United News of Bangladesh

Gabtoli Bus Terminal will be transformed into a multi-modal station with all kinds of civic facilities. LGRD Minister Tazul Islam said this while replying to a notice raised by ruling Awami League MP Mainul Hossain Khan from Dhaka-14. The minister submitted his written reply in parliament on Monday. “Modernisation of Gabtoli bus terminal is very important. At present there is no systematic parking system and passengers coming from far away are suffering due to long traffic. If Gabtoli terminal is modernised, all these issues of mismanagement will be solved,” the minister said in his written statement. The minister in his reply said Gabtoli Underground Metrorail station will be constructed on the northern route of Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5), under Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), where the Gabtoli bus terminal is located. For this, Gabtoli Bus Terminal will be temporarily shifted from its current location. 12.80 acres of land on the south side of the terminal has been initially selected. He said the new temporary terminal is 6400 square meters. Along with, the depot will be constructed to accommodate 260 vehicles. In future, Gabtoli Bus Terminal will be upgraded to city bus terminal and modern inter-district bus terminal will be constructed at Hemayetpur.

Bangladesh reported 12 more COVID-19 cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total COVID-19 caseload rose to 2,050,089, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,494 as no new fatalities were reported during this period. The daily case test positivity rate was 4.29 percent as 280 samples were tested, said the DGHS. The recovery and death rates stood at 98.41 percent and 1.44 per cent, respectively.

Saudi Arabia has clarified its new policy, introducing travel restrictions for Hajj pilgrims — confining their movements exclusively to Jeddah, Medina, and Mecca. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that individuals visiting Saudi Arabia on a Hajj visa are prohibited from traveling outside these three cities. The visa is designed solely for pilgrimage purposes and does not permit holders to engage in work, seek residency, or travel beyond Jeddah, Medina, and Mecca. Hajj packages for 2024 to be cheaper Violations of these restrictions could result in severe penalties, including deportation and a potential ban on future Hajj participation, according to a Gulf News report. Furthermore, the Ministry clarified that all international visitors, except those from GCC countries who do not require a Hajj permit, must secure a Hajj visa through the official channels. To streamline the application process, the Ministry's website now facilitates electronic registration for the Hajj visa via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' visa platform. Applicants are required to log in, select the required service, and follow detailed instructions for document submission. Bangladeshis can perform Umrah with transit visa: Saudi Hajj Minister The deadline for Hajj visa applications is set for the 7th of Dhu Al Hijjah, or until the designated quota of pilgrims is met. Processing typically takes up to three working days, and applicants are urged to apply early to adhere to all regulatory requirements.

The body of a 17-year-old boy was recovered from the Padma River three days after he went missing while bathing in the river in Gazaria upazila of Munshiganj. The deceased was identified as Md Alif, son of expatriate Md Faisal Prodhan of Lakshmipur village in the upazila. He sat for the Secondary School Certificate examinations from local Bhaberchar Wazjir Ali High School this year. Gazaria police station Officer-in-Charge Rajib Khan said Alif along with his some friends went to the river for bathing on Sunday although he didn’t know how to swim and drowned. Locals spotted the body floating in the river near Bhabanipur Kheya Ghat under Hosendi union around 9am on Tuesday. Later, the body was recovered from the river and handed over to the family, the OC said.

The government started the procurement of Boro paddy and rice across the country on Tuesday.Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder inaugurated the countywide procurement of Boro paddy through a videoconference at the secretariat.Talking the reporters, the minister said this year the government has set a target to procure 70% within June though the Boro procurement drive will continue till August 31. 97 percent boro paddy harvested in Haor areas: Agri MinistryBesides, stern action will be taken against those found involved in harassing farmers during the procurement drive, he said.The farmers can lodge complaint against anyone through mobile phone numbers, he added.This year, the government will procure 17 lakh tonnes of paddy and rice and of these, 5 lakh tonnes will be paddy, 11 lakh tonnes will be boiled rice and one lakh tonnes Atap rice.The procurement price of Boro paddy has been fixed at Tk 32 per kg, boiled rice at Tk 45 and atap rice Tk 44.Alongside it, the government will procure 50,000 tonnes of wheat at Tk 34 per kg.Directives were given to the deputy commissioners (food), regional food controllers, deputy assistant officer of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and farmers and rice mills owners to procure paddy or rice within the stipulated time, said the minister. Govt to procure 17 lakh tonnes Boro paddy, riceMoisture metres have been provided to the deputy assistant officers of the DAE in each union to check paddy, he said.Besides, directives were given to maintain the quality of rice and paddy, he said.

