bangladesh
Two CUET students on motorcycle killed by speeding bus in Chattogram
Two students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) were killed after a speeding bus knocked down their motorcycle on Kaptai road in Chattogram on Monday.
The victims were Shanta Saha (ID-2001100), a student of the 20th batch of Civil Engineering Department and Toufiq Hossain (ID-2101006), of the same department of '21 batch.
BSF shoots another Bangladeshi dead along border, this time in Kasba
Shanto Saha was the son of Kajal Saha of Narsingdi and Taufiq Hossain was the son of Mohammad Delwar of New College Road of Noakhali's Sudharam.
The crash occurred around 3:30pm in the area adjacent to Selina Quader Chowdhury College on Chattogram Kaptai Road on Monday (April 22).
Bishwanath village in shock as minor cousins drown in pond
Fazlur Rahman, Deputy Director (Public Relations) CUET, said Shanto Saha's body was kept at Chittagong Medical College Hospital while Taufiq's body was in Evercare Hospital.
The bodies would be handed over to their families after due procedures, he added.
No bar on unionisation in any factory: Law Minister tells USTR delegation
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq has said workers of any factory can form a labor union from now on.
He said this while talking to reporters after a meeting with the US trade delegation in his office at the Secretariat on Monday (April 22).
“They mainly discussed the labor laws of Bangladesh, workers' rights and what we are doing. Their important question was - what is the current situation of the amendment of the Bangladesh Labor Act, what is being done? They wanted to know about eleven issues and how much progress has been made in this regard,” the minister said.
The delegation’s first question was about the threshold (percentage of workers required to form a trade union).
The minister also said, they informed the delegation about the new decision of keeping no threshold for forming a trade union.
“First, around 2016, it was 30 percent. When we went to the International Labor Organization (ILO) conference in 2017, it was decided to bring this threshold to 20 percent,” he said.
“During the last amendment, the first proposal was to bring it down from 20 percent to 15 percent. But there was a caveat, it would be applicable only for factories employing 3,000 or more workers,” said Anisul Huq.
But that limit has also been lifted, said the law minister, adding “We have informed the US representatives that too.”
The minister said that after hearing about the labor laws and rights, the US representative expressed satisfaction. “After this discussion, the US representatives told me that they were satisfied,” he said.
DSCC conducts second day of eviction drive in Mugda
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) carried out the second day of its eviction drive to widen the main road of Mugda area in the city.
DSCC executive magistrates Mohammad Munurzzaman and Jahangir Alam jointly led the eviction operation on the road.
The operation is being conducted in a joint initiative of DSCC and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) to widen the Bishwa road-Haider Ali School in Manda on the road to 50-feet one, according to the design of the Detailed Area Plan (DAP).
About the eviction drive that started on Sunday, executive magistrate Mohammad Muniruzzaman said many owners are removing their structures spontaneously for the sake of widening the road at the request of the city corporation.
The DSCC earlier issued notices for the owners on four occasions and announced on Thursday last through loud speakers for the eviction drive, he said.
Now the width of the road is on average 17 feet. But there is a plan to raise the width to 50 feet making it 40-feet two-lane road with 5-feet footpaths on two sides.
Two children drown in Ctg pond
Two children drowned while bathing in a pond at the Chandanaish upazila of Chattogram on Monday.
The accident happened around noon in the newly built area of Ward 4 of Chandanaish Municipality.
The deceased were identified as Jannatul Mawa (9) and Nusrat Jahan Fariya (7).
Locals said Jannatul, daughter of Belal Uddin, and Nusrat Jahan Fariya, daughter of Jakir Hossen, were cousins and used to stay together. They went to bathe in the pond adjacent to their house together at around noon. When they did not return for a long time, family members started searching for them.
Later, the lifeless bodies of Jannatul and Nusrat surfaced in the pond. At that time, locals and family members took them to Chandanaish Hospital, where duty doctors declared them dead.
