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DORP, CTFK Bangladesh host partner meeting on progress in tobacco control advocacy
Development Organization of the Rural Poor (DORP) and Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) Bangladesh has held a joint partners’ meeting in a bid to increase cooperation for strengthening Tobacco Control law.
The meeting, organised at the DORP central office on Tuesday, discussed the future action plan to advance the advocacy activities for strengthening the tobacco control law and increasing tobacco tax, reads a press release.
CTFK Regional Director for South Asia Dr Maheen Malik visited the DORP office prior to the meeting.
She said, "DORP and CTFK will continue their coordinated activities to stop the menace of tobacco and will play a leading role in building a tobacco-free future for Bangladesh and the rest of the world".
Rubina Islam, program coordinator of the TC project, gave a detailed presentation on the progress and achievements of the organisation in combatting tobacco.
DORP Executive Adviser Md. Azhar Ali Talukder felicitated Dr. Malik with flowers. DORP Founder and CEO AHM Nouman delivered the welcome address on the occasion.
In the brief meeting, Mohammad Zobair Hassan, the deputy executive director of the organization, highlighted DORP's activities across the country.
Mostafizur Rahman, Lead Policy Advisor, Md. Abdus Salam Mia, Manager of programs, Ataur Rahman Masud, Manager of advocacy, and Humaira Sultana, Manager, of Communications were also present on behalf of CTFK Bangladesh. Senior officers of DORP also actively participated in the meeting.
DORP has been involved in various development programs since 1987 and is best known for introducing maternity allowance. In line with this, DORP is currently working on tobacco control law increasing tobacco taxes, and implementing various projects to achieve the government's sustainable development goals.
Development work of Osmani Airport will be completed within next 2-3 years: Faruk Khan
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Faruk Khan said on Tuesday that the development work of Osmani Airport will be completed within the next 2-3 years.
“The slow pace of development work in different countries of the world is an inevitable reality. There are many international crises including dollars in our country.For these reasons, it is taking some time to complete the mega project of Sylhet MAG Osmani International Airport,” he said.
“Efforts are being made to complete the project as soon as possible,” the minister said after visiting the development work of Sylhet Osmani International Airport on Tuesday afternoon.
“Work has begun to install advanced radar at Osmani Airport. All problems will be solved in the next two years,” he added.
At the time, the minister also inquired about the construction work of the cargo terminal at Sylhet Osmani International Airport and provided overall directions.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Md Mokammel Hossain, among others, were present at the time.
Omar Faruque elected president of UGC Officers' Association, Mohibul Ahsan as general secretary
Md Omar Faruque was elected as president and Md Mohibul Ahsan as general secretary at the 10th general election of the Executive Committee of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Officers' Association of Bangladesh on Tuesday.
The results were announced in the presence of UGC Secretary Dr Ferdous Zaman, the contesting candidates and officials, according to a press release on Tuesday.
UGC Additional Director of Planning and Development Department Shah Aminul Islam acted as the Chief Election Commissioner. The election commissioners were Deputy Director of Planning and Development Department Shibananda Shil and Deputy Director of Public Relations and Right to Information Division Mohammad Abdul Mannan.
Faruque is the director of Private University Division of UGC and Mohibul Ahsan is the deputy director of the same department, it said.
The 11-member executive committee will serve for the next two years.
The other office-bearers of the committee are- Vice-Presidents Md Mostafizur Rahman and Md. Abdul Mannan, Joint General Secretary Mohammad Yousuf Ali Khan, Sports and Cultural Secretary Mosharraf Hossain, Organizing and Publicity Secretary Rabiul Islam, Treasurer Morshed Ahmed and members M Maruf Alam James, Mohammad Nur Islam Chowdhury and Md. Nurul Islam Chowdhury. Abdullah Al Mamun, added the release.
Bangladesh Bank issues guidelines to appoint MD and CEO of banks
Bangladesh Bank (BB) has issued a detailed guideline regarding the appointment and responsibilities of the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a bank.
Banking Regulation and Policy Department of BB issued the guideline on Tuesday and sent it to the top executives of all banks for immediate execution.The introduction of the guidelines states that to ensure good governance in the banking sector, it is necessary to appoint a suitable, professionally competent, and experienced managing director or chief executive officer.Bank companies are facing greater challenges in operational management along with managing business and technical risks than ever before. In this context, there is a need to issue clear instructions regarding the appointment of the managing director or chief executive officer of the bank, said the instruction.
People’s purchasing capacity has increased, says state minister Shafiqur
State Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury on Tuesday said the purchasing capacity of public has increased although the price of local products has increased slightly.
The state minister, on behalf of Commerce State Minister Ahsanul Islam Tito, said this in Parliament while responding to a question of Opposition Chief Whip and Jatiya Party MP elected from Kishoreganj Mujibul Haque Chunnu.
He said that the government is committed to bringing the prices of daily essentials within the purchasing capacity of common people.
Commodity prices continue to rise before Ramadan compounding consumer woes
The government is constantly working relentlessly to this end, he said.
He mentioned that a large portion of the daily essentials is produced in the country.
“Generally we import edible oil, sugar and spice products. While determining the prices of imported goods international market value, transportation costs and other related matters are considered,” he added.
Electricity price to go up from March 1: Nasrul
NBR extends deadline for filing companies’ tax returns to April 30
The deadline for companies to submit income tax returns has been extended to April 30, 2024.
