Eid
Over 1 crore families to get free rice before Eid
The government will distribute 100,330.540 metric tonnes of rice for free to more than one crore "ultra-poor and destitute families" ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
The food aid will be given to 10,033,054 vulnerable group feeding (VGF) cardholders across the country to mitigate the consequences of recent disasters like floods.
Read: No cattle market on roads and highways: Minister
Of the card holders, 8,779,203 are from 492 upazilas and 1,253,851 from 329 municipalities.
The disaster management and relief ministry Sunday issued a statement about the allocation.
Spice prices shoot up ahead of Eid despite sufficient stock
Despite having enough stock, traders have increased the prices of all kinds of spices ahead of Eid-ul Azha as usual.
Both wholesalers and retailers hiked the prices of ginger, garlic, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, cumin, turmeric and coriander and the low-income groups are bearing the brunt of this spike in prices.
SM Nazer Hossain, vice-president, Consumers’ Association of Bangladesh (CAB) told UNB that though there is enough stock of spices to meet the demand of Eid festival, the traders are increasing the prices of spices to make extra profit.
In absence of proper monitoring by the authorities concerned, some unscrupulous traders increase the prices of different commodities as demand rises ahead of different festivals, Nazer said.
Also read: No shortage of spices in market ahead of Eid: Spice Traders Association
Talking to UNB some traders said as the prices of almost all essential commodities have gone up and so prices of spices have also increased.
Besides, the traders blamed the Russia-Ukraine war and depreciation of taka against US dollar.
Md. Enayet Ullah, president of wholesale spice traders’ association, said that the prices of spices only were adjusted with exchange rate.
Onion, an essential kitchen item, was selling at Tk 60 to 65 per kg on Saturday in the kitchen markets of the capital, which was sold at Tk 35 to 40 per kg a week ago.
Similarly garlic was selling at Tk 120 to 160 per kg against Tk 100 to 120 per kg and ginger was selling at Tk100 to 160 per kg against Tk 80 to 120 a week ago.
Besides, local turmeric was selling at Tk 230 to 260 per kg, cumin at Tk 450 per kg, chilli (dried) at Tk 380 to Tk400.
Cardamom was selling at Tk 2,300 to 2400 per kg which was sold at Tk 2200 per kg a week ago, cinnamon was selling at Tk450 to 500 per kg, black pepper at Tk800 per kg, clove at Tk 1000 to 1200 per kg, cashew nuts at 850 to 1,200 per kg, nutmeg at Tk900 to 1000.
Also read: Spice market heats up
Contacted, officials of Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), a government market monitoring body, have acknowledged that the prices of spices have gone up recently.
Crescent moon sighted; Saudi Arabia to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha on July 9
Saudi Arabia will celebrate Eid-ul-Azha, the feast of the sacrifice, on July 9, as the crescent moon of Zilhajj was sighted Wednesday.
The sighting of the crescent moon of Zilhajj, the month in which the hajj pilgrimage takes place, was confirmed at the Tamir Observatory, near Riyadh, in the evening, according to the Saudi Supreme Court.
So, Thursday will be the first day of Zilhajj, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar.
The first day of Eid-ul-Azha, the second-largest religious festival for Muslims, will be on July 9 in most Arab and Muslim countries while many Southeast and South Asian countries will start the celebrations on July 10.
Usually, the crescent of Zilhajj is first sighted in Saudi Arabia and then a day later in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and some other countries.
Today, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong and Brunei announced July 10 as the first day of Eid-ul-Azha.
The religious festival marks the end of hajj and commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail on Allah's will.
Prophet Ibrahim was eventually given a lamb to sacrifice. So, Muslims perpetuate the tradition by slaughtering a lamb or a cow and sharing the meat with people in need.
This year's hajj will start on July 6 and Eid-ul-Azha will be three days later in Saudi Arabia.
Muslims around the world celebrate Eid-ul-Azha almost the same way with the morning being marked with Eid prayers and the slaughtering of sacrificial animals. The celebration last for three days.
Also read: 2,415 more Bangladeshis can perform Hajj this year
The oily confession and our ministers
The statement by the commerce minister that his big mistake was to trust oil traders around Eid on hoarding and price fixing was hilarious and scary at the same time. It showed anything can be done and blamed on the upbringing.
Also read:Dealers, retailers betrayed me on edible oil price: Commerce Minister
In the West, rapists do it commonly and even murderers do so blaming childhood trauma for their crimes committed later on. Our minister is not in the same sector but to say he trusted the traders who have a long history of economic crimes is extreme naiveté. That he was taught to trust others as a child hence the edible oil crisis could be stated and got away with only in Bangladesh where ministers matter less and less.
