Dhaka-Cox's Bazar train will start operation by September this year, said Railway Minister Md. Nurul Islam Sujan on Tuesday. The Minister revealed the information at the iconic station building in Cox’s Bazar during a visit to Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar rail line construction work. Also Read: Padma Bridge Rail Link: 75% complete, on course for June 2024 handover He said, "Among the ten priority projects of the government, two are currently underway in the railway sector. The first one is the Padma bridge rail link project, and the second is Dohazari-Cox's Bazar new rail line construction project." Responding to questions regarding the potential challenges posed by the Kalurghat bridge, the minister assured that an expert team is diligently working on the renovation of the bridge. Also Read: Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar rail line to open this year: Railways Minister He said, "We have taken steps to renovate the bridge based on the recommendations of the expert team. There will be no obstacles to operating train once the necessary renovations are complete." The Dohazari-Cox's Bazar railway construction project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), involves the construction of a new 101 km dual gauge single line connecting Dohazari to Cox's Bazar via Ramu. Once completed, it will be connected with the Trans-Asian Railway Corridor.    

Bangladesh’s export income fell by 6.25 percent in September after a positive growth during the last 13 months, according to official figures. The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) released updated statistics on export earnings on Sunday. It said exports of agricultural products, frozen food, handicrafts, bicycles, and furniture decreased in the first three months of the current fiscal year. Bangladesh exported goods worth $3.9 billion last month (September), which is 6.25 percent less than the same period last year, the EPB data revealed. However, overall the exports in the first three months of the current financial year 2022-23 are in a positive trend and saw a growth of 13.38 percent. During this period, products worth $12.49 billion were exported in the first three months of current fiscal year that was worth $11.02 billion. Read: Bangladesh to stay safe, sustainable apparel sourcing destination: BGMEA Overall exports declined last month mainly due to a decline in apparel exports. The export of readymade garments was worth $3.16 billion in the previous month, which is 7.52 percent lower than in September last year. Exporting of both woven and knit garments declined last month. However, there is a 13.41 percent growth in apparel exports in the first three months of the current financial year. Exporters of readymade garments have said that inflation in the USA and EU countries has become dire due to the Russia-Ukraine war. People there have cut back on purchases other than fuel for cars and groceries. Because of that, foreign buyers are placing less orders for two to three months. Many companies were not allowing the shipment even after the products of the purchase order were ready, they said. BGMEA Director Md. Mohiuddin Rubel said on Sunday that BGMEA had already shared early indication of growth slowdown from September onwards, which is apparently reflected in export data for September.  The global retail market is disrupted by many challenges starting from post covid container freight and supply chain crisis, price hike of raw materials, and then anticipated recession in the global economy, which is halting retail sales and demand for clothing, he said.  Rubel said buyers were following cautious steps to make their inventory and supply chain optimum, so some of them are even holding back production and orders.  “Altogether it has been quite a fluid and vulnerable situation, where we have all the strengths and possibilities to grow given our sustainability and competitiveness strides, yet the global economic outlook makes it difficult to foresee something bright for the final quarter of the year 2022,” he added.

University Teachers' Network on Tuesday urged the authority to reopen universities from first week of September otherwise they announced to hold symbolic classes in open spaces protesting the closure. They proposed a roadmap on how to reopen campuses gradually during a virtual press conference conducted by Dhaka University Prof Gitiara Nasreen.According to the roadmap, the residential halls should be reopened immediately (from September 1) for honours and masters students. Once their exams are over, the other batches should get residential facilities step by step. "No examination can be taken without ensuring residential facilities. Students who will stay in the halls and those who will come from home should participate in exams in separate rooms to curb Covid-19 transmission," said Chittagong University Assistant Professor Maidul Islam while presenting the keynote paper. READ: Khulna University reschedules academic calendar After completion of the exams, there could be a "hybrid system", where students should get the opportunity to participate in classes -- both online and offline. Fifty percent of the students could join online and rest could start regular classes in the classroom. "If a student falls ill, he/she can join online," Maidul Islam added. According to the keynote paper, Covid-19 testing and vaccination for students should be installed at campus medical centres on a priority basis. The capacity of medical centres, along with isolation facility, should be upgraded. The University Teachers' Network also demanded starting an online teaching-learning management system for teachers and a separate committee in each university to train them. They demanded measures necessary for mental wellbeing of teachers and students and high-speed internet at low cost. Teachers also demanded identifying students who drop out and make arrangements for their safety net. READ: CU postpones exams, Dhaka students to return home by university bus Moreover,  some students of Dhaka University today protested the long closure and demanded immediate reopening of Dhaka University.The protesters threatened to go for tougher movement  if the university authority continue remaining closure."Universities failed to draw a roadmap to reopen universities. we want to say, reopen campuses immediately or we will go for tougher movement," protesters said at a human chain held at the base of Raju memorial sculpture at the university.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said educational institutions in the country will remain closed till September next if there is no improvement in the prevailing situation triggered by COVID-19.