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48 BGB platoons deployed to beef up security for garment factories in Dhaka, nearby areas
A total of 48 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) platoons have been deployed in Dhaka and adjacent areas to ensure security in garment factories.
BGB troops have been deployed in Ashulia, Savar, Mirpur, Gazipur and other parts of the country, said, Sharuiful Islam, public relations officer at BGB headquarters.
Read: 228 BGB platoons deployed to beef up security across the country amid BNP-Jamaat's 48hr blockade
Garment factory workers in Dhaka and nearby areas returned to work on Sunday after 12 days of unrest for a minimum wage of Tk 23,000.
The government on Tuesday announced Tk 12,500 as minimum salary for entry level readymade garment (RMG) factory workers, raising it by 56.25 percent from the current wage.
Read: 48hr blockade: 27 BGB platoons deployed in Dhaka, adjoining districts
PM Hasina returns home from Saudi Arabia
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned home on Wednesday morning after attending the International Conference on Women in Islam and performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia.
A commercial flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the prime minister and her entourage members landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 7:41 am.
PM Hasina to leave Saudi Arabia for home tonight
Earlier, the flight departed King AbdulAziz International Airport here at 10:54 pm on Tuesday local time.
On November 5, the premier went to Madina on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia.
On that day, she performed Ziarat of the Rawja Mubarak of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) at Masjid Al-Nabawi in Medina and offered Fateha there after Asar prayers.
China becomes important partner of Bangladesh in terms of economic development, beyond: Ambassador Yao
Then she left for Makkah and performed holy Umrah at the Al Masjid Al-Haram ((Kaaba Sharif)) after Esha prayers ob the same day.
On November 6, the prime minister attended the conference and delivered her speech.
On the sidelines of the conference, she also held meetings its top officials of OIC and member countries.
Indian states vote in key test for opposition and PM Modi ahead of 2024 national election
Apart from joining the conference, she attended the opening of the Women in Islam Exhibition and banquet dinner in honour of her.
The Kingdom in coordination with the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) hosted the conference on November 6-8.
Dhaka’s air 4th worst in the world this morning
Dhaka has ranked fourth on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI index score of 217 at 8:49 am on Wednesday.
Dhaka’s air was classified as ' very unhealthy', according to the air quality index.
Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi and Pakistan’s Karachi occupied the first, second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 444, 393 and 287 respectively.
Dhaka's air quality still in 'moderate' range this morning
When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka's air quality ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ this morning
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
Dhaka's air quality 'moderate' this morning
48 hr blockade called by BNP, Jamaat underway
After Sunday morning to Tuesday morning countrywide blockade, another 48-hour road, rail and waterways blockade called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties is underway today.
The blockade started at 6 am today and will end at 6 am on Friday.
The aim of the blockade called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties is to mount pressure on the government to step down and hold the next election under a non-partisan administration.
Buses to ply amid BNP-Jamaat's 48 hours countrywide blockade
The number of vehicles on the street today in Dhaka is more compared to the two previous blockades.
Office-goers, students and other commuters were seen going to their destinations.
Miscreants set a bus of ‘Bahon Paribahan’ on fire in the capital’s Malibagh area on Tuesday night, ahead of the countrywide blockade.
On November 6, BNP, Jamaat and like-minded parties announced a 48-hour road-rail-waterways blockade across the country beginning from Wednesday.
4 buses set on fire in Dhaka ahead of countrywide 48-hour blockade
The opposition parties gave a day’s break from its action programme on Tuesday as BNP observes November 7 as the ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’.
The latest spell of agitation was announced on the last day of the opposition’s 48-hour nationwide blockade which has been marked by widespread incidents of violence, including clashes with police, vandalising and burning vehicles .
Jamaat to impose identical countrywide blockade on Nov 8 and 9
Earlier last week, the opposition’s three-day countrywide blockade saw clashes and widespread incidents of burning and vandalising vehicles, leaving four people — three in Kishoreganj and one in Sylhet — killed and over three dozen vehicles either burned or vandalised.
