bangladesh
Govt to procure 17 lakh tonnes Boro paddy, rice
The government has set a target to procure five lakh tonnes of paddy, 11 lakh tonnes of boiled rice, one lakh tonne of atap rice and 50,000 tonnes of wheat in the upcoming Boro season.
The rice and paddy procurement will begin on May 7 and continue till August 31.
The procurement price of Boro paddy has been fixed at Tk 32 per kg, boiled rice at Tk 45, atap rice Tk 44 and wheat at Tk 34 per kg. In 2023, the price of paddy was Tk 30 per kg, boiled rice Tk 44 and wheat Tk 35.
Donations at Pagla Masjid break all previous records, thanks to Ramadan extension
The price was fixed at a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee (FPMC) at the cabinet meeting room on Sunday.
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder presided over the meeting, according to a press release of the food ministry.
Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tajul Islam, Agriculture Minister Md Abdus Shahid, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibur Rahman, State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam (Titu) and State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Begum Rokeya Sultana were present.
Secretaries of the several ministries were present in the meeting.
Ambassador Imran urges expatriates to send remittances through legal channels
Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Muhammad Imran has urged the expatriate Bangladeshis to send remittances through legal channels to further strengthen the country’s economy.
He also called upon them to project the country’s tremendous success stories to further brighten its image abroad.
The ambassador was speaking as the chief guest at the Customers’ Gathering and SECI App Campaign of Sonali Exchange at the Bangabandhu Auditorium of Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC recently.
Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC and and Sonali Exchange, a subsidiary company of Sonali Bank PLC, jointly organised the programme to create awareness about sending remittance to Bangladesh through legal channel, according to a message received from the embassy here on Sunday.
Trade through Tamabil land port resumes after 2-day suspension for Indian election
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of Sonali Bank PLC. Md. Afzal Karim joined the function as special guest, while Devasree Mitra, CEO of Sonali Exchange Company Incorporation, USA delivered the address of welcome.
Ambassador Imran mentioned that Bangladesh attained huge progress in all fields in the last one and a half decades under the visionary and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He said during the period, many positive achievements and changes took place in the country.
The country will reach to a unique height, if we could share these success stories with everyone and spread those across the globe, he added.
He also briefly highlighted various consular services now being provided by the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC.
Dhaka urges Thimphu to rekindle BBIN MVA framework to promote prosperity
In his speech, CEO and Managing Director of Sonali Bank Md. Afzal Karim discussed the various activities of the country’s largest state-owned bank to reach the bank services to the people’s doorsteps.
A large number of expatriate Bangladeshis living in Washington DC and its adjoining states joined the event.
Counsellor and Head of Chancery Shamima Yeasmin Smrite conducted the function.
PM opens ‘Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Battery Complex' in Ctg
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday (April 21, 2024) inaugurated newly constructed 'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Battery Complex' at Halishahar cantonment in Chittagong.
She inaugurated this complex at the Artillery Center and School in Chittagong's Halishahar Cantonment.
After the inauguration, the Prime Minister visited the Artillery Museum established at the newly constructed 'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Battery Complex'.
Read more: PM Hasina rues lackings in extraction of sea resources despite potentials
She also witnessed sculpture of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman installed at the museum.
She also saw the historic 3.7 inch howitzer that fired the first shot of Mujib Battery in the War of Liberation, the ammunition used in the artillery regiment and replicas of all the cannons and the glorious history of the remarkable operations of the artillery forces in the great Liberation War.
Later, the Prime Minister attended Darbar there.
Read more: PM Hasina urges farmers to form cooperatives to boost agri production
Donations at Pagla Masjid break all previous records, thanks to Ramadan extension
Cash donations from the faithful at Pagla Masjid, a 250-year-old mosque in Kishoreganj, shattered all previous records, clocking Tk 7,78,67,537 (7 crore 78 lakh 67 thousand 537), an increase of nearly Tk 1.5 crore over last time, by the time counting finally wrapped up well past midnight on Saturday.
The final amount, rounded off to Tk 7.79 crore, was officially announced at 2am Sunday.
The previous highest, recorded in December 2023, had been Tk 6.32 crore, from 23 sacks of the 9 donation boxes of the mosque.
