Joel Ahmed

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) 3 Update 22/08/2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjfH1FcSnGw

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/08/22/bangladesh-to-get-first-maritime-runway-in-2024 Bangladesh to get first maritime runway in 2024 Shohel Mamun Published at 11:07 pm August 22nd, 2021 The new 10,700ft-long runway will allow much larger aircraft to take off and land at the airport Courtesy Runway at Cox’s Bazar airport to be extended by 1,700ft, effectively turning it into an international airport The government has taken up an ambitious project to extend the runway at Cox’s Bazar airport by reclaiming land from the sea. Once completed, the new 10,700-foot runway will allow much larger aircraft to take off and land at the airport, paving the way for it to operate international flights. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to virtually inaugurate the construction work of the project on August 29. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) inked the deal for the project with the Chinese joint venture of Changjiang Yichang Waterway Engineering Bureau (CYWEB) and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) on February 9, 2021. The estimated cost of the project is Tk1,568.86 crore. According to the project documents, the deadline to finish construction is May 10, 2024. However, a spokesperson for the contractor said they would be given additional commission if they could finish construction before November 14, 2023. Under the agreement, the contractor will extend the existing 9,000ft runway by 1,700ft towards the Maheshkhali Channel through coastal land reclamation. Representatives of the contractor said CYWEB-CCECC JV had mobilized personnel at the site immediately after the signing of the contract with CAAB. The detailed design and construction of temporary facilities, including a site office, road networks, jetty, and concrete batching plant had been substantially completed. CAAB officials said the main construction work would begin after the prime minister laid the foundation stone of the project. “The latest technology will be used to build a spectacular runway by reclaiming coastal land. It will include the installation of an airfield ground lighting system, installation of instrument landing systems, construction of safety walls and a bridge over the Bakkhali river,” officials said. The project was approved by the government on November 4, 2018. Md Mahbub Ali, minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, said various development projects were underway to turn Cox's Bazar into an international tourist destination. The runway extension project is one of the most crucial of these projects. “The dream is to transform Cox’s Bazar Airport into an airline hub. People can directly visit Cox’s Bazar as a tourism destination once the extension is completed,” he told Dhaka Tribune.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/08/22/deal-inked-under-sasec-2-to-develop-roads-in-northern-region Deal inked under Sasec-2 to develop roads in northern region BSS Published at 10:36 pm August 22nd, 2021 File photo of the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway Collected Once the project is implemented, strong road connectivity will be built between Dhaka and northern region of the country The government today signed an agreement for two packages under South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (Sasec-2) for the development of road connectivity in the country’s northern region. Roads and Highways Department Chief Engineer Md Abdus Sabur and Farhana Momen of package-5’s construction company Abdul Momen Limited and Zhou Libo, authorized representative of package-13’s construction company, China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Limited, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective institutions. Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader joined the agreement signing ceremony at Roads and Highways Department here through videoconferencing. Under package-5, around 13.5 kilometres highway from Elenga in Tangail to east part of Bangabandhu Bridge will be upgraded to four-lane. A flyover, eight bridges and two underpasses and 10 culverts will be constructed under the package at a cost of Tk601 crore. Under package-13, an international standard separate-grade modified cloverleaf interchange will be constructed. Besides, a highway service area will be built for taking rest for drivers and passengers of long-route vehicles. The works will be done at a cost of Tk743 crore. The two construction companies will bear defect liability for one-year and provide maintenance facilities for six years after completion of construction works by three years. Under SASEC-2, around 190 kilometres of highway is being upgraded to four-lane from Elenga to Modern intersection in Rangpur. The cost of the project is around Tk16,662 crore. Once the project is implemented, strong road connectivity will be built between Dhaka and northern region of the country.