Government
24 banks agree to issue bonds of Tk5,665 crore to pay power sector dues
An official of the Ministry of Finance on Thursday said that 24 banks have agreed to issue bonds worth Tk 5,665 crore to help the government pay money to the owners of private power plants.
The government owes more than $2 billion or around Tk23000 crore to the private power plants as bills.
Bangladesh should discuss issues related to trade benefits at WTO ministerial conf: speakers at a seminar
The government is unable to pay the money because of the financial crisis. As a result, the power plants are not able to pay the money taken from banks as loan. Many of such loans provided to those power plants have been defaulted.
To deal with the situation, bonds of Tk 12,000 crore will be issued against the loans taken by the power plants, an official said on condition of anonymity.
Bangladesh is doing well in IMF terms: Finance Minister
Already, 24 banks have agreed to issue bonds worth Tk 5,665 crore, the official said, confirming that an MoU agreement has been signed in this regard in the Ministry of Finance on February 6.
A letter may be sent to the Bangladesh Bank from the Financial Institutions Division, Ministry of Finance for issuing bonds this week.
Electricity demand may rise to about 17,500 MW in coming summer: Nasrul
After that, the Bangladesh Bank will issue this bond in 3-4 working days, the official said.
Zero tolerance against hoarders: Food Minister
The government announced a zero tolerance policy against illegal hoarders, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said on Thursday.
The minister was speaking at a virtual meeting with the administrative officials of eight divisions at the secretariat.
At that time, he directed the administrative officials to take action according to the law if anyone is found stocking illegally without a licence.
Even 12th parliamentary election is not beyond controversy: CEC
"No one can run rice trading without a food grain licence," he said.
The minister said that the government's priority is to keep the common people at ease by controlling the prices.
"If we work unitedly and sincerely, commodity prices will come under control very soon," he hoped.
Brick Kiln Tracker' to be used to detect polluting brick kilns: Minister
He said that many squirrels have already been caught in various districts and upazilas of the country, including Dhaka.
The food minister said that fines have been imposed during the drives and arrangements have been made to sell the rice quickly.
He directed the divisional commissioners to continue the operation against the illegal hoarders.
“If necessary, crash programmes should be taken up to make it successful,” he said.
He, however, urged to take action carefully so that the ordinary farmers would not be harassed.
Brick Kiln Tracker' to be used to detect polluting brick kilns: Minister
Chaired by Food Secretary Md Ismail Hossain, the meeting was attended by Director General of the Directorate General of Food Md Shakhawat Hossain and divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and regional food controllers and district food controllers of the country.
Resign and hand over power to national government: Amir of Islami Andolan Bangladesh
The Amir of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, Pir Saheb of Charmonai, on Sunday urged the government to resign and hand over power to the national government in order to establish peace in the country.
The IAB Amir made the call while addressing a press conference at its Puranapaltan party office in the city on Sunday.
Also Read: Charmonai Pir vows to unseat govt at any cost
Addressing the press conference, he said that the heartbreaking events that took place in Barisal city elections on June 12 were noticed by the whole country with surprise. It is not possible to express in words how brutally and demonically the terrorists of the ruling party attacked Senior Nayeb Ameer(Vice President) Mufti Syed Mohammad Faizul Karim, he said.
The IAB chief termed the attack of 'Awami terrorists' on the party's leaders and workers, including the senior Nayeb e Ameer(Vice President) Mufti Syed Muhammed Faizul Karim, who was a Mayor candidate of the Barisal City Corporation election as barbaric.
Also read: Islami Andolan Bangladesh rejects Barishal, Khulna city polls results
He said that the state and party terrorism of the ruling party to take away the voting rights of the people of the country is not new. Mufti Faizul Karim did not get his personal safety, despite repeated complaints to the returning officer appointed by the Election Commission and the local administration.
