United News of Bangladesh

Speakers at a seminar on renewable energy on Wednesday observed that though there are a number of re-financing schemes for supporting export- oriented industries to take green measures, there is no dedicated funding facility from the central bank to support either renewable energy or energy efficiency. “There no dedicated funding facility from Bangladesh Bank for promoting renewable energy or energy effacing,” said Shafiqul Alam, lead energy analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) while making a keynote presentation at a seminar in the 2-day National Renewable Energy Conference and Green Expo-2024 that started at the Nawab Nawab Ali Senate Building in Dhaka University from Wednesday. Institute of Energy at the University Dhaka and Greentech Foundation are jointly organising the 24the national conference and expo in collaboration with USAID, SREDA, IDCOL, Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) and BSREA. Abdulkader ED Elrahal, chief of part of USAID, Bangladesh Advancing Development and Growth Through Energy (BADGE) Project, moderated the event while it was also addressed by Mohammad Hossain, Power Cell Director General, Nirod Chandra Mondal, Joint Secretary, Renewable Energy of the Power Division, Siddique Zobair, former member, Sreda, Engineer Naznin Aktar, Director Business Development, Solaric and Enamul Karim Pavel, Head of Renewable Energy, IDCOL. Shafiqul Alam said currently there are some re-financing schemes in the country. These include Tk 400 crore green re-finance schemes for which 70 environment-friendly products compete. The central bank’s green transformation fund including $200 mi9llion, €200 million and TK 500 crore supports export-oriented industries to implement green measures. Mohammad Hossain said that it seems there is conflicting policy regarding the target of renewable energy or clean energy by 2041 as Bangladesh outlines a vision in COP 26 to generate 40 percent of electricity from renewable energy while the recently approved Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) shows the target at 30 percent. “The government documents are living ones and the latest one should be taken into consideration,” he said. Nirod Chandra Mondal admitted about the ambiguity in the government plans and targets about renewable energy. “But the government has been working to increase the share of renewable energy in the power generation,” he said. Siddique Zobair said new technologies are coming in to offer the solutions to the challenges in the renewable energy promotion in Bangladesh. He also advocated for using solar thermal for heat generation to be used in industries. “New generation investors should take the advantage of those technologies,” he added. Naznin Aktar said though there are huge potentials for solar power in the industrial sector but industry owners are found to be very reluctant to go for installing solar power due to banks’ so much documentation and lengthy process to get the funding.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said some people, including the mastermind of the murder of Anwarul Azim Anar, have been arrested and investigation into the murder is underway. "Killing of MP Anwarul Azim is very shocking, unfortunate, and unexpected," he told reporters. Based on the information received from the Bangladesh Mission in Kolkata, Awami League joint general secretary Hasan said that the Kolkata police did not find the body of Anwarul in the flat where he is believed to have been killed. "We are following the matter through our Mission and Bangladesh Mission  in Kolkata also keeps in touch with the Kolkata Police. The matter is under investigation. So, it is not appropriate to comment further on this issue at this moment. Our Ministry of Home Affairs is also following it," said the AL leader. The minister was talking to reporters at Dhaka University's Senate Building in the afternoon. Earlier, the Deputy High Commission in Kolkata sent formal communication to the MEA Branch Secretariat in Kolkata on May 19, seeking support of the MEA for locating and rescuing the missing MP. Anwarul Azim Anar, the lawmaker from Jhenaidah-4 constituency, has been missing since at least May 14, having gone on a medical trip to India on May 11. Anar went to India for medical treatment on May 11. He maintained contact with his family members until May 14. Since then, he remained untraced. 

Mumtarin Ferdous Dorin, daughter of Jhenaidah-4 MP Anwarul Azim Anar, demanded justice through fair investigation into her father's death. “I want to see them hanged. Today I have become an orphan. I have not finished my studies yet,” she said while talking to reporters at the Detective Branch (DB) office on Wednesday. Replying to a question whether she knows the killers, Dorin, said, “I do not know anyone but I want to know those. I requested DB Chief  Harun-or-Rashid to identify those  and unearth the motive behind the murder.” Asked about the last conversation with her father, Dorin said “We had a conversation on video call. During our conversation, my father said he will talk to me after returning home from India.” Responding to a question whether she suspects anyone, she said “I don't suspect anyone. But I want to see them, I will disclose about my suspicion later.” She also asked the DB police to arrest others involved in the killing to find clue about the murder. “My father said I will see your exam results after coming from India. My father was in a false case for 14 years. I didn't find him when I was younger. When I grew, I got my father, now I have lost him,” she said in a chocked voice. MP Anar, who went missing from Kolkata on May 14, was found dead in Kolkata on Wednesday. He went there on May 11 for medical treatment. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan today said the lawmaker of Jhenaidah-4 was brutally killed at a flat in New Town, near Kolkata. “The information we have so far is that the people of our country are involved in the killing,” he said while speaking at a press briefing held at his Dhanmondi residence.

