The interim government has no plan to lift the prevailing bans on extremist groups Hizb ut-Tahrir and Ansarullah Bangla Team, according to the Chief Adviser's (CA) Press Wing. The clarification comes in response to a social media post by exiled writer Taslima Nasreen, who alleged that the interim government had lifted the ban on these groups. “Recently, Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen posted on Twitter, asserting that the interim government had lifted the ban on two specific groups. Her claim is not correct. The Bangladesh government has no intention of lifting the ban on these groups, which have been prohibited for decades, along with other extremist organizations,” Chief Adviser's Press Wing added. The interim government, led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, has upheld a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of extremism in the country.

Director General of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection Alim Akhter Khan on Tuesday said eggs must be sold at the government-fixed rates from Wednesday. During a meeting with egg producers and suppliers on Tuesday afternoon, the DG said from Wednesday, the price of each egg at the production level will be Tk 10.91, at the wholesale level Tk 11.01, and at the retail level Tk 11.87. Read: Govt permits import of 40.5 million eggs to stabilise market The consumers will get a dozen of egg at Tk 142.44 from now, he said. Alim said from now on, there will be no involvement of middlemen in the egg market.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said the interim government, formed through a mass uprising of students-labourers-people, is firmly committed to identifying and solving the issues like negligence to children, child labour, malnutrition and child marriage that hinder the proper development of children. "If the children grow up with the spirit of love, compassion and free thinking, they will be able to play a positive role in building the future Bangladesh," he said, adding that today's children will become tomorrow's artists, writers, philosophers, economists, scientists, doctors and engineers. Prof Yunus made the remarks in a message marking the World Children's Day-2024 that is being observed on October 7. In 2024, World Children's Day calls on adults to listen to the future. "By listening to children, we can fulfil their right to self-expression, understand their ideas for a better world and include their priorities in our actions today," said UNESCO. Read: 105 children killed in July-Aug uprising: Adviser Sharmin Murshid On the occasion of the celebration of World Children's Day 2024' in Bangladesh, Prof Yunus expressed love and affection to all the children of the world including Bangladesh. At the dawn of the construction of a new Bangladesh, the importance of observing the World Children's Day has reached a new level, he said. "Children are the architects of prosperous Bangladesh. It is the responsibility of all of us to give importance to proper development of children to build Bangladesh anew," Prof Yunus said. Therefore, he said, there is no alternative to proper environment, education, safety, nutrition and healthy entertainment in the physical, mental and cultural development of children. Prof Yunus hoped that the programmes undertaken to celebrate 'World Children's Day 2024' will contribute to the overall development of children. Read more: 70% of children in Bangladesh face discrimination, says Kochi Konther Asar "May all the children of the world, including Bangladesh, grow up in safe and loving care - this is my hope today. I wish World Children's Day and Children's Rights Week 2024 a success," he said.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the government itself is carrying out the fire incidents in different markets to mislead people. "You (govt) have failed (to ensure safety to public life and property) as you don’t monitor anything. There are fires everywhere every day. You are behind this fire,” he said. Speaking at a demonstration programme, the BNP leader said the government is trying to divert people’s attention from the people’s demand for lowering the prices of daily essentials, fertiliser, and the demand for credible election and the restoration of voting rights. “That’s why you (govt) are carrying out the fire incidents in different markets.” Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club to protest against the ‘unusual’ increase in the price of fertilisers. About the fire in New Super Market, Fakhrul said the government is trying to involve BNP in the fire to shift the blame onto the opposition party. Fakhrul said the affected traders of the New Super Market themselves told the media that some people wearing the uniform of Dhaka South City Corporation were demolishing the foot-over bridge in front of the market around 5:30am. “The traders said they saw for themselves that fire broke out from the electricity line being used by the City Corporation employees during the demolition work of the bridge.” He also the employees of the city corporation fled the scene after being failed to control the fire that spread to the market. “I am not saying this because it is the words of market traders. The person in charge of the City Corporation now belongs to the Awami League. So the Awami League and this government are completely responsible for the incident.” Quoting experts, Fakhrul said the incidents of fire are growing due to environmental hazards and wrong policies. “This government is allowing construction of buildings everywhere and turning any building into markets anywhere.’ He said the ruling party ‘cadres’ set up illegal shops in markets by taking extortion money, making the markets unsuitable for people to move. The BNP leader questioned who permitted to set up hundreds of shops on the second floor of the New Market where there is no fire extinguishing system. “The shops were set up by bribing the Awai League leaders there.” A massive fire broke out at Dhaka’s New Super Market --next to New Market-- around 5:40 am on Saturday and it gutted over 1,000 shops.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that the government has initiated a move to expedite the gas exploration and production activities in the country to increase the primary fuel supply. “All the planning is being undertaken targeting to build a developed Bangladesh by 2041”, he told a seminar on energy security at the Bangladesh Business Summit 2023 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city on Sunday. He said the country has already achieved a target to reach electricity to all the doorsteps. “Now we have one hundred percent access to electricity”, he said adding that the government is now working to ensure an uninterrupted power supply.   Abul Kalam Azad, former principal secretary to the Prime Minister, made a keynote presentation on the present state of energy security, future initiatives and the challenges of renewable energy at the seminar. Power secretary Habibur Rahman, president of International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh Mahbubur Rahman, Summit Group chairman Mahbubur Rahman, GE Gas Power South chief executive officer Asia Deepesh Nanda, and Max Group chairman Golam Mohammad Alamgir also spoke on the occasion while eminent energy expert Prof Ijaz Hosain moderated the event.  Nasrul Hamid said that the development activities of Bangladesh should be taken considering the context of Bangladesh. Electrification in remote areas has expanded area-based development. As a result, he said, a balanced development is ensured. He also discussed natural gas, LNG, LPG, future electricity and energy planning, mineral coal, fuel mix, clean energy, energy conservation, and versatile sources of energy at the seminar.