When he said that he had learnt to trust all and he found that the traders hadn’t kept their word on not hoarding and price fixing, he was admitting failure. What he is saying is that he didn’t know that they never planned to keep their word. And that’s the whole point. His job is not to trust but make sure disasters don’t happen whatever be their childhood trauma.
Thus like many who refuse to take responsibility for their acts he did nothing either. His prime role is to protect the interest of the consumer and not show nostalgia for his past. In the end, it sounded like the fault was not his but that of the hoarders only and perhaps his simple minded pious parents .
Also read:TTE suspension: Railway minister embarrassed by his wife’s involvement
The Minister being a hugely successful businessman himself should know how things happen in Bangladesh and act accordingly. At least this excuse doesn’t work as one in this case. The accusation against the business community has gone against himself. And as a result, the AL regime is being blamed as a party to the edible oil crisis.
What the Railway and the Commerce Ministry incidents have done is expose the level of commitment and competence the Ministers may have. Both came out looking poorer showing low levels of judgment. It will not go much against them as it really doesn’t matter who they are and what they do. But it will affect the regime and its leadership. Things can be done better and should have been than these rather shoddy displays of performance and even greater displays of creative excuses for not doing their jobs properly.
Joy of Eid ruined on perilous Bangladesh roads for some
Millions left the capital this year, as in every year, for their sweet native homes to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr after being forced to remain put for the last two years amid Covid pandemic.
However, reckless driving during the five days of Eid holiday from May 1 to 5 has claimed 139 lives in 112 road accidents, according to a recent report of the Road Safety Foundation.
Of the deceased, over 40 percent, or 56 were motorcycle riders, said RSF.
According to National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), three quarters (3/4) of the road crash patients admitted to hospital during the period were either riding motorcycles or three-wheelers like autorickshaw.
A UNB photojournalist caught glimpses of some of the unfortunate patients who had to spend at least part of their Eid vacation in NITOR cabins.
IBBL holds Eid reunion
Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) organised an Eid reunion in the capital Sunday.
Mohammed Monirul Moula, managing director and chief executive officer of the bank, spoke the programme as chief guest.
IBBL Additional Managing Director Muhammad Qaisar Ali presided over the event; Additional Managing Director Md Omar Faruk Khan delivered the welcome speech.
Also read: IBBL ICT wing holds discussion, hosts iftar party
The bank's deputy managing directors JQM Habibullah, Md Altaf Hossain, and Md Nayer Azam; Chief Risk Officer Mohammad Ali, Chief Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer Taher Ahmed Chowdhury, and Islami Bank Training and Research Academy Principal SM Rabiul Hassan were also present at the programme.
IBBL is a joint venture public limited company engaged in commercial banking business based on Islamic shariah. It is listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange and Chittagong Stock Exchange.
Bangladesh celebrates Eid as pandemic fades
Bangladesh on Tuesday celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the important religious festivals of the Muslims that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, with religious fervour.
Devotees offered Eid Jamaat at permanent and makeshift Eidgah maidans across the country, including in Dhaka, after a hiatus of two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the capital, the main Eid congregation was held at National Eidgah Maidan at 8am. Along with several politicians, Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh was present at the Eid Jamaat.
In Chattogram, two Eid congregations were held at Jamiyatul Falah Masjid Eidgah in the city at 8am and 9am, respectively.
Also Read: Hasina greets freedom fighters on eid
Deputy minister for education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, city Awami League president Mahtab Uddin Chowdhury, general secretary AZM Nasir Uddin, former city mayor Mir Nasir, and city Jatiya Party chairman Solaiman Alam offered Eid prayers at Jamiyatul Falah Masjid Eidgah.
In Barishal, the main Eid Jamaat in the city was held at Hemayetuddin Central Eidgah Maidan at 8.30am.
Barishal city mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah, divisional commissioner Amin-ul-Ahsan, deputy commissioner Jashim Uddin Haider, and city Awami League president AKM Jahangir, among others, attended the Eid congregation.
Celebrate Eid adhering to Covid-safety protocols: President Hamid
President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday urged people to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr adhering to all Covid-safety protocols "as the (coronavirus) situation may deteriorate any time".
"The (coronavirus) situation may deteriorate any time if people do not become aware of their movement and lifestyle at this moment," Hamid said.
The President said these while conveying Eid greetings to the countrymen through media at Bangabhaban’s Credential Hall after offering Eid prayers this morning.
Due to the Covid pandemic, no religious festival of any community, including Eid, could be celebrated and enjoyed in the expected joyous atmosphere in the last two years, Hamid said.
The President said the corona situation at present is very much under control, "so it is normal that people will have a tendency to enjoy unbridled joy now".
