United News of Bangladesh

With war raging next door in Ukraine, rising migration pressure on its borders, Russian sabotage in the region, and growing uncertainty over the United States' long-term commitment to European security, Poland heads to the polls Sunday for a pivotal presidential election. Voters will not only be choosing a new head of state, but also weighing in on the strength of Poland's democracy and its role within the European Union. A key responsibility for the next president will be preserving close ties with the U.S., seen by many as vital to Poland’s stability in an increasingly turbulent geopolitical environment. Crowded Field Points to Likely Runoff The election is taking place in a Central European nation of 38 million, as conservative incumbent Andrzej Duda prepares to leave office at the end of his second and final five-year term in August. With 13 candidates in the running, a clear winner in the first round appears unlikely. Some contenders have drawn criticism for extreme or unserious positions, including openly pro-Putin or antisemitic rhetoric. A recent televised debate lasted nearly four hours, prompting calls for stricter rules to enter the race. Polls suggest a likely runoff on June 1 between two frontrunners: Rafał Trzaskowski, the liberal mayor of Warsaw, and Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian backed by the Law and Justice party, which ruled Poland from 2015 to 2023. A nation at the front line Poland’s geography gives the election added importance. Bordering Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, Belarus and war-torn Ukraine — as well as several Western allies — Poland occupies a critical position along NATO’s eastern flank and serves as a key logistics hub for military aid to Ukraine. There are growing fears that if Russia prevails in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it could target other countries that freed themselves from Moscow’s control some 35 years ago. Against that backdrop, the election will shape Warsaw’s foreign policy at a moment of mounting strain on trans-Atlantic unity and European defense. Both leading candidates support continued U.S. military engagement in Europe. Trzaskowski puts greater emphasis on deepening ties with the European Union, while Nawrocki is more skeptical of Brussels and promotes a nationalist agenda. When Law and Justice held power, it repeatedly clashed with EU institutions over judicial independence, media freedom and migration. Why the presidency matters While Poland is a parliamentary democracy, the presidency wields significant influence. The president serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, holds veto power, shapes foreign policy and plays a symbolic role in national discourse. Under Duda, the office largely advanced the conservative agenda of Law and Justice. Since Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist coalition came to power in late 2023, Duda has blocked key reforms aimed at restoring judicial independence and repairing relations with the EU. India cuts ties with Turkey amid growing boycott calls over Pakistan row “The stakes are enormous for the ruling coalition and for those concerned with the future of Polish democracy,” said Jacek Kucharczyk, president of the Institute of Public Affairs, a Warsaw think tank. “This is about democratic reform and restoring the rule of law — and that can only happen with cooperation from the next president.” The election is also pivotal for Law and Justice, Kucharczyk noted: “Its future as a dominant political force may hinge on the outcome.” Two visions for Poland Both Trzaskowski and Nawrocki have pledged to support Ukraine and maintain strong defense ties, but their visions for Poland diverge sharply on the role of the EU and domestic social policy. Trzaskowski, 52, is a former presidential contender and a senior figure in Civic Platform, the centrist party led by Tusk. He is running on a pro-European platform and has pledged to defend judicial independence and rebuild democratic institutions. Supporters describe him as a modernizer who represents a cosmopolitan, outward-facing Poland. He speaks foreign languages, has marched in LGBTQ+ parades and appeals to younger, urban voters. Trzaskowski’s progressive views highlight an evolution of the once more conservative Civic Platform. Nawrocki, 42, represents how the party backing him, Law and Justice, is turning further to the right as support for the hard right grows. Nawrocki, who is not a Law and Justice party member, heads the state-backed Institute of National Remembrance, which investigates Nazi and communist-era crimes. He has drawn praise from conservatives for dismantling Soviet monuments and promoting patriotic education, but he faces criticism for inexperience and playing on anti-German and other resentments. He has also been embroiled in some scandals. Earlier this month, Nawrocki met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House — a symbolic moment welcomed by Law and Justice-friendly media as proof that he would be the best man for keeping the relationship with the United States strong. Critics viewed it as interference by Trump’s administration. This week Nawrocki was joined on the campaign trail by Romanian nationalist George Simion, who faces a runoff vote for the presidency on Sunday. Simion is viewed by critics as pro-Russian, leading Tusk to tweet: “Russia is pleased. Nawrocki and his pro-Russian Romanian counterpart George Simion on the same stage five days before the presidential elections in Poland and Romania. Everything is clear.“    

