United News of Bangladesh

The government will finalise a plan on how educational institutions will operate with reduced electricity consumption amid the ongoing global energy crisis at the next cabinet meeting, said Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Sunday. “A decision on whether to introduce online classes will be taken at the highest policy-making level and the proposal would likely be placed before the cabinet after consultations with stakeholders.The Cabinet Division will brief the media,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat. The next cabinet meeting is scheduled for April 9 as meetings are usually held on Thursdays. Earlier, at a cabinet meeting on March 2, the government decided to reduce office hours by one hour to save energy, a measure that came into effect on Sunday. It also ordered shops and shopping malls to close by 6pm, along with suspending loans for government officials to purchase vehicles and cutting fuel allocations by 30 percent. Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani said the Education Ministry would issue separate guidelines for educational institutions taking into account the need for further discussions. The government is considering a blended system combining online and in-person classes to ensure learning continues without disruption, said the minister. “We are encouraging online education alongside physical classes, as the duration of the global energy crisis remains uncertain,” he said.  

The government has decided to reduce office hours and take a series of austerity measures to cope with the ongoing global energy crisis triggered by instability in the Middle East. The decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday night. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani announced the decisions at a briefing after the meeting. Under the new arrangement, all government and private offices will remain open from 9:00am to 4:00pm from Sunday, instead of the existing schedule. Banking hours will be from 9:00am to 3:00pm, while banks will close by 4:00pm. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani said the discussion mainly focused on how to tackle fuel and energy price volatility caused by disruptions in global supply chains due to the Middle East war “All offices have reduced working hours by one hour. Both public and private offices will operate from 9:00am to 4:00pm,” he said. As part of energy-saving measures, the Cabinet Secretary said all shops, markets and shopping malls will have to close by 6:00pm, although hotels, pharmacies, essential service outlets and kitchen markets will remain exempt. He also said specific directives regarding educational institutions would be issued from Sunday, considering various factors. The Cabinet Secretary said the government would implement austerity measures for the next three months to cut public expenditure. “No new vehicles, watercraft, aircraft or computer equipment will be purchased during this period,” he said. Ghani also said internal training programmes would be reduced by 50 percent, while all foreign training funded by the government would remain suspended until further notice. Expenditure on meetings and seminars will also be cut by 50 percent, he added. Ghani said government spending on fuel, electricity and gas will be reduced by 30 percent, while unnecessary travel expenses will also be curtailed by 30 percent. Besides, he said decorative lighting at social events, including weddings, has been prohibited as part of the energy-saving drive. The Cabinet Secretary said that efforts are also underway to increase fuel imports from alternative sources to ensure a stable supply. “Initiatives have already been taken to import fuel from Malaysia, Indonesia and Kazakhstan.” Besides, he said the government has taken a plan to introduce electric buses for school-going students instead of private cars. “Educational institutions that take part in the initiative will be able to import buses duty-free. The private sector will also get this facility, although a 20 percent duty will apply in commercial cases.” However, Ghani said no used buses will be allowed—only new buses can be imported. The Cabinet meeting began at around 8:45pm at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad complex and continued till about 11:30pm. Cabinet meetings are usually held at the Secretariat on Thursdays, but the venue was shifted to the Parliament complex due to the ongoing session of Parliament.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed not to organise large Iftar parties at the government-level during the upcoming Ramadan. She gave the instruction while chairing the Cabinet meeting at her office in the city. “There is an instruction from the Prime Minister and that is, no big iftar party can be arranged officially during the month of Ramadan,” said Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain. Read more: Govt sets Ramadan office timing from 9 am to 3:30 pm Replying to a question, he said the arrangement of large iftar parties at private level was also discouraged. “It has been said that if someone really wants, then the person should distribute foods among the poor people by purchasing the food with the money,” said the Cabinet Secretary. The holy month of Ramadan is scheduled to start from March 12 depending on sighting of the moon.  Read more: Ramadan prices of commodities will remain at tolerable level: PM Hasina tells Parliament

