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BB issues new rules on cash assistance for shrimp and fish exports
The Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Wednesday issued new guidelines for cash assistance (incentive) against exports of frozen shrimp and other fish items.
The new directive stated from now on the application for cash assistance will have to submit the certificate of the concerned trade organisation.
Read: Outside experts to be included in BB monetary policy committee: official
The Foreign Exchange Policy Department of the BB issued the directive on Wednesday and sent to all the authorised dealers in foreign exchange transactions for immediate execution.
The BB directive stated that it is informed by the government decision that the company applying for cash assistance in the frozen shrimp and other fish export sector must be a member of the Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) or a member of the Bangladesh Marine Fisheries Association (BMFA) for the export of frozen shrimp and other fish harvested and processed from the deep sea.
Read: Bangladesh Dairy Development Board Bill, 2023 passed in JS
Besides, from now on, the BFFEA and the BMFA certificates must be submitted along with the application form for cash assistance against the export of frozen shrimp and other fish.
The concerned exporting company should be a fish exporting company duly licensed by the Department of Fisheries.
The said instructions will come into effect in respect of shipped goods from the date of issue of the circular.
Rab arrest death row convict in Habiganj
The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested an absconding death row convict from Nabiganj in Habiganj district on Tuesday night in connection with the killing of Anwar Hossain, former member of Rohitpur Union Parishad of Keraniganj in Dhaka district in 2006.The arrestee was identified as Kamal Uddin, 64, former member of Rohitpur Union Parishad.Anwar Hossain was hacked to death for protesting extortion, extraction of sand from the river and land grabbing in the area. Arrested Kamal Uddin was one of the planners of the killing.Commander Khandaker Al-Moin, director of RAB's legal and media wing, came up with the information while briefing reporters at the Rab's Karwanbazar Media Centre in the capital on Wednesday afternoon.
Read: Bangladesh to import 1.5mn metric tons of crude oil from Saudi Aramco, UAE’s Adnoc Former UP member Anwar Hossain,50, was brutally hacked by Kamal Uddin’s men at Keraniganj's Syedpur Ghat. Later, the locals rescued him and taken to a hospital in the capital, where he died while undergoing treatment.The victim's wife filed a murder case with Keraniganj police station of Dhaka, mentioning the names of 13 people and showing the rest of the accused as unidentified. On August 25, 2009, the court announced the verdict in that case.The court sentenced two people to death, including Kamal Uddin, and three others to life in prison. The court also acquitted three others in the murder case.The Rab's media wing director said that the murder was pre-planned and led by Kamal Uddin.Commander Moin said arrested Kamal Uddin formed a terrorist group in the area during his tenure as the UP Chairman and used to carry out illegal sand trade, land grabbing, looting of relief goods and various criminal activities in the area. Anwar Hossain, the victim, protested the former UP chairman's various illegal and criminal activities.He also said that Kamal Uddin had moved to a country in the Middle East in 2007 to avoid arrest by the law enforcement agencies.Commander Moin said that Kamal Uddin returned to Bangladesh in 2019 and started living in different places of Sylhet keeping his identity hidden. He got married there again mainly to avoid arrest, and he changed his location repeatedly and stayed in hiding.Based on secret information, a team of Rab-10 with the assistance of Rab-9 conducted a drive in Nabiganj area of Habiganj on Tuesday night and arrested him.
If BNP’s rally is peaceful, government has nothing to do with it: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Wednesday said that if the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) holds their anti-government rally peacefully at a certain place and their people leave accordingly authorities have nothing to do about that.
“We won't hinder,” the minister told reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting at the Secretariat to ensure overall security to mark this year’s Victory Day on December 16.
Responding to a question about the permission for holding Saturday’s rally by the BNP, the home minister said, “They (BNP) will bring all those who do BNP from all over Bangladesh to Dhaka. If so many people come to Dhaka, a different kind of situation can be created.”
He said the police commissioner will understand where to allow them to hold the rally and he will take the decision considering all the matters, the minister added.
