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Early pregnancy prevalent among lower income groups: Study
Pregnancy before the age of 18 is prevalent among the lower per capita household income groups, said a survey report published Wednesday.
"Monitoring the Implementation of SDGs for Ensuring Girls and Child Rights in Bangladesh" was shared at an event organised by Plan International Bangladesh, Aparajeyo Bangladesh, Yes Bangladesh and Youth for Change at a hotel in Dhaka.
The data collection was carried out in June 2021 and in January 2022. A total of 3,175 households were randomly chosen and interviewed, especially women of reproductive age (15-49 years) from 64 districts.
The prevalence of becoming pregnant before the age of 18 is the highest (46.3 percent) among the lowest per capita household income groups (Tk2,500 per month), said the report.
Among the participants, 35.8 percent of the women first became pregnant before the age of 18 years. The highest was observed in Rangpur division (48.9 percent).
Shamim Ahmed, executive director of Yes Bangladesh, said most women aged 14-49 years know family planning methods (93.9 percent) and 78.4 percent use such methods.
Decisions regarding the use of family planning (FP) methods are taken jointly by males and females in 69.3 percent of households. They mostly receive family planning information from television (53.7 percent), community workers (33.2 percent) and social media (29.5 percent).
About 18.0 percent of surveyed women faced physical violence over the last 12 months. About 21.9 percent (highest) of the women reported physical violence with less than Tk2,500 per capita monthly income and about 9.5 percent (lowest) of the women reported physical violence with more than Tk10,000 per capita monthly income.
Among the surveyed women 14.7 percent reported that they faced obstruction regarding studies or employment by male family members. The highest (20.1 percent) was found in Mymensingh division.
The survey results reveal that about 46.2 percent of the households have children who faced physical punishment and/or psychological aggression at home and outside (e.g. educational institutions, public places, and transport).
Preservation of the national heritage has been a top priority for the government: KM Khalid
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid on Wednesday said that the country's history, heritage, and cultural preservation are top priorities for the current government under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
As a part of this, the restoration and conservation work of the historical ‘Hammam Khana’ (Royal Bathhouse) of Lalbagh Fort, built during the Mughal period by Emperor Aurangzeb’s third son Prince Muhammad Azam Shah, has been completed recently with the funding of the US Embassy in Dhaka.
The State Minister expressed gratitude on behalf of the reigning government to the US Embassy on Wednesday at the closing ceremony of the project titled “Restoring, Retrofitting, and 3D Architectural Documentation of Historical Mughal-era Hammam Khana at Lalbagh Fort,” at Old Dhaka in the capital.
The event was joined by the State Minister as the chief guest, with special guests US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas and Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Abul Mansur. The ceremony was chaired by Chandan Kumar Dey, Director General, Department of Archaeology, while the adviser of the project Dr Abu Sayeed M Ahmed, Dean at the school of environmental Science and Design, University of Asia Pacific, briefly demonstrated the project.
Back in March 2021, the then-US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller and State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid officially inaugurated the US-funded Lalbagh Fort cultural preservation and architectural documentation project in Old Dhaka, marking the golden jubilee of the country’s independence, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary and the golden jubilee of the diplomatic ties between the US government and Bangladesh.
The project was funded through the US government’s prestigious Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), which supported restoring the Mughal-era Hammam Khana, one of three primary structures at the Lalbagh Fort complex dating from the 17th century with an allotment of USD 185,933 (around BDT 2 crores).
At the closing ceremony of the project, special guest Ambassador Peter Haas said, “Promoting cultural diversity, supporting freedom of expression, and preserving cultural heritage around the world are priorities for the United States. All of us must work together and protect the richness of our cultural heritage for future generations.”
State Minister KM Khalid said that the Ministry of Cultural Affairs is working on the renovation and preservation of several historical and archaeological structures, including the Bara Sardar's house located on the premises of Sonargaon Folk and Crafts Foundation, which has been beautifully renovated.
“An initiative has been taken to restore and preserve the historic Panam City of Sonargaon through the Directorate of Archaeology. Survey activities have already been completed, documentation work is in progress. Its successful completion will mark a milestone in the archaeological restoration-preservation of the country,” Khalid said at the event.
Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Abul Mansur said, “Lalbagh Fort is an important monument built during the Mughal period, characterized for its archaeological and unique architecture with historical importance. The renovation and preservation work of Lalbagh Fort ‘Hammam Khana’ has been carried out following the proper rules of UNESCO guidelines and Heritage Impact Assessment.”
The Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) is among the US government’s most significant cultural initiatives abroad. In the past 20 years, the United States has supported 11 AFCP projects in Bangladesh at a total value of over $576,000 (BDT 6 crores) to preserve and restore its cultural heritage and patrimony.
19 dead in Madaripur road mishap: Probe committee blames reckless driving amid rain, operating unfit vehicle for the accident
The four-member committee, formed to investigate the road accident that left 19 dead and 20 others injured in Madaripur’s Shibchar upazila on March 19, mainly blamed the reckless driving and an unfit vehicle for the accident.
The committee, led by Additional District Magistrate Pallab Kumar Hazra, submitted its report with a 14-point recommendation to Deputy Commissioner Kamal Uddin Biswas on Wednesday noon.
The report also said that though the driver had a licence of running a medium-scale vehicle, he was running a heavy vehicle amid rain.
Read more: Bus falls into ditch in Madaripur: Death toll now 19
Pallab Kumar said Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRAT), Gopalganj deferred registration of the Emad Paribahan’s bus due to desperate driving on November 17 past year and the vehicle’s lifetime expired on January 18 this year but it had been running on the roads violating rules.
He said they submitted the probe report with the 14-point recommendation to ward off any unexpected accident further.
The recommendations included ensuring licences of drivers and valid documents of all vehicles before operating the vehicles on the highways, using seatbelts by drivers and passengers when the vehicles move on the highways, building the vehicles’ interior with soft objects, constructing guard rail on the both sides of expressways and keeping updated database of all vehicles running on the highways.
Another member of the probe committee, Moniruzzaman, an additional superintendent of the district police, said the number of sophisticated equipment of patrolling vehicles and manpower of the law enforcing agencies will have to be increased to keep vigilance on the vehicles on the expressways.
He also suggested installing CCTV cameras, trackers and online monitoring systems to lessen the road mishaps.
Moreover, the speed of vehicles will have to be kept under control at night, dawn and during adverse weather, he said.
Earlier on March 19, at least 19 people were killed and 20 others were injured as a Dhaka-bound bus of Emad Paribahan from Khulna fell into a roadside ditch in Madaripur’s Shibchar upazila.
Later, the district administration formed a four-member committee to investigate the incident.
BCI places 5-point proposal for capacity building of local industries, promoting young entrepreneurs
Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) on Wednesday placed a five-point proposal for the upcoming budget to increase capacity of local micro, cottage and small industries and promote young entrepreneurs in the industrial sector.
The leaders of the lone chamber body representing the country's industrial sector, placed the proposals along with a number of recommendations during a pre-budget meeting with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) in the city on Wednesday.
NBR chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmtul Munim presided over the meeting while BCI president Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), directors Zia Hyder Mithu, Yashoda Jiban Deb Nath, Md. Shahid Alam, Md. Khair Mia and Md. Mahfuzur Rahman spoke on the occasion.
The BCI proposals include formulation of proper policy to finance young entrepreneurs through a special fund, setting the source tax at 0% to 3% on import of industrial raw materials, VAT exemption on all types of utilities in the micro, cottage and small industry sectors, tax holiday for such industries and young industrial entrepreneurs for at least 5 years and thereafter setting the tax rate between 10 and 15 percent.
The BCI also recommended for providing bonded-warehouse facilities to sector-based joint export-oriented organisations comprising small scale industries and women entrepreneurs.
Read more: BCI, BCC sign MoU to promote trade, business in two neighboring nations
Terming the corporate tax rate in Bangladesh much higher than neighboring countries, the BCI proposed to reduce the income tax to 2.5 percent.
It said that it would result in encouraging business and investment at the local level.
Proposing incentives for the local industries the BCI said that there should be a uniform 0.1 percent at source and 10 percent income tax on all export sectors as the industrial sector plays a greater role in the country's economy by saving foreign exchange income through exports and reducing imports.
The BCI also proposed raising the tax-free income limit to Tk 5 lakhs for the individuals as it is Rs. 7 lakhs in India.
It urged the government for Revision of the Personal Tax Exemption Limits and Existing Income Tax Rates:
“We propose to revise the current personal tax exemption limits and existing income tax rates for the next tax year 2023-2024 taking into account inflation and cost of living”, said the BCI president.
He also proposed to fully digitise the tax system to make the tax system transparent, fast, modern, up-to-date and to encourage everyone to pay tax.
The wages of professionals, technicians and trainers should be kept tax-free, if even the industry or Institution appoint them, the BCI said urging for introducing tax on dividend at 10 percent while there should be 2 percent tax rebate for eco-friendly environment and green certified industries.
Ramadan moon not sighted in Bangladesh, fasting begins Friday
Muslims in Bangladesh will start fasting on Friday as the moon for the holy month of Ramadan has not been seen in the Bangladesh’s sky on Wednesday evening.
