bangladesh
Matarbari Power Plant not getting payment against power supply to national grid
Although Matarbari Coal-fired Power Plant has been supplying electricity to the national grid since the commissioning of its first unit in December 2023, it has not received any payment from the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).
“We’ve so far not received any payment against our supply of electricity to the national grid," said Abul Kalam Azad, managing director of the Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL).
The CPGCBL, a state-owned company of the government, set up the Matarbari coal-fired plant with ultra-critical technology under the financing of the Japan International Cooperation Agency ((JICA).
The 1200-MW power plant, having two units each with 600 MW capacity, is on 1,414 acres of land in Matarbari and Dhalghata unions of Maheshkhali upazila of Cox's Bazar district.
A deep-sea project was developed to facilitate coal unloading from ships.
The first unit of the Matarbari Coal-Fired Power Plant was synchronised with the national grid in July of this year.
Since the start of the commercial operation of the first unit, the plant has been supplying power to the national grid on a regular basis as per the demand of the BPDB.
“But we’re not getting the payment. Our paying bill amount will be about Tk 700 crore," Abut Kalam Azad told a group of reporters who were visiting his plant on Thursday.
Officials informed me that the plant needs about 10,000 metric tonnes of coal per day if it runs at full capacity.
If the payment against power supply is not received by the CPGCBL, it will be very difficult to continue the supply as the company has to import coal from abroad, said another top official of the plant.
Officials also said the government’s cash crunch might have been the main reason behind the non-payment of the bills submitted by the CPGCBL.
A loan agreement on the project was signed between the Government of Bangladesh and JICA on June 16, 2014. The project cost has been estimated at Tk 51,800 crore.
Of this, Tk 43,921 crore will be given as project support by JICA, and the remaining Tk 7,933 crore will be provided from the own funds of the Bangladesh Government and CPGCBL.
Arafat stresses investment in arts and culture for a peaceful society
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad A Arafat has emphasised the importance of increasing investment in arts and culture to build a peaceful and prosperous society.
He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 12th Liberation DocFest Bangladesh, an international documentary film festival on liberation and human rights, held at the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka’s Agargaon on Thursday.
Highlighting the importance of arts and culture in building a developed Bangladesh by 2041, the state minister acknowledged the significant economic progress made over the past 15 years. However, he stressed the need to prioritise investment in arts and culture over the next five years.
"If we want to fight against extremism, fundamentalism, and evil forces, no weapon can be more powerful than art and culture," he declared. "The development of art, literature, and culture is essential for us now. At the same time, innovative talent is crucial in the field of art, literature, and culture," he also said.
Arafat emphasized the state's responsibility to provide economic support and advancement to the arts sector, enabling the flourishing of talent and the dissemination of humanity and human values through art.
"Ultimately, we want to build a humane world and become global citizens," he stated.
The junior minister expressed the government's commitment to fostering a conducive environment for the healthy development of the arts industry. He assured his ministry will play a proactive role in achieving this goal.
Attempted murder case: Court summons Pori Moni
The High Court on Thursday summoned Dhallywood actress Pori Moni and her costume designer Junayed Karim Jimmy alias Jimmy in a case filed by Uttara Club Limited's former president Nasir U Mahmud on the charges of threatening and attempting to murder him.
Dhaka Senior Judicial Magistrate Saiful Islam passed the order on Thursday.
The court also asked the two accused to appear before it on June 25, said Abul Kalam Mohammad Sohail, a lawyer of the plaintiff.
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The court discharged Fatema-tuz-Jannat Bony from the charges in the case as the investigation officer did not find any involvement against her.
Recently, Inspector Md. Monir Hossain, the investigation officer of PBI, filed its report before the court, saying they have found evidences against the two accused - Pori Moni and Jimmy.
Nasir Uddin Mahmud filed the case against three, including Pori Moni, on July 6, 2022.