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/economy/2021/08/22/bangkok-keen-to-sign-fta-with-dhaka Bangkok keen to sign FTA with Dhaka Tribune Desk Published at 06:18 pm August 22nd, 2021 High tariffs on Thai products are stifling exports to Bangladesh to the desired level in spite of high demand, says a Thai official Thailand is interested to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh to increase bilateral trade as tariff and non-tariff barriers stand in the way of promoting business potentials between the two countries. Thai trade counselor in Dhaka Khemathat Archawathamrong expressed this view while talking to Dhaka Tribune recently. He said that high tariffs on Thai products are stifling exports to Bangladesh to the desired level in spite of high demand. Bangladesh has become a member of the middle-income group this year with its economy growing at 7-8% per annum before the Covid-19 outbreak last year. Citing high tariff and non tariff barrier (NTB) as bottlenecks in promoting trade, the Thai Minister Counsellor (Commercial) demanded removal of both the predicaments. Referring to high level meetings between two countries in Bangkok on several occasions, he also said that Thailand has raised the issue of high tariff and has urged Bangladesh to reduce high tariff on Thai products. Citing an example, he said Bangladesh imposes some 62.50% on rice and 89.32% tax on mango. Further, mango import is banned until August in Bangladesh. Emphasizing increasing trade between the two countries, he said prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, both sides had agreed to set a target of $2 billion in 2020, in the JTC meeting held in Bangkok. He believes that Thai products are getting popular in Bangladesh with the expansion of the local economy. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen in a meeting with Bangladeshi diplomats working in Asean countries stressed on increasing trade within the regions. Former Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed while opening the Thai trade exhibition in Dhaka in 2018 showed his interest in signing an FTA with Thailand. The agreement has to cover all major areas of cooperation, such as trade in goods, services and investments, ensuring mutual benefits, Tofail Ahmed added. Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said Bangladesh is working to create sustainable trade facilities by signing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with different friendly countries. Bangladesh has been a major beneficiary of an open market economy and globalization; naturally, the government will continue the practice of an open economy to encourage and facilitate businesses, he also said. Apart from this, the discussion will also focus on how to strengthen the regional forums Bimstec and Asem. To a question of recruiting Bangladeshi workers in Thailand, Khemathat Archawathamrong said that the pandemic has hit the economy and restricted movement of people. He, however, said that the Thai fishing industry may review the situation when the pandemic is over and normalcy returns. Dhaka asked Bangkok to revive the proposal of recruiting skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled Bangladeshi workers for its labour-deficit sectors. In the past, the fishing industry wanted the government to work with authorities in Bangladesh to supply 50,000 workers to solve a labour shortage in Thailand’s growing fisheries industry. Praising the role of microcredit in reducing poverty, Khemathat Archawathamrong said Thailand has introduced this model to uplift people out of poverty. On complications in obtaining a Thai visa, he said he will discuss the issue with the relevant authorities in removing barriers and speeding up the visa process. He has expressed the views that members of reputed and established trade bodies like the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry) FBCCI, Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), DCCI, Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) can get privilege in getting Thai visa besides other reputed and established businessmen. Meanwhile, in January 2020, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister of Thailand Jurin Laksanawisit at the fifth Thai-Bangladeshi Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting with Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tipu Munshu held in Bangkok laid emphasis on promoting trade between the two countries and focused on agriculture, fisheries, livestock, health services and transportation. Thailand regards Bangladesh as an important strategic partner in terms of trade, investment and transportation. It was Thailand’s third-largest trading partner in South Asia in 2018, he said. The $1.2 billion worth of annual trade between the countries includes $1.2 million worth of Thai exports to Bangladesh and $59 million worth of imports from Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Dhaka