Among the deceased, Jannatul Mawa was a student of Class Three at Harla Samabay Government Primary School and Nusrat was a student of Class One at West Harla Government Primary School.
Dr Priyanka, a doctor at the Chandanaish Upazila Health Complex, said that the two children died before being brought to the hospital.
Tk 2000cr money laundering case: Court accepts chargesheet against 46, inc Barkat and Rubel
A Dhaka court on Monday accepted the chargesheet against 47 people including former general secretary of Faridpur district town unit Awami League Sazzad Hossain Barkat and his brother Imtiaz Hasan Rubel in connection with the Tk 2000 crore money laundering case.
Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge As-Shams Jaglul Hossain accepted the chargesheet submitted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Of the chargesheeted accused Barkat, Rubel and AHM Fuad remained in jail.
ACC appoints committee to probe allegations against ex-IGP Benazir, his family
Seven accused including the Editor of Dhaka Times Arifur Rahman alias Dolon appeared before the court.
The court also issued warrants for the arrest of 36 chargesheeted accused as they remain absconding.
It also fixed May 30 for submitting all documents related to their arrests, said additional public prosecutor Taposh Kumar Pal.
Earlier on June 22, 2022, CID submitted the supplementary chargesheet against 47 people including Barkat and Rubel after appearing before the Dhaka Special Judge Court-9.
Judge of the court Sheikh Hafizur Rahman sent the case to the Metropolitan Session Judge.
Sikder Group responds to allegations following ACC case against directors
On March 3, 2021, Uttam Kumar Saha, assistant police commissioner and also the investigating officer of the case submitted chargesheet against ten people in the case.
Later, the court on September 1, 2022, asked CID for further investigation.
The others accused in the case are—Khandaker Mehtesham Hossain Babor, Sattyajit Mukherjee, Nazmul Islam Khandaker Levi, Asibur Rahman Farhan, Fahad Bin Wazed Alias Fahim, Quamrul Hasan Devid, Muhammad Ali Minar, Tariqul Islam alias Nasim, Nishan Mahmud alias Shamim, Billal Hossain, Siddiqur Rahman alias Siddique, Saiful Islam Jibon, Advocate Animesh Roy, Shamsul Alam Chowdhury, Dipak Kumar Majumdar, Sheikh Mahtab Ali, Shahidul Islam alias Majnu, Fakir Md Belayet Gossain, Golam Md Nasim, Jamal Ahmed alias Jamal, Belayet Hossain Molla, Afzal Hossain Khan alias Shiplu, Amitab Bose, Chowdhury Md Hasan, Zafar Iqbal alias Harun Mandal, Afroza Akter Parveen, Soheli Emruz Punum, Saheb Sarwar, Amzad Hossain Babu, Swapan Kumar Pal, Advocate Zahid Bepari, Khalifa Jamal, Hafizul Hossain Tapan, Riaz Ahmed Shanto, Anwar Hossain Abu Fakir, Moniruzzaman Mamun, Mahfuzur Rahman, Sumon Saha, Abdul Jalil Sheikh, Rafique Mandal, Khandaker Shaheen Ahmed alias Pan Shaheen and Afzal Hossain Khan.
On June 26, 2020, SM Miraz Al Mahmud, inspector of CID, filed the Tk 2000 crore money laundering case with Kafrul Police Station.
North mayor promises jail time to go with fines for Aedes larvae after Apr 27
From April 27, next Sunday, If Aedes mosquito larvae are found in any establishment falling under the jurisdiction of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), the owners will face not just fines as before but also jail terms, DNCC Mayor Md Atiqul Islam said Monday.
Furthermore, if larvae are discovered in a government office, the person in charge of that office will also be sued and fined. Even if larvae are found in any office within the DNCC, action will be taken against the officials of that office.
