United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Wednesday said  Jashore, Kushtia, Chuadanga, Pabna, Rajshahi, Bagerghat and Satkhira have been experiencing extreme hot weather  as ‘very severe’ heatwave sweeping over the districts. According to the regular bulletin of the Met office, “very severe heat wave is sweeping Jashore, Kushtia, Chuadanga, Pabna, Rajshahi, Bagerghat and Satkhira and severe heatwave is sweeping over the districts of Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalgonj, Narayangonj, Noagaon, Sirajgonj, Dinajpur and rest part of Khulna division.” Besides, a mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping elsewhere over the country and it may continue. Meanwhile, rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with hails at isolated places, it said. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country. Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Country's maximum temperature on Tuesday was recorded at 43.8 degree Celsius at Jashore and minimum temperature today was recorded at 22.7 degree Celsius at Dinajpur. Country's maximum rainfall for the past 24 hours till 6 am today was recorded at 53 millimeters in Sylhet. Trough of low lies from West Bengal to the North-west Bay across southwestern part of Bangladesh. Due to the increase of moisture incursion, the discomfort may persist.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the government will not spare anyone  who would deprive workers of their fair wages and dues in spite of that person's international recognition. “If anyone deprives our workers of their fair wages, we shall not spare them no matter how big they are and internationally recognised ,” she warned. The prime minister was addressing a programme marking the Great May Day on Wednesday at Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka. She categorically said that dues of the workers must be paid properly and their welfare has to be looked after. She, however, did not mention anyone’s name when she spoke of  powerful individuals or internationally recognised person. Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus has recently been facing several charges of violating labour laws. On September 9, 2021, a case was filed by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment against  Yunus and three others for violating labour laws. According to case files, the department noticed several labour law violations during an inspection at Grameen Telecom. The violations include failure to make the jobs of 101 workers and employees permanent,  not forming a workers' participation fund and welfare fund, and failing to provide 5 percent of the company's dividend to workers. Dr Yunus was facing more than 100 other charges over labour law violations and alleged graft. On January 1 this year, a Dhaka court sentenced him, and three others to six months in jail over labour law violations. Dhaka Labour Court 3 judge Sheikh Marina Sultana announced the verdict and later granted them bail after they filed separate petitions. The court also fined them Tk5,000 under one section and Tk25,000 under another, in default of which they would have to spend an additional 10 and 15 days in prison. State Minister for the Labour and Employment Ministry Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour and Employment Ministry HM Ibrahim, Country Director of International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Bangladesh Tuomo Poutiainen, President of Bangladesh Employers' Federation Ardashir Kabir, Jatiya Sramik League president Noor Qutub Alam Mannan and Labour and Employment secretary M Mahbub Hossain also spoke at the event. A video documentary on the May Day was screened at the function. Cheques were distributed among the destitute workers from the Bangladesh Workers Welfare Foundation at the programme. A colourful cultural function performed by the workers was also held.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud will attend the 15th session of the OIC Islamic Summit in Banjul, The Gambia. The preparatory meeting of the foreign ministers will start from May 2, which will be led by the Bangladesh foreign minister. Hasan will be travelling to Gambia today by wrapping up his Europe visit, said an official.

At least six people reportedly died from heat stroke in Munshiganj, Natore, Sirajganj, Satkhira and Jhenaidah districts respectively on Tuesday as the country continues to experience its longest heatwave since records started. Of them, two died in Munshiganj and one each in Natore, Sirajganj, Satkhira and Jhenaidah. The deceased were identified as Omar Ali, 65, and Abdul Baten, 68, both hailing from Sadar upazila of Munshiganj, Khairul Islam, 50, a resident of Khajura Ujanpara village under Naldanga upazila of Natore, Jillur Rahman, 35, of Sirajganj’s Ullapara upazila, Faruk Hossain, an English teacher of Nabarun High Girls School in Satkhira Sadar and Mizanur Rahman, 35, a fish trader in Shailkupa of Jhenaidah. In Munshiganj, Omar fell ill while working in a cropland in the Sadar upazila while Baten felt sick on his way to the land office in the same upazila in the morning. They were rushed to Sadar hospital where physicians declared them dead upon arrival, said Dr Shoibal Basak, a physician at the emergency department of the hospital. said the duo died from the heat stroke amid the scorching heat.In Natore, Khairul died of heat stroke while picking up maize from a field at Naldanga upazila According to the locals, Khairul, an expatriate returnee, went to collect maize from his own field. At one point, in the extreme heat, he fell ill and fell to the ground with convulsions. Later, locals rescued him and took him to a local community clinic, where the duty doctor declared him dead. Khairul died of a heat stroke, duty doctor Khorshed Alam said. In Sirajganj, farmer Jillur fell sick while working in his cropland in the Ullapara in the morning. He breathed his last on the way to Sadar hospital, said Dr Samiul Islam of the hospital. He, however, said they weren’t confirmed whether the farmer died from the heat stroke. In Satkhira, school teacher Faruk felt sick while attending class in the school amid the heat wave on Monday. At first he was taken to Satkhira Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCL) where he breathed his last on Tuesday morning while undergoing treatment. Dr Kazi Arif, head of the department of Satkhira medical college hospital, said the teacher had a heat stroke due to excessive heat. Later, he was admitted to Khulna City Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated. He died this morning while on life support, he said. In Jhenaidah, fish trader Mizanur Rahman fell sick while selling fish at a local bazar in Shailkupa upazila at noon. He died on the way to a hospital, locals said.