requested Bangkok to expand duty and quota-free market or DFQF access facility to include more Bangladeshi products having export potential to Thailand. It also handed over a list of 36 products for Thailand’s consideration in the review of DFQF list this year. In the first 11 months of 2019, Thai imports from Bangladesh rose by 38.3% over the same period of 2018. And Thai interest is increasing in key products such as jute yarn, shoes and ready-made garments. Thai direct investment in Bangladesh from 2006-2019 amounted to $1.5 billion, with much of it going into agro-industrial and agro-processing businesses, construction and hotels. Bangladeshi direct investment in Thailand in the same period was worth $1.12 million. The partners are in advantageous geographical proximity for mutual trade and extension of their trade across the region. Thailand is central to Southeast Asia and has infrastructure and policy in place to support investment in the form of development projects as the Eastern Economic Corridor, by which Bangladesh will be able to distribute its goods across the region and to East Asia. Bangladesh on the Indian Ocean has the modern infrastructure to facilitate Thai products and services in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa, he said. Thailand is seeking to more closely link Ranong Port with Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port as a channel for transporting goods. In the meeting Thai Commerce Minister JurinLaksanawisit invited Bangladeshi businesspeople to visit the international exhibitions held here annually, such as the Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair, Thaifex and Style Bangkok, and he urged Dhaka to pursue a free-trade agreement with Bangkok. Meanwhile, after two decades, in July 2017, foreign ministers of Bangladesh and Thailand have termed the Seventh Joint Commission of the two countries a major milestone in bilateral relations. The meeting held in Dhaka was the first of its kind in two decades. The then foreign minister, AH Mahmood Ali, and his Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai agreed that the meeting was a major milestone and a harbinger for a vibrant chapter in our bilateral relations. Both sides were pleased at the cumulative Thai investment in Bangladesh to the tune of $1.5 billion and the recent investment proposal worth $250 million in the energy sector. Former foreign minister Ali invited fresh Thai investment in tourism, Buddhist Circuit tourism, health, hospitality, food processing, taking advantage of the SEZs and IT Park. Meanwhile, Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said that a free-trade agreement (FTA) involved cooperation between at least two countries to reduce trade barriers, such as quotas and tariffs, and to increase the trade of goods and services with each other. Citing an example, Moazzem also said that the automotive industry of Thailand was the largest in South Asia. Thailand can invest and establish an automotive assembly plant in Bangladesh so that the latter can re-export the automotive parts and components to Thailand, he added. According to the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh, some major import items from Thailand to Bangladesh are cement, cereals, plastic, man-made staple fibres, sugar and sugar confectionery, machinery and mechanical appliances, and cotton and cotton fabrics.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2021/08/22/uae-sheltering-afghan-refugees-may-jeopardize-bangladesh-s-labour-export UAE sheltering Afghan refugees may jeopardize Bangladesh's labour export Tribune Desk Published at 06:22 pm August 22nd, 2021 The evacuees will travel to the UAE from the Afghan capital of Kabul on US aircraft in the coming days Bangladesh’s export of labour to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is likely to suffer as the Gulf country has decided to host Afghan refugees against the backdrop of political instability in Kabul and other cities, sources said. The UAE has agreed to host 5,000 Afghan nationals evacuated from Afghanistan on their way to other countries, according to Gulf News. The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced that following a request from the United States, it would host the Afghans on a temporary basis, after which time they would travel on to other nations. The evacuees will travel to the UAE from the Afghan capital of Kabul on US aircraft in the coming days. What it means for Bangladesh Meanwhile, Bangladesh has again asked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to open its labour market that has plummeted since 2015. Bangladesh Ambassador to UAE and Permanent Representative to IRENA Md Abu Zafar made the request when he called on Undersecretary of the Ministry for Human Resources and Emiratization of the UAE Saif Al Suwaidi at latter’s office in Dubai last week. Bangladesh exported 215,452 workers to the UAE in 2012 and the number of workers dropped to 14,241 in 2013 . The country