DNCC cleaner dies in Dhaka road crash
The DNCC mayor disclosed this information while inaugurating a month-long public awareness campaign in 54 wards of DNCC simultaneously to prevent dengue in the Mirpur Rupnagar area of the capital on Monday.
"My clear message is, if larvae are found, a case will be registered, and individuals may be jailed and fined. The amount of the fine will also be substantially increased. We have already informed the Ministry of Local Government to provide us with more magistrates," the DNCC Mayor added.
DNCC launches buyback scheme for waste to combat mosquito breeding
Atiqul Islam further stated, "If you (city dwellers) are aware, there is no need for jail sentences or fines. Dispose of accumulated water every three days. Clean areas where Aedes mosquitoes can breed. Stay aware and keep yourself and others safe," the DNCC Mayor said.
Among others, Dhaka-14 Constituency Member of Parliament Md. Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, DNCC Chief Engineer Brig Gen Md Moin Uddin, Chief Health Officer Brig Gen Imrul Kayes Chowdhury, Regional Executive Officer of Region-4 Md. Abed Ali, Councilor of reserved seat Shikha Chakraborty, and other senior officials were present.
DNCC worker dies after being hit by pick-up van in Dhaka’s Gabtoli; Road blocked for 3 hrs
25-year-old dies of heatstroke in Ctg
A 25-year-old man died of heatstroke after falling ill on a moving tempo in the scorching heat of Chattogram metropolis on Monday.
The incident happened in front of the Shyamoli bus counter in the port city on Monday afternoon.
The deceased was identified as Md Shukkur Ali of Hajibari of Dalal Bazar area of Lakshmipur district. He was currently living in CDA Jalil Gate area of Fauzdarhat of Sitakunda upazila.
Pahartoli Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Kefayet Ullah confirmed the matter.
According to eyewitnesses, Shukkur was going somewhere from Pahartali or Alangkar intersection to City Gate, panting in the heat on the moving tempo. Later, when the tempo stopped, other passengers took him down and laid him down in front of a bus counter. He died within a few minutes.
The police later recovered his body and sent it to the morgue.
“The cause of death will be known after the autopsy report comes,” said the OC.
Land minister stresses ensuring pro-people land services while formulating APA action plan
Land Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda on Monday stressed the need to ensure optimum use of land and people-friendly services related to land while formulating the Annual Performance Agreement (APA) action plan for the fiscal year 2024-2025.
He said this while inaugurating a workshop on the preparation of draft APA for the fiscal year 2024-25 of the Ministry of Land and its offices/agencies at the conference room of the Ministry of Land at the Secretariat on Monday.
The land minister said that people's involvement with land management is very high and direct. Most of the rural disputes and litigations are related to land tenure. Therefore, the government is working to provide more efficient land-related services to the people through efficient, modern, public welfare-oriented and sustainable land management. APA's role in bringing good governance to this process is important.
He emphasised the important role of the Annual Performance Agreement (APA) in increasing transparency and accountability in government offices.
The minister also highlighted the importance of APA for a result-oriented mentality, institutional transparency, accountability, proper use of resources, and organizational efficiency in government institutions. He underscored the need for effective implementation of the objectives of the Ministry of Land in citizen service to create seamless synchronization between the ministry and the field-level offices.
Narayon emphasised that the APA introduced by the Government in 2014-15 has been instrumental in bringing the activities of the ministries and agencies from procedural to result-oriented activities. The minister also directed the Ministry of Land and its affiliated offices/agencies to prepare their respective strategic objectives and activities for the next fiscal year in line with the overall vision and mission of the Ministry of Land.
Chairman of Land Appeal Board AKM Shamimul Haque Siddique, Additional Secretary (Acting Secretary) of the Ministry of Land Md. Abbas Uddin and Additional Secretary (Development) Ziauddin Ahmed NDC were present on the occasion.
Govt moves to ramp up LNG terminal capacity, even as demand slows down on back of fiscal challenges
Despite plans to ramp up LNG terminal capacity, fiscal challenges the country is presently mired in may limit a drastic LNG demand growth in the short-term.