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According to the statement of the case, Pori Moni and his accomplices entered the Boat Club after 12:00 pm on June 9, 2021, and forced the plaintiff to give a free bottles of alcohol. As the plaintiff did not agree to this, Pori Moni insulted the plaintiff and threw a serving glass at the plaintiff and also threw the mobile phone in his hand. Nasir Uddin was injured in the head and chest.
Later, in order to cover up the incident, Pori Moni filed a case against Nasir U Mahmud and two others accused of attempted rape and murder at Savar police station.
In 50 years Bangladesh created business elite group who makes policy and drives government: Speakers at book launch
Speakers at a book launching programme on Thursday said that without a strong political agenda, implementation of economic reforms is quite impossible in Bangladesh.
There are several elite groups created in the last one decade in the country. Business elite is also one of them, who is driving the business sector and at the same time participating in policymaking in favour of them while ignoring mass people'd benefits, observed the speakers.
They said this at a book launching programme titled ‘Fifty Years of Bangladesh: Economy, Politics, Society and Culture’ published by international publisher Routledge from London in January this year.
They said that a clear scenario of such understanding the people get when they look at the banking sector and garment sector of the country.
The garment owners are getting exclusive benefits. On the other hand, many private banks are facing destruction due to looting by the bank directors. The government and administration are helping to destroy the banks. Again, they are getting seats in parliament and cabinet from two parts, they pointed out.
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The reviewer of the book Dr Zahid Hussain, former lead economist of the World Bank, Dhaka office, said in the last five decades there have been development in agriculture, industries, and service sectors, but wages have not grown as per standard.
“The development of Bangladesh happened by keeping mortgage of our future, and an iconological injustice has also been done in last 51 years, that is more than the British and Pakistan period even,” he pointed out from different articles of the book.
He also mentioned that the institutional and regulatory capacity of the country is not improving along with the development of different sectors, resulting in an institutional imbalance, and regulatory weakness is witnessed in many sectors.
Another book reviewer Matiur Rahman, editor of Daily Prothom Alo in analysis and interpretation of the book said it mentioned the country is an authoritarian state, which is currently going on.
The business has grown over the past few decades. But all businessmen's capacity for getting equal action and participation in decision-making has declined, he said.
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“Currently it is trying to push the weak banks over the good banks. From these two parts, we have seen many people get important posts in business and cabinet positions in Parliament. They are influencing state policy in favour of them while small traders struggling to survive lack of policy support,” he pointed out.
Book reviewer Professor Firdous Azim, chairperson, Department of English and Humanities BRAC University, said women's participation in economic activities has increased in the country in the last five decades.
But cultural conflict widened, new generation grew with the Muslim conservative ideology along with modern mentality, there is a challenge of making a combination in society among the progressive and conservative community, she pointed out.
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A total of 15 writers including a foreigner wrote articles on the book covering Bangladesh’s achievements in the last 50 years and suggested a way forward for sustainable development.
Professor Rehman Sobhan, founder and chairman of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), and Professor Rounaq Jahan, distinguished fellow, of CPD edited the book. Rounaq Jahan moderated the programme.
Among the authors of the book Professor Dr Mustafizur Rahman, CPD, Professor Selim Raihan, Executive Director SANEM, Dr Syed Akhtar Mahmood, Former Lead Private Sector Specialist World Bank Group, Professor Dr MM Akash, the University of Dhaka Dr Iftekhar Iqbal, Professor Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman Executive Chairman Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC), Dr Mirza M Hassan Senior Research Fellow BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), Dr Ali Riaz Distinguished Professor Illinois State University, USA, Dr Selim Jahan Former Director, Human Development Report Office (HDRO) UNDP, New York, Dr Fakrul Alam Supernumerary Professor Department of English, DU, Dr Sohela Nazneen, Senior Fellow Institute of Development Studies (IDS), spoke in the programme in person and digitally.
The University Press Limited (UPL) works as the local distributor of the book.
Seminar on Military Justice System held at BAF headquarters
A seminar on "Military Justice System and Their Relationship to Civil Criminal Justice System" was held at Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) headquarters on Thursday.
