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12 kg LPG price goes up by Tk 141 in August
Price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has been increased to Tk 94.96 per kg for the month of August from Tk 83.25 in July.
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced the new price, saying that the retail consumer will now get a 12kg LPG cylinder at Tk 1,140 including VAT instead of previous price of Tk 999.
Prices of other sizes of LPG cylinders – from 5.5kg to 45kg – will go up rationally, Md Nurul Amin, the chairman of BERC, said at a press briefing on Wednesday at the BERC office in Dhaka.
LPG price slashed again, 12kg cylinder to cost Tk 999
The new prices will be effective from 6 pm today (August 2, 2023).
As per the BERC decision, the price of “auto gas” (LPG used for motor vehicles) also increased to Tk 52.17 per litre (including VAT) from Tk 46.59 per litre.
The price of LPG, marketed by state-owned LP Gas Company, will remain the same as it is locally produced with a market share of less than 5 percent.
LPG price drops by Tk 13.42 per kg
BERC officials said the LPG price witnessed a decline in the local market due to the decrease in the prices of Saudi CP (contract price).
Bangladeshi LPG operators normally import their products from the Middle-East market on the basis of Saudi CP.
LPG witnessed the highest price at Tk 1,498 (per 12kg cylinder) in the local market in February this year following the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February last year.
12-kg LPG price goes up by Tk 57 to Tk 1235
Comprehensive awareness program needed so that none becomes victim of trafficking: Home Minister
Speakers at a dialogue on Wednesday laid emphasis on joint efforts for comprehensive awareness programmes so that no one becomes victims of trafficking.
They said trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants remain pervasive and are recognized as crimes against humanity, and continue to thrive in situations of vulnerability.
The dialogue, themed "Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind," emphasized the need for a holistic approach to addressing trafficking in persons, committing to comprehensive measures to protect victims and preventing these rights violations.
Addressing the dialogue as the chief guest, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, “We should not only care about rescue, repatriation and rehabilitation but also need to make a comprehensive awareness program so that no one becomes a victim of trafficking.”
Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) with support from the Counter Trafficking in Persons Technical Working Group (CTIP-TWG) of the Bangladesh UN Network on Migration (BDUNNM) hosted the national dialogue in Dhaka marking the World Day against Trafficking in Persons.
Read: Momen denounces Quran burning in address to OIC Council of Foreign Ministers
Speaking as special guest, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen reiterated Bangladesh’s strong commitment and coordinated actions to combat organized crimes including trafficking in persons.
He said, “Under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, consistent efforts are required to address other forms of vulnerability and root causes leading to human trafficking cases. Protection of victims and their welfare are shared responsibility and require sustained attention from all stakeholders.”
Senior Secretary, Public Security Division, Ministry of Home Affairs Md Mustafizur Rahman chaired the dialogue.
He said they are committed to strengthen their national authority for prevention of human trafficking to be more operational and they will work hand in hand with all stakeholders for this.
PM Hasina reaches Rangpur on a day's visit
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived here this afternoon on a daylong visit to attend a number of programmes including addressing a grand rally.
After a helicopter carrying her landed at Rangpur Cantonment at 1:13 pm, the premier was escorted to the Circuit House where she is holding a meeting with Rangpur divisional government officials.
She is expected to arrive in the Rangpur Zilla School around 3pm to attend the grand rally which the Awami Leaders said will be the largest over gathering in the district with a participation of one million of people of all strata of life.
A large boat-shaped stage was built by the workers of Dhaka and Rajshahi where 300 leaders and activists can sit together.
The Awami League president later will address a mammoth public rally from the venue, her first in 12 years to be organised by Rangpur Zilla Awami League.
Rangpur wears festive look to welcome PM Hasina Wednesday
A festive mood has been prevailing among Awami League and its front and associate bodies leaders and activists, and common people for a couple of days over the prime minister’s visit in Rangpur district after around five years since she visited Pirganj and Taraganj on December 23 in 2018.
The entire Rangpur wore a new look with decoration and lighting all over. The city roads have also been decorated to welcome the prime minister.
Posters inscribed with pictures of the Father the Nation and PM Hasina are seen on most of the high-rises, important roads, medians and walls with colourful banners and festoonswhile arches and welcome gates have been erected on roads.
AL never runs away from people: PM Hasina
The Awami League and its associate bodies are serious to turn today’s rally into the biggest-ever one in the history of Rangpur and thus to show strength and public support in favour of it ahead of the next parliamentary elections.Rangpur gears up to welcome PM Hasina on Wednesday
Weather forecast: Light to moderate rain could continue in Dhaka, elsewhere in Bangladesh
Light to moderate rains or thundershowers are likely to occur in Dhaka and other parts of the country, Bangladesh Meteorological Department said today.“Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind are likely to occur at most places in Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions and at many places in Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions, with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places across the country,” said Met office.
Read: Thanks to rain, Dhaka's air quality 'moderate' this morningA mild heatwave is sweeping over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and the districts of Dhaka, Tangail, Faridpur, Kishoreganj, Manikganj, Chuadanga and Kushtia and it may abate.Day temperatures may fall by 2-3 degree Celsius and night temperature may fall slightly across the country.
Read: Rain or thundershowers likely in Dhaka, 7 other divisions
The monsoon depression over the northeast Bay and adjoining areas intensified into a monsoon deep depression in the same area. Monsoon is active over Bangladesh and strong over north Bay.
Low-lying coastal areas could be inundated due to monsoon land depression: BMD
Low-lying areas of Bangladesh's coastal districts and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind-driven surge, at the height of 2-3 feet above normal astronomical tide, under the influence of a full moon and steep pressure gradient.The monsoon deep depression over Khulna and adjoining areas of Bangladesh moved west-northward and weakened into a land depression. It now lies over India's West Bengal-Bihar and adjoining areas, said a Bangladesh Meteorological Department bulletin on Wednesday (August 02, 2023).