The observation was made on Monday by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), which styles itself as a 'global think tank' focused on the international energy market, in its “Global LNG Outlook 2024-2028”.
In an analysis, it said that new nuclear facilities, coal-fired plants and renewables may limit full capacity utilization of gas-fired plants in the near term.
“Bangladesh may opt for gas-fired peaking plants instead of only base-load plants to accommodate more renewable energy. It may seek to limit the LNG demand growth rate by frontloading energy efficiency in industrial processes and captive generation,” said the IEEFA.
The IEEFA launched its Global LNG Outlook 2024-2028. The report offers IEEFA's outlook on the global LNG demand from 2024 to 2028.
Regarding Bangladesh, Shafiqul Alam, IEEFA's Lead Analyst for Bangladesh Energy says, "Low spot market LNG prices resulted in a rebound in demand from Bangladesh by 17.9% in 2023 after imports fell by 14.4% in 2022, but sensitivity to volatile LNG prices, fiscal challenges and competing energy resources in the power sector point to a moderate medium-term demand growth."
About the global LNG demand, the IEEFA said lackluster demand growth combined with a massive wave of new export capacity is poised to send global liquefied natural gas (LNG) markets into oversupply within two years.
LNG demand in Japan, South Korea, and Europe—which together account for more than half of the world’s LNG imports—is expected to fall through 2030.
In emerging Asia, LNG demand growth will face significant economic, political, financial, and logistical challenges that may not be fully resolved in an oversupplied market.
Global LNG supply capacity is set to reach 666.5 million metric tons per annum by the end of 2028—a 40% increase in just five years—despite uncertain demand.
The IEEFA said sluggish demand growth for LNG, combined with a record increase in global export capacity through 2028, will likely thrust markets into an extended period of oversupply.
As major importing regions—including Japan, South Korea, and Europe—aim to reduce LNG demand through 2030, global LNG suppliers and traders will increasingly depend on growth in emerging markets to both compensate for falling imports elsewhere and absorb a flood of new supply.
However, such rapid LNG demand growth in emerging economies is not guaranteed, even in an oversupplied market.
IEEFA noted that countries in South and Southeast Asia, for example, will face distinct barriers to rising demand, including fiscal and credit challenges, extensive infrastructure delays, and contracting issues, among other obstacles.
The global LNG crisis following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 brought these issues to the fore, spurring many markets to reduce the role of LNG in their development plans and accelerate the development of alternative energy sources, it added.
China reclaimed its position as the world’s largest LNG importer in 2023. However, domestic natural gas production and additional pipeline imports may limit LNG demand growth. Unprecedented increases in renewables capacity are constraining the need for LNG in the power sector.
In South Asia, fiscal challenges along with the inherent volatility of LNG prices may constrain rapid near-term demand growth, and the role of LNG in power generation is likely to remain low.
In Southeast Asia, extensive development timelines, contract negotiations, and repeated project delays for LNG-related infrastructure may continue to inhibit demand while strengthening political incentives to pursue alternative energy sources.
Trade talks with USTR delegation 'comprehensive': Foreign Secretary
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen had a meeting with the Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch in Dhaka on Monday.
During the meeting at the state guesthouse Padma, the two sides engaged in comprehensive discussions on various aspects of Bangladesh-US trade relations, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
USTR delegation discusses bilateral trade, labour rights in meeting with BGMEA
The meeting underscored the importance of strengthening economic ties between the two countries and exploring avenues for enhanced collaboration in trade and investment.
Both sides expressed their commitment towards fostering a conducive environment for bilateral trade, addressing the trade barriers, and promoting mutual economic growth.
USTR lauds progress; shares where further improvements are required
Asst USTR Lynch is visiting Bangladesh as the head of the five-member delegation and attended the inter-sessional Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (Ticfa) meeting that took place on Sunday.