Bus set on fire in Dhaka’s Malibagh ahead of 48-hours countrywide blockade
Miscreants set fire to a parked bus in the capital’s Malibagh area on Tuesday night ahead of the countrywide 48-hours blockade BNP and like-minded parties called from Wednesday morning.
BNP, like-minded parties to enforce 48-hour fresh blockade from Wednesday
The "Bahon Paribahan" bus was set on fire around 11pm next to the Ansar Camp in Malibagh, confirmed Talha bin Jasim, station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence (media cell).
BNP alleges police are detaining its leaders’ family members raiding their houses
Two units from Khilgaon Fire Station went to the spot to douse the fire, he said.
Law enforcers again making opposition leaders, workers disappear: BNP
Metro Rail to operate special service from 7:10am Wednesday
Two special metro rail services will operate from 7:10am and 7:20am from Uttara North station from tomorrow to facilitate students and professionals of different educational institutions.
However, the services will be available only for commuters with MRT pass or Rapid pass, according to Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL).
The two metro trains will stop at all metro rail stations that are currently operational, DMTCL said in a Facebook post.
Currently, the metro service runs from 7:30am until 11:30am (12:00pm for MRT and Rapid pass holders) on Uttara-Motijheel-Uttara route and 7:30am to 8:00pm (8:30pm for MRT and Rapid pass holders) on Uttara-Agargaon-Uttara route.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Agargaon-Motijheel section of MRT Line-6 on Saturday (November 5), almost a year after the first part (Uttara-Agargaon) of the line (Uttara-Agargaon) opened to the public.
290 police officials promoted by creating new posts ahead of national election
The government has promoted 290 senior police officials, ranking from additional superintendent of police to SPs, ahead of the upcoming national election by creating temporary "supernumerary posts" in the force's organisational structure.
A supernumerary post means a post created for a limited period to accommodate a Government employee.
Besides, 39 other senior police officers, ranking from Additional SPs to SPs, have received regular promotions.
The Public Security Division of the Home Ministry has issued separate notifications on Monday in this regard.
According to the notifications, 150 Additional SPs have been promoted to the post of SP for "supernumerary posts", while 140 SPs have been given "supernumerary posts" promotion in the rank of additional DIGs.
Among the regular promotions, 12 SPs were given promotions to the rank of Additional DIGs, while 12 Additional SPs were given promotion to the rank of SPs.
Of the posts created, 140 will be for additional deputy inspector generals and 150 for superintendents of police, according to a circular on Monday.
No one will be allowed to do business without trade licence in Dhaka South: Mayor Taposh
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Tuesday said no one will be allowed to do business without a trade licence in areas under Dhaka South City Corporation.
DSCC Mayor Taposh made the remarks while addressing a revenue collection review meeting at Mayor Hanif Auditorium of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on Tuesday.
DCCI, DSCC sign deal to renew trade licence for maximum 5 years
"Our revenue fairs are very important. We also need to tighten our drives to collect revenue. No matter what type of commercial establishment it is, if someone is conducting their business activities without a commercial permit (trade licence), then those establishments and markets should be sealed if necessary," said mayor Taposh.
“I am directing our regional executive officers to show more toughness (in regulating business). We will not allow anyone to conduct business in Dhaka city without a trade licence," he added.
Stressing on the need for behavioural change of all involved in providing tax-related services, DSCC Mayor Barrister Sheikh Taposh called on all tax-related service providers to provide services in a proper manner.
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"A big issue in revenue collection is the behaviour of service providers. In this case, treat those who are coming to your office to take the service well,” he said, adding, “A person should not come to your office three times, four times to seek services. That's not desirable.”
Mayor Taposh warned of strict action against those who fail to serve the people without resorting to harassment.
"We don't want to keep a single rotten mango in the basket," mayor Taposh said, referring to corrupt officials.
Ease of doing business: 5-year trade licence proposal gets commerce ministry nod
Among others, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary Akramuzzaman, Regional Executive Officer (Zone-1 and 7) Muhammad Shafiqul Islam, (Zone-2 and 6) Soe Men Jo, (Zone-3) Babar Ali Mir, (Zone 4 and 10) Md. Athar Mia, (Zone 5 and 9) Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain Sarker and (Zone-8) Mohammad Shafiur Rahman, among others, expressed their views on the future revenue collection.