Read: Floods around Chinese capital kill at least 20, leave 27 missing as thousands evacuatedIt is likely to move in a west-northwesterly direction further and weaken gradually.Under its influence, a steep pressure gradient persists over the north Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh.
Read: Chandpur wholesale market flooded with hilsa, price coming downSqually weather is likely to continue over north Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh.The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra have been advised to keep local cautionary signal no. 3 hoisted. All fishing boats and trawlers over north Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.
Preventing propaganda: CEC, Facebook delegation to hold meeting on Aug 3
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal will hold a meeting with a Facebook delegation on Thursday (August 3, 2023), on preventing propaganda on social media.
The meeting will be held at Election Commission building in Dhaka’s Agargaon at 11 am tomorrow.
Read: Dialogue among political parties needed to resolve crisis: CEC tells US Ambassador
When contacted, Election Commission (EC) Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath said, the Facebook delegation sought time for the meeting.
Asked about the reason behind the meeting, he said, “The national election is approaching. With that in mind, there can be a discussion on how to prevent propaganda on social media.”
Read: US to send pre-election assessment and monitoring team in early Oct: Peter Haas
Three officials from Facebook's Singapore office will meet the CEC. The delegation will be led by head of public policy for Bangladesh at Facebook's parent company Meta, Ruzan Sarwar, the EC official said.
55-year-old convicted prisoner dies at DMCH
A 55-year-old prisoner, convicted in a drug case, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital early Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Shamsul Haque of Damuddya in Shariatpur upazila.
Shamsul was sentenced to life imprisonment in a drug case. He was serving his sentence in Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj.
Another death in custody as prisoner dies at DMCH
Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s police outpost, said Shamsul fell ill at Dhaka Central Jail and prison guard Mahbubur and others took him to DMCH on Tuesday night.
Under-trial prisoner dies
Shamsul breathed his last around 2:20 am. The body has been kept at the morgue of the hospital.
Under-trial prisoner dies at DMCH
Thanks to rain, Dhaka's air quality 'moderate' this morning
Dhaka's air quality was marked "moderate" this morning due to rain in the capital city.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 57 at 9:06 am, Dhaka ranked 35th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered to be “good” while between 50 and 100 it is considered “moderate”.
Pakistan’s Lahore, the United Arab Emirates’ Dubai and Malaysia’s Kuching occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 153, 152 and 151, respectively.
Dhaka's air quality remains in 'moderate' zone
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered “unhealthy”, particularly for sensitive groups.
Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be “poor'”, while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered “hazardous”, posing serious health risks to residents.
AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, is used by government agencies to inform people how safe or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
Thanks to monsoon, Dhaka's air quality 'moderate' this morning
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Dhaka's air quality remains in 'moderate' zone
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Bangladesh received $1.97 billion remittance in July
Bangladesh received inward remittances of $1.97 billion in July, the first month of Fiscal year 2023-24, which saw a decline on year-on-year basis by 5.86 percent.
According to Bangladesh Bank (BB) data, the expatriates sent $2.19 billion remittance in June last month of FY23, saw a fall by 10.27 percent in July.
Despite the fall in remittance inflow in July, the central bank officials described it as better than other months.
$21.61 billion remittances in FY23, second highest ever
Md Sarwar Hossain, a spokesman of the BB, told UNB that the expatriates sent a higher volume of remittances in June thanks to Eid-ul-Azha.
Bangladeshi expatriates sent $21.61 billion in remittance in the last fiscal year FY23 (June-July). In the previous FY it was $21.03 billion.
Remittances pick up pace ahead of Eid-ul-Azha
Ventilation stack installed at reactor building of Unit-1 of Rooppur NPP
The ventilation stack has been installed in the design position of the reactor building at Unit-1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant recently.
Rosatom, the Russian contractor of the project, informed that the extremely difficult process of installation of the 67-meter long and of 100-ton weight structure took 8 hours to complete and a powerful crane was used for the purpose.
“After installation of the ventilation stack, which is designed for removal of excessive heat and moisture from the reactor compartment, the reactor building has reached the elevation of +99.500,” said Alexey Deriy, Director for Rooppur NPP Construction Project.
Rooppur NPP marks important milestone with delivery of fresh nuclear fuel
“If we take into account the lighting rod arrestor, it is now +101.000, being exceeded only by the 175-meter evaporation cooling towers”, he added.
Currently, he said, works for installation of large-size equipment are underway at the Power Unit.
“In August, we will continue the installation of the passive heat removal system elements – one of the most important safety systems in the reactor building”, he added.
Rooppur NPP is under construction at Ishwardi upazila of Pabna district. Two units of the project with a total capacity of 2,400 MWe are being constructed under Russian design.Each unit will be equipped with the Generation 3+ VVER-1200 reactor that fully complies with all the international safety requirements.
Nuclear fuel for Rooppur power plant to arrive in Bangladesh in September, Rosatom DG tells PM
Fresh nuclear fuel for unit-1 of the plant is expected to arrive in Bangladesh by the end of September 2023.
The Engineering Division of Rosatom State Corporation is implementing the project as the General Contractor.
The 2400 MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project, with two units, was undertaken in 2010 by the Bangladesh government.
Rooppur NPP not to get fuel supply until all necessary inspections completed: Russian Contractor
A target was set by the government to complete the construction of the first unit in 2022 and second unit in 2023.
But later the target was reset, and the first unit was to be completed by June 2024 and second unit by June 2025.