The National Moon Sighting Committee declared the date after a meeting at the Islamic Foundation's Baitul Mukarram office presided over by state minister for religious affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan on Wednesday evening.
Muslims will offer Taraweeh prayers after Isha prayers on Thursday ahead of the first day of Ramadan.
The Moon Sighting Committee also announced the Shab-e-Qadr date on the night of April 18.
Earlier, the government of Bangladesh set the office timing for the holy month of Ramadan – from 9 am to 3:30 pm – for all government, semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions on March 13. There will be a 15-minute break from 1:15 to 1:30pm for Zuhr prayers.
EC to use EVMs, CCTV cameras in 5 city polls: EC commissioner Rasheda Sultana
Election Commissioner Begum Rasheda Sultana on Wednesday said Electronic Voting Machines ( EVMs) and CCTV cameras will be used in the upcoming city polls, but they were not sure about using them in next general election.
The Election Commission is preparing to hold city corporation polls in Barishal, Gazipur, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet between June and September ahead of the next national election.
Rasheda Sultana made the comment while replying to various questions of journalists at her office in the election building.
Regarding the use of CCTV cameras, she said: “We will use CCTV cameras in the five city elections to be held this year.”
"Voting will be done by using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The decision to use CCTV cameras in the national elections is yet to be decided. But I cannot say what is going happen in the future. But we have positive mindset in this regard," she said.
The EC is legally obliged to hold election to a city corporation in the last 180 days of the corporation's five-year tenure.
The EC will have to hold Gazipur City Corporation polls between March 11 and September 10, Khulna City Corporation and Rajshahi City Corporation polls between April 13 and October 10, Barishal City Corporation polls between May 14 and November 13, and Sylhet City Corporation polls between May 6 and November 5.
Ruling Awami League leaders Talukder Abdul Khaleque was elected mayor of Khulna city on May 15, 2018, and Zahangir Alam of Gazipur city on June 26, 2018.
AL leaders AHM Khairuzzaman Liton and Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah and BNP leader Ariful Haque Chowdhury were elected mayors of Rajshahi, Barishal, and Sylhet cities respectively. All three elections were held on July 30, 2018.
DNCC will monitor market strictly during Ramadan: Atiqul Islam
Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam on Wednesday said that DNCC will tightly monitor prices of essential commodities to keep the market stable during the fasting month of Ramadan.
The DNCC will also keep watching if the supply chain of daily commodities is behaving normal, the Mayor said.
“In other countries of the world, prices of essential commodities drop during any festivals, especially during religious festivals. But in our country, we see a reversed-scenario every year”, said the mayor, adding that this time strict measures will be taken if any unnecessary price hike of regular commodities is noticed.
The Mayor made the statement during a views exchange meeting on keeping essential commodities price stable, supply chain normal and market monitoring at the DNCC Nagar Bhaban in the city’s Gulshan area.
The presidents and general secretaries of the DNCC-owned market and market traders' organisations were present in the meeting.
A market monitoring committee will be formed to keep an eye on the markets during the entire month of holy Ramadan, said the Mayor.
To ensure a harassment-free market for people during Ramadan, he also sought help from the traders. “Please supply unadulterated and fresh products.”
The Mayor also mentioned that the DNCC has taken an initiative of installing digital displays in the seven DNCC markets where all regular prices of daily commodities will be displayed to keep the public aware of the price.
In addition, the price list will also be displayed publicly in every shop, he added.
The Mayor also directed concerned departments to show numbers in the digital displays where people can report their complaints.
Business representatives from different markets expressed their commitment to sell unadulterated products and keep prices under control.
DNCC Secretary Mohammad Masud Alam Shiddique, Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Md. Jobaidur Rahman, Chief Engineer Brigadier General Md. Amirul Islam, all regional executive officers and other senior officials were present in the meeting.
Expand tax net and integrate digital system to enhance tax-GDP ratio, ICAB urges NBR in budget proposal
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) on Wednesday urged to strengthen unified automation of the tax system, bring the foreign multinational companies under tax net and impose corporate tax on non-resident digital companies and service providers.
The ICAB president Md Moniruzzaman FCA told a press conference in the capital after handing over the budget proposal to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Wednesday.
The ICAB, a national professional accounting body, also urged the capacity building of the revenue board along with setting up LTU (Large Taxpayers Unit) supervision unit on divisional and regional basis to monitor the companies for tax evasion.
“Without strengthening NBR’s supervision ability and digitalisation of all the tax-related offices the revenue collection would not be increased,” Moniruzzaman pointed out.
