expected to amount to about 30% of the global market this year,” informed Nikita Konstantinov, Deputy Director General and Director of Business Development, Rosenergoatom.
3 BAEC officials among 6 killed in Savar road crash
Alexey Kondratyev, Head of Radiation Technologies of the Leningrad NPP said, “Our NPP has been producing isotopes that are used all over the world for more than 20 years, and the unique design of RBMK-1000 channel reactors allows for continuous production and unloading of isotopes from the reactor ‘on the fly’ without stopping the power generation process.”
Rosenergoatom's product range includes a number of isotopes widely used in industry, including food, as well as in medicine, solving a number of environmental problems and much more.
For example, cobalt-60 is used to sterilize medical devices and materials, as well as to extend the shelf life and disinfection of food products, modify the polymer properties of materials.
Medical iodine-125, and iodine-131 are used for the production of radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer and molybdenum-99 (technetium-99m), used for examinations in hospitals using scintigraphy and single-photon tomography. In the near future, production of the radioactive isotope samarium-153 will be launched at Leningrad NPP.
Isotope production technology is also being tested at the Kursk and Smolensk nuclear power plants.
Several RMG workers injured in clashes in Mirpur
Several RMG workers were injured while demonstrating for wage hike on Tuesday as clashes broke out reportedly between them and local AL activists in Mirpur’s Purobi Cinema Hall area.
At least 23 workers were injured in the clash, UNB photojournalist Md Rakibul Hasan reported from the spot. One of the injured workers was sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital in critical condition.
Workers said that local AL activists carried out an attack on their procession that left at least 23 of them injured.
Later the workers vandalised some vehicles in that area.
Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity to operate vehicles defying BNP’s 3-day countrywide blockade
Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Pallabi Zone Additional Deputy Commissioner Nazmul Hasan said workers of several garment factories took to the streets around 11 am.
He said that several workers were injured when a clash broke out around 11:30 am between the RMG workers and local activists of AL and its affiliated organizations.
Garment worker burnt to death in Gazipur
Later, police intervened to control the situation, he said, adding that the situation in the area is now under control.
“We went there to calm them down; hopefully the situation will be handled soon,” he said.
RMG workers are protesting, as the wage board will hold a meeting on Wednesday to fix the minimum wage. The workers in Mirpur demonstrated to press home their demand for wage hike and blocked the Mirpur Road this morning.
Police constable Aminul murder: 2 inc. Swechchhasebak Dal leader put on 7-day remand
Deputy commissioners directed to ensure sale of potatoes at govt-set price
The Commerce Ministry on Tuesday directed deputy commissioners to ensure sale of potatoes at the price set by the government (Tk 26-27 per kg) at the cold storage level with the presence of a nominated officer.
Deputy commissioners have also been asked to implement the order from tomorrow (November 1, 2023).
Read: Record jump in prices of onion, potatoes, and vegetables: CAB blames syndicated business
The Commerce Ministry issued a letter in this regard on Monday to all the deputy commissioners.
“Traders are selling potatoes at prices higher than that set by the government – at the cold storage and retail levels. In order to stabilize the market in public interest, deputy commissioners will take necessary measures to sell potatoes from the cold storages under their supervision on an emergency basis under section 3 (2) (e) of the Control of Essential Commodities Act-1956,” the letter reads.
“In this case, the deputy commissioners will assign the responsibility of supervising one or more storage to an appropriate officer at the district and upazila level. In the presence of the officer in charge, the government will sell potatoes at the fixed price,” it said.
Read: Govt-fixed prices of onions, potatoes and eggs not executed yet
Earlier, On September 14, the government fixed the price of potatoes at Tk 26-27 per kg at the cold storage level and Tk 35-36 per kg at the retail level.
But potatoes are not being sold at the price fixed by the government at any level.
Read: Cabinet Committee ‘concerned’ over commodity prices
On Monday, Vice-President of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) SM Nazer Hossain said that the prices of onions, potatoes, and vegetables are going beyond the control of the government, and syndicates are making hefty profits through hiking the prices of the essential goods.
