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Commuters suffer as buses stay off roads in Ctg
Thousands of commuters faced inconvenience as buses remained off the roads in the port city of Chattogram on Saturday, following a flash strike by transport owners in protest against the fuel price hike.
The decision to embark on the strike was taken around midnight on Friday, Belayet Hossain, president of the Chattogram Metropolitan Transport Owners Group, said.
The government on Friday raised the prices of diesel and kerosene to Tk 114 per litre and that of petrol to Tk 135, which is nearly 52% higher than the current rate.
Also read: Transport strike disrupting goods delivery from Ctg port
As the fuel prices shot up, the owners of a number of petrol pumps also refrained from selling fuel, said Belayet. "We also decided to suspend the movement of buses in the port city."
Last year, the government raised the prices of diesel and kerosine at the retail level by Tk 65 and Tk 80 a litre, respectively.
Dhaka's air quality improves
Dhaka's air quality has seen a marked improvement in the past 24 hours, all thanks to intermittent monsoon showers.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 98 or 'moderate' at 9am on Saturday, the metropolis ranked 10th in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh, the United Arab Emirates' Dubai and Pakistan’s Lahore occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 170, 160 and 156, respectively.
An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’ with an acceptable air quality. However, there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
On the other hand, 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 clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Read:Air quality remains 'moderate' in Dhaka
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy during winter and improves during monsoon.
With the advent of winter, the city’s air quality starts deteriorating sharply due to the massive discharge of pollutant particles from construction works, rundown roads, brick kilns and other sources.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
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.
Global Covid cases top 587 million
The overall number of Covid cases has now surged past 587 million amid a rise in new infections in parts of the world.
According to the latest global data, the total case count mounted to 587,594,865 and the death toll reached 6,433,809 on Saturday morning.
The US has recorded 93,866,641 cases so far and 1,058,637 people have died from the virus in the country, the data shows.
India's daily Covid-19 caseload Friday again surpassed the 20,000 mark after remaining below it for the past five days, officials said.
According to federal health ministry data released on Friday morning, 20,551 new cases of Covid were reported in 24 hours, taking the total tally to 44,107,588 in the country.
The cases reported on Friday mark an increase in comparison to 19,893 cases on Thursday.
With the reporting of fresh cases, India's active caseload currently stands at 135,364.
The country also logged 70 related deaths in 24 hours, pushing the overall death toll to 526,600 since the beginning of the pandemic, the ministry said.
Also read: Covid forces suspension of production at Barapukuria Coal Mine for 15 more days
With the increase in cases, the daily positivity rate stands at 5.14% while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 4.64%, the ministry data showed.
Covid in Bangladesh
Two more people died from Covid and 253 tested positive for the virus in Bangladesh in 24 hours till Friday.
The country's total fatalities and caseload reached 29,302 and 2,006,899, respectively, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily case positivity rate dropped to 6.06% from Thursday's 5.14% as 5,002 samples were tested.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.46%. The recovery rate rose to 97% from Thursday's 96.97%.
Hasan Mahmud to BNP: Don't play with people's lives
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has warned the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) not to play with people's lives 'like before'.
The AL leader made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the distribution ceremony of fruits, vegetables and mustard seeds among the marginal farmers of Tungipara and Kotalipara at Tungipara upazila marking Sheikh Kamal's 73rd birth anniversary on Friday, according to a media statement.
He said if BNP wants to create anarchy in the country in the name of the movement, it would be handled with an iron hand. Not only that, if they (BNP men) play with people's lives by throwing petrol bombs as they did in the past, then we will face them in the field next September because now we are mourning as August is the month of mourning.
He also said that the BNP gave speeches at home and protested in front of the press club. But there were more crows in the trees than there were people at the BNP protest, added the minister.
But we should remain careful because the BNP is basically plotting against the country.
Awami League's relief and social welfare affairs secretary Sujit Roy Nandi presided over the distribution programme while Awami League organizing secretary SM Kamal Hossain and Gopalganj district Awami League general secretary Mahbub Ali Khan spoke as special guests.
The minister distributed 15 types of vegetables, fruits and mustard seeds among 1 thousand farmers of Tungipara and Kotalipara upazilas.