The government  has asked the people not to go for panic buying as there would be no crisis in the supply of essential commodities during the month of Ramadan. “We’ve enough food grains and essential commodities in the market. I would like to tell all so that none should go for panic-buying or purchase a large quantity of commodity at a time," PM’s Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah told reporters after a meeting on Sunday. The meeting was held in the Prime Minister’s Office to review the supply situation of the essential goods prices of commodities, electricity supply and law and order during the Ramadan month, as well as the mass exodus during the Eid-ul Fitr. The Principal Secretary chaired the meeting, while high officials from different ministries and agencies including senior secretaries of the commerce ministry and public security division attended it. "According to available information received from different ministries, this year the stock of food grains is much higher than any time in the past. We’ve enough food grains in stock ahead of Ramadan, which is a matter of satisfaction for us,” said Tofazzel Hossain. He said the authorities concerned were directed to ensure the proper supply chain of essential commodities during Ramadan. He hoped that the price of sugar would decline during Ramadan as the government has already reduced duty and withdrawn tariffs on sugar import. The import of sugar will be much higher ahead of Ramadan due to the measures taken by the government. Besides, the open market sale (OMS) will be continued as usual, while the TCB will sell essential commodities including edible oil, sugar, rice, onion and chickpeas (chhola). The TCB will also sell dates in Dhaka city, he said. Some 10 crore people will be benefited with the sale of essential commodities (at subsidised rates) under the two food programmes ahead of the Ramadan and the Eid-ul Fitr, he said. Tofazzel said the government will take tough action against if anyone tries to hoard commodities and mounts public sufferings during the Ramadan. Electricity supply to be normal: The Principal Secretary said the electricity supply will be normal during Ramadan. The authorities concerned asked to ensure proper electricity supply during Iftar and Sehri as well as for irrigation after 11pm following an appropriate rationing system. About mass exodus during the Eid-ul Fitr, he said the authorities were asked to ensure smooth and safe journey of the home-goers by identifying and solving problems after visiting the local spots.