Though the government said there is enough stock of onions and potatoes, a group of dishonesttraders is hiking the prices of the essential goods, blaming the price hike in India, he said.
NBR announces Nov as ‘Tax Information Service Month’ for taxpayers
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has announced November as the “Tax Information Service Month” across the country in a bid to facilitate the submission of tax returns for the year 2023-24.
NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem made the announcement at a press conference at NBR Bhaban in Agargaon on Tuesday.
NBR officials were present at the press conference. Instead of tax fair, this year, NBR is organising tax information service for taxpayers in each tax zone from November 1-30.
The NBR chairman said they have taken the initiative to generate mass awareness through print, electronic and social media along with publishing posters, stickers, special supplements in newspapers and holding television talk shows.
He said tax zones with a total of 649 tax circles will receive income tax returns of their respective taxpayers until November 30 in a festive environment as part of the tax service month.
The website of each tax zone will contain various income tax-related forms, circulars, return filing guidelines, video tutorials, and other necessary information to help the taxpayers.
Under the management of Tax Zone-4 in Dhaka, return acceptance booths and help desks will be set up at Bangladesh Secretariat and Officers Club from November 1 to 14. The tax information will be provided for five days on November 20-24 at the Planning Commission in Shar-e-Bangla Nagar.
For the Armed Forces, the tax zone would facilitate tax return submission and tax information services at Sena Malancha of Dhaka Cantonment on November 15 and 16.
An online income tax return filing system (www.etaxnbr.gov.bd) is also effective. Taxpayers can register in the system, prepare returns, and submit them. Taxpayers can file returns online by taking advice about e-return through hotline number 09643717171, the NBR chairman said in the written speech.
New taxpayers can register, and existing taxpayers can re-register subject to providing the necessary information at the registration booth.
Implementation of the e-TDS system is ongoing at all taxing jurisdictional authorities at the source. Taxpayers will be given income tax returns, TIN applications, and Challan forms.
Taxpayers in Bangladesh can pay income tax online through e-payment.
4 policemen injured in clash with BNP activists in Dhaka’s Matuail; 30 held
At least four policemen were injured in a clash between police and leaders, activists of BNP at Matuail in Dhaka during the ongoing three-day blockade enforced by BNP, Jamaat and associate parties on Tuesday.
Md Rafique, duty officer of Demra Police Station, said BNP leaders and activists brought out a procession on Badsha Mia Road at 9:30 am in support of the countrywide blockade.
When police obstructed them, they attacked the law enforcers, triggering a clash that left four policemen injured, he said.
2 dead in three-way clash among BNP, AL activists and police in Kishoreganj
A chase and counter-chase took place and some crude bombs were exploded during the incident, the police officer added.
Later, police arrested 30 people from Tamirul Millat and Mintu Chattar area, said Madhusudon Das, assistant commissioner of DMP Demra zone.
“Legal steps will be taken after interrogation,” he said.
BNP leaders, activists clash with police in Manikganj; 10 injured, 5 arrested
EC has to hold election on time, no matter what the situation is: CEC says after meeting US ambassador
The Election Commission has no option except holding election on time as per the constitution, Chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said today (October 31, 2023).
“The EC has to hold the election on time, no matter what the situation is,” the CEC told journalists after his meeting with US Ambassador Peter Haas earlier today.
Read: Haas meets CEC, hopes all sides will engage in dialogue without preconditions
The CEC said the issue of favorable election environment and preparations for the upcoming national election were discussed during the meeting with the US ambassador.
“We want all political parties to participate in the election. This, however, does not mean that the election will not be held if the environment is not favorable,” the CEC said.
“Political parties have many options. They can either participate in or boycott the election, but the Election Commission does not have any such option,” he added.
Read: CEC to meet president on Nov 5 regarding announcement of nat’l election schedule
The CEC said, the US ambassador hoped for dialogue among the political parties. “We expressed the the same,” the CEC said.