Read: Haas queries home minister on security plan for BNP's Oct 28 rally
Asked if the government would close all the entry points to Dhaka as there is fear among the people about October 28 rally by the opposition, the home minister said, “Why should we close the entry points to Dhaka? People come to Dhaka for various purposes including business and jobs…We won’t close entry points to Dhaka.”
Whether law and order situation could deteriorate for the rally on Saturday, the minister said: “Look, the government is not something that will fall if pushed. This is a democratic government, so the government will be changed through election after the end of the term.”
Read: BNP trying to create instability ahead of election: Home Minister
Asked about whether the government will allow Jamaat-e-Islami to hold rallies, the home minister said Jamaat-e-Islami would not be allowed to hold rallies as it is not a registered party.
“I have said that Jamaat-e-Islami is not a registered party yet, so if they come under the banner of Jamaat-e-Islami, then there is no question of giving permission,” he said.
The US embassy issued a statement after a recent meeting between US Ambassador Peter Haas and the home minister. The statement said there was no talk about the October 28 rally.
When asked about the issue, the home minister said, “I have clarified the matter clearly after the meeting. We talked about four matters. We talked about the BNP's rally on October 28.”
RMG workers block road in Gazipur demanding salary hike for 3rd consecutive day
Workers from five garment factories in Gazipur's Kaliakair upazila on Wednesday blocked the highway for the third consecutive day, demanding a minimum basic salary of Tk 23,000.
They started their protest march around 11:30 am on Wednesday.
The garment workers staged a protest march and blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway several times in the Mouchak Telirchala area.
RMG workers block road in Gazipur demanding salary hike
Workers from five factories, including those in the shoe and medicine industries, took part in protest marches and highway blockades.
The workers of Karim Textile of Purbani Group in the Telirchala area of the upazila began their third day's protest at 11:30 am on Wednesday, demanding a minimum basic salary of TK23,000.
Workers from nearby Logos Apparels Ltd., Hydroxide Knitwear Ltd., APS Apparels Ltd., and Bay Footwear Ltd. joined the protest with the same demand.
Women in Iceland including the prime minister go on strike for equal pay and an end to violence
At one point, the workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway, which disrupted traffic heavily in both directions. Vehicular movement on the Dhaka-Tangail highway remained suspended.
Shahidul Islam, inspector of Mouchak Police Station, said the workers created a blockade on the road demanding the wage hike.
Later in the afternoon, the situation was brought under control, he said.
Garment workers propose Tk 20,400 as minimum salary, owners propose Tk 10,400
Bangladesh to import 1.5mn metric tons of crude oil from Saudi Aramco, UAE’s Adnoc
Bangladesh will import 1.5 million (15 lakh) metric ton of crude oil from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the year 2024.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in a virtual meeting, with Finance Minister AHM Mostafa Kamal, in-principle approved a proposal in this regard.
As per proposal of the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), moved by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, the crude oil will be imported through direct purchase method (DPM) which means there was no tender or competitive bidding process in selecting the supplier.
Dhaka urges Riyadh to consider crude or refined oil on deferred payment basis
The proposal mentioned that Saudi Aramco and UAE-based Adnoc will supply the total crude petroleum.
While briefing reporters about the outcomes of the Cabinet body's meeting, additional secretary of the Cabinet Division Sayeed Mahbub Khan informed that the cost or price of petroleum was not mentioned in the proposal as it came for in-principal approval.
Bangladesh needs to import about 6.5 million metric ton of petroleum oil annually. Of this, about 1.5 million is crude and the remaining amount is refined petroleum.
Glitch in brand new pipeline halts transfer of crude oil from mother vessel in Maheshkhali
The Cabinet body approved, in-principle, another proposal -- of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority under the Department of Information and Communication Technology -- to appoint a private company for operation and maintenance work of its “Vision 2041 Smart Tower” in Kawranbazar, Dhaka. The company will operate the building under the "Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Eco-System" project after its construction work.