exported 1082 workers in 2020, 3,318 workers in 2019, 3,235 workers in 2018, 4,135 workers in 2017 and 8,131 in 2016. The UAE Undersecretary was assisted by Abdulla Ali Rashid Alnuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary of Communication & International Relations and other high officials of the Ministry while the Ambassador was accompanied by the Consul General of Bangladesh in Dubai and Deputy Chief of the Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Former Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) director Zillur Rahman while talking to Dhaka Tribune, said the BAIRA leaders are closely watching the Afghan situation. Zillur Rahman, also a member of BAIRA, said Bangladesh is expecting to recover the labour market in the Gulf country after vaccination started both in Bangladesh and UAE. The meeting discussed the whole gamut of bilateral cooperation and engagement in the areas of the continued employment of Bangladeshi workforce in the UAE and skill development before their arrival in the country. The UAE undersecretary highly commended the hardworking and adaptive aptitude of Bangladeshi workers and appreciated the remarkable contribution they have made to the socio-economic development of the UAE over the last four and half decades. While thanking the UAE leadership for hosting Bangladeshi workers in their country and taking good care of them even during the pandemic, the Ambassador underscored the importance of job- centric training and orientation of the workers before their travel to UAE as well as on-arrival orientation on the workers’ rights, working condition, UAE language and culture etc. He put special emphasis on protection of the rights of the vulnerable groups, particularly the female domestic workers. To this effect, the envoy made a proposal that with the support of the UAE government and private sector, Bangladesh can either designate or set up dedicated training institutes in Bangladesh and also develop suitable training modules for workers wishing to take up employment in the UAE. He further proposed that the UAE should consider introducing “Skill Certification” of the returning workers who have gained right skill in any trades owing to their long years of work in the UAE. The ambassador also conveyed Bangladesh’s readiness for hosting in Dhaka the first meeting of the Joint Committee (JC) on implementation of the MoU on the recruitment of domestic workers from Bangladesh. He also appreciated the UAE government for granting the opportunity to, like other nationals, visiting Bangladeshi nationals to take up employment in the UAE and then transfer their visit visa to employment visa at ease while looking forward to the re-opening of UAE job markets for general category of Bangladeshi workers along with other nationals that has remain suspended owing to the C-19 pandemic situation. The UAE side welcomed the proposals made by the ambassador and expressed their willingness for holding the Joint Committee Meeting in the coming months in Dhaka. The UAE side stressed establishing a comprehensive and sustainable process that would cover all aspects of migration - namely proper training of the workers, transparent selection and recruitment process, wage protection, end-service benefit, rights and duties of all stakeholders (employers, employees, recruiting agents and the governments). They expressed that the whole issue would be discussed in detail during the forthcoming joint committee meeting. They also discussed the ways and means for close cooperation between the two countries in different international forums for mutual interest in this field particularly, in Abu Dhabi Dialogue, Colombo Process and International Organization for Migration. The issue of returning Bangladeshi nationals with UAE residence stranded in Bangladesh due to Covid-19 related travel ban was also discussed. The meeting ended with exchange of gifts from both ends. Meanwhile, during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent visit to the gulf state, home to around one million Bangladeshis, the issue was discussed between the two governments without any breakthrough. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said: "I did discuss the issue with the Foreign Minister of the UAE in Abu Dhabi on January 14. I also requested him to make an official declaration stating the reopening of the UAE labour market for Bangladeshis in full scale." The labour market of the United Arab Emirates will re-open in full scale for Bangladeshi migrant workers if certain conditions are met, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has told Dhaka Tribune. He dwelt on conditions attached to securing jobs as well as a building of awareness among prospective Bangladeshi migrant workers about relevant laws and regulations of the emirates, rules and norms of their society, and significant reduction of migration cost. Most importantly, the Bangladesh foreign minister said: "The UAE wants migration costs to come down significantly."