Bangladesh reported 14 more COVID-19 cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total COVID-19 caseload rose to 2,050,291, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,495 as no new fatalities were reported during this period. The daily case test positivity rate was 5.26 percent as 266 samples were tested, said the DGHS. The recovery and death rates stood at 98.41 percent and 1.44 per cent, respectively.

Two children drowned in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram on Wednesday. The deceased were identified Romaisa Jannat, one and a half year old daughter of Abdullah Al Mamun Faisal of Chhnua union and Abir, 2, son of Abu Hamid of the ward No-4 under Banshkhali municipality. Locals said Romaisa fell into a pond in the absence of her family members in Madhukhali area around 8:30am. After recusing the girl, the family members took her to upazila health complex where physicians declared her dead, they said. Moreover, Abir drowned in a water body in Neyazar para around 1pm, said his paternal uncle. Hearing a sound from the pond, he was rescued and taken to the upazila health complex where physicians declared him dead upon arrival, the uncle said. The health complex’s physician Dr Jannatul Ferdous confirmed the deaths of the children saying that they were brought dead.

Speakers at a virtual roundtable on Wednesday stressed the need for imposing effective tobacco tax and price measures in the 2024-25 FY.Speakers including economists, journalists, and public health experts raised the issue during a virtual roundtable titled "Tobacco-Free Bangladesh: The Need for Strong Tobacco Tax and Price Measures", organised by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), said a press release issued today.The existing tobacco tax structure is hardly playing any role towards achieving a tobacco-free Bangladesh, it said.It was informed in the event that, between 2021 and 2023, the prices of essential commodities, such as sugar, potatoes, and flour have seen a hike to 90 percent from 40 percent.But the prices of tobacco products increased by only 6 to 15 percent. This is because of the faulty tobacco tax structure. National Heart Foundation calls for increased tobacco taxes in budgetEminent economist and convener of the National Anti-Tobacco Platform, Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said, "There is no alternative to strong tobacco tax and price measures to achieve a tobacco-free Bangladesh. We hope the government will take into account the budget proposals raised in this event."Dr. Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), said, “Raising the retail price of every 10 sticks low-tier cigarettes to Tk 60 from Tk45 and supplementary duty to 63 percent from the existing 58 percent would certainly discourage cigarette use among the youth and also raise revenue for the government."The implementation of the budget proposals would generate Tk 10,000 crore as additional revenue, they said .Additionally, the proposals, in the long run, will also help prevent the premature deaths of 1.1 million Bangladeshis, including nearly half a million youths. PROGGA and ATMA push for 63% tobacco tax hike Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Bangladesh Lead Policy Advisor for Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Dr Syed Mahfuzul Huq, National Professional Officer (NCD) for WHO, Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research, National Heart Foundation, and Md. Monir Hossain Liton, Head of National, Ekattor Television. Nadira Kiron, Co-convener of ATMA, hosted the event which was also attended by Mortuza Haider Liton, Convener, ATMA, ABM Zubair, Executive Director, PROGGA, ATMA journalists and representatives from other anti-tobacco organizations were also spoke at the programme.

