United News of Bangladesh

The prices of all types of spices have shot up ahead of Eid-ul-Azha along with the prices of fish, chicken, meat, potato, and green chili.The traders have blamed the fluctuating exchange rate of US dollars for rise in the price of spices. They also said inflation and devaluation of local currency vastly impacted the soaring prices of goods produced in the country. Currently, cumin is retailing at Tk 850 to 1000 per kg, up from Tk 570 to 650 in the first week of this month, while the minimum retail price for cardamom rose to Tk 3800 from Tk 2,800. The premium quality of cardamom that was previously priced at Tk 3,200 is now being sold at Tk 4200 per kg.On Friday, garlic is selling from Tk 220 to 270, ginger at Tk 240 to 300, local variety of onion at Tk80 per kg, green chili at Tk 180 to 230, dry red chili at Tk 550 to 650 per kg in the capital.Shourab Saha, spice retailer in the Karwan Bazar told UNB on Friday that spice items are usually raised ahead of Eid festival, but this year, prices up due to the dollar price jumped at all-time higher.He said the wholesalers are raising the prices of spice every week claiming higher import costs due to costlier the US dollar price. The US dollar is usually used in Bangladesh for international trading, so any ups and downs of this foreign exchange affected the prices of consumer items.Additionally, the wholesale price of white pepper has risen to Tk 1,300 from Tk 1,000. Cashew nuts are now selling at Tk 1400, compared to Tk 1,200 earlier, while chickpeas have seen an increase from Tk 102 to Tk 130 per kg.Ramzan Ali of Chadpur Traders in Karwan Bazar, who used to procure spices twice a week from the Moulvi Bazar wholesale market in Old Dhaka, expressed disappointment at the recent price surge."Just 2 weeks ago, I purchased cumin at Tk 570-580 per kg, but now I've to pay Tk 700, although these spices were imported well before the new dollar rate came into effect," he said. "It appears to be the work of a syndicate, "he added.A staffer at another store said, "Just six months ago, cardamom was priced at Tk 1700-1800 per kg, but now it's selling for Tk 3800-4200. Clearly, a syndicate is controlling the spice trade."A spice wholesaler at Moulvi Bazar wholesale market told UNB over mobile phone that importers instructed them to raise prices in line with the increased dollar rate.Egg prices has remained in a rising trend since last since the beginning of this month and was selling this popular protein item at Tk160 to 170 per dozen on Friday in the capital. It saw an increase of price by Tk30 per dozen in this month.Special quality farm eggs are priced at Tk220 to Tk250 per dozen. Eggs of domestic rearing hens sell at Tk 85 to 90 per hali (4 pieces) and duck eggs sell at Tk 75 to 80 per hali.The price of broiler chicken and Pakistani-origin Sonali chicken have increased by Tk10 to 20 per kg compared to the last two weeks. The boiler chicken was selling at Tk 220 to 240 per kg based on size and quality. Apart from this, the price of Sonali chicken has also increased and is being sold at Tk 360 to 370 per kg based on size and quality.Similarly, cock chicken is being sold at Tk 370 to 390 per kg, layer chicken at Tk 300 to Tk350 per kg, and Indigenous (desi) chicken at Tk 670 to Tk 765 per kg.The traders of the concerned sectors said that prices of chicken increased due to price hikes of chicken food and chicks. Besides, the ongoing heat wave also affected chicken farms, which also impacted the price hike. Beef was selling between Tk 750 to 780 per kg on Friday based on quality, and saw a rise of price by Tk 30 per kg than other days of the week. Mutton and goat meat was selling at Tk1000 to 1180 per kg based on quality, which saw an increase of Tk 50 per kg.Hilsha weighing about 450 grams was selling at Tk650 per kg while Hilsha weighing 1.0 kg plus were selling at Tk 1800 to 2000 per kg at Karwan Bazar fish market on Friday. Hilsha weighing 700 to 800 grams was selling at Tk 900 to 1000 per piece.Fish like Ruhit and carp were selling between Tk 300 to 450 per kg based size and quality. Others fish including riverine small fish were selling at Tk400 to 700 per kg on Friday.The prices of vegetables have remained stable at higher rate this time compared to the previous years. Traders blamed inflation for this higher price. Vegetables including eggplant, okra, drumsticks, string beans, and bitter gourd were stable between Tk 50 to 60 per kg on Friday. The prices of tomatoes have increased as the season is ending. Good quality tomatoes were selling between Tk 60 to 70 per kg.Vegetables like brinjal and others were selling between Tk 50 to 60 per kg, bottle gourd, ash gourd, and cauliflower at Tk 50 to 60 per piece.The prices of other commodities including rice, wheat, flour, milk, soybean, aromatic rice, and sugar, have remained unchanged.