Read: Cry for fuel, electricity is a global reality: Hasan Mahmud
Earlier, the minister paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj marking the day.
In commemoration of Bangabandhu's eldest son Sheikh Kamal, he said Sheikh Kamal will remain alive among the people for ages, as long as Bangladesh exists, through his actions during his short span of life.
Sheikh Kamal could have played a great role in the country's culture and sports arena, above all in leading Bangladesh, said Hasan and prayed for the eternal peace of his departed soul.
Sheikh Kamal's 73rd birth anniversary observed in Washington DC
The 73rd birth anniversary of valiant freedom fighter Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal was observed at Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC on Friday in a befitting manner.
The Embassy organised different programs at the Bangabandhu auditorium to commemorate outstanding contributions of Shaheed Sheikh Kamal to the fields of sports and culture of the country alongside development of the society and nation.
The programmes began with reading out of messages from the President and Prime Minister.
Minister (Economic) Md Mahadee Hassan and Minister (Political) Dewan Ali Ashraf read out the messages.
Later, a discussion session was held.
Taking part in the discussion, Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States M Shahidul Islam recalled Shaheed Sheikh Kamal's outstanding contributions to the great Liberation War, rebuilding the war-ravaged Bangladesh and the development of sports and culture after independence, said a media release.
Ambassador Islam said Sheikh Kamal possessed multidimensional talents and was a role model for the youthfolk.
Shaheed Sheikh Kamal's contributions to sports, music, drama and other fields will be remembered forever in the country's history, he continued.
Read: MoFA marks Sheikh Kamal's 73rd birth anniversary
Ambassador Islam hoped that the country's young generation would take sports and cultural arenas to the highest peak of the success by following the ideology of Shaheed Sheikh Kamal.
Deputy Chief of the Mission Ferdousi Shahriar, Minister (Economic) Md. Mahadee Hassan and Minister (Press) AZM Sajjad Hossain took part in the discussion.
Counsellor and Head of Chancery Md Mahmudul Islam conducted the programmes.
After the discussion, a documentary on the life and works of Shaheed Sheikh Kamal was screened.
A special prayer was offered, seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Sheikh Kamal, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangamata Fazilatun Nesa Mujib, their family members, and others martyred on the fateful night of 15 August 1975.
Earlier, the Ambassador placed a floral wreath at the portrait of Shaheed Sheikh Kamal to pay his homage.
Officers of the Embassy were present on the occasion.
Fugitive killers of Bangabandhu will be brought back soon: Kamal
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, many people involved in the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman have been brought under the law.
Now rest of the killers, who are outside the country will be brought back soon, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Friday.
"We will bring back all the killers of Bangabandhu wherever they are," he said.
The minister said this on the first day of the 6-day programme on the occasion of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's 47th martyrdom anniversary organized by the Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Chittagong Metropolitan and District Unit on Friday afternoon.
On August 15, the ugliest attempt was made to kill all the family members of Bangabandhu, because they knew very well that if any of those who had Bangabandhu's blood in their veins survived, the murderers would be judged one day", added the minister
He also said that the freedom fighters responded to Bangabandhu's call with infinite courage and Bangabandhu's daughter rewarded them for that sacrifice. The government is providing various facilities including allowances to freedom fighters.
Read: Militancy has no place in Bangladesh: Home Minister
"We will hold a rally of freedom fighters of Bangladesh to prove that we are still ready to face any conspiracy," added the minister.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque inaugurated the programme under the chairmanship of Muktijoddha Sangsad Chittagong City Commander Mozaffar Ahmed.
Meanwhile, Chittagong University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Shirin Akter, Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Krishnapad Roy, Chittagong Range DIG Anwar Hossain, Chittagong District Commissioner Mominur Rahman and Chittagong Superintendent of Police Rashedul Haque were also present on the occasion.
Earlier this day, Kamal visited the Bangladesh Coast Guard's sea exercise held in the Bay of Bengal.
Consumer slapped with largest ever hikes in fuel oil prices
The government announced the largest ever hikes in the price of fuel oils - ranging from 42- 52 percent - that became effective as of midnight Friday (technically 0000 hrs Saturday).