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday reiterated her directives to relevant authorities to redouble their efforts to raise food production and maintain a stock of sufficient foods amid looming global crisis in 2023. She made the call while presiding over the weekly Cabinet meeting at her office, according to a media briefing by Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam at the Secretariat. “The first and foremost task is that we all will have to make frantic efforts to raise food production. We’ve also prospects here,” Khandker Anwarul quoted the premier as saying. In the meeting, a FY 2021-22 report on ministries and divisions was placed and the Cabinet asked to take a number of initiatives to face any possible food crisis. The Cabinet gave an observation to increase food productions at any cost, said Anwarul Islam. “Our food storage is in a very comfortable situation. It will have to be kept in a comfortable position always,” he said, adding that the private sector has already permitted to import 15 lakh metric tons of foods. The Cabinet asked to avoid the import of foods, particularly supplementary items from third parties as much as possible. Read: Shun luxury and serve the people: PM Hasina tells elected Zila Parishads Besides, the Cabinet asked the authorities concerned for taking steps to raise remittance inflow and FDI, as well as not to send unskilled workers to overseas labour markets without training them as per demands of job markets. Meanwhile, the Cabinet in principle approved the draft of Bangladesh Dairy Development Board Act, 2022 in order to ensure quality dairy milks. As per the draft law, technical support and cooling storage facilities would be provided to the farmers for proper preservation or improved feeds for the animals. The meeting gave the final nod to the draft of Zoo Act, 2022, which was placed in a bid to ensure proper management of zoos and protection of wild animals there. Meanwhile, the Cabinet endorsed the draft of an agreement to complete immigration procedures of hajj pilgrims in Bangladesh instead of Saudi Arabia. As per the agreement titled “Cooperation Agreement on the Entry of Hajj Pilgrims,” the immigration procedures of Bangladesh hajj pilgrims would be completed here in Bangladesh regularly from now, said the Cabinet secretary. “The immigration procedures of Bangladesh hajj pilgrims were completed here last year due to Covid-19 pandemic. This time two sides have signed an agreement to complete the procedures here from now. It is a great achievement,” he said.  Read: PM on forex reserves: Better to spend on people's welfare than keep it idle The Cabinet also cleared the drafts of three agreements to be signed with Japan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The deals are “Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matter” to be signed between Bangladesh and Japan, and “Agreement on Abolishing Visa Requirements for the Holders of Diplomatic, Special and Official Passports between the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Government of the State of Qatar,” and “Security Cooperation Agreement between the Government of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.” The agreement with Japan would be signed when PM Hasina would go on a visit to Japan at the end of this month, said the Cabinet secretary, adding that this deal would enhance bilateral trade and strengthen institutional communication.

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam today (September 4, 2022) said that directive has been given once again about office timings. He was speaking at a briefing after the cabinet meeting. “According to the new timing, all government officials have to arrive at office within 8:00am and leave at 3:00pm. No one can leave office before the set time, except those who take permission from their bosses. We’re going to ensure this,” said Anwarul. Replying to a question, the Cabinet Secretary said that the new office timing will remain effective until further notice. The decision on the new office timing was taken at a cabinet meeting on August 22, which was implemented on August 24. Read: PM directs import of additional food grains About the Mother of Humanity Social Welfare Award, Anwarul said that the cabinet has decided to change its name. “Cabinet members were pressing to change the name of the award for a long time. Based on their proposal, the cabinet has approved a draft today according to which the new name of the award will be ‘National Human Development Medal-2022’,” said the Cabinet Secretary.   The Mother of Humanity Award was approved by the cabinet in 2018.