Nomination for WHO Regional Director: Top health experts of the country laud Saima Wazed’s leadership abilities
Leading health experts and physicians of the country have lauded Saima Wazed’s leadership abilities after she was nominated for the post of World Health Organization’s (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Director.
In a statement released recently, they noted that South-east Asia is home to more than a quarter of the population of the world. “The public health challenges faced by the eleven member states of this region vary, not just from one country to another but also within the countries themselves. Therefore, the Regional Director (RD) for the WHO South-East Asia Region is a significant and critical position for the betterment of the public health outcomes of the region,” it reads.
In this context, it is important that Bangladesh has nominated Saima Wazed for the position of WHO South-East Asia Regional Director, they said.
Read: WHO regional director election: Momen conveys Bangladesh’s gratitude to Thailand for support to Saima Wazed
The statement further reads: “Bangladesh has been an outstanding example of public health success in the region, and among developing countries across the world. This has happened because of painstaking work and innovative approaches adopted by the Government of Bangladesh over many years.
“Ms Wazed’s long and distinguished career shows us someone who understands many different aspects of public health – as both a practitioner and a policy specialist. At the start of her career, she trained as a school psychologist, and after obtaining her license she worked in underprivileged communities. In the years since, she has expanded her focus to encompass mental health, neurodevelopmental disorders and people with disabilities as both an advocate for these issues as well as a technical expert.”
The leading health experts observed that because of her work, social stigmas in Bangladesh around mental health have for the first time been confronted and challenged.
They acknowledged Saima Wazed’s efforts that have led to the adoption of: Neurodevelopmental Disability Protection Trust Act, 2013; Protection of the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013; National Strategic Plan for Neuro-Developmental Disorders 2016-2021; Mental Health Act, 2018; National Mental Health Policy 2022; and National Mental Health Strategic Plan, 2020-2025.
Read: Saima Wazed best choice for WHO SEARO post, endorses Dr Amit Chakrabarty
"She also displayed her ability to bring together diverse stakeholders. It speaks to her leadership abilities that she has been able to successfully work with a spectrum of partners, including DFID, WHO, WFP, UNICEF, IPNA (BSMMU), NIMH – individually or as part of a team – to develop policy framework and strategic multi-sectorial action plans," the statement reads.
Saima Wazed is the Chairperson of Bangladesh’s National Advisory Committee on Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Autism; an advisor to WHO’s Director General on Mental Health and Autism; and a member of the WHO’s Expert Advisory Panel on Mental Health.
In the role of the Regional Director of the South-East Region of WHO, Bangladesh’s candidate Saima Wazed will be able to harness the value of fostering collaboration and partnerships between various stakeholders in the context of cross-sub regional realities and practical challenges, they hoped.
“It is critically important that a public health leader understands cultural sensitivities, knows how to create public awareness, mobilize resources, mainstream a particular public health concern through generating debates and empower communities in decision-making through consistent advocacy. Ms. Wazed is blessed with a blend of all these qualities.
“We wholeheartedly endorse these words, and further point out that WHO SEARO awarded her for Excellence in Public Health in 2014. In summary, we note her potent blend of practitioner and policy maker, advocate and leader, political and personal acumen, and years of proven tangible outcomes. She is without any doubt an exceptional candidate for Regional Director, and we have no doubt she will excel in the role,” the statement reads.
