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A man held for alleged social media posts on militancy
Authorities said they held a 28-year-old man from the city on multiple allegations, including posting provocative posts on social media and uploading militancy-related pictures.
The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said Shohag Hossain was picked up on Friday (June 5) from Shymoli under Mohammadpur police station.
A mobile phone set was also recovered from his possession.
The man also faces allegations that he tried to spread militancy and misinterpretations of religion.
A case was filed under the Digital Security Act wth Ramna Model Police Station in regard to the allegations.
The DB produced Shohagh before a Dhaka Metropolitan magistrate court on Monday. The Magistrate granted police appeal for a 3-day fresh remand for interrogation.
Sources at the CTTC said, the Cyber Intel team of the City-Intelligence Analysis Division had been conducting online monitoring from March 1 to June 6 this year as part of regular cyber patrolling.
During the monitoring period, the Cyber Intel team detected that one Khalid Ibn Walid (Facebook Profile Link: https://www.facebook.com/shohagrana.rana.524) was trying to disrupt law and order, including spreading militancy, through his facebook ID by uploading various provocative and militant pictures.
Based on the allegation, a team of the CTTC conducted a raid at Shyamoli area in the capital at around 11:00 pm on June 5 and arrested Shohagh, said Sayed Nasirullah, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of City-Intelligence Analysis Division.
The police official claimed that during the preliminary interrogation, the accused had admitted his involvement in the alleged anti-state activity.
BGMEA seeks customs support for garment industry
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has urged the authorities to ease the export-import audit activities for the garment industry.
A delegation of BGMEA made the request during a meeting held recently with the Customs Bond Commissionerate Kazi Mustafizur Rahman at the CBC office.
The BGMEA delegation included Senior Vice President SM Mannan (Kochi), Vice President Md. Shahidullah Azim, Director Asif Ashraf, former Director Munir Hossain, Chairman of Mitali Group Syed Abu Yousuf Abdullah and Managing Director of Sparrow Apparels Shovon Islam (Shawn).
Also read: Bangladesh can earn at least $ 2bn more exporting non-cotton products: BGMEA chief
Additional Commissioners of Customs Bond Commissionerate Khaled Mohammad Abu Hossain and Md. Zakir Hossain were also present at the meeting, BGMEA said in a media release on Tuesday.
The BGMEA leaders said the Covid-19 pandemic created an unprecedented crisis in the RMG industry of Bangladesh and it was still struggling to recover from the massive impacts.
The support and cooperation of the Customs Bond Commissionerate would help the RMG industry to address the current challenges and turn around, they added.
Also read: BGMEA wants continuation of 0.5 per cent source tax
They requested for an interim arrangement to continue existing services for smooth export-import and bonded warehouse facility and remove hassle and penalty of the customs authority until re-fixation of the minimum limit of wastages in manufacturing knitwear.
The delegation also called for removing complexity in the process of including description of raw materials and other related materials with their HS code in bond licences.
The Commissioner of the Customs Bond Commissionerate assured the BGMEA delegation of cooperation to resolve the issues.
Multinational companies plan to cut suppliers who fail to curb carbon emission
Some 78 per cent multinational companies plan to remove by 2025 suppliers that endanger their carbon transition plan according to a study by Standard Chartered.
According to Carbon Dated, which looks at the risks and opportunities for suppliers in emerging and fast-growing markets as large corporates transition to net zero, MNCs expect to exclude 35 per cent of their current suppliers as they transition away from carbon.
The study also found that-- Supply chain emissions account for an average of 73 per cent of MNCs’ total emissions and More than two thirds (67 per cent) of MNCs say tackling supply chains emissions is the first step in their net-zero transition, rather than focusing on their own carbon output.
It also said that Suppliers in 12 key emerging and fast-growing markets can share in USD1.6 trillion worth of business if they can remain part of MNC supply chains.
According to the study the MNCs are increasing the pressure on their suppliers to become more sustainable, with companies based in emerging and fast-moving markets facing the biggest challenge.
Some 64 per cent of MNCs believe emerging market suppliers will struggle more than developed market suppliers to meet their emission reduction targets, with a further 57 per cent prepared to replace emerging market suppliers with developed market suppliers to aid their transition.