As many as 708 people died and 2,426 were injured in 683 road accidents across the country in the month of April, said a report of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity. Besides, 47 people were killed and 36 were injured in 44 railway accidents while eight people were killed, 10 injured, and one is still missing in six waterway accidents, it said. The report was published on Wednesday analysing accident reports published in the country's national and regional dailies and online media during the period and a press release in this regard signed by its secretary general was also issued. A total of 763 people were killed and 2, 472 were injured in 733 accidents on roads, waterways and railways across the country. Besides, 274 people died and 328 others were injured in some 305 motorbike accidents across the country last month which is 44.65 percent of the total accidents and 38.70 percent of the total fatalities. Passengers to spend Tk984 cr on extra fares during Eid journey, Jatri Kalyan Samity says Dhaka division witnessed highest 155 road accidents with 179 fatalities and 305 injuries while Barishal witnessed the lowest 35 road accidents with as many deaths. Among those killed in road accidents in April, 10 were members of law enforcement agencies,169 were drivers, 63 pedestrians, 58 transport workers, 46 students, six teachers, 119 women, 67 children, three journalists, two physicians, one lawyer, three engineers and eight activists of different political parties. Among the vehicles involved in the accidents were 34.71 percent motorbikes, 15.48 percent buses, 17.61 percent pick-up vans, covered vans and lorries, 6.27 percent private cars, SUVs and microbuses, 5.97 percent CNG-run auto-rickshaws, 13.15 percent battery-run human haulers and 6.78 percent three-wheeler vehicles, said the report. Jatri Kalyan Samitiy demands extension of Eid holidays by 2 days   Of the accidents, 35.28 percent occurred on national highways, 14.78 on regional roads and 42.45 percent on roads. Besides, 6.58 percent accidents occurred in Dhaka city, 0.43 percent in Chattogram city and 0.43 percent on rail tracks, it added. The association blamed reckless driving, motorbikes and three-wheelers on highways, lack of street lights, road marking or road sign, development of cracks and holes on highways during rainy season, movement of unfit vehicles, violation of traffic rules, unskilled drivers and helpers, collecting tolls and poor traffic management for the accidents and deaths. RSF's accident deaths figure for 2023 is out. And it is right down the middle of BRTA and Jatri Kalyan Samity's numbers

Ashik Chowdhury, a professional skydiver, is all set to jump from 41,000 feet holding aloft the Bangladesh flag in an endeavor to set a new Guinness World Record. It was revealed during a press conference organized by the skydiver himself at the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) on Tuesday. Ashik Chowdhury spoke at the press conference. As shared during the press conference, themed as “The highest ever skydive with a flag” the jumping event will be held on May 25. No one ever from Bangladesh ever attempted for a jump from such an altitude. The skydiver solicited prayers from countrymen for his success as a successful attempt could make every Bangladeshi proud. United Commercial Bank PLC (UCB) will be sponsoring the skydiver in this attempt. Abul Kalam Azad, Head of brand marketing and corporate Affairs division, handed over the Bangladeshi flag to Ashik Chowdhury during the press conference.  

Gas supply will remain suspended for 10 hours from 10 am to 8 pm in different areas in the city on Thursday for relocation and re-installation of gas pipelines under Dhaka Elevated Expressway Route Alignment project. Gas supply to remain off in parts of Savar Monday According Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited, the areas where gas supply will remain off for all kinds of customers include Moghbazar, Nayatola, Madhubagh, Tejgaon, Hatirjheel, Mirerbagh, Gabtola, Greenway, Peyarabag, and Eskaton (Dilu road). The adjoining areas may experience low pressure in gas supply during the period, said the Titas Gas regretting the inconvenience of its consumers for the emergency shutdown in gas supply.

Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community, is being celebrated in the country on Wednesday. Buddha Purnima marks Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death. On this day in 563 BC, Buddha was born as Siddhartha Gautama in Kapilabastu at the foothill of the Himalayas. He attained supreme enlightenment at the age of 35 and finally departed into “nirvana” at the age of 80 in 483 BC. ‘Finding Nirvana in Life: Buddha of Bengal’ art exhibition begins at Alliance Française de Dhaka The day is a public holiday in Bangladesh. Buddha Purnima today President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the Buddhist community on the occasion. President Shahabuddin said, “Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony. People of all religions have been celebrating their respective religious rituals with great enthusiasm, which is a bright tradition of our harmony.” He hoped that the Buddhist community will continue their efforts for the development of the country by practicing this tradition and holding the great ideals of Buddha, he said in his message. Buddha Purnima to be celebrated on Sunday In her message, the Prime Minister said the Buddhists have been equally participating in the socio-economic development of Bangladesh for a long. “I hope that they will play a role in building Bangladesh as a peaceful country by upholding and nurturing the ideals of Gautam Buddha," she said.