https://bangla.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/08/22/38414 ভারতে পাচারের সময় ভোঁদড়-ঈগলসহ ৯টি বন্যপ্রাণী উদ্ধার ট্রিবিউন ডেস্ক প্রকাশিত ০৫:৩০ সন্ধ্যা আগস্ট ২২, ২০২১ বর্ডার গার্ড বাংলাদেশের ৩৩ ব্যাটেলিয়ন কার্যালয়ে উদ্ধারকৃত বন্যপ্রাণীগুলো বনবিভাগের কাছে হস্তান্তর করেন বিজিবি অধিনায়ক লে.কর্নেল মোহাম্মদ আল মাহমুদ ঢাকা ট্রিবিউন বাংলাদেশ থেকে ভারতে পাচারকালে সাতক্ষীরার বিভিন্ন সীমান্ত থেকে নয়টি বন্যপ্রাণী উদ্ধার করেছে বর্ডার গার্ড বাংলাদেশ বাংলাদেশ থেকে ভারতে পাচারকালে সাতক্ষীরার বিভিন্ন সীমান্ত থেকে নয়টি বন্যপ্রাণী উদ্ধার করেছে বর্ডার গার্ড বাংলাদেশ (বিজিবি)। উদ্ধার হওয়া বন্যপ্রাণীর মধ্যে রয়েছে ভোঁদড় (উদবিড়াল) দুইটি, বিদেশী খরগোশ ছয়টি ও একটি ঈগল পাখি। তবে এ সময় কোন চোরাকারবারিকে আটক করতে সক্ষম হয়নি বিজিবি। রবিবার (২২ আগস্ট) দুপুরে বর্ডার গার্ড বাংলাদেশের ৩৩ ব্যাটেলিয়ন কার্যালয়ে উদ্ধারকৃত বন্যপ্রাণীগুলো বনবিভাগের কাছে হস্তান্তর করেন বিজিবি অধিনায়ক লে.কর্নেল মোহাম্মদ আল মাহমুদ। বনবিভাগের পক্ষ থেকে পশ্চিম সুন্দরবন সাতক্ষীরা রেঞ্জের বুড়িগোয়ালীনি ফরেস্ট স্টেশন কর্মকর্তা সুলতান আহম্মেদ ও ফরেস্ট গার্ড দেলোয়ার হোসেন এসব বন্যপ্রাণীগুলো নিজেদের জিম্মায় নেন। সাতক্ষীরা ৩৩ বিজিবির অধিনায়ক লে.কর্নেল মোহাম্মদ আল মাহমুদ জানান, চোরাকারবারিরা এসব বন্যপ্রাণীগুলো সাতক্ষীরার বিভিন্ন সীমান্ত দিয়ে ভারতে পাচারের চেষ্টা করছিল। সীমান্তে বিজিবির নিয়মিত টহলকালে এ বন্যপ্রাণীগুলো উদ্ধার করা হয়। তবে কোন চোরাকারবারীকে আটক করা সম্ভব হয়নি। বন্যপ্রাণীগুলো বনবিভাগের কাছে হস্তান্তর করা হয়েছে। তারা এ গুলো সুন্দরবনে অবমুক্ত করবেন। পশ্চিম সুন্দরবন সাতক্ষীরা রেঞ্চের বুড়িগোয়ালীনি ফরেস্ট স্টেশন কর্মকর্তা সুলতান আহম্মেদ জানান, সুন্দরবনে বন্যপ্রাণী রক্ষায় বন বিভাগ সব সময় তৎপর রয়েছে। এরমধ্যেই চোরা শিকারিরা মাঝে মধ্যে বন্যপ্রাণী শিকার করে। তিনি আরও জানান, ৯টি বন্যপ্রাণী বিজিবির কাছ থেকে বনবিভাগের আওতায় নেওয়া হয়েছে। এগুলো দ্রুত সময়ের মধ্যে সুন্দরবনের ভিতরে অবমুক্ত করা হবে।

Jasim Uddin 22 August, 2021, 03:00 pm Last modified: 22 August, 2021, 03:17 pm NBR to verify savings certificate data It has integrated its system with that of the Department of National Savings The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has taken steps to verify taxpayers' sanchayapatra (savings instruments) investment information in order to prevent the misuse of tax rebate facilities. It says the measures will also widen the tax net. As part of its measures, it has integrated its system with that of the Department of National Savings. The national savings department has already provided commissioners of every tax zone with login IDs and passwords. Policy Research Institute Executive Director Ahsan H Mansur has welcomed the move. But he is not sure whether this will increase tax realisation because sanchayapatra investors pay source tax on their income from savings instruments. "But if they are outside the tax net, the NBR can use their information to bring them under the tax net. This will widen the tax net and will also create scopes for realising more revenues from their other income sources," he told The Business Standard. Sanchayapatra investors pay 5-10% source tax on interest. As per the income tax ordinance, a taxpayer will get tax rebates on sanchayapatra investment. He will get a 15% rebate for investing 25% of his annual income in sanchayapatra. But there will be no rebate on investment exceeding that figure. For example, a person earning Tk4 lakh a year can get rebates for investing Tk1 lakh. The rebate will amount to Tk15,000. The NBR recently wrote to tax zone officials, asking them to verify taxpayers' sanchayapatra investment information. Signed by its tax information management and valuation department's Second Secretary Lincoln Roy, the letter said verifying sanchayapatra investment information would ease taking legal steps against investors. But it should be ensured that taxpayers and marginal investors are not harassed while the process should be carried out by officials of joint commissioner and additional commissioner ranks, said the letter. It