Problems will not be solved by demonstration of force on the streets. “He (US Ambassador Peter Haas) also believes that the problems should be solved through dialogue,” the Chief Election Commissioner said.
CEC to meet president on Nov 5 regarding announcement of nat’l election schedule
The Chief Election Commission of Bangladesh will meet with President Mohammed Shahabuddin on November 5 regarding the announcement of the election schedule, according to Bangabhaban.
The Election Commission (EC) sought a meeting with the president to discuss the 12th national parliament election yesterday.
The commission led by Kazi Habibul Awal wanted to hold this meeting between November 1 and 5.
Read more: No election without caretaker govt: Acting Ameer of Jamaat
The Election Commission said it will hold a meeting after the meeting with the president. The schedule of the 12th national election may be finalized at that meeting. Returning officers may be appointed then.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal will then announce the schedule of the general election through an address to the nation on Bangladesh Television.
A meeting with the president before announcing the schedule for national election is a long-time practice.
Read more: If BNP genuinely wanted elections, they wouldn’t have resorted to acts of terrorism: Quader
Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity to operate vehicles defying BNP’s 3-day countrywide blockade
Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity (BSPMS) on Monday urged transport owners and workers to keep movement of goods-laden and passenger vehicles normal ahead of the BNP’s three-day countrywide blockade to be enforced from Tuesday.
The BSPMS made the call from an emergency meeting held at the central office of the organization in Dhaka on Monday noon, according to a media release signed by BSPMS’s Secretary General Khandakar Enayet Ullah.
The decision to operate vehicles defying the blockade was taken unanimously from the meeting.
Thirteen vehicles have so far been burnt and more than 100 vehicles vandalized. A staff of Achhim Paribahan named Nayem was burnt to death, it reads.
Condemning such destructive incidents, the organization urged the authorities concerned to bring the terrorists involved with the incidents under trial and said vandalizing and torching vehicles can’t be tolerated anyhow.
The authorities concerned including police administration were requested to beef up security measures in vulnerable spots in Dhaka and elsewhere of the country so that traffic can't be barred.
Chaired by Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation President Shahjahan Khan MP, BSPMS President Mashiur Rahman Ranga, Secretary General Khandakar Enayet Ullah, Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation General Secretary Osman Ali, Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners’ Association General Secretary Abu Raihan, Dhaka District Transport Workers’ Union President Abbas Uddin and representatives from Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Smaiy and Dhaka Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity were present in the meeting.
Bangabandhu Tunnel: Tk 7.1 lakh toll collected on 2nd day
The authorities collected Tk 7.1 lakh as toll on the second day as some 3200 vehicles went through the tunnel under the Karnaphuli River till 6 pm on Monday.
Belayet Hossain, director of Bangabandhu Tunnel, (toll division), said some 3205 vehicles went through the Bangabandhu tunnel from 6 am to 6 pm on Monday and during this period, Tk 7.1 lakh was collected as toll.
Earlier, on Sunday, the tunnel authorities collected Tk 12,13,300 as toll as 5,429 vehicles used the tunnel on the first day of opening.
The tunnel opened for vehicular movement at 6 am on Sunday. Traffic movement remained low due to the ongoing countrywide hartal called by the opposition parties on Sunday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the country’s first underwater tunnel on Saturday.
As many as 14 boxes have been set up at Anwara end to collect the toll.
According to the Bridges Division, as many as 17,374 vehicles will cross the tunnel every day in the first year after the opening. Of these, 3,218 are heavy vehicles. In 2025, the number of vehicles passing per day will be 28,305.
A total of 12 categories of vehicles will be able to go through the Bangabandhu Tunnel.
The minimum toll for traffic movement in the tunnel has been set at Tk 200, and the maximum is Tk 1,000. Motorcycles or three-wheelers will not be allowed in the tunnel.
On Saturday, the prime minister crossed the Bangabandhu Tunnel with a 21-vehicle motorcade and paid a toll of Tk 4,000.