The signatories include
1. Prof. Ruhal Haque, Member of Parliament, Ex Minister, Health and Family Welfare, Renowned Orthopedics Surgeon.
2. Prof. Dr. Pran Gopal DaBa, Member of Parliament, Ex Vice Chancellor, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and Renowned ENT specialist
3. Dr. Kinzang P. Tshering, President, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan, Founding board member, Ability Bhutan Society
4. Prof. Dr. Md. Sharfuddin Ahmed, Vice Chancellor, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University,
5. Prof. Dr. Md. Ismail Khan, Vice Chancellor of ChiNagong Medical University
6. Prof. A.H.M. Enayet Hussain, Vice Chancellor of Sylhet Medical University
7. Prof. Dr. A.Z.M. Mostaque Hossain, Vice Chancellor of Rajshahi Medical University
8. Prof. Muhammed Rafiqul Islam, Emeritus Professor of Law, Macquarie University, Australia
9. Prof. Dr Quazi Monirul Islam, former WHO Director, Geneva, Switzerland
10. Prof. Dr. Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Director General, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), President, Society of Surgeons, Bangladesh, Councillor, Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS)
11. Dr. Iqbal Ahmed, former (Manager, Evalua2on and Knowledge base: Technical Coopera2on Department) ILO, Geneva, Switzerland
12. Dr. Abed Chaudhury, Gene2cist and plant biologist and Head of Innova2on at LoamBio, CoFounder of Genofax, actively working on finding remedy for au2sm
13. Prof. Titu Miah, Director General (ADG), Directorate General of Medical Educa2on (DGME), President, Society of Medicine, Vice President, Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons
14. Prof. Shah Monir Hossain, Former Director General of Health Services, MoH&FW, Former Senior na2onal advisor, FAO UN, Former Advisor WHO Country Office, President, Public Health Association of Bangladesh, President, NCD forum
15. Dr. Ferdausi Qadri, PhD, Winner of Independence Award & Magsaysay Award, Division Director, Infec2ous Diseases Division, Head, Mucosal Immunology and Vaccinology Unit, cddr,b, Lead, ideSHi, Mohakhali,
16. Professor Dr. A K Azad Khan, Professor,Department of Gastroenterology, Birdem General Hospital & Ibrahim Medical College
17. Prof. Dr. Meerjady Sabrina Flora, PhD, Educa2onist & Public Health Researcher, Director, Na2onal Ins2tute of Preven2ve & Social Medicine (NIPSOM), Former Addi2onal Director General (ADG), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), President, Epidemiological Associa2on of Bangladesh,
18. Prof. Dr. Baizid Khoorshid Riaz, PhD, Educa2onist & Public Health Researcher Addi2onal Director General (ADG), Directorate General of Medical Educa2on (DGME). Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOH&FW)
19. Prof. Dr. Quazi Deen Mohammad, Director, National Ins2tute of Neuro Science, Renowned Neuro Medicine specialist
20. Prof. Dr. Mahmudur Rahman, PhD (Cambridge, UK), Country Director, EMPHNET, Bangladesh (Support to the US CDC, Bangladesh Country Team), Former Director, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Bangladesh
21. Dr. Halida Hanum Akhter, Faculty, Department of Interna2onal Health, John Hopkins International School of Public Health, Founder President, Society of Health Promotion Link
22. Prof. Dr. Liaquat Ali, PhD, Educa2onist and Public Health Researcher.
23. Former Vice Chancellor (VC), Bangladesh University of Health Science (BUHS) and Prof. Dr. AM Zakir Hussain, PhD, Public Health Expert, Former Regional Advisor, Environmental Health & Climate Change. WHO SEARO.
24. Dr GM Monsur Habib, PhD, RESPIRE Global Post-Doctoral Fellow, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. President & Researcher, Bangladesh Primary Care Respiratory Society (BPCRS), BANGLADESH
25. Dr. Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director and Scientist, Interna2onal Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh.
26. Dr. Abu Jamil Faisel, Member of the Prime Minister's National Population Council and three MOHFW technical committees, Adjunct faculty member of Dhaka University's Population Sciences Department and the State University of Bangladesh (SUB) and American International University of Bangladesh (AIUB) MPH programs since 2004. (AIUB), President (Elect), Public Health association of Bangladesh
Ctg Port reopens after cyclone alert subsides
After being closed for 24 hours due to the threat of Cyclone Hamoon, Chattogram Port resumed operations this morning.
In anticipation of the impact of Cyclone Hamoon, the port had suspended its activities on Tuesday morning.