This time the 9 boxes yielded 27 sackloads of cash, apart from stones including gold jewellery, some foreign currency, and assorted items, which escape valuation.
Rupali Bank’s Kishoreganj corporate branch manager Md Rafiqul Islam, who was present till the end, verified the numbers for reporters.
Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner and President of Pagla Mosque Committee Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad and Superintendent of Police Mohammad Rasel Sheikh were present during the opening of the boxes on Saturday morning.
Under the supervision of six executive magistrates, including Additional District Magistrate Kazi Mahua Momtaz, 70 bank officials and employees, 34 teachers and 102 students of Pagla Mosque and Madrasa then started counting money.
Among the other items found, a forlorn lover’s prayer for God to bring him and the object of his affection together caused much fanfare throughout the day.
UNB is withholding their names since the communication was meant for God.
Shaukat Hossain, administrative officer of the mosque, had earlier confirmed to UNB that a new record had been set by evening already.
“According to the latest information, after counting till 8:30 tonight, we already have a new record for the highest money received in the history of Pagla Masjid,” Hossain said.
Although he added that the mosque authorities were anticipating crossing the Tk 8 crore mark, ultimately that wasn’t to be. Tk 7.79 crore is not far off though, and the authorities will be more than satisfied.
A new record had been anticipated this time given the steady upward trend noticed in the last year or two. On top of that the donation boxes that are usually opened every three months at the mosque, this time got four months and 10 days - nearly 40 days more - due to the holy month of Ramadan.
Tk 7 crore and counting: Donations at Pagla Masjid break all previous records
The counting of donations at Pagla Masjid, a 250-year-old mosque in Kishoreganj, has shattered all previous records. With some sacks still left, by 7:30pm on Saturday night, the total count had already crossed Tk 7.38 crore (7 crore 38 lakh).
The previous highest on record, in December 2023, had been Tk 6.32 crore, from 23 sacks of the 9 donation boxes of the mosque.
This time the 9 boxes yielded 27 sackloads of cash, apart from stones including gold jewellery, some foreign currency, and assorted items, which escape valuation.
Read more: Amid support and challenges, mosque for hijra community opens in Mymensingh
Shaukat Hossain, administrative officer of the mosque, confirmed the matter to the UNB correspondent.
“According to the latest information, after counting till 8:30 tonight, we already have a new record for the highest money received in the history of Pagla Masjid,” Hossain said.
He added that the mosque authorities are anticipating the count may even cross the Tk 8 crore mark this time around.
Read more: Top 10 Historical Mosques in Bangladesh
Trade through Tamabil land port resumes after 2-day suspension for Indian election
Export-import and immigration activities through Tamabil land port in Sylhet resumed on Saturday after two days of suspension due to India's Lok Sabha election.
Runu Mia, in-charge of Tamabil Immigration Police, said the import-export and immigration activities at Tamabil land port remained suspended on Thursday and Friday on the occasion of the 18th general election of India.
Fire guts 1O houses in Chandpur
From Saturday (April 20) morning, import-export and visa-holding passengers have started travelling through the port, he added.
The 18th general election of India is being held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1.
Saudi expat killed in Chandpur road crash
The voting was held in the first phase on April 19 in the two Lok Sabha seats of Meghalaya state, India, located opposite to Tamabil land port.
10 hurt as Karnafuli 3 launch catches fire in Chandpur
At least 10 people including women and children were injured as a Dhaka-bound launch from Bhola, the Karnafuli-3, caught fire in the middle of the Meghna river in Majherchar area in Chandpur's Haimchar on Saturday (April 20, 2024).
Md Shahadat Hossain, deputy director of Chandpur BIWTA, said the fire broke out around 11:30am due to a technical glitch.
At the time, 10 people were injured in the launch fire incident as they panicked and jumped into the river, he added.
The stranded passengers of Karnaphuli-3 were being taken to Dhaka through Karnaphuli-4 launch.
Read more: Banani slum fire under control
On information, our investigation team along with the fire service rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control, he added.
However, the reason behind the fire could not be known immediately.
The injured were treated locally.
Meanwhile, senior police officers of Naval Police Chandpur region visited the spot soon after the incident, added the officer.