MNCs are concerned that emerging market suppliers are failing to keep pace with for two key reasons; insufficient knowledge and inadequate data. Some 56 per cent of MNCs believe that the lack of knowledge among emerging market suppliers (41 per cent for developed market suppliers) is a barrier to decarbonisation.
Also read: Carbon dioxide levels hit 50% higher than preindustrial time
With MNCs struggling with the quality of data, two-thirds are using secondary sources of data to plug the gap left by supplier emissions surveys. A further 46 per cent say that unreliable data from suppliers is a barrier to reducing emissions.
The study also reveals that the current approach taken by MNCs could create a USD1.6 trillion opportunity for the net-zero club: those businesses reducing emissions in line with MNC net-zero plans.
This represents a major opportunity for net-zero-focused suppliers across the 12 markets in this study, but also quantifies the potential losses to companies not embracing net-zero transition.
Market Annual export revenue at risk
China USD512.3bn
India USD273.7bn
Hong Kong USD205.5bn
Singapore USD146.6bn
South Korea USD142.5bn
The UAE USD119.6bn
Malaysia USD65.3bn
Nigeria USD34.3bn
South Africa USD33.7bn
Indonesia USD25.6bn
Bangladesh USD18.7bn
Kenya USD3.9bn
MNCs are also willing to spend more on net-zero products and services. Some 45 per cent said they would pay a premium, of 7 per cent on average, for a product or service from a net-zero supplier.
Also read: Carbon neutrality by 2050: The world's most urgent mission
MNCs are exploring other ways to help their suppliers’ transition to net zero. Some 47 per cent are offering preferred supplier status – a sales advantage – to sustainable suppliers, and 30 per cent are offering preferential pricing.
Some MNCs are going further, offering grants or loans to their suppliers to invest in reducing emissions (18 per cent) or data collection (13 per cent).
Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered said: “It’s no surprise that as multinational companies transition to net zero, they will have to ask to their suppliers to evidence their own transitions. However, suppliers – especially those in emerging and fast-growing markets - cannot go it alone.
“MNCs need to incentivise their suppliers to help them kick start their transition journey, but governments and the financial sector have a role to play too by creating the right infrastructure and offering the necessary funding.
“Decarbonisation is vital for the survival of the planet, but a vibrant trade ecosystem is essential for maintaining an interconnected global economy. We must work together to ensure the supply chain is decarbonised in a way that delivers shared prosperity across the world.”
Carbon Dated surveyed 400 sustainability and supply chain experts at MNCs across the globe.
Inflation declines to 5.26 in May
The inflation rate declined by 0.30 percent in May, 2021 as it came down to 5.26 percent from 5.56 percent in April 2021.
“The general point-to-point inflation rate in May 2021 fell to 5.26 percentage point,” said Planning Minister MA Mannan on Tuesday while briefing reporters after the Ecnec meeting.
Also read: Dhaka adopts 5.2% inflation target for 2022-23
He said the inflation rate decreased by 0.30 percent. “It’s good news. We’re happy,” he added.
The food inflation declined to 4.87 percent in May, 2021 from 5.57 percent in the previous month, according to the BBS data provided during the press briefing.
Also read: Coronavirus might have some impact on inflation: Minister
However, the non-food inflation rate went up slightly to 5.86 percent last month from 5.55 percent in April, 2021.
TIB: Private hospitals too expensive for Covid-19 treatment
Private hospitals charge up to Tk five lakh on an average for treatment of a corona patient as low-come middle class people are forced to go there due to shortage of ICU facilities in government hospitals.
This was revealed by a recent study of anti-graft watchdog Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) titled "Tackling Coronavirus Pandemic: Governance Challenges in COVID-19 Vaccine Management.”
Also read: Third party’s involvement behind vaccine crisis: TIB
"A large number of the population, mostly the middle class, has been forced to seek treatment at private hospitals due to lack of facilities in dedicated government Covid-19 hospitals," TIB Deputy Programme Manager Md Julkarnayeen said while presenting the results of the study on Tuesday.