Chief of Air Staff of the BAF Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan, attended as the Chief Guest and announced the ‘End’ of the seminar, organised by Judge Advocate General Branch of BAF and delivered the closing speech.
In the morning, Abu Mohammad Amin Uddin, Attorney General for Bangladesh, inaugurated the seminar and delivered the opening speech.
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Judge Advocate General of the BAF Group Captain Md. Tahidul Islam delivered the welcome speech, says an Inter Service Public Relation (ISPR) media release.
In his closing speech, the Chief of Air Staff said, "The seminar organised by the Judge Advocate General Branch of the Bangladesh Air Force will play a vital role in developing a modern and sustainable legal framework of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, in establishing justice for crimes within the forces, in improving the professional standards of law officers and in coordinating the justice system in the civil and military environments".
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Justice of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar, Registrar General of the Supreme Court (Senior District and Sessions Judge) Md. Golam Rabbani, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Law and Senior District and Sessions Judge Dr. SK Golam Mahbub and Judge Advocate General of Bangladesh Air Force Group Captain Md. Tahidul Islam presented their valuable speech as subject matter experts in the said seminar.
A total of 53 officials including senior officials of Bangladesh Air Force and Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Navy participated in the seminar.
END/UNB/MJ/FH
Police constable injured after being sandwiched between two buses in Dhaka
A police constable sustained injuries after being sandwiched between two racing buses of Turag Paribahan in Jatrabari Chawrastra intersection in Dhaka on Thursday afternoon.
The injured, Mithun, is undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Ashraf Imam, deputy commissioner (Wari Zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, confirmed the matter saying that the on-duty constable got trapped between the buses while they were in a race.
The buses were seized, he added.
Attacks on doctors: BMA Ctg unit announces work abstention on Sunday, Monday
The Chittagong branch of the Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) has announced a two-hour work abstention on Sunday and Monday protesting the recent attacks on doctors in several hospitals in the district.
In addition, there will be no private practices for two days, it said.
The decision came from a human chain organised with the participation of various organisations of doctors in front of the Chittagong Medical College and Hospital on Thursday.
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Presided over by Professor Dr Mujibul Haque Khan, Chittagong district president of BMA, 9 organizations including Bangladesh Medical Association, Swadhinta Prakash Parishad and Chittagong Prakash Samiti participated in the event.
The BMA leaders said that doctors are being tortured in various ways while discharging their professional duties. Attacks on doctors are increasing due to a lack of justice. Doctors are very unsafe at their workplaces, they said
They also demand immediate arrest of all the attackers and bring them under the law.
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Mujibul Haque said that they were waiting for 5 days to get justice over the attack. “As there was no progress we were forced to take to the streets,” he added.
Earlier on April 10, Raktim Das, a doctor of Patia General Hospital in Chattogram, was seriously injured after being attacked by local Awami League leaders for the delay in treating a patient who suffered a heart attack.
Later on April 14, another doctor named Riaz Uddin Shiblu sustained injuries after being attacked by the relatives of a one-year-old who allegedly died due to wrong treatment.
Two get capital punishment for killing 3 siblings in Ctg
A Chattogram court on Thursday sentenced two men to death for killing three members of a family in the city's Biyazid Bostami area in 2008.
Kamal Hossain Sikdar, judge of the First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge, handed down the judgment on Thursday noon.
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The condemned convicts are—Abul Kashem alias Jamai Kashem, 70, and Yousuf alias Biatta Yousuf, 70 , hailed from Baluchhara area under Biyazid Bostami Thana in the city.
The court also fined Tk2 lakh each.
Kushtia court serves death sentence to suspended cop for killing wife, two others in 2021
According to the prosecution, the accused shot their neighbour Manowara Begum and her two brothers Alamgir and Saiful Islam to death over a previous land dispute in the city's Baluchara area under Bayazid police station on June 29, 2004.
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On June 30, a case was filed with Biyazid police station against four persons following a complaint lodged by victim Saiful's wife Aysha Akter Shilpi.
Of the accused, Gittu Nasir and Foiz Munna were killed in a gunfight.