asked officials to send different types of information of taxpayers, including their names and tax identification numbers, the amount of sanchayapatra investment, and whether they had submitted tax returns, every 15 days. At the pre-budget discussion on 10 March, NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem said the government was making efforts to widen the tax net and determine the right amount of taxes using all legal tools. NBR sources said a large segment of taxpayers submitting tax returns claim tax rebates against sanchayapatra investment every year. But their investment information could not be verified in the past as the NBR database was not connected to that of the national savings department, leading to the misuse of tax rebate facilities. Requesting anonymity, a senior NBR official said there had been cases of taxpayers providing false investment information. He said integrating the NBR system with that of the national savings department was necessary to deal with such frauds. "There are other fraudulent activities too. For instance, many taxpayers buy sanchayapatra just before submitting their returns only to avail rebates. They sell sanchayapatra after submitting returns, which is a serious irregularity. It is like deceiving the government," he explained. A five-year sanchayapatra yields 11.28% profit at maturity. Up to Tk30 lakh can be invested in a single name, and Tk60 lakh in joint names. There is no upper limit for institutional investors.

Twin projects for the same road, taken up by authorities! FHM HUMAYAN KABIR | Published: August 22, 2021 08:22:29 | Updated: August 22, 2021 14:43:22 The Planning Commission (PC) is in a fix over the two separate projects taken up by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) to widen a road, involving a substantial amount of money. The PC held discussion with the RHD to find a solution, said an official concerned. The RHD has undertaken two projects for widening one road in Sylhet, which created a stir inside the government planning regulator, sources said Thursday. They said the RHD has been working to make wider the 16.35km Joyntapur-Jaflong road along the Sylhet-Tamabil highway at a cost of Tk 1.91 billion since October 2017. The road development is still going on. Yet, the road-developer last year undertook another project costing Tk 35.86 billion in a bid to widen the same highway, they said. A project-insider told the FE that a major portion of the newly built drains and roads on the Joynta-Jaflong alignment under the first project would need to be demolished during the Sylhet-Tamabil-highway-widening works under the second project. "We were informed about the two projects for a same alignment while the RHD had recently brought the first project for revision to us," he said, requesting anonymity. "When we got the revision proposal of the Joynta-Jafflong road project, we also scrutinised the last-year-approved Sylhet-Tamabil-road-widening project. Then we have found that the RHD is working on the same road!" he wondered. "Then we called the public road-developer for a meeting and recommended cutting some provisions of the previously taken Tk 1.91-billion-cost project and finish it as soon as possible," the PC official said. "We have found some less-priority works, including the inter-section and some drain constructions, in the first project. So, we had recommended trimming down those works under the Tk 1.91 billion scheme," he added. The PC recommended not building an intersection at Bollahat, axel-load- regulation centre and some drains under the Joynta-Jaflong-road-development project, the official further said. When asked, a RHD official told the FE that they had also informed the Commission that they wanted to cut the construction of Bollahat intersection for its lesser priority and wanted to trim down the land acquisition in bazaar (market) areas on the highway due to complex