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) has stood beside the victims of the recent cyclone Remal, responding to the call of Bangladesh Awami League (AL) President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. BCL, the AL’s student wing, is distributing relief items including rice, pulse, edible oil, onion, potato and oral saline among the cyclone-affected poor in the country particularly in the coastal areas. As part of the relief distribution programme, the BCL distributed relief items among 1,000 cyclone-victim families at Kalapara and Rangabali Upazila in Patuakhali on Wednesday last, BCL general secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Enan told UNB on Friday.

A human chain was formed on Friday demanding establishment of an Indian visa centre in Faridpur to mitigate the suffering of visa seekers in the greater Faridpur region. One ‘Faridpur Development Council’ organised the human chain in front of the Faridpur Press Club with the participation of leaders from the five districts of greater Faridpur around 9:30am. Presided over by Dr. MA Jalil, former president of the Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad (Swachip), speakers including author Mofiz Imam Milon, cultural activist Ashok Kumar Singh Roy, Principal Mosaheb Hossain Dhali, former principal of Government Yasin College Shila Rani Mondal, Faridpur Nagarik Manch convener Awlad Hossain Babar and Abrab Nadim Itu spoke on the occasion. Demanding immediate establishment of the visa centre, the speakers said that the establishment of such a center would benefit not only Faridpur district’s people but also the neighbouring districts, saving time and money for the residents. Currently, obtaining a visa going to the capital causes suffering and financial losses, they said.

The death toll of animals from the flooding in the Sundarbans has climbed to 100 after Cyclone Remal hit the world’s largest mangrove forest on Sunday. According to the Forest Department, the carcasses of 96 deer and four wild bears were recovered from the forest till Thursday evening, indicating a great loss to wildlife. The animals were found dead in several areas including Kotka, Kochikhali, Karamjal, Pakhi Char, Dimar Char, Shelar Char and Narikel Baria. Moreover, 18 deer and one python were rescued in a critical condition. After giving first aid, they were released into the forest. Alongside the wildlife losses, damages to various infrastructures in the forest were estimated at around Tk 6.27 crore. However, the non-monetary damages were even more severe, according to the forest department. Over 100 ponds in the forest were flooded with saline water, causing distress to both wildlife and the local residents. An 11-kilometer area known as Gol Bagan was also damaged. However, it will take more time to fully assess the extent of damages to the trees and animals in the forest. Officials of the Forest Department said this time the forest faced an unusual situation due to cyclone Remal as it experienced two high tides and two low tides within a 24-hour period, flooding parts of the forest. Mihir Kumar Dey, forest conservator in the Khulna range, said that the Sundarbans faced an unprecedented situation this time after the cyclone. It will take more time to ascertain the full impact and gather accurate information, he added.