Over 50 civil society leaders and activists, Dalit and Cobbler community leaders, former and current policymakers convened for a national roundtable discussion titled “Citizen Roadmap to Advance the Rights and Sustainable Development of Marginalized Communities.” The event was held at the Lakeshore Hotel in Dhaka on Tuesday. At the discussion, young women leaders from the Dalit and Cobbler communities presented their recommendations for the roadmap to include enacting the anti-discrimination and minority rights acts, establishing a platform or caucus in parliament to advance minority rights, and expanding access to social safety net benefits and programs for marginalized communities. Subsequently, policymakers shared their thoughts on how best to implement the roadmap recommendations. Lawmaker MA Mannan, Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Planning and lawmaker Mohibur Rahman Manik, Chair of Government Assurance Committee, both enthusiastically endorsed the initiative to develop the roadmaps and expressed their commitment to helping implement their recommendations.  

Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nofel has recommended that the age limit for entry into government jobs should be pushed back to 35, with another 2 years (37) allowed for quota positions. The Education Minister has sent a letter to his counterpart, Public Administration Minister Farhad Hossain, with this recommendation. The age limit for entry into government service is 30 at present (32 under various quotas including freedom fighters, etc). In the letter, the Education Minister said that the students have been protesting on the streets for a long time regarding the demand to make the age limit of job application minimum 35 years according to international standards. In 2018, Bangladesh Awami League's election manifesto on page 33 stated that 'proper steps will be taken considering merit and ability to increase the age limit for entry into government jobs'. Read more: Age limit raised by 3 years and 3 months for entering govt service; not applicable for BCS It further states, "In reality, the age limit for applying jobs at all levels in Bangladesh was raised from 27 years to 30 years in 1991, 33 years ago, when the average life expectancy of people in Bangladesh was 57 years. At present, the average life expectancy of people in Bangladesh has increased to 73 years, so it is logical to increase the age limit for applying for jobs." Nofel wrote that the age limit for applying for jobs in about 162 countries of the world is at least 35 years, among South Asian countries, our neighboring country India is the most populous country in the world, but the maximum age limit for applying for jobs is 45 years in different states, 45 years in Maldives, 45 years in Sri Lanka, 35 years in Nepal, 35 years in Afghanistan. The developed countries of the world, including India, have done a lot of research about the age limit and increased it to about 35 years according to international standards. In order to eliminate unemployment and create a developed smart Bangladesh, it is important to make students skilled at international standards and also to create opportunities to enter the international job market. In such cases, the maximum age limit for application in all Ministries, Departments, Directorates  and Autonomous, Nationalized Institutions at various levels of employment is minimum 35 years as per International Standards (37 years for  BJS, Doctors, Freedom Fighters Quota), Sub Inspector of Police and in case of appointment of sergeant, opportunity to participate in examination up to 30 years. The Education Minister requested the Minister of Public Administration to take necessary steps considering the issue of opening the age limit in research and various special skill fields as per the government policy. Read more: Police attack age limit protest rally in Shahbagh