Also Read: Hasina greets freedom fighters on eid
"But you have to keep in mind one thing. The Covid-19 pandemic is under control but this lethal disease has not completely disappeared. Corona infections are on the rise again in many parts of the world. We must not invite danger while indulging in joy during the Eid celebrations," he said.
Hamid also urged the people to share the joy of Eid with all, rich and poor alike.
Noting that the current government is making continuous efforts to put a smile on the face of every citizen of the country, he said, "Before the Eid-ul-Fitr, 32,904 landless and homeless families were given houses as a gift from PM Sheikh Hasina."
"Everyone's pledge on this Eid-ul-Fitr is to make everyone smile by building a hunger-free, poverty-free and happy-prosperous Bangladesh," the President added.
Earlier, President Hamid offered Eid prayers at Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban.
The Eid jamaat (congregation) at Bangabhaban was held in the morning (9:30 am), President's press secretary Md Joynal Abedin told UNB.
The President usually attends the traditional Eid prayers in capital's National Eidgah Maidan but like the last two years, the programme has been scrapped due to the rise of Covid cases in some countries.
Also Read: President Hamid congratulates Macron on re-election
Overcrowded capital empties out before Eid
On the last day of Ramadan, capital Dhaka wore a deserted look as thousands of holidaymakers left the city to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with beloved family and friends.
Most homebound people were seen leaving Dhaka during the last four days.
On the second day of the four-day long Eid holiday, Monday, people and vehicles across the city were almost invisible, compared to usual.
In some areas, the empty haunted streets turned into playgrounds for children.
However, some people were seen going to bazars and shopping centres for their last-minute purchases.
Rickshaws and CNGs charged extra fares ahead of Eid.
Rows of buses were seen parked on roads in front of different bus terminals of the capital.
A last-minute shopper, Abdul Kader from Mirpur 12, said buses were not sufficient on the streets and the auto-rickshaws charged high fares. So it was difficult for him to manage transport through the city but he was happy that he didn’t have to be stuck in the jam for hours.
A pedestrian, Rafiqul Islam of Farmgate area said that people couldn’t celebrate Eid in full swing due to Covid-19 restrictions for the last two years. This year people are able to go home or travel to their desired places freely and that’s why the capital seemed more empty than other times.
What happened to the buses?
City dwellers since Saturday (Apr 30) faced a serious transport crisis for the lack of local buses, as most were converted to inter-district services carrying homebound people ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The number of local buses plying the city streets was very thin since Saturday morning, leaving many commuters to suffer long waits for transportation and forcing many of them to reach their destination on foot.
READ: Beef, chicken prices soar in Dhaka on Eid eve
Taking advantage of the sudden transport shortage in the city, passengers alleged that the bus operators, rickshaw pullers and the CNG auto-rickshaw drivers were charging excessive fares.
A leader of the Dhaka Road Transport Owners' Association said the number of buses had decreased in the capital as maximum city buses started carrying home-bound people, especially the garments workers towards northern and other districts from Thursday (Apr 29) night.
“Many of the buses that run in Dhaka went to the different districts carrying the homebound people to make some ‘extra trips,'" he said.
Number of people leaving Dhaka
Over 73 lakh SIM subscribers of different mobile operators left the city for their respective village homes in the last four days.
A total of 43,09,216 (over 43 lakh)SIM subscribers left the capital in two days, Posts,Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar shared through a Facebook post on Sunday.
He shared a chart provided by mobile operators that showed 1,932,990 mobile (over 19 lakh) SIM subscribers left the capital on April 29 and 2,376,226 (over 23 lakh)on April 30.
Of them, 1,862,136 were Grameenphone users; 1,176,340 Robi users, 1,124,732 Banglalink users, and 146,008 Teletalk users.
Mustafa Jabbar said approximately another 30 lakh SIM users left Dhaka in the previous two days.
4 killed, 15 injured in Kushtia clash a day before Eid
Four people were killed and 15 others injured in a clash between two rival groups of Awami League over establishing dominance in Astha Nagar village of Kushtia's Jhaudia union.
The deceased were identified as Kashem, 50, Laltu, 30, Rahim, 50 and Matiar, 40, of the same village.
Followers of Keramat Ali Biswas, president and former chairman of Jhaudia Union Awami League, clashed with the followers of Fazlu Mandal minutes before Iftar on Monday.
The four were reportedly killed by local weapons during the clash, police said.
READ: 1 killed, 15 injured as villagers clash in Faridpur's Saltha
Kushtia superintendent of police Md Khairul Alam said, four were killed and at least 15 people from both groups were injured in the clash.
“Of the injured, eight people in critical condition have been admitted to Kushtia General Hospital,” Khairul Alam added.
Tensions are running high in the area and additional police have been deployed, the SI added.