In addition, in response to questions from journalists after the incident, the Chief Election Commissioner, "He asked the journalists, "Has he (Mufti Faizul Karim) passed away?" We are surprised to think that a person devoid of conscience can make such a statement about an honorable person of the country, he said adding, It is our misfortune that such an irresponsible person with no knowledge is the Chief Election Commissioner. "
Also Read: Barishal city polls: Clash between AL, Islami Andolon supporters leaves several injured
The IAB demanded immediate resignation of CEC Habibul Awal. Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim said, people of the country are scared today.
"Today we are worried about the future of the country. There are ominous signs of domestic conflict and violence. A new dimension has been added to the political crisis since the ruling Awami League unilaterally passed the fifteenth amendment of the constitution in the ninth national parliament. We have been repeatedly demanding to overcome the political crisis," he said.
Also Read: Barishal city polls: Woman says Islami Andolon supporter attacked her over recording video
"Neither the Election Commission nor the administration played a neutral role. As a result, people now consider elections a farce and a joke," he said.
He also place five-Point-Recommendations including the National Government must be formed before the completion of the term of the National Parliament, as soon as the national government is formed, the current national parliament must be dissolved and in addition to dissolving parliament, the current prime minister will hand over power to the national government during the election.
Govt reduces soybean oil price by Tk 10 per litre
The government today decided to reduce the price of edible oil, considering the price reduction in the international market, Senior Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce, Tapan Kanti Ghosh, said today (June 11, 2023).
The price of bottled soybean oil has been reduced by Tk 10 per liter to Tk 189, and loose soybean oil will now cost Tk 167 per litre.
Also read: Bottled soybean price hiked by Tk 12 per litre, effective from today
Meanwhile, the price of palm oil has been reduced by Tk 2 per litre to Tk 133, the senior secretary said after the 7th meeting of the ‘Task Force on Review of Commodity Prices and Market Situation’ at the conference room of the Ministry of Commerce at the Secretariat.
The price reduction will come into effect "within a few days," he said.
Also read: 11 proposals including import of soybean oil, sugar get cabinet body’s nod
The commerce secretary said: “Many issues were discussed in today's meeting, including the prices of soybean oil, onion, ginger and garlic. We’ve also discussed the current import situation.”
“We’ve already reduced the price of onion after the decision to allow imports,” he said.
Also read: Govt cuts soybean oil price by Tk 5 per litre, effective from Sunday
The commerce secretary also said the price of edible oil may reduce further in the next 15 days, based on the reduction in price in the international market.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, there is a demand for 20 lakh tonnes of edible oil annually in the country. Of this, the demand during the holy month of Ramadan is close to 3 lakh tonnes. Around 200,000 tons are produced locally, while the remainder is imported.
Also read: TCB to buy 1.60 crore litres of soybean oil for OMS ahead of Ramadan
Govt raises fertiliser prices by Tk 5 per kg
The government of Bangladesh has raised the prices of Urea, TSP, DAP and MOP fertilisers by Tk 5 per kg at both farmer and dealership levels.
The new rates came into effect on Monday.
The agriculture ministry issued an order in this regard on Monday following a letter sent by the finance department of the finance ministry.
The prices have been refixed aiming to keep the fertilizer import at a rational level amid the hike in its prices at the international level and ensure optimum utilization of fertilizers, said the order.
Read More: Cabinet body approves proposals for import of LNG, fertiliser and lentil
At the farmers’ level, the price of per kg Urea has been raised to Tk 27 from Tk 22, DAP to Tk 21 from Tk 16, TSP to Tk 27 from Tk 22 and MOP to Tk 20 from Tk 15.
Similarly, at the dealers’ level, the Urea price has been re-fixed at Tk 25 instead of Tk 20, DAP at Tk 19 instead of Tk 14, TSP at Tk 25 instead of Tk 20 and MOP at Tk 18 instead of Tk 13.