Speakers at a seminar on Thursday urged people to eat more fruits, emphasising that formalin has no role in fruit preservation and ripening. They said this during the seminar titled "The Role of Family Practice and Nutrition to Ensure Food Nutrition," organised by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) at its office training room, according to a press release. They explained that formalin is a highly volatile substance that reacts with protein foods but does not interact with fruits. BFSA Chairman (Additional Secretary) Zakaria, the chief guest at the seminar, stressed the importance of inter-agency coordination. He noted that many government organizations are involved in managing the food business, making it a complex and time-consuming task to unify these efforts. "However, through gradual cooperation, a safe food environment can be ensured in the country," he said. Member of the Authority Mohammad Mostafa delivered the welcome speech, while Khaleda Islam, the director of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science at Dhaka University, presented the main paper at the seminar. In her presentation, she discussed the importance of safe food, its relationship with sustainable development, food hazards, foodborne diseases, the current status of food safety in the country, the adverse effects of unsafe food consumption, food wastage, food waste management, misconceptions about formalin, and the use and harmful effects of trans fatty acids in food. She also detailed the steps to be taken in cooking and preservation, and the role of using safe water. Dr. Umme Salma Munni, a nutritionist and consultant at Monowara Hospital in the capital, also spoke at the seminar. She emphasized the importance of spreading knowledge and experience from those working in the nutrition sector to the wider public. "A safe food environment can only be ensured through proper coordination and the exchange of experiences," she added. The seminar was attended by officials from the Food Ministry, food safety officials, food traders, leaders of the restaurant owners' association, representatives from various food establishments, media workers, and many others.

The government has further increased retail prices of diesel, kerosene, petrol, and octane for the month of June. As per a gazette notification on Thursday, the prices of diesel and kerosene have been raised by Tk 0.75 to Tk 107.75 per litre from the existing Tk 107. The price of petrol has been set at Tk 127 per litre, up by Tk 2.50 from Tk 124.50 per litre. Similarly, the price of octane has been set at Tk 131 per litre, up by Tk 2.50 from Tk 128.50 per litre. Govt raises retail prices of diesel, kerosene, petrol and octane The new prices will come into effect on June 1. Earlier, fuel prices were increased for the month of May. LPG price slashed by Tk 3.34 per kg The Energy and Mineral Resources Division set the new automated price through a gazette notification as per the government decision on Thursday. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division explained that although the prices of petroleum decreased in the global market, the devaluation of the taka against the US dollar has caused an increase in fuel prices locally. Govt sets new automated prices of petroleum fuels The first automated price came into effect on March 7. On March 1, the government issued "Fuel Pricing Guidelines" through a gazette notification to set an automated price for petroleum fuel across the country. According to these guidelines, local prices will fluctuate in line with international prices, and such prices will be announced monthly by the government for one-month tenure.

Newly appointed managing director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Md Jahidul Islam Bhuiyan, has said he would work for the national carrier with the highest sense of responsibility and dedication. He said this at a views exchange with senior officials of Biman and leaders of various unions and associations related to the airline at Biman's head office on Thursday. Jahidul also directed the officials to work for the development of Biman with the highest sense of responsibility and dedication. Jahidul was appointed as the Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited MD on May 29. Prior to this, he served as a private secretary for the Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment adviser.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Sara Bangla Krishak Society (SBKS), launched a project called Accelerating Economic and Social Inclusion through Strong Producers’ Organisations in Bangladesh (ACCESS) on Thursday. The project aims to strengthen rural livelihoods for over 25,000 smallholder farmers in climate hotspots. Members of the farming community, government organisations, the private sector, and development partners participated in the event. Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akter joined the event as the chief guest. “In order to reach the last mile for the community who is struggling with the effects of climate change, we must innovate inclusive business model like the ACCESS project, which facilitates tangible collaboration among producer organizations, and the public and private sector, she said. Dia Sanou, FAO Representative in Bangladesh, said, “FAO works with smallholder producer organisations as our partners to strengthen rural livelihoods as part of ACCESS project. Together, we will focus on agribusiness clusters and support smallholders to transform their subsistence farms into successful businesses.” Participants from various organisations, including Bangladesh Krishi Bank, PKSF, Bangladesh Bank, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, the Department of Agricultural Extension, and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, were also on the panel and discussed potential support that their organisations can provide. Rita Bramma, President of SBKS, said, “We are very grateful to all who have come together in support of smallholder farmers in Bangladesh. Your support ensures that we can continue our work to uplift those struggling with the effects of climate change.” Following the inaugural session, an informal working session took place between FAO, SBKS, and almost 100 members of the farming community from climate hotspots.

Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam MP stated that all types of waste from sacrificial animals must be removed and the sacrificial sites cleaned within 24 hours. He made this statement during a press briefing held on Thursday morning following a preparatory review meeting on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha 2024. The meeting focused on preparations at the National Eidgah, management of animal markets, designated places for animal sacrifices, and ensuring prompt waste removal. Upazila election with or without party symbol doesn’t conflict with law: LGRD Minister In response to a question about designated sacrificial sites, Tazul said that hygienic places must be designated for animal sacrifices and slaughtering. The local administration and local government institutions will widely publicise a list of area-based animal markets and designated sacrificial sites for public awareness. To prevent fraud, the minister added that fake currency detection machines must be installed in all animal markets across the country. This will be implemented by Bangladesh Bank and the Financial Institutions Division. Additionally, with the assistance of Bangladesh Bank and other banks, arrangements should be made for cashless transactions through ATM booths, point-of-sale (POS) machines, and mobile financial services (MFS). Development of Chattogram extremely important for achieving national goals: LGRD Minister The preparatory review meeting for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha included specific discussions and recommendations on the preparation of the National Eidgah grounds, management of animal markets, and waste management, among other topics. Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam; Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim' Mayor of Gazipur City Corporation, Zayeda Khatun, were present at the time, among others.

The business environment in Bangladesh has further deteriorated, according to a survey report. The Business Climate Index (BBX) survey for the financial year 2023-24 showed the score at 58.75 in fiscal year 2023-24, down from 61.95 in the FY2022-23. Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and research institute Policy Exchange Bangladesh (PEB) have conducted BBX survey for the third time. The report of the survey was released on Thursday at MCCI's Gulshan office. BBX 2023-2024 is the third iteration of Bangladesh’s first home-grown index that gauges the country’s business climate. This time the country's business environment index dropped at 58.75 from 61.95 in the previous fiscal year. That is 3.2 percentage points decreased in one year. The survey covered 12 sectors—agriculture and forestry, construction, electronics and light engineering, financial intermediaries, food and beverages, leather and tannery, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, housing, ready-made garments, textiles, transportation, retail and wholesale trade. MCCI president Kamran T Rahman presided over the event. He said, this survey has been done to understand the overall business environment of the country. This survey gives an idea about what kind of policy needs to be adopted in any sector. Policy makers and investors will also understand which way they should go. In his keynote presentation, Dr. M. Masrur Reaz, Chairman and CEO, PEB, mentioned that during 2023-2024, the BBX score has dropped to 58.75 from last year’s 61.95, showing that significant efforts are needed to address business environment challenges. “There were improvements in three pillars coupled with drops in seven pillars. Rajshahi was the best performing region while Barisal came last. To unlock the country’s potential, he emphasized improving infrastructure and logistics, strengthening financial systems, enhancing legal and regulatory frameworks, bolstering institutional governance,” he pointed out. A dialogue was held between Zaved Akhtar, President, FICCI, and Yuji Ando, Country Representative, JETRO. Ando welcomed this latest BBX report and pointed out that 62 percent of Japanese companies operating in Bangladesh were expecting to expand as per a survey. Akhtar emphasized the credibility, capability, and consistency of policies and simplification of customs, tax, and VAT frameworks in Bangladesh. In the open forum, topics that came up for discussion include different ways of improving the pillar scores in the future and the need to focus more on improving access to finance, ease of paying taxes, and policy stability. The overall business environment index score for the fiscal year 2021-22 was 61.01 out of 100. In the next year FY 2022-23, that score increased marginally to 61.95. The main reason for the lack of significant improvement in index means that 4 out of 10 indicators worsened and the remaining 6 indicators were improving. Like 2022, Bangladesh has done the best in infrastructure sector in 2023 as well. The score on this index is 71.08 out of 100. In addition, the business start index is 62.74; 53.11 in land availability index; 68.04 in the access to information index; 70.04 in labor control; 62.38 in dispute resolution; 60.87 on trade facilitation; 54.74 in tax payment; 63.50 in technology adoption and 51.59 in environmental control. Salman Fazlur Rahman, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister and Lokman Hossain Miah, Executive Chairman (Senior Secretary), Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) were also present in the event.