State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu on Tuesday (May 07, 2024) said Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) is expected to begin sale of goods at subsidised rate from permanent shops from July this year. The state minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural progamme of selling 3 essential products among 1 crore family card holders across the country in Norda-Baridhara area in the capital. He said that the government is working to ensure the supply of essential commodities at an affordable price. “No one can manipulate the market if the supply of essential commodities remains sufficient.” Read more: Nationwide Boro paddy procurement begins Titu requested local public representatives to conduct TCB activities through permanent shops so that people can purchase goods at their convenience. "During Ramadan, there was a ban on onion export in India. But we imported onions from India under special arrangements through TCB. Our goal was to ensure that people could buy onions at an affordable price. As a result, the price of onions is still within reach for many people," he said. He said, “We must need to ensure that only eligible people get goods from TCB. The list would be updated periodically. We also plan to increase the number of products which are sold through TCB." Through the family cards the TCB is providing 5 kg rice at Tk 30 per kg, 2-liter soybean oil at Tk 100 per liter and  2 kgs of lentil at Tk60 per kg for May, 2024. Read more: Hasan Mahmud shares 5 major take-away from IOM report from Bangladesh perspective

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said on Tuesday said that ministers and member of parliament (MPs) cannot influence the upazila parishad elections. Election Commission (EC) will monitor centrally whether they (minister, MPs) are trying to control the polls or not, the CEC said a press briefing held at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital on the EC’s preparation to hold the first phase of sixth upazila parishad election. If their interference are detected  by the EC, stern action will be taken immediately, he added. When asked about the participation of the relatives of ministers, MPs in the polls, CEC Awal said,” The EC is not in trouble in this regard. Rather the political will is evident here.” The CEC said they have succeeded to prevent ministers, MPs from influencing the elections. “Few of them (ministers, MPs) are still staying in their constituencies. The EC asked them not to interfere in the elections.” Upazila Election: 418 BGB platoons deployed ahead of 1st phase Replying to a query over non-participation of political parties in the upazila parishad elections, Habibul Awal said, "This year's election is not being held with party symbol. The Election Commission does not see who belongs to which party, who is the candidate of which party. The Election Commission sees the candidates. It is not the responsibility of the Election Commission to see who came to the election and who did not.” On an average, four candidates are participating in each upazila in this election and so the election is being held in a competitive manner, he said. When asked whether he sees any difference between January 7 election and tomorrow’s upazila parishad election, CEC Awal said January 7 was parliament election and it is local body polls further adding that upazila parishad election is more competitive than parliamentary polls. Migrant remittances now outpace foreign investments in developing countries: IOM report Elections will be held in 140 out of 495 upazilas in the first phase on Wednesday (May 8), with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in 22 upazilas.  Voting will start at 8am and continue till 4pm.

A total of 418 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed to maintain law and order situation ahead of the first phase of Upazila Parishad Election tomorrow in 150 upazilas across the country.  According to a BGB media release, signed by its Public Relations Officer Md Shariful Islam, the members of the paramilitary force will remain deployed till May 10.   Under “In Aid to the Civil Power’’, the BGB personnel will perform duty as mobile and striking force to assist the local civil administration to hold a free, fair and peaceful election, it reads.  BGB gives state guard of honour and farewell reception to Bhutan’s King in Kurigram According to the Election Commission’s announced schedule, upazila parishad elections to 150 upazilas will be held on May 8 in the first phase. In the second phase, 160 upazilas will go to polls on May 21, and in third phase, 112 upazilas will go to polls on May 29. In the 4th phase, elections will be held in 55 upazilas on June 5. As per the EC’s plan, Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) will be used in 22 upazila parishad polls in the first phase, 24 in second phase, 21 in third phase, and two in the fourth phase.