Besides, the research sheds light on the fact that the rate of inclusion of low-income, rural and impoverished people has been very low in the vaccination drive largely due to lack of publicity and complicated registration process.
Also read: TIB seeks transparency in vaccine collection, distribution
The study found that around 43% of the vaccinated population have faced problems in registering.
The inclusion of women under the vaccination drive was 37%, the study said.
The TIB report said that irresponsibility and lack of coordination between government bodies have caused sufferings to expatriates returning to overseas work. They have to spend an additional Tk 60,000-70,000 each for not having a vaccination certificate.
Third party’s involvement behind vaccine crisis: TIB
The current vaccine crisis in Bangladesh has been created as the government depended on a single source for it through a third party on political considerations bowing down to the pressure of a business quarter, alleged TIB Executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman on Tuesday.
Dr Iftekhar came up with the remark while presenting the findings of a study of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) in an online press conference along with the members of its research team.
The study titled ‘Tackling Coronavirus Pandemic: Governance Challenges in COVID-19 Vaccine Management’ was conducted following both the qualitative and quantitative methods and by analysing data in the light of different indicators of good governance.
The TIB Executive Director said they tried to portrait the challenges in Covid vaccine activities in the light of good governance in their research.
“We found the deficit in the indicators of good governance in vaccine management activities. Especially, a third party was given the scope to get benefited by procuring vaccines in an ambiguous process by violating rules and laws,” he said.
Iftekhar said as the public representatives are involved with the third party, it cannot have any business relationship with the government since it is prohibited by the law. “Despite that, it happened and we still don’t get any explanation of it.”
“There’s a strategic deficit in procuring the vaccine. Especially, the current vaccine crisis has created dependence on a single source or institution in procuring vaccine jabs on political considerations due to the influence of a business quarter, causing stagnation in vaccine activities,” he said.
Iftekhar said the government announced to give vaccines to around 14 crore people or the 80 percent population, but no specific strategy and pragmatic framework has so far been formulated to accomplish the big challenging job.
Also read: TIB seeks transparency in vaccine collection, distribution
“Nothing is said about how the vaccines will be collected and distributed. In the budget speech, it was mentioned that 25 lakh people will be given a vaccine each month and then it’ll take more than four years. So, we think lack of a well-thought-out plan and framework is now the main deficit in this regard,” he observed.
He said the government could not ensure access to the disadvantaged people in the vaccination programme due to the lack of coordination in the implementation of it. "There's also discrimination in providing the vaccine as the registration process was adverse to the disadvantaged people."
Iftekhar said the risk of Covid infection increased in the country due to the government’s insincerity in enforcing the law to force people to maintain its guidelines and a section of people’s apathy to maintaining the health safety rules.
He said the corruption and irregularities in the health sector are going on as happened in the past.
“Purchase and procurement rules have been violated, information about illegal transaction regarding the appointment of manpower has been surfaced, work orders have been given in favour of institutions accused of graft violating rules and temporary hospitals were made without assessing the utility and those were later shut wasting crores of taka of people,” Iftekhar said.
The TIB Executive director also said the government is much more active in controlling the flow of information than in controlling corruption in the country.
“The government has been trying to control the disclosure of information since the beginning of Covid and this trend has strengthened further. “We think the government is 100-time more active in controlling the disclosure of information than in controlling the corruption,” Iftekhar said.
He said journalists and many others are being harassed by making attacks or filing cases due to the government’s tendency to control the flow of information. “We think it’s a suicidal move and the government should come out of it.”
Also read: Over half of district hospitals lack necessary equipment: TIB
Replying to a question, Iftekhar said checking corruption is surely a tough job, but not impossible only if the government has strong political will and efforts to implement it.
He said those involved in corruption must be brought to justice while the Anti-Corruption Commission must play an active and impartial role in finding out the corrupt to reduce corruption.
Md Julkarnayeen, a research fellow at TIB, said the third party was involved in vaccine import in the country without any logic. “Bangladesh bought vaccines at a higher price (US$ 5) than that of European Union countries (US$ 2.19), India (US$ 2.8), African Union (US$ 3) and Nepal (US$ 4),” he said.