Shams Zaman has been appointed Country Managing Partner of PwC Bangladesh. Shams will be the principal interface of PwC practices in Bangladesh. Shams Zaman brings with him over 28 years of professional experience and has previously worked with Citi where he was Head of Bangladesh, Corporate Bank and was responsible for global subsidiaries, local corporates, financial institutions, public sector client coverage and origination business. During his tenure, he also served as Head of Markets Sales & Structuring and Head of Structured Finance, Bangladesh.   Prior to joining Citi, where he spent over 20 years, Shams worked for a boutique investment bank where he led capital markets and corporate finance business. Shams holds MBA and BBA degrees. He has also completed an executive education programme on leading strategic growth. On Shams’ appointment, Sanjeev Krishan, Chairman, PwC in India and PwC Bangladesh said, "We firmly believe in Bangladesh's promising growth trajectory and stay committed to contributing to its momentum by expanding our market presence. With Shams’ extensive expertise, we're confident that PwC Bangladesh will be successfully expanding our client base, exceeding our stakeholder expectations and delivering tailored solutions to their unique business challenges.” On his appointment, Shams Zaman, Country Managing Partner, PwC Bangladesh said, “I am very excited to be a part of the PwC Network. Bangladesh stands at the cusp of transformation and I am eager to collaborate with our talented team, both locally and from across the network, harnessing collective strengths to innovate, strategize, and deliver exceptional results for our stakeholders that will propel our organisation to new heights and make a positive impact in our nation’s growth agenda.” Bangladesh has been clocking impressive macroeconomic growth over the last five years. At the same time, it has had to weather quite a few macroeconomic shocks – from high inflation to low foreign currency reserves to a sudden rise in energy prices. PwC Bangladesh supports business leaders in the country dealing with these short-term issues to sustain the profitable growth of their respective businesses. At the same time, the firm is also undertaking transformation initiatives to help keep client organisations relevant in the future.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said River Teesta's flow has doubled this year compared to past  seasons due to the excessive heat that led to ice melting in the Himalayas. “Himalayan ice is melting due to this scorching heat. As a result Teesta River has double water flow this year comparing to the past times,” she said. She made the remarks while delivering introductory speech in the AL Central Working Committee (ALCWC) meeting at her official residence Ganabhaban.  Hasina said that all the rivers that originate from the Himalaya are having comparatively more water this year. “Because of ice melting rivers are having higher water level. That is a bit of silver line for us. This will ensure better irrigation for us,” she said. She said that the paddy harvesting is going on in Haor areas, it is about to finish and the country is going to have a bumper production from there. “But drought hit in some areas as there is scarcity of water there. We are arranging irrigation for those areas,” she said. In this connection she mentioned that the government provides subsidy to  electricity used for irrigation. She also mentioned that heatwaves not only swept over Bangladesh, rather it has hit  whole of South Asia and South East Asia. She said that in her just concluded Thailand tour she also experienced excessive heat there.  She urged all to go for plantation in the coming rainy season. She mentioned that through Krishak League, Awami League each year plants huge number of saplings across the country. The prime minister also urged all to remain safe, stay under shadow and drink huge water.

The government has increased retail prices of diesel, kerosene, petrol and octane for the month of May. The retail gas price for power plants was also hiked. As per a gazette notification on the last day of April, the prices of diesel and kerosene was raised by Tk 1 to 107 per litre from, existing Tk 106 while the price of petrol was set at Tk 124.50 per litre from Tk 122, up by Tk 2.50 per litre and octane price was set at Tk 128.50 per litre from Tk 126, up by Tk 2.50. The new prices will come into effect from May 1. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division set the new automated price through a gazette notification as per the government decision on Tuesday. The first automated price came into effect on March 7. Issuing the gazette notification in this regard, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources in a clarification said that the new prices have been in line with the prices of the petroleum on the international market. Earlier, the government on March 1 issued a “Fuel Pricing Guidelines” through a gazette notification to set an automated price for the petroleum fuel across the country. It said the local prices will go up and down in line with the international price and every month such prices will be announced by the government for one-month tenure. Meanwhile, in a separate gazette notification the government also raised gas prices for power plants. As per the notification, the power plants will pay Tk 15.50 per cubic metre (each unit), upo by Tk 0.75 while captive power plants will pay Tk 31.50 per unit, up by Tk .75 until further order. The price will be effective from May 1, that is tomorrow (Wednesday), said the notification.

A high-powered official delegation from the Anhui Provincial People’s Congress of China has recently visited Energy Centre—the corporate office of Energypac Power Generation PLC, in the capital’s Tejgaon area. The delegation, led by Wei Xiaoming, Vice Chairman of the Anhui Provincial People’s Congress, highlighted potential trade and investment opportunities, focusing on advancing Bangladesh-China cooperation in various sectors, including electric vehicles (EV) and renewable energy. The Chinese team also visited the Bangladesh Parliament, BCCCI and DNCC. The meeting served as a platform for Energypac to express its commitment to adopting advanced technologies in the manufacturing sectors. They shared insights into Energypac's current projects as the only sole partner of major Chinese companies like JAC and Heli, focusing on the assembly and manufacture of special purpose vehicles and electric vehicles (EV). Humayun Rashid said, “We are the only partner of JAC and Heli in Bangladesh. We have been working with them for almost two decade and are constantly bringing in their new innovative technologies in our market”. “We are working with more new technologies to be introduced in future. We will be introducing eco-friendly sustainable electric trucks and buses in the market”, he added. Officials said the meeting was a part of the delegation’s visit to Bangladesh for discussing trade and investment potentials in the country. During the visit, discussions centered on expanding investment by Anhui province in Bangladesh, notably in manufacturing sectors such as electric cars, commercial vehicles and agricultural technologies. Wei Xiaoming praised the ongoing efforts and coordination between the Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCCI) and the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, which have played pivotal roles in strengthening their bilateral trade relationships. He noted that trade between Anhui province and Bangladesh had reached USD 319 million in 2023, and emphasized the vast potential for further collaboration. The Anhui delegation’s visit to Energypac underscores the growing interest of Chinese investors in the country’s growing sectors. Both parties expressed optimism about the future of their collaborative ventures, which are expected to bring substantial economic benefits to both the countries.