The government determined the tax GDP growth to be 21.9 percent by 2041. To implement this the NBR set a target of additional tax collection of Tk2.34 lakh crore by 2026 to increase the tax-GDP ratio from 7.8 percent to 9.5 percent.
The ICAB said the NBR should set up annual growth plan and increase the areas of tax collection along with stopping the scope of tax evasion.
ICAB president gave some proposals to increase tax collection, including digitalisation and integration of tax offices, raising the tax collection areas, justification in source tax realisation, and reducing the expenditure related to the realisation of VAT and other taxes.
The budget proposal also included introducing special bond facilities to accelerate the product variation for the entrepreneurs who are excluded from the existing bond facility.
The professional body proposed to build a central bond system connecting it to the Customs Asycuda System to stop harassing the businesses from customs duty drawback.
The ICAB has suggested NBR regularly update the tax-related information, SROs, circulars, and notification so that users and taxpayers can get the right information in a hassle-free way.
Snehasish Barua FCA gave a presentation at the press conference on the ICAB budget proposal.
MBM Lutful Hadee FCA, vice president ICAB, council members Md. Humayun Kabir FCA, NKA Mobin FCA, Mohammad Forkan Uddin FCA, Maria Howlader FCA, Shubhasis Bose, Chief Executive Officer of ICAB, Mahbub Ahmed Siddique FCA, Chief Operating Officer of ICAB, among others, were present at the press conference.
Will make Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Shilpakala Academy smoke-free: Khalid
State Minister for Culture Affairs KM Khalid Monday said he would make the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy smoke-free.
He was speaking at the program "Dhaka Ahsania Mission Tobacco Control Journalism Award 2022" in the capital's Dhanmondi.
At the event, Professor Md Abdul Aziz MP said the use of e-cigarettes among young people is increasing at an alarming rate.
"People are also being victimised by second-hand smoking at smoking zones. So, 161,000 people die annually. E-cigarettes and smoking zones should be closed by amending the law," he added.
Four journalists received the Dhaka Achsania Mission Tobacco Control Journalism Award 2022 for their reporting on the harm of tobacco products.
They are Pinky Akhter, staff reporter of The Bangladesh Today in the print media section, Solaiman Hazari Dalim, staff correspondent of banglanews24.com in the online media section, Tahsina Sadique, senior reporter of DBC News, and Shamimuzzaman Chowdhury, staff reporter of Mohana Television in the TV reporting section.
Khalid handed out prizes and mementoes to the winners.
ADB approves $230 m loan for flood rehabilitation in Bangladesh
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday approved a $230 million emergency assistance loan to help Bangladesh’s rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in districts affected by devastating floods in May–June, 2022.
Record rainfall in northeastern Bangladesh in May–June 2022 caused massive flooding, especially in the low-lying Haor region, affecting 7.2 million people.
The project will help in the reconstruction, improvement of resilience, and economic recovery of northeast region districts of Brahmanbaria, Habiganj, Kishoreganj, Moulvibazar, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Sherpur, Sunamganj, and Sylhet.
“Bangladesh has taken steps to progressively improve its capacity to adapt to climate change, which include an adaptation plan that identifies major interventions in 11 climate-stressed regions across the country,” said ADB Principal Portfolio Management Specialist for Bangladesh Tika Limbu.
“This project will support the government’s efforts and help restore damaged infrastructure, improve livelihoods, and build community resilience, applying the principal of build-back-better and aligning with the national adaptation plan.”
The project will rehabilitate and reconstruct transport structures in affected communities including 757 kilometers (km) of rural roads and 34 km of rail track with associated culverts and bridges. It will incorporate safety features, particularly for the elderly, women, children, and people with disability, according to a press release.
Read more: Bangladesh signs $200 million loan deal with ADB to boost micro-enterprise
To protect agriculture areas and affected villages in the future, 80 km of river embankment will be improved, including reconstruction of 3.8 km of flood prevention walls and 15 flood fuses. The project will rehabilitate 14 km of submersible embankment and 4 irrigation regulators and sluices. Rivers and irrigation channels will be planted with more than 100,000 trees to strengthen embankments and lessen greenhouse gas emissions.
The project will provide affected communities with safe and continuous water supply by rehabilitating 11,900 tube wells. It will also improve sanitation by deploying 100 mobile toilets designed to the needs of women and integrating climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.
An additional $1 million technical assistance grant from ADB’s Technical Assistance Special Fund will support implementing agencies in building their capacities in climate adaptation and disaster risk management, improving project implementation and monitoring, and strengthening flood risk management and early warning system.