Read more: TK Group’s super board manufacturing factory catches fire in Munshiganj
Body of Navy person recovered 8 hrs after going missing in Muhuri River
The body of a member of Bangladesh Navy who went missing while taking a bath in the Muhuri River in Feni on Saturday (April 20, 2024) afternoon has been recovered after more than 8 hours.
The deceased Abul Hasan was the son of Abul Khair of Dhanikunda village of Parshuram upazila. He was posted at Chittagong Naval Basecamp.
Abul Hasan along with his friends went to take a bath at the ghat adjacent to Nazir's house on the Muhuri river around 2pm on Saturday for some relief from the scorching heat.
Read more: Bangladeshi siblings drown in Sea of Oman
Suddenly, Abul Hasan presumably drowned and went missing. Failing to find him, his friends informed the Parashuram Fire Service.
Despite a lot of searching, the members of the Fire Service failed to rescue the missing Abul Hasan.
Later, a diving team from Chattogram joined the rescue operation and managed to recover the body around 9:20pm.
Mohammad Shahadat Hossain Khan, officer-in-charge (OC) of Parashuram Police Station, said the body would be sent to Feni General Hospital morgue for an autopsy.
Read more: No concrete bridge for 20,000 inhabitants in Feni, Noakhali for over 22 years
Coordination between power transmission, distribution system being done rapidly to ensure uninterrupted supply: Nasrul Hamid
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said coordination between the power transmission and distribution systems is being made rapidly to ensure uninterrupted supply.
“Internal technical faults are being repaired on a priority basis and special emphasis is being laid on uninterrupted supply of primary to the power plants”, he said while visiting Ashuganj Power Station Company Ltd (APSCL) on Saturday.
He noted that said this summer's electricity demand may be 17500 MW.
Nasrul Hamid said the government is determined to provide uninterrupted power even if the demand increases.
He said the government will meet the demand through uninterrupted power supply. “The only challenge in this regard is the financing”.
The state minister directed the power plant officials to work in a coordinated manner and said that if there is any problem in transmission or distribution system, it should be reported to the authorities quickly.
Ashuganj Power Station Company Ltd. is a government owned public limited company and the largest power hub in Bangladesh.
The current total power generation capacity of its 6 units is 1584 MW. The goal of Ashuganj Power Station Company Ltd. is to increase the power generation capacity from the current 1584 MW to 3302 MW by the year 2030.
APSCL officials said the company has been adopting the principle of Corporate Social Responsibility from the place of responsibility to the society.
During 2022-23, the APSCL spent Tk 33 lakh on CSR activities. APSCL has also played a major role in education and healthcare last year.
Among others, Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Managing Director AKM Gauch Mohiuddin Ahmed, APSCL Managing Director Sayed Ekram Ulla and A2I (Aspire to Innovate) Program Policy Advisor Anir Chowdhury were present on the occasion.
Govt cutting general hajj package cost by over Tk 1 lakh: Religious Affairs Minister
Addressing the firm determination to provide best service to hajj pilgrims, Religious Affairs Minister Md Faridul Haque Khan said on Saturday that this year the government has reduced the cost of general hajj package compared to the last year despite the high price of dollar against local currency.
“We are sincere so that the hajj pilgrims of this country can perform the hajj at a reasonable cost,” he said.
The religious minister said this while inaugurating ‘Hajj pilgrims training 2024’ at Osmani Smriti Auditorium in Dhaka.
He informed that they are reducing the price by Taka 1, 04,178 for government hajj package while Taka 82,818 for private hajj package.
Minister Faridul said the government is working to ease the official works of pilgrims and it (government) is determined to provide best service to them.
He said the training has been arranged for the pilgrims so that they can perform the hajj following proper religious rules. Skilled trainers have been selected for the training.
Putting forward the importance of the hajj before the intended pilgrims, he said the hajj was made mandatory for one time for every Muslim in life.
Chaired by the ministry’s secretary Md A Hamid Zamadder, Additional Secretary (hajj) Md Matiul Islam, Additional Secretaries Md Nayeb Ali Mandal and Dr Md Manjurul Haque and Dhaka Hajj Office director Muhammad Kamruzzaman, among others, spoke on the occasion.