At the consumer level, the retail prices of diesel and kerosene will be Tk114 per litre, up by a whopping 42.5% from Tk 80/litre, the price set last November following a 23% hike from Tk 65/litre.
But the 42.5% hike even exceeds the 37.5% hike in price from 2007, when it went up from Tk 40 to Tk 55 - the largest hike on record prior to tonight.
Octane will cost Tk135 per litre, up an eye-watering 51.7% from Tk 89/litre - again the largest hike on record.
Lastly a litre of petrol will set consumers back by Tk130 from now at the pump, that used to be Tk 86/litre even just a few hours ago as of writing this report - another 51% hike in one go that has no precedent in independent Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL) have adjusted the petroleum fuel prices as the prices are much higher in the international market compared to Bangladesh, the Energy Division said Friday.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said "The government avoided increasing the prices of fuel oils for as long as it could. Now some adjustments have to be made taking stock of the current global situation."
Read: Bangladesh ‘looks unable’ to take advantage of low fuel price
He offered some hope that the prices may be adjusted back down if the situation in the international energy markets shifts to allow that. But this rarely, if ever, happens. Nasrul Hamid harked back to the one occasion it happened under him, by very small amounts, when prices hit rock bottom internationally in the midst of a prolonged slump in prices that only turned around with the most recent rally in energy markets.
"In April 2016, the government reduced the prices of fuel oils. If the situation normalises, the prices of fuel oils will be revised accordingly," he said.
Nasrul said due to the upward trend in fuel prices in the global market, many countries have been regularly making adjustments to prices. It would seem the government has chosen to gain parity with prices in the neighbouring Indian state of West Bengal.
West Bengal government in India set the price of diesel at Rs92.76 per litre and petrol at Rs106.03 per litre in Kolkata on May 22, 2022 - these prices remain in effect today, and work out to Tk114.09 (diesel) and Tk130.42 (petrol), at an exchange rate of Rs1 =Tk1.23.
Also, the BPC is already running a loss of Tk8,014.51 crore in petroleum fuel sales in the last six months, from February to July.
Considering the global oil market situation, making "rational price adjustments" became essential to continue BPC as a going concern, while tasked with the vital function of overseeing petroleum imports, among other things.
Read: Fuel price hike: transporters to go on indefinite strike from Friday
Pineapple Capital abuzz in peak season
Pineapple growers of Madhupur in Tangail are now busy bringing the fruits to the market as they have a good yield this year.
Jalchhatra haat, biggest wholesale market in the upazila that is organized every Friday and Tuesday, remained abuzz with buyers and sellers from different parts of the district since every dawn.
Read: Sonargaon litchi growers expecting bumper yield
MoFA marks Sheikh Kamal's 73rd birth anniversary
Dhaka, Aug 5 (UNB) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Friday arranged a discussion, marking the 73rd birth anniversary of Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman joined the discussion as the chief guest. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam chaired the event at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, who is in Cambodia on an official visit, sent a video message on the occasion.
Read: Sheikh Kamal an icon of new generations: Ambassador Ziauddin
Bangladesh would benefit if Sheikh Kamal was alive today: Hasan Mahmud
Bangladesh would have been benefited if Sheikh Kamal was alive, said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Friday.
The minister said this after paying homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj marking Sheikh Kamal's 73rd birth anniversary today, according to a press release.
He said Sheikh Kamal will remain alive among the people for ages, as long as Bangladesh exists, through his actions during his short span of life.
“With his talent and organisational skills, I think Bangladesh would have benefited more,” he added.
Read: PM: Multitalented Sheikh Kamal led very simple life
Sheikh Kamal could have played a great role in the country's culture and sports arena, above all in leading Bangladesh, said Hasan and prayed for eternal peace of his departed soul.
Earlier in the day, Hasan paid tribute by placing wreaths at the portrait of Shaheed Sheikh Kamal at Abahani field in Dhaka.
Kamal fell to bullets when disgruntled forces assassinated Bangabandhu along with most members of the family of the architect of Bangladesh on August 15, 1975 at his 32 Dhanmandi residence.