The current price of Urea, DAP, TSP and MOP fertilisers in the international market is Tk 48, Tk 70, Tk 50 and Tk 60 per kg respectively.
As a result, the government is still giving a subsidy of Tk 21 in Urea, Tk 49 in DAP, Tk 23 in TSP and Tk 40 in MOP per kg even after the latest price hike, said a media release of the agriculture ministry.
Read More: Production at Shahjalal Fertiliser Company suspended for 2 months, causing Tk 50 lakh in losses daily
Fertilizer prices were raised by 3-4 times in the global market in the last three years, resulting in hike in government subsidy in the country four times, it said.
In the fiscal year 2020-21, the amount of subsidy was Tk 7,420 crore while it increased to TK 28 crore in 21-22 FY and in the running 2022-23 fiscal year, about Tk 46,000 crore will be required for subsidy.
From 2008-09 to 2022-23 fiscal years, Tk 1,19,837 crore was spent as fertiliser subsidy.
High Court questions hike in price of performing hajj
The High Court (HC) on Tuesday questioned how common people will perform hajj at the cost of the package set by the government.
It questioned: “Why doesn't the government allocate budgets for the hajj like other countries in the world?”
The HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Ali came up with this observation while hearing a writ petition over revising the hajj package offered by the government this year.
The court set Wednesday for further hearing.
Supreme Court lawyer Ashraf-uz-Zaman was present in the hearing on behalf of the writ petitioner.
Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar and Assistant Attorney General Md Awlad Hossain represented the state at the hearing.
The High Court ordered DAG Bashar to inform the court about the latest update on revising the hajj package ahead of Wednesday’s hearing.
Read more: Govt raises hajj cost by Tk 1.61 lakh this year
Earlier on February 1, the Ministry of Religious Affairs announced the hajj package for 2023 in a memorandum. According to the package, a person has to pay a hefty amount of Tk 6.83 lakh to perform hajj this year - up from Tk 5.22 lakh in 2022.
In response, Ashraf-uz-Zaman sent a legal notice to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, requesting it to reduce the cost of hajj pilgrims and bring it under Tk 4 lakh
Later, he filed a writ on March 12 as the concerned authority failed to respond to the legal notice.
Contacted, Lawyer Ashraf Uz Zaman said: “Currently, the plane fare on the Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia-Bangladesh route is Tk 76,000 to Tk 1,10,000. Every year, the governments of both countries force hajj pilgrims to buy tickets for Saudia Airlines and Biman Bangladesh Airlines which destroys the hajj pilgrims’ capacity to choose for themselves.”
“The legal notice was sent requesting the authorities to amend and reduce the price of the hajj package for 2023, citing various factors.”
Hajj-2023 will be held on 9th day of Zilhaj (June 28) depending on moon sighting.
This year, over 127,000 Bangladeshis will get the chance to perform hajj, more than double the number last year.
Only 60,000 people from Bangladesh were allowed to perform hajj in 2022 as the Saudi government only partially opened up in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is the first year since the pandemic that the hajj is expected to be held with no restrictions on attendance.
Read more: HAAB announces private hajj package: Minimum cost set at Tk 6.72 lakh
Govt launches fresh crackdown on opposition: BNP
BNP on Monday alleged that the government has launched a fresh drive to arrest the leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies across the country ahead of the 12th parliamentary election.
“Any peaceful programme of opposition political parties, including BNP, is being attacked and reckless mass arrests are being carried out. The Awami illegitimate regime has resorted to the old game of mass arrests of BNP leaders and activists across the country to cling to power again in illegal ways,” said BNP assistant office secretary Syed Imran Saleh Prince.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also alleged that BNP leaders and activists who participated in the peaceful march at the union level on Saturday are being implicated in false and ghost cases.
“The law enforcers and Awami cadres have now taken a position against the people ahead of the 12th parliamentary polls…even the ghost cases are being filed where the (road march) programme was held peacefully,” the BNP leader said.