"Seeds for the Future," a CSR programme by Chinese telecom giant Huawei is back for aspiring science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM students. Registration is open now, and interested students can now register for "Seeds for the Future 2022 Bangladesh" by contacting their universities. This year, Huawei will organise the event for the eighth time.   To initiate Seeds for the Future 2022 Bangladesh, roadshows are being arranged at the participating universities this month. Recently two roadshows were organised at the University of Dhaka (DU), and the Islamic University of Technology (IUT). This year DU, the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, IUT, Brac University, East-West University and Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology will take part in Seeds for the Future. The roadshows will gradually be held at other universities. Jason Lizongsheng, board member of Huawei Bangladesh, said: "We believe in empowering and facilitating the youth. That's why we have different programmes meant to help the youth gather knowledge and develop ICT-related skills. Seeds for the Future is one such programme." Launched in Bangladesh in 2014, Seeds for the Future has been nurturing ICT talents since its inception and become popular among academics as well as students.

At the same time that the country’s overall daily natural gas production witnessed a fall of 79.2 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) in last one year, the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) registered a rise by 85.9 mmcfd.  This is revealed in Petrobangla data against the reality that currently 20 percent of the total gas supply has to be met by import while the country is consuming gas of about 2,898.8 mmcfd against a demand for 4610 mmcfd. A comparison of data from Petrobangla—the state-owned hydrocarbon corporation—shows that the country produced 2,898.8 mmcfd gas on December 2 this year against 2,978.0 mmcfd on the same day in 2020. The production capacity, however remained static at 3,760 mmcfd as it did not witnessed any fall or rise in last one year against the backdrop of lack of exploration activities. The data shows the country witnessed only 6.2 mmcfd increase in the gas production at the government-run 18 gas fields as their daily production was recorded at 851.7 mmcfd against 845.5 mmcfd in 2020. READ: Experts suggest use of abandoned Sangu platform as storage for imported LNG On the other hand, the production at the international oil company-operated 4 gas fields fell by 171.3 mmcfd as they produced 1499.2 mmcfd against the 1670.5 mmcfd in the same period. The import, however, registered a rise by 85.9 mmcfd to 547.9 mmcfd on December 2 in 2021 from 462.0 mmcfd in the same day 2020 against an import capacity of 1000 mmcfd which was also the same in 2020. Energy experts have been blaming the government’s lack of interest in local hydrocarbon exploration, coupled with a seeming eagerness toward import of LNG, for the current situation.   According to the annual report published by the International Group of LNG Importers (GIIGNL), Bangladesh ranked 15th among the nations in the world that increased their LNG imports most in 2020. Expressing grave concern over the country’s energy situation, energy expert and former professor of Chemical Engineering Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) Dr Ijaz Hossain said Bangladesh is moving towards a dangerous situation as Petrobangla has failed to conduct necessary exploration in hydrocarbon sector. “Currently, we’re importing 20-25 percent of gas as LNG from abroad. If there’s no discovery within the next 10 years, we will have to import more than 90 percent gas from foreign sources,” he told UNB.       “The government has to ensure at least 15 percent drilling -- 5 drilling by Petrobangla and 10 drilling by foreign companies -- to avert the future crisis. Dr Ijaz also said there might be the influence of vested interest groups for increasing LNG import, but the government has to take the right decision to increase exploration works. As per the country’s Gas Master Plan 2017, the demand will increase to 5257 MMCFD in 2022-23, 6228 MMCFD in 2024-25 to meet the needs of different sectors, including power and industry, in line with average 7 percent economic growth. According to a forecast by Petrobangla, the country’s gas production from the local fields will be depleting and imports will continue to rise to meet the growing demand in power, industry and other sectors. Petrobangla’s Annual Report 2020 says the country’s total initial recoverable proven plus probable gas reserve of 27 fields has been estimated to be at 28.29 trillion cubic feet (TCF). Up to December, 2020, as much as 18.24 TCF gas was produced, leaving only 10.05 TCF of recoverable gas in 2P category. Currently, 20 gas fields are in production with 105 wells on-stream. Energy expert and professor of the BUET’s petroleum and mineral resources engineering department Dr M Tamim said current situation is the result of the Petrobangla’s failure to make any initiative for exploration in last 7 years since the country’s maritime boundary disputes with neighbours were settled in 2014. READ: 40 pc imported LNG remains unused for transmission constraints The Petrobangla data reveals that the four gas field operated by US-based company Chevron and UK-based Tullow have been producing about 40 percent of the country’s total gas from their four fields—Chevron’s Jalalabad (209.8 mmcfd), Maulavibazar (19.6 mmcfd), Bibiyana (1200 mmcfd) and Tullow’s Bangora (90.9 mmcfd). The state-owned Petrobangla has been operating 18 gas fields of which Titas has been producing the highest amount of 396.4 mmcfd which is followed by 158 mmcfd.