Matarbari Coal-fired power plant set to be inaugurated on November 11
Matarbari Coal-fired power plant is going to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on November 11 (Saturday).
Power Division officials have confirmed this saying that they have been taking all necessary preparations to make the programme a success.
According to official sources, the first unit (600 MW) of the 1200 MW ultra super critical technology-based one of the largest power projects, funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was already synchronised with the national grid on July 29 this year.
"Now synchronising the second unit of the project," a top official of the Power Division told UNB.
Japan provides $1500 million to implement Matarbari coal-fired power plant
Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCL), a subsidiary of state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), set up the 1200-MW power plant, having two units, on 1,414 acres of land in Matarbari and Dhalghata unions of Maheshkhali upazila of Cox's Bazar district.
JICA has been financing the project under which a deep-sea port is also being developed to facilitate coal unloading from ships.
The work of the jetty for the coal discharge with the power plant is almost finished. Vessels have also started sailing at the jetty.
Matarbari coal-fired power plant’s unit-1 synchronised with national grid
Sources said the Prime Minister will inaugurate the deep sea port as well along with the power plant.
Some 13,104 tonnes of coal will be required daily to generate electricity at full scale. Coal discharge jetties and silos have been constructed for this.
Coal required for 60 days has been kept in the huge silos. Up to 80,000-tonne-capacity mother vessels can directly enter the coal jetty. And it will take one and a half to two days to unload the coal from the mother vessel.
Two separate ashponds are kept to store ash for a lifetime of 25 years of the power plant. One has an area of 90 acres, another spread over 600 acres. Coal yard has been prepared on 80 acres of land for coal storage.
Fire in garbage dump at Matarbari Thermal Power Project under control after 8 hours
A loan agreement on the project was signed between the Government of Bangladesh and JICA on June 16, 2014. The project cost was estimated at Tk 51,800 crores including Tk 43,921 crore project support by JICA.
According to project sources, construction of the jetty and physical infrastructure work has already been completed.
PM urges JICA to allow farmers to use wastage of sea water in the desalination project at Matarbari
Officials of the CPGCL said that the project was implemented ensuring all necessary measures to prevent environmental pollution.
A ship carrying 64,300 tonnes of coal for the Matarbari plant first arrived from Indonesia on June 23 this year.
Govt announces Tk 12,500 as minimum salary for RMG workers
The government on Tuesday announced Tk 12,500 as minimum salary for entry level Readymade Garment (RMG) workers, raising it by 56.25% from the existing one.
State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian announced the new wage structure for RMG workers which will be effective from December 1.
Earlier, the former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and representative of garment owners Md Siddiqur Rahman submitted a revised proposal for increasing workers’ salary by Tk 2100 from the previous proposal to Tk 12500 to Liaqat Ali Mollah, Chairman of the Minimum Wage Board at his office in Palatan.
Police use tear gas shells as RMG workers protest in Gazipur
Representative of garment owners for minimum wage Md Siddiqur Rahman, Jatiya Garment Sramik Karmachari League (JGSKL) president Sirajul Islam Rony, Liaqat Ali Mollah, chairman of the Minimum Wage Board, and labour ministry officials joined the meeting.
On October 22, the proposals from both sides were submitted to the Minimum Wage Board. The owners side proposed Tk 10,400 as minimum salary which the workers’ side denied to accept and they demanded Tk20,400.
Several RMG workers injured in clashes in Mirpur
Garments workers in the capital and adjoining areas returned to their workplaces on Sunday after 12 days of unrest for a minimum wage of Tk 23,000.
The minimum wage for garment workers was last fixed in 2018. Accordingly, the garment workers were getting a minimum wage of Tk 8,000. Now the minimum wage has been increased by Tk 4,500 and the salary hike rate is 56.25 percent.
RMG workers block Dhaka's Mirpur-10 intersection