The Cabinet on Thursday approved in principle the draft of the Drugs Act, 2022 with harsher punishment for drugs related anomalies and offenses. Under the draft law, the punishment for such crimes will be  maximum 10-year jail with fine of Tk 10 lakh from maximum three-year jail  with fine of Tk two lakh fine in the existing law. The approval came from the Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who joined it through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban. Other cabinet members were connected from the Bangladesh Secretariat. Read: Cabinet clears draft law for private medical, dental colleges Briefing reporters, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said the highest punishment of 10-year imprisonment, Tk 10 lakh penalty or both was kept in several sections of the draft law. The offenses, for which the maximum punishment of 10-year jail and Tk 10 lakh fine were kept in the draft law, include producing or importing drugs without licenses; producing, importing, exporting, marketing, stocking, selling or showcasing drugs without registration; producing, selling, stocking or marketing adulterated drugs; and stealing and selling government’s drugs. Besides, the meeting gave the final endorsement to the draft of the State Acquisition and Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 2022 bringing a minor change in the existing law ease case backlog. There is a provision for a tribunal in the law. In the district level, assistant judge or senior assistance judge can be given the authority to settle the cases, while the district judge can act as the appeal authority until the formal tribunal is formed as per the draft law, he said adding that this minor amendment was brought. The Cabinet approved in principle the draft of the National Industry Policy, 2022 with a view to accelerating the economic progress of Bangladesh through industrialization with the balanced use of local raw materials and resources alongside cashing the facilities of the 4th industrial revolution. The meeting cleared the proposal for ratification of two agreements to be signed with Saudi Arabia and Serbia.   The deeds are the agreement between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters, and the agreement between Bangladesh and Serbia over Visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said that Japan’s assassinated Prime Minister Shinzo Abe always stood by Bangladesh and played a very significant role in the country’s economic development. “I can’t understand why a good personality like Abe was attacked and brutally killed,” she wondered. The prime minister said this while speaking on a condolence motion that was placed at Monday’s Cabinet meeting remembering Abe. The meeting was held at the cabinet room of the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat, while the PM joined it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban. Hasina paid tribute to Abe calling him as a very sensitive, patriotic and real politician. “The people of Bangladesh can never think that such heinous act of killing could happen in a country like Japan,” she said. She expressed profound shock and sorrow at the dreadful killing of Abe. Abe was fatally shot on July 8 while addressing a campaign rally in Japan’s Nara city. The PM mentioned that Bangladesh observed a day of state mourning, while prayers were offered in various religious institutions of the country for Abe. Hasina recalled that the late prime minister of Japan extended his support for Bangladesh in various international forums. Read: PM seeks Japan’s support in repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar “Besides, Shinzo Abe also stood beside Bangladesh for its development alongside ensuring Japan’s socio-economic advancement,” she added. She recalled that garments of Bangladesh and other products got duty-and-quota-free access to the Japanese markets thanks Shinzo Abe’s initiative, while he also played a crucial role for implementing various mega projects in Bangladesh. The premier mentioned Matarbari Power Plant, Deep Sea Port construction, Metro Rail in Dhaka and Third Terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport projects being implemented in Bangladesh with Japanese assistance. “Even the feasibility study of the Padma Bridge and Bangabandhu Bridge over Jamuna were also done by Japan,” she added. Referring to the Holey Artisan attack Hasina said, the then Japan’s Prime Minister Abe played a very bold role despite many Japanese working in the metro rail project were killed. She said, Abe made it sure that he would extend a helping hand towards Bangladesh although some people raised questions about running of the mega projects involving Japanese engineers and consultants. She hoped that the real mystery of Abe’s killing in a country like Japan would be unearthed.

The Cabinet on Monday directed the relevant authorities to find out why the rice price is so high during the peak harvest season. The directive came from the Cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at her office. The meeting decided to conduct drives against illegal rice hoarders like the recent drives carried out against the edible oil hoarders in the country, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam. Also read: Strict action if anyone tries to destabilise rice market: Food Minister “Today a directive was given to take quick action, if anyone is engaged in the unauthorized business and hoarding of rice,” he said, adding that prices of rice and oil were elaborately discussed at the meeting. Anwarul said the Cabinet instructed to go on action after conducting a market survey to know why the prices of rice went up in the full season and whether the rice is being hoarded and whether anyone is engaged in rice business illegally. He said there is information that some (businessmen or companies) might get engaged in rice business breaking the memorandum of association. So, the meeting asked to monitor and supervise the rice market strongly, he added. Also read: PM urges fixing war-disrupted global supply chains to tame rising prices An instruction was given to the commerce minister, the food minister, the commerce secretary, the food secretary and the agriculture secretary to sit in a meeting for conducting the market survey soon in order to find out the reason behind soaring rice price.

All the e-commerce firms will have to be registered with the Commerce Ministry within the next two months, according to a directive of the Cabinet. The directive came from a Cabinet meeting held virtually with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. She joined the meeting from her official residence Ganobhaban. Read:Registration is a must for E-commerce firms: Committee Other cabinet members attended the meeting from the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday directed the Home Minister to hunt down those who were involved in the recent communal attacks in the country and take stern action against them. “She has again given a clear instruction to the Home Minister to take stern action against those who were behind the incidents as soon as possible completing investigations,” said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam replying to a question at a briefing after the virtual Cabinet meeting. Read: Rangpur: 1 arrested in Joypurhat under DSA, 42 for arson He said the religious and political personalities were simultaneously requested to raise public awareness and not to react to anyone’s small twist of act. The Prime Minister chaired the Cabinet meeting joining it from her official residence Ganobhaban. Other cabinet members were connected from the Bangladesh Secretariat.