The government has announced to provide financial assistance to the victims of Sitakunda oxygen plant fire that claimed lives of six people and injured 50 others. State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian made the announcement on Sunday. She also expressed deep shock over the loss of lives in the fire. The government also announced Tk 25,000 for the burial of the deceased while Tk 2 lakh to the family members of each deceased. Besides, Tk 50,000 was announced for the treatment of the injured victims. Read more: Sitakunda oxygen plant fire: Death toll rises to 6 Already the cheques were handed over to the relatives of the deceased and injured victims. Six people were killed and 50 others injured in an explosion at Seema Oxygen Plant around 4:30 pm on Saturday. Among the injured, 30 were admitted to Chittagong Medical College and hospital (CMCH) hospital. A four-member committee was formed to look into the explosion.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Thursday held a meeting with the World Bank regarding the implementation of a sustainable plastic management action plan to prevent plastic pollution in the country. At the same time, discussions were held with Lafarge Holcim regarding the implementation of Geocycle, a modern waste management system. Presided over by Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, the meeting was attended, among others, by Additional Secretary (Climate Change) Md Moniruzzaman, Additional Secretary (Environment) Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik, Additional Secretary (Environmental Pollution Control) Md Mizanur Rahman, the World Bank's senior environmental expert Yoon Ju Alison Yee and Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) Executive Director Syeda Rizwana Hasan. Read: Anti-plastic laws not being implemented: Speakers At the meeting, on behalf of the World Bank, proposals were presented on policies and financing mechanisms for implementing the Sustainable Plastic Management Action Plan. The meeting also informed that the World Bank is preparing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as part of the implementation of the action plan. Syeda Rizwana Hasan spoke on the draft guidelines of EPR on plastics. Kaushik Mukherjee, head of LafargeHolcim's Geocycle Division, presented the Geocycle waste management approach to control pollution. Kaushik said LafargeHolcim is implementing the method of burning garbage without any residue in a furnace with a temperature of 80°C-2,000°C. The Geocycle process burns 100% of the waste, and because it uses garbage instead of fossil fuels, the process does not produce greenhouse gases, he said. Praising the Geocycle system, Dr Farhina Ahmed said the government will implement it if it is found to be environmentally friendly and feasible after on-site inspections. "The necessary guidelines for the implementation of the Sustainable Plastic Management Action Plan will be formulated in consultation with all concerned", she added.  

The Development Organisation of the Rural Poor, a leading local non-governmental organization, urged the government to pass the draft amendment of tobacco control act and ban all types of electronic cigarettes at the earliest to make the country tobacco-free by 2040 on Wednesday. "Tobacco companies are spreading rumours against the amendment of tobacco control act. We request the government to revise the act without any delay," Deputy Executive Director of the organisation Mohammad Zobayer Hasan said at a press conference at the National Press Club in the capital.  Read more: Reinforce tobacco laws to save young generation: Speakers Referring to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2017, he said at least 35.3% of people aged over 15 are directly consuming tobacco, while 18% are passive smokers and 20.6% are smoke-free tobacco consumers. "Every day, the country sees 444 deaths on average due to tobacco consumption," Zobayer Hasan added.  Member of Parliament from Sirajganj-3 constituency Professor Dr Md Abdul Aziz, Former Dhaka Medical College Orthopaedics Department head Professor Dr Md Shah Alam, Development Organisation of the Rural Poor Executive Advisor Md Azhar Ali Talukder, among others, were present at the event organised to discuss the role of the media in tobacco control.

The government will issue health ID cards for every Bangladeshi, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque on Tuesday .  The minister said this while speaking at the ‘BSRF Dialogue’ organized by Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Media Center at the Secretariat. He said the DPP (development project proposal) regarding this has been submitted to the Planning Commission. “I also talked to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina regarding this and am waiting for her approval,” he added. Also Read: No unauthorised clinics in Dhaka city, health minister tells JS He said  the health cards will contain of all necessary medical records of a patient. He said the newly inaugurated Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Super Specialized Hospital will start full-scale operations on January 23. “During my tenure, hospital beds were increased from 21 to 50 in 30 hospitals and from 50 to 100 in another five. In the last four years, seven medical assistance training centers and five medical colleges have been established. Projects for another five medical colleges are ongoing,” he said. BSRF president Tapan Biswas presided over the dialogue while its secretary Masudul Haq moderated it.