The previous deadline for filing income tax returns for companies was February 28.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) extended deadline on Tuesday following an application from Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) for time extension.
NBR will go after house and flat owners for not filing returns; NBR Chairman
The second secretary of the NBR Bapon Chandra Das issued a notification in this regard.
The income year of most companies in the country is in line with the fiscal year (July to June).
Banks, insurances, financial institutions, and multinational companies fix the income year according to the calendar year (January-December).
Bangladesh seeks ITFC cooperation to modernise power distribution, transmission system
Bangladesh has sought the cooperation of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) to modernise the power distribution and transmission system. The cooperation may extend to up to $500 million initially.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid sought the cooperation when Chief Executive Officer of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) Engineer Hani Salem Sonbol called on him at his office in the ministry.
“We want to provide uninterrupted electricity at an affordable price. ITFC can assist in modernization of distribution and transmission systems,” he told the ITFC chief.
During the meeting various issues related to their mutual interests were discussed.
The State Minister thanked the CEO of the ITFC and expressed willingness to work together to increase the existing relationship.
Nasrul Hamid said the size of Bangladesh's economy is gradually growing.
Govt raises gas prices for power plants by Tk 0.75 per unit
He noted that there are huge investment opportunities in the ongoing and planned projects in Bangladesh.
The Chief Executive Officer of ITFC said his organisation is interested in increasing the strategic partnership with Bangladesh.
Along with oil, ITFC will also finance the import of LNG. Initially $500 million but it can be increased gradually, he added.
Different issues including oil refineries, oil and gas transportation pipelines, energy-efficient electricity, and renewable energy were discussed for investment and financing in the meeting.
Energy and Mineral Resources Secretary Md Nurul Alam, Petrobangla Chairman Janendra Nath Sarkar and ITFC General Manager Abdihamid Abu were present on the occasion.
Newspapers loosing appeal with declining circulations: JPC General Secretary
Jatiya Press Club General Secretary and Daily Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta on Tuesday said newspapers are loosing their appeal globally with the dominance of digital media and feared about its future after 10-12 years.
He, however, encouraged the journalists to keep engaged in creative writing and reading more apart from their journalistic works.
"It's very essential to remain engaged in creative writings. At any cost, we must find out time to keep writing and reading more," said Shyamal Dutta who has an experience of around 40 years in journalism.
He was speaking at function at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) to honor its two members Rased Mehedi (Facebook E Dekhi Chand) and Mahfuz Mishu (Dhaka Talks) who come up with their books in this year's book fair.
Chairman of Bangladesh International Institute of strategic Studies (BIISS) and former Ambassador AFM Gousal Azam Sarker spoke at the event as the chief guest.
Sarker highly appreciated DCAB members' active engagement in creative writing and encouraged others to write.
DCAB President Nurul Islam Hasib and General Secretary Ashiqur Rahman Apu also spoke at the event.
Shyamal Dutta said the new generations are not reading newspapers much but depending on digital contents.
The JPC leader appreciated the efforts made by journalists Rased Mehedi and Mahfuz Mishu and encouraged them to continue writing.
Later, the guests handed over crests and certificates to the two journalists.
Rased Mehedi and Mahfuz Mishu also shared their experiences at the function.
Govt raises gas prices for power plants by Tk 0.75 per unit
The government has raised the retail gas prices for public, private and captive power plants by Tk 0.75 per unit with effect from February 1.
As per a gazette notification, dated on February 25, the public and private power plants, including the rental ones, have to pay Tk 14.75 instead of 14 per unit of gas while the captive, small and commercial power plants have to pay Tk 30.75 instead of Tk 30 per unit.
Gas supply to remain halted for 15 hours in parts of Dhaka Wednesday
The Energy and Mineral Resources Division set the prices through an administrative order applying the new amendment to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Act, which empowered the government to set all kinds of energy prices bypassing the regulator’s jurisdictions any time.
Gas prices for such consumers were last raised on January 18 in 2023 with effect from February 1 of 2023.
Official sources said the decision to raise gas prices came in line with State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resource Nasrul Hamid’s recent statement where he said that gas price will be adjusted again.
Gas supply to remain off for 15 hrs, 5 hrs in different areas in Dhaka
Gas supply will remain suspended for 15 hours from 9 am to 12 pm on Wednesday in different areas of Dhaka city for emergency replacement and relocation of gas transmission lines under the Dhaka Elevated Expressway Line alignment.
According to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited, the areas include Moghbazar, Madhubagh, Tejgaon, Hatirjheel, Madhubagh, Gabtoli, Greenway, Payarabagh, Eskaton and Dilu Road.
Govt raises gas prices for power plants by Tk 0.75 per unit
The gas supply will remain off for all kinds of consumers in these areas while consumers in adjoining areas may experience low pressure in gas supply, said the Titas Gas regretting the inconveniences during the period.
Gas supply remained suspended for three hours from 11am to 2pm in the same areas on Tuesday for emergency repair of gas transmission lines.
Besides ,Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company said gas supply will remain suspended for five hours from 10 am to 3 pm in East Jurain, Postgola, Kadmatoli Cantonment, Jatrabari, Muradpur, High School Road, Madrasa Road, Keraniganj and Jinjira on Wednesday.
Electricity price to go up from March 1: Nasrul
The consumers in the adjoining areas will experience low gas pressure area during that time,it said.