 A group of tech entrepreneurs on Monday urged the government for facilitating tech business with tax-holiday for next 17 years to realise ‘Smart Bangladesh’ vision.  They said this in a view-exchange meeting with members of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) members before the organisation's election at Sheraton Dhaka. A panel of the election Team Success organised the event. Team Leader of Team Success Mustafa Rafiqul Islam Duke said “Tax exemption should be ensured until 2041 in order to save the artisans and the emerging information technology sector of building Smart Bangladesh.”  The executive committee election of  BASIS is scheduled on May 8 while Team Success is contesting in the trade body election among three panels. BASIS former president Syed Almas Kabir was also present at the meeting.Addressing the program, Mustafa Rafiqul Islam Duke termed information technology the ‘most powerful’ tool to enable the ‘Smart Bangladesh’ vision.  The government's 13-year tax exemption for these digital services is set to expire on June 30, 2024 as per the prescription of the IMF. “The technology sector has been kept in the dark about policymaking. However, I myself have spoken to senior officials of the IMF and learned that they have not directly given any opinion on the tax holiday in the technology sector as such. We want to hold a round-table with IMF and government soon to clarify the issue,” he said. The annual turnover of global tech businesses is in the top 5 trillion dollars by the end of this year, with 6.8 percent growth year-on-year, according to Gartner's forecast. “If we stop patronizing the technology sector at this stage, we will lag behind in the international race. If the tax exemption is stopped, the government will get only four to five billion Taka as revenue, and this decision may sabotage the enter technology golden goose era. If the golden goose of the technology sector dies at a nascent stage, the next promising sector of this country will die as well,” added Duke. Referring to the rise of the garment industry, the Team Success leader said that the RMG sector is now providing results of policy support given forty years back. “The technology sector can create employment for around 2.5 million people in the next seventeen years if the government provides a tax holiday. The annual turnover for salary in the technology sector will be TK1.2 trillion per year with an average Tk 50,000  monthly salary of 2 million people. He also said NBR then would be able to collect 25 percent income tax from these knowledge workers, the quantum can be in tune of Tk 30,000 crore from the Technology sector.  Mustafa Rafiqul Islam Duke believes the technology sector can be another example like RMG to fetch more foreign currencies in the next decade if the entrepreneurs get policy support now.    

  Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that the current government is determined to ensure all benefits to investors.   The current government has emphasized on creating an investment-friendly environment along with the transformation of Bangladesh's public resources into manpower, improving the law and order situation, reads a press release .   Bangladesh has huge investment potential in renewable energy, tourism, garment industry, jute and leather industry, information technology sector. The environment minister said this while addressing the chief guest at a seminar titled "Investment Prospects in Bangladesh: Tech Transformation & Disruption & UAE Tax Policy" at a hotel in Dubai organized by Bangladesh Consulate General, Dubai on Sunday (5 May 2024). The Environment Minister said that the geo-political location of Bangladesh, large consumer population, easy access to labor - these are the reasons why investment here is very profitable.  The UAE Government, Emirati businessmen, businessmen from other countries and expatriate Bangladeshis are calling to invest in Bangladesh. Md. Abu Zafar, Ambassador of Bangladesh to United Arab Emirates, was present as an honored guest in this seminar held under the chairmanship of Bangladesh Consulate, Dubai Consul General BM Jamal Hussain.  The keynote paper was presented by Mohsena Khanam, co-founder of D Tempit Limited.  Ashish Kumar Sarkar, Commercial Counselor of Bangladesh Consulate, Dubai and Shahriar Pavel, CEO of Huawei Tech in UAE spoke among others.  Bangladeshi business leaders living in the United Arab Emirates, Emirati businessmen, journalists, businessmen from India, Sri Lanka and other countries were present. In the event, various areas of investment potential in Bangladesh such as renewable energy, tourism, garment industry, jute and leather industry, information technology sector, agricultural technology sector, etc. were highlighted.