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Banshkhali-Meghnaghat 400 kV power transmission line comes into operation
The Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) has commissioned its 400 kV power transmission line from Banshkhali in Chattogram via Madunaghat to Meghnaghat in Narayanganj.
The 276 km long transmission line was commissioned at 5:16 pm on Tuesday, the PGCB said, adding that it was made operational from the Meghnaghat end.
The line will supply electricity from the under construction SS Power Plant at Banshkhali via Madunaghat of Chattagram city to the newly constructed 400/230 KV grid substation at Meghnaghat.
Earlier, a 400 kV transmission line from Meghnaghat to Dhaka's Aminbazar was commissioned at full capacity on July 23.
As both the lines are connected through Dhaka-Chittagong 400 KV line, the high voltage power transmission infrastructure has now become more intensified.
The longest 400 kV line will serve as the backbone in power transmission between Dhaka and Chattogram.
Adani Group offers to export another 1,600 MW of electricity to Bangladesh: Sources
India’s Adani Group has placed a fresh proposal to export another 1,600 MW of electricity to Bangladesh, according to highly placed sources here.
"The entire amount of electricity will be from renewable sources. Of this, 1,000 MW is solar power while the remaining 600 MW is from hydropower," a highly placed source in the Power Division recently told UNB.
Currently, Adani Group, the Indian conglomerate, is exporting 1,600 MW of electricity from its Godda power plant in eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, exclusively built for Bangladesh under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA).
Also read: Adani Power claims COD achieved on second unit of Godda Power Plant
The new proposal came from Adani Group very recently when its head Gautam Adani visited Dhaka and paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to official sources who requested anonymity as they are not authorised to speak to the media.
The sources said that 600 MW of the proposed hydropower will be coming from Nepal where Adani Group will set up a plant.
On the other hand, the proposed 1,000 MW solar power will be coming from India where Adani is now setting up renewable energy plants.
Also read: Adani Power starts commercial electricity supply to Bangladesh keeping tariff issue unsettled
"We heard Adani Group was given a green signal on its proposal", another highly placed source told UNB.
He also mentioned that the initiative to respond to the Adani Group's proposal is part of the government's plan to raise its share of renewable energy to 40 percent in the total power generation by 2041 when the country plans to increase its generation capacity to 60,000 MW.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid recently said that the generation of 9930 MW of electricity from renewable sources is in the pipeline in Bangladesh.
He also informed that Bangladesh is in process to import electricity to be generated from renewable sources from neighbouring countries as the government has given special importance to renewable energy.
Also read: Adani's Godda plant commissioned with issues over coal tariff unresolved
He said that 1194 MW of electricity is now generated from renewable sources, but only 825.23 MW is coming to the national grid.
Another 1262 MW power generation projects are underway through 30 projects from renewable energy and 8668 MW power generation projects are under process, he added.
Nasrul said this when the outgoing Danish Ambassador Winnie Estrup Peterson called on him at his ministry office in the Bangladesh Secretariat last week.
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A joint venture of two Danish renewable energy firms have submitted an investment proposal to the government of Bangladesh to develop a commercial, utility-scale offshore wind project with an initial capacity of 500 MW, valued at USD 1.3 billion off the coast of the Bay of Bengal.
The proposal came from the world’s leading dedicated greenfield renewable energy investor and developers, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Copenhagen Offshore Partners (COP).
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DSA case: Ex-SP Babul, his father relieved of charges brought by PBI chief
A Dhaka court on Tuesday relieved former Superintendent of Police Babul Akhter and his father Abdul Wadud Mia of the charges in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for spreading false information over the murder of Babul’s wife Mahmuda Khanam Mitu.
Dhaka Metropolitan Cyber Tribunal Judge AM Zulficker Hayat exempted them from the case filed by Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Chief Banaj Kumar Majumdar.
The court also accepted the chargesheet against journalist Elias Hossain and Habibur Rahman, brother of Babul, in the case. It also issued an arrest warrant against Elias as he remained absconding for long.
The court fixed August 31 about the two accused.
On April 9, Rabiul Islam, inspector of Dhanmondi Police Station and also the investigating officer of the case submitted chargesheet against four people including former SP Babul in the case.
On May 11, the case was transferred to the Dhaka Cyber Tribunal.
