Experts expressed concern over Bangladesh's entry into the International Energy Charter Treaty (IECT) as it may allow the foreign companies a free hand with their investment. Though Dhaka signed “International Energy Charter” on May 20 in 2015, it is still unclear if it approved the deal. Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan, professor at the International Relation Department of Dhaka University, voiced the concern while making a presentation at a dialogue with journalists at Bishwo Shahitto Kendro (BSK) organized by the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB). The keynote presentation was tiled: Bangladesh Energy Transition Policy and Energy Charter Treaty. Also read: TEI GET to promote renewable energy in Bangladesh Vice president of CAB Prof M Shamsul Alam, who presided over the function, said it’s not clear if Bangladesh has approved the charter and got full membership to the organization. "If Bangladesh approves the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), it will bring disaster to the country’s energy sector as the country will virtually lose its sovereign authority to control the foreign companies operating and those who will invest in the future,” he said.  Prof Tanzimuddin said a signatory to the ECT will have an obligation to allow foreign investment without any commitment to use local resources and equipment. As a result, the local resources and equipment, despite having all efficiency, will have no use in any project in Bangladesh. He said if the country wants to get out of the ECT, it will have to wait for 20 years as its obligation will exist for the period. He also noted that in case of dispute with any foreign investor, it has to be settled through an international arbitration court and the country has to share half of the cost no matter whether it loses or wins the legal battle. He said many signatories including Germany, Sweden and Hungary faced bad experience in dealing with foreign investment. Also read: Budget FY23: Power and energy receive reduced allocation of Tk. 26,066 crore Now, they are trying to get out of the ECT to regain control on foreign investment, he added.

Amid a global alarm over the new Omicron variant of Covid, authorities in Brahmanbaria have decided to hang red flags outside the houses of seven South Africa returnees. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the Corona Prevention Committee on Monday evening, chaired by district commissioner Hayat-Ud-Doula-Khan. Also read: Omicron: DGHS recommends enforcement of 15 instructions The committee also issued directions to the Akhaura land port authorities for ensuring strict screening of people entering the country. The committee also decided to initiate immediate steps to vaccinate the two lakh people waiting for the Covid shots. Recently, three residents of Kasba upazila, two of Sadar upazila, and one each from Bancharampur and Nabinagar upazilas in Brahmanbaria district returned from South Africa, where the new variant is said to have originated. Nearly two years into the Covid-19 pandemic, the world raced Friday to contain the new coronavirus variant potentially more dangerous than the one that has fuelled relentless waves of infection on nearly every continent. Also read: NTAC recommends travel ban to contain new variant Omicron A World Health Organization panel named the variant 'Omicron' and classified it as a highly transmissible virus of concern, the same category that includes the predominant Delta variant, which is still a scourge driving higher cases of sickness and death in Europe and parts of the US.