India's FS Vinay Kwatra's visit "postponed"
The planned official visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra to Bangladesh has been postponed, says a diplomatic source on Thursday.
The visit, which will take place in a mutually convenient new date, is part of high-level exchanges between Bangladesh and India and to review progress in two countries' bilateral cooperation agenda, said the source.
The guests who were invited to attend the dinner with the Indian FS on April 20 also received a message on Thursday that says the visit "has been postponed."
Though there was no official announcement from Dhaka and New Delhi regarding the visit, he was supposed to be in Dhaka on a brief visit on Saturday.
Apart from his meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Masud Bin Momen, the Indian foreign secretary was due to meet Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud.
Diplomatic sources indicate that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India is planned early July after the conclusion of the neighbouring country’s national election, which is the world's largest democratic exercise, spanning seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with the vote count set for June 4.
Pre-election surveys suggest a strong showing for the coalition led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is widely anticipated to secure re-election.
"Prime Minister's (Sheikh Hasina) India visit will definitely take place. However, it will take place after the election in India," FM Hasan said recently.
He said it is not yet discussed at the official level when the visit will exactly take place.
In January, Modi extended warm congratulations to PM Hasina on her electoral victory, expressing hopes for the continued strengthening of the historically close ties between India and Bangladesh.
The last bilateral engagement between the two prime ministers occurred during the G-20 Leaders Summit in September 2023, where Bangladesh was the guest country.
PM Modi is expected to extend invitations to South Asian and BIMSTEC country leaders for his swearing-in ceremony, fostering regional cooperation.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh-India Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) were held in New Delhi on 24 November 2023.
FOC is an institutional dialogue mechanism between the two foreign secretaries to review the entire gamut of bilateral relationship.
Both sides in bilateral forums usually discuss comprehensively a wide range of issues covering border and security, trade, commerce and connectivity, cooperation in water, power and energy sectors, people to people ties and development cooperation in Bangladesh.
The government of India in March extended Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra's tenure by six months.
Kwatra assumed charge as India’s foreign secretary on 1 May, 2022 and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1988.
RUET team clinches 3rd place in Huawei ICT Competition APAC Round in Indonesia
A student team from the Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) has clinched the third position in the Huawei ICT Competition 2023-2024 APAC Round, involving more than 6400 students from 14 countries.
The announcement came at the APAC Award ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Thursday.
More than a thousand undergraduate students from 25 universities in Bangladesh enrolled in this competition that was launched last year.
Afterword’s two teams from RUET joined and took part in the network track and computing track, respectively. Besides, two CUET team compete in the cloud track and computing track in the APAC round. And finally, the network track team from RUET has secured their position in the top three.
The winning team includes Shuvam Agarwala, Rakesh Kar, and Md Mazharul Islam from the RUET Computer Science and Engineering Department. The team has attended the APAC Award ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia. They will head to the global round in Shenzhen, China, next month.
Shuvam Agarwala, a member of the winning team from RUET said, “This competition has provided us many opportunities to learn new things about the ICT and network sectors. It has also brought us to this international platform. And standing with the Bangladeshi flag in front of all was a great experience. We are really thankful to Huawei for creating such an amazing opportunity for us. We are looking forward to achieving more in the global round.”
Li Zongsheng (Jason), Board Member, Huawei South Asia said, “Huawei believes youth is the main driver for the development of any country. Bangladeshi youth, who are large in number, have great potential. And with that belief, Huawei has been organising various initiatives to enhance the ICT knowledge of Bangladeshi students.”
Md Azmain Yakin Srizon, Assistant Professor, Department of CSE, RUET, who is accompanied by the students, said, “I am very proud to see my students representing our country in this global platform and winning the third position in this competition. I have observed that taking part in this competition has increased their knowledge and boosted their confidence.”
More than 170 teams featuring more than 500 students from around 40 countries will participate in the global round, making this the largest offline global final since the first Huawei ICT Competition. This was the second time Bangladesh participated in the event, themed “Connection, Glory, and Future.”