On June 5, 2016, Mitu was stabbed and shot dead when she was walking her son to his school bus stop at the port city's GEC intersection.
Mitu Murder: HC dismisses writ challenging charge framing against ex-SP Babul
According to the case statement, Elias in association with Babul Aktar leaked an audio on his Facebook page and Youtube channel from the US about Babul’s wife Mitu murder. In the video, he alleged that Police Bureau of Investigation Chief (PBI) chief had intentionally implicated Babul in the case and the latter was tortured in custody.
Chargesheets submitted against ex-SP Babul, Youtuber Elias in DSA case
On September 27 in 2022, Banaj Kumar Majumdar filed the case bringing the allegations under the DSA and the Special Power Act at Dhanmondi police station.
Mitu murder case: Trial begins against Babul Akter, 6 others
Later, Babul was shown arrested in the case on November 10 in the same year.
DNCC's Anti-Aedes drive: Tk 1.28 crore fine imposed in 16 days
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has imposed a total fine of 1.28 crore in 16 days of a month-long special mosquito eradication drive.
DNCC imposed fine of Tk 2.21 lakh in 7 cases after finding Aedes larvae in several establishments on the 16th day, according to a press release.
18 establishments fined out of 280 inspected during DSCC’s anti-Aedes drive
Regional executive officers and executive magistrates conducted simultaneous drives in all 10 areas of DNCC.
The drive will be carried out throughout July.
23 establishments fined Tk 3.66 lakh in DSCC's anti-Aedes drive
The country has been experiencing a massive rise in Dengue cases in the past few days. Since January of this year, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has recorded 35, 270 dengue cases and 185 deaths across the country.
Submit list of railway land grabbers within 30 days: HC
The High Court on Tuesday ordered the authorities concerned to submit within 30 days a list of those who have occupied the land of Bangladesh Railway in different parts of the country.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order after hearing a petition filed by a human rights organisation.
Senior Advocate Manzill Murshid stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Md Saifuddin Khaled represented the state.
High Court orders submission of list of top drug traffickers
The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the inaction of the respondents to free the land of railway should not be declared unlawful and directives should not be given to evict the land grabbers.
Secretary to the Railway Ministry , Director of Bangladesh Railway and assistant land officers have been made respondents to the rule which is returnable in two weeks.
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It also wanted to know how much land of Bangladesh Railway has been occupied by the land grabbers.
Advocate Manzill Murshid, said in 2016, a writ petition was filed seeking directives to evict the encroachers from the land of railway land in Narayanganj. Later, a number of reports were published over encroachment of railway land in Sirajganj, Bogura, Pabna and other districts.
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Hundreds of acres of land of Bangladesh Railway have been occupied due to involvement of some unscrupulous railway officials and these lands needed to be free from occupation, he said. It is possible only through the intervention of the court, he added.
Low pressure area formed over Bay
A low pressure area has formed over Westcentral Bay and adjoining Northwest Bay, Bangladesh Meteorological Department(BMD) has said.
Light to moderate rain or thunder showers may drench different parts of the country, said a BMD bulletin on Tuesday.
Low pressure area intensifies into well-marked low over Bay: Met office
It predicted rain or thundershowers at many places over Sylhet & Mymensingh divisions; at a few places over Rangpur & Chattogram divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna & Barishal divisions with moderately heavy falls at places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram & Sylhet divisions.
Low pressure area formed over Bay; Mild heat wave may continue
Besides, mild heat wave is sweeping Dhaka, Rajshahi, Pabna, Feni & Chuadanga and it may continue.
Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.
Low pressure area likely to be formed over Southeast Bay by May 8: BMD
Bangladesh-Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Room opened at FAO Headquarters
Bangladesh-Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Room was inaugurated on Monday at the Headquarters of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is now here to attend the UN Food Systems Summit+2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2), opened the room. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu was present at the function.
Read: PM Hasina offers Nepal use of Pyra port during meeting with Nepalese counterpart in Rome
The establishment of the Room marks the celebration of the 100th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who had a dream of building a nation free from hunger and poverty and initiated the “Green Revolution” in the agriculture sector of Bangladesh.
Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said that her country is delighted to have a little piece of Bangladesh inside the FAO Headquarters.
In this regard, she expressed her gratitude to the Director General and his team for their whole-hearted support in making it possible.