Julkarnayeen said Nepal directly procured the vaccine from Serum Institute and Sri Lanka through Government Pharmaceutical Corporation.
“Excluding the cost, the third party will make a profit of around BDT 77.00 for each dose and its total profit from 3 crore doses will be BDT 231 crore. Had the government procured the vaccine directly from the Serum Institute, the money saved in each dose could have been used to buy 6.8 million more doses of the vaccine,” he said.
The TIB study recommended working out a definite action plan on how to bring 80 percent of the country’s population under vaccination within a specific period, making strong diplomatic efforts to collect the vaccines from all possible sources, allowing competent companies to produce the vaccines locally on their own initiative, making public all information about the vaccine purchase agreement, except for secrets pertinent to state affairs, reforming vaccine registration process and vaccination activities considering disadvantaged people and remote areas, setting up RT-PCR laboratories in all districts and taking steps to keep the cost of treatment for COVID-19, including ICUs in private hospitals, within the reach of people.
Covid-19: Bangladesh logs 2,322 new cases, 44 deaths
Bangladesh registered 44 more Coronavirus-related deaths and 2,322 fresh cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning as the situation continues to worsen with the detection of its Delta variant in different parts of the country.
Although district administrations have imposed lockdowns or partial restrictions in most of the frontier districts to bring the situation under control, the rates of infections and deaths are on the rise.
The latest death toll pushed up the fatalities to 12,913. The Covid-19 death toll crossed 12,000-mark in Bangladesh on May 11.
With the new cases, the total caseload rose to 8,15,282, said a handout of the Directorate General of Health.
The health authorities detected the new cases after testing 19,165 samples during the period.
The daily infection rate increased to 12.12 percent from Monday’s 11.47 percent while the mortality rate remained static at 1.58 percent.
So far, 7,55,302 people have recovered from the disease with 2,062 new ones. Putting the recent recovery rate at 92.64%.
Read: In Khulna, a scramble for Covid hospital beds
The deadly virus claimed 11 lives in Dhaka and Rajshahi each, seven in Chattogram, six in Khulna, five in Rangpur, two in Mymensigh and Sylhet each during the period.
Vaccination drive
Around 5,563 people have received the second dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the last 24 hours.
Govt to construct 30 modern silos for paddy storage
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved a Tk 1400-crore project to construct 30 modern silos, aiming to increase the overall paddy storage capacity by 1.5 lakh metric tons in the country.
The approval came from an Ecnec meeting held virtually with its Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Hasina joined the meeting from Ganobhaban, while ministers and officials concerned attended it from the NEC conference room.
The meeting approved a total of 10 projects involving the overall estimated cost of Tk 6,651.34 crore, said Planning Minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters after the meeting.
“Of the cost, Tk 5,219.81 crore will come from the state coffer while Tk 794.03 crore from the own funds of the organisations concerned and Tk 637.50 crore from foreign sources,” he said.
About the silo project, he said 30 steel silos would be constructed initially and later its number will be increased.
Paddy drying and preservation and other relevant facilities will be there in each 5000-MT modern silo, according to the factsheet provided by the Planning Commission.
Read: Ecnec rejects Tk 17,290-cr primary school meal project
The main objectives of the project are to raise the storage capacity by 1.5 lakh metric tons under the government management, provide farmers with fair prices through direct procurement of their rice, incorporate modern technology in the government’s food management, maintain the nutritious standard of grains for 2-3 years without using pesticide.
The Directorate General of Food under the Food Ministry will implement the project in 30 upazilas under 24 districts at an estimated cost of Tk 1400.22 crore by June 2023.
The selected upazilas or pourashavas where these silos will be constructed are Katiadi, Mirzapur, Tangail Sadar, Faridpur Sadar, Haluaghat, Melandah, Sreebardi, Brahmanbaria Sadar, Noakhali Sadar, Cumilla Sadar, Dinajpur Sadar, Birol, Thakurgaon Sadar, Boda, Hatibandha, Shibpur, Raninagar, Ishwardi, Nandigram, Sherpur, Khetlal, Kanaighat, Shayestaganj, Sunamganj Sadar, Narail Sadar, Kumarkhali, Charfashion, Patuakhali Sadar and Kalapara.