Following the all-clear, cargo loading and unloading at the jetty has resumed. However, due to the rough sea conditions, there are disruptions in the movement of lighterage vessels, causing delays in cargo handling at the outer anchorage area, according to port authorities.
Cyclone Hamoon: Maritime ports asked to lower cautionary signal
Chattogram Port Secretary Omar Faruq stated, "As of Wednesday morning, from 10 am, both the jetty and the yard have returned to normal operations. Out of our total of 22 ships, 13 have already returned. The remaining vessels will come back as soon as the weather permits. At this moment, there are no issues at the port, and cargo transportation at the jetty and yard is proceeding as usual."
On Tuesday evening, Cyclone Hamoon began to affect the coastal areas of Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, causing heavy rainfall and strong winds. The storm later weakened.
In the latest weather bulletin this morning, the Met Office assured there was no longer the possibility of cyclonic winds in the seaports, the northern Bay of Bengal, and the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Still, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla, and Payra seaports were advised to remain cautious.
All fishing trawlers were permitted to operate safely until this evening in the northern Bay of Bengal and the adjacent areas.
Cyclone Hamoon weakens, maritime ports asked to hoist local cautionary signal 3
The Water Transport Coordination Cell (WTCC) stated that lighterage vessels were unable to enter Chattogram Port due to the rough sea conditions. Mahbub Rashid, the chief executive of the Lighterage Control Authority, explained, "Outer vessels, including mother vessels, are safely positioned outside. Although these vessels have returned, lighter vessels cannot be sent out to the outer anchorage. The sea is very rough. We hope the situation will return to normal by the evening."
Cyclone Hamoon: Ctg port authority issues ‘Alert No 3’; relocates 22 ships
Cyclone Hamoon: Maritime ports asked to lower cautionary signal
Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to lower the cautionary signal raised due to Cyclone Hamoon.
Read : 1 dies as Cyclone Hamoon batters Cox's Bazar, Chattogram
Squally weather is unlikely over the maritime ports, north Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh, said a latest bulletin of the Met office.
Read : Body recovered from Marine Drive road in Cox's Bazar
All fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay and adjoining area have been advised to proceed with caution till this evening.
Read : Railway Minister to inspect Dohazari-Cox's Bazar line before inauguration
The cyclonic storm ‘Hamoon’, over northeast Bay and adjoining area, moved northwestward and crossed the coast at 1 am today, weakening into a land deep depression near Satkania in Chattogram, said a latest bulletin of the Met office.
Former Communications Minister Abul Hossain passes away
Former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in the capital early Wednesday. He was 72.
Abul Hossain felt unwell on Tuesday afternoon and he was taken to the United Hospital where he breathed his last at 2:05 am today, Samir Ranjan Das, his personal assistant, told UNB.
Hossain left behind his wife, two daughters and a host of relatives to mourn his death.
Read: Seminar, film screening to commemorate late film personalities Syed Salahuddin Zaki and Mahbub Alam
Abul Hossain was elected MP of Madaripur-3 constituency four times.
He served as the Communications Minister from 2009 to 2012.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have expressed profound shock at the demise of the former minister.
They also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family members.
Read: Salahuddin Zaki, director of ‘Ghuddi’, passes away
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin also expressed grief over the death of Abul Hossain.
Cyclone Hamoon weakens, maritime ports asked to hoist local cautionary signal 3
The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal number 3 as the cyclonic storm ‘Hamoon’ weakened into a deep depression.
The cyclonic storm ‘Hamoon’ over northeast Bay and adjoining area moved northwestward and crossed the coast at 1 am today, weakening into a land deep depression near Satkania in Chattogram, said a latest bulletin of the Met office.
Cyclone Hamoon crossing Bangladesh coasts: BMD
It is likely to move further and weaken gradually.
All fishing boats and trawlers over north Bay have been advised to remain in shelter.
Cyclone Hamoon may cross Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar coast by tonight: BMD