Read: Time has come for a climate-smart agri-food revolution: PM Hasina tells UN food summit
She said Bangladesh became a member of FAO in 1973 under the guidance of our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Mentioning that Bangabandhu’s life-long mission was to free Bangladesh’s people from oppression, poverty and hunger, she said that “I pay my profound homage to his memory as we officially open this room that bears his name.”
Significance of Bangladeshi private sector lies in ability to drive economic growth, says AmCham President
The significance of the Bangladeshi private sector lies in its ability to drive economic growth, create employment opportunities, attract investment, and foster innovation, said Syed Ershad Ahmed, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh.
“This competitive advantage leads to increased foreign direct investment (FDI) by offering profitable business opportunities, and, in creating a favorable investment climate, putting the economy on a path to cross a $1 trillion mark by 2040, according to the World Bank & BCG Analysis,” he said, according to a press release.
Also read: AmCham recommends focusing crisis management contingency approach prioritizing expenditures
The AmCham president made the remarks during its monthly Luncheon meeting on Monday – held at a hotel in the capital.
Bangladesh is making its way to becoming a developing nation with an impressively steady annual GDP growth rate, unique geopolitical location, and solid and skilled workforce that’s attracting global attention, labeling us as an FDI-friendly country, said.
Also read: Budget 2023-24 reaction: AmCham focuses on crisis management
“Ready Made Garments (RMG) sector and Foreign Remittance earnings shielded us despite all these unforeseen challenges in the pre-COVID era,” the AmCham president said.
Among others, Martin Holtmann the country manager of International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan was present at the luncheon meeting.
During his speech, the AmCham president acknowledged IFC’s contribution to private sector’s growth in Bangladesh.
Also read: More cooperation may attract more US investment in diversified segments, hopes AmCham President
The audience comprised members of the American Chamber of Commerce, former presidents of AmCham, business leaders, representatives from the US Embassy and other diplomatic missions, distinguished guests, and members of the media.
Shielding capital Dhaka from loadshedding masks reality of power cuts biting nation
Though there was no loadshedding in the capital city Dhaka, again the gap between the demand and supply is increasing in the power system across the country.
According to official sources, the areas outside the capital Dhaka had to experience between 700 MW to 1200 MW of loadshedding during the day and evening peak hours on Monday.
They said the loadshedding situation was better in the last two weeks across the country due to the calm weather situation. But with the increased heatwave, the power supply situation is getting worse in recent days.
The official data of the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh showed that different areas, specially, rural areas of the country experienced a shortfall of about 781 MW at 12 noon when the demand was 14,200 MW against the generation of 13,419 MW.
At 3pm the shortfall ballooned to 1347 MW when the demand went up to 14,250 MW against a supply of 12,903 MW.
The extent of loadshedding, however, came down to 786 MW at the evening peak hour at 7pm on Monday when both demand and supply also increased.
“The power supply increased to 13,533 MW and generation was also increased to 14,340 MW at the 7 pm… power supply was increased through the start of some peaking plants,” said a top official of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).
He confirmed that Dhaka city was kept out of loadshedding as per a specific government's directive.
“But we can’t avoid power outages in rural areas to keep the system running,” he said, adding that mainly areas in greater Mymensingh and Rangpur are suffering the most in terms of power outage.
Areas under greater Dhaka, Barisal, Chittagong, Rajshahi and Sylhet are experiencing less loadshedding compared with areas in greater Mymensingh and Rangpur, he said.
About the power supply situation in Dhaka, both the officials of Dhaka Electric Supply Company (Desco) and Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) informed that they don't expect ;padshedding here. load shedding.
“We’re getting adequate electricity supply against our demand of about 1,800 MW in the day peak times and there was no loadshedding in my areas,” DPDC managing director Bikash Dewan told UNB.
The same was echoed by Desco managing director Kausar Ameer Ali.
“We received 1,263 MW of electricity against the same in our demand at that time,” he said.
President’s press secretary gets extension till Feb 10
The contractual tenure of Md Joynal Abedin, press secretary of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, has been extended till February 10, 2024.
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A gazette notification signed by the Public Administration Ministry’s Senior Assistant Secretary Kaniz Fatema said this on Monday.
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The gazette said as continuation of his contractual appointment, the tenure of Joynal Abedin, as press secretary of the president, has been extended till February 10, 2024 from July 11 this year.
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