Mannan said the Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to construct such modern silos in the country’s southern region, especially in Bhola, Patuakhali and Barguna as the production of food grains is high there.
The Prime Minister emphasised the practice of tissue culture in the country on potato seeds, vegetables and other crops to improve the quality of production and thus attain self-sufficiency in food.
Read: Ecnec approves Sasec Dhaka-Sylhet Corridor project
During the approval of the 1st revision of BPATC’s Enhancing Training Capacity with an additional cost of Tk 348.61 crore, the Prime Minister stressed the need for extending the length of foundation (training) courses to 10 months instead of 2 to 3 months.
In reply to a question, the planning minister said the government is likely to conduct a perception survey again to determine the impacts of Covid-19.
Talking about the approval of construction of river port at Chilmari (Ramna, Jorgach, Rajibpur, Roumari and Noyahut) with Tk 235.59 crore, Mannan said the project in Chilmari would ultimately boost trade and commerce with the neighboring countries.
The other approved projects are the construction of Nolua-Baherchar 1.3-km bridge over the Pandab-Paira River on Lakshmipasha-Dumki Road in Barishal with the estimated cost of Tk 1,023.50 crore; Upgrading of Modhupur-Mymensingh national highway with Tk 1,107.17 crore; modernisation and expansion of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons with around Tk 215.43 crore; and protection of right embankment of the River Jamuna near Brahmangram-Hatpachil and adjacent areas under Shahzadpur upazila in Sirajganj and strengthening of Betil Spur-1 and Enayetpur Spur-2 with Tk 647.49 crore.
The remaining projects are the rehabilitation of Tangon barrage, Buri embankment and Bhulli embankment irrigation project under Thakurgaon district, riverbank protection and integrated water control infrastructure construction with around Tk 296.36 crore; Agriculture seed development and expansion through bio technology with Tk 72.35 crore; and Construction of Bakhrabad-Meghnaghat-Haripur gas transmission pipeline with Tk 1,304.62 crore.
ACC seeks wealth information of Rajuk engineer, 4 others
The Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) has issued a notice seeking asset statements of five government officials including the chief engineer (implementation) of Rajuk.
Read: Illegal buildings: Rajuk officials to be under DNCC’s radar
Deputy director of ACC public relations office Muhammad Arif Sadeq told UNB on Monday that they were asked to submit their asset statements within 21 working days.
The five government officials are additional chief engineer of Public Works Department of Dhaka metropolitan area Pradeep Kumer Basu, his wife Taposhi Das, supervising engineer of Roads and Highways department of Khulna Zone, councillor of Ward number-9 of Tarabo Municipality of Rupganj Upazilla of Narayanganj Atiqur Rahman, chief engineer of Rajuk ( implementation) and Project Director of Urban resilience project of Rajuk part Abdul Latif Helali , his wife Rozina Begum, and former office assistant of Rajuk Abdul Jalil Akanda and his wife Jahanara Begum.
Read: ACC sues Rajuk employee
They have been directed to submit to the Commission statements of their all movable and immovable property, liabilities, sources of income and their acquisition in the name of themselves and their dependents, the spokesperson said.
The notice further said that if they fail to submit the statements of asset within the stipulated time or submit false statements, action would be taken against them as per sub-section (2) of section 26 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act.
Rain, thunderstorms likely in parts of country
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecast light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind in many parts of the country commencing around 9 am on Tuesday.
Read: Incessant rains: Parts of Chattogram city go under water
“Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at most places over Dhaka, Mymensingh, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at many places over Rangpur, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country,”said a Met office bulletin.
Mild heat wave is sweeping over the regions of Faridpur, Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj & Kushtia and it may abate.
Read:Lightning strikes kill four in Dhaka amid rain
As per the synoptic situation, southwest monsoon has advanced up to Chattogram, Barishal, Dhaka, Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions.
Conditions are favourable for further advancement of Southwest monsoon over remaining parts of the country. Monsoon is active over eastern part of the country and moderate over Northeast Bay, it added.
Read:Rains bring much-sought relief from heat
Day temperature may fall by (1-2)°C and night temperature may fall slightly over the country.