He said the ruling party activists along with police set fire to outdated motorcycles at some places to file false cases against the opposition leaders and activists.
As per the information they have received as of Monday morning, Prince said 45 fresh false cases have been filed accusing 1706 identified and 4,517 unidentified opposition leaders and activists in connection with the union-level road march programme.
Read more: Govt rejects HRW statement over alleged crackdown on opposition
Besides, he said, over 300 BNP leaders and activists were arrested in different ‘false’ cases while around 600 BNP opposition activists were injured in attacks by police and ruling party men in different places on Saturday.
“In fact, the Awami League and the government have got unnerved seeing the presence of a huge number of leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate bodies in the road march programme in unions,” Prince observed.
He said the government has started its repressive and suppressive acts out of political vengeance as the BNP leaders and activists made the union-level march programme a success defying all obstacles and attacks.
“I would like to tell them that the 10-point movement has been accepted by the people and it has spread everywhere widely. The movement won’t be able to stop the movement by resorting to repression and plots. The fall of the illegal regime is imminent,” Prince said.
Sanctions were misguided, Washington now more receptive: Shahriar Alam
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam on Tuesday reiterated the standard line of the government that the United States sanctioned elite force RAB and individuals associated with it on the basis of wrong information.
The State Minister was participating in the discussion on the thanksgiving motion on the President's speech in Parliament.
Alam said that the date of December 10, 2022 was specifically chosen by the BNP for the culmination of its program of divisional rallies to commemorate the 1-year anniversary of America sanctioning RAB, which he called 'one of the most successful law and order forces of Bangladesh'.
“BNP thought they could get another round of sanctions," Alam asserted, before saying effective and diligent diplomacy together with regular high-level communications had prevented the outcome BNP were hoping for.
“At least 15 to 20 important high-level meetings have been held in the last one year,” he informed the House. All in all, he said apart from the US administration, the governments of its like-minded countries too had been brought around to the government's view through constructive engagements over the last one year.
Read more: We remain better prepared in 2023: Shahriar Alam
Before moving on, Alam vented his regret at how the pandemic-induced travel ban prevented him from visiting the United States in the run-up to December 2021 - the suggestion being he could have prevented the sanctions from being imposed.
Turning to domestic matters, Alam said that Awami League is close to the people, and knows itself.
“Awami League knows its strengths and limitations,” he said.
Read more: We don't expect US to impose more sanctions: Shahriar
Six senior police officers get promotions
The government has promoted four senior police officers to the rank of additional inspector general of police (IGP).
Also, two additional IGPs got promotions to Grade-1 officers on the same day.
The Public Security Division of the home ministry Wednesday issued notifications regarding the latest promotions.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Headquarters Jamil Ahmad, DIG of Police Staff College Md Humayun Kabir, DIG of Police Headquarters YM Belalur Rahman and Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Mir Rezaul Alam were promoted to the rank of additional IGP.
Read more: 7 police officers promoted to additional IGP
Also, Additional IGP of Police Headquarters Md Kamrul Ahsan and Additional IGP of Special Branch Md Monirul Islam got promotions to Grade-1 officers.
Government to take possession of all historic buildings in Nawabganj, Dohar: Salman
Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman Monday said the government will take possession of all the historic buildings in Nawabganj and Dohar upazilas that are currently being illegally occupied.
No illegal occupants will be spared, he added.
The adviser made the comments while visiting Brajo Niketan, a palatial residence of a British-era zamindar, in Nawabganj.
On December 31, the government took possession of the old structure, which had been illegally occupied for a long time.
Read more: Illegal establishments evicted from Banasree area
Also, Salman requested the officials of the Department of Archeology to restore the house to its previous condition.
Asked what will happen to the other occupied houses, the adviser said: "There are six other houses which are being occupied in Nawabganj and the ones in Dohar are being listed."
"These historical buildings will be recovered following the law. All government properties will be recovered gradually."