procedure, the project-insider said. "Realising the overlapping we had recently sought revision of the Tk 1.91 billion Joyntapur-Jafflong-road-development project for completing it shortly," he added. They proposed to reduce the project cost to Tk 1.24 billion from Tk 1.91 billion of the first project. Now it will require one more year to complete. Meanwhile, the RHD had already completed 62 percent works on the Joyntapur-Jafflong road under the first project. The department undertook the 'Widening of Joynta-Jaflong road on the Dhaka-Sylhet-Tamabil-Jaflong highways along with Tamabil land connection and Bollaghat connection-road project' at Tk 1.91 billion in October 2017. The widening works were scheduled to be completed in June last FY2021. But the RHD recently sought another year from the Planning Commission to complete the development works on the Joynta-Jaflong road. Meanwhile, the road-developer had undertaken 'Upgradation of the Sylhet-Tamabil highway into four-lane, including a separate slow-moving vehicular traffic lane (SMVT)". The purpose of both the projects is to connect neighbouring India with the capital city, Dhaka, and establish a regional connectivity. With the financial support of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the RHD has taken up the Sylhet-Tamabil Highway upgradation project, scheduled to be completed by June 2025.

Md Foisal Ahmed 22 August, 2021, 08:45 am Last modified: 22 August, 2021, 04:40 pm 63 out of 99 bridges too low for smooth navigation: BIWTA A gazette notification issued in 2010 defined the minimum height of bridges, but constructions of low bridges on rivers are underway even after eleven years Highlights: The Navigational Clearance shall be in accordance with the current BIWTA requirements. Therefore the latest situation i.e. any possible change in regulation needs to be verified with the BIWTA. Minimum vertical Clearance for Class-I routes 18.30 meters, Class-II 12.20, Class-III 7.62 and Class-IV 5.00 meters from the standard high water level (SHWL). For waterways which have not been classified by BIWTA, consideration shall be given to the local requirement for passage of fishing vessels, boats, trawlers, barges etc. At least one span must be kept wide enough to accommodate intended river traffic. The vertical clearance should be measured from the Standard High Water Level. The same height for the bridge has also been defined by the Shipping Ministry's Gazette 2010. The guideline said the Minimum Vertical Clearance for Class-I routes 18.30 meters, Class-II 12.20, Class-III 7.62 and Class-IV 5.00 meters from SHWL. Low bridges constructed by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) across different rivers in the country have been creating obstacles to the smooth navigation of vessels on the waterways. A recent survey by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) found that 63 out of 99 bridges surveyed are blocking smooth navigation due to construction glitches. Even though a gazette notification issued in 2010 defined the minimum height of bridges, constructions of low bridges on rivers are underway even after eleven years. According to the 2010 gazette, minimum vertical clearance for Class-I route is 18.30 metres, Class-II 12.20 metres, Class-III 7.62 metres and Class-IV 5.00 metres, from the standard high water level (SHWL). For waterways that have not been classified by the BIWTA, the local requirement for passage of fishing vessels, boats, trawlers and barges has to be considered. At least one span must be kept wide enough to accommodate intended river traffic. Among the 99 bridges surveyed, the BIWTA spotted six under-construction low bridges, including Tongi Rail Bridge-2, Tongi Road Bridge-1, Kayetpara Bridge and Ichhapura Bridge (Narayanganj), which are in violation of the 2010 gazette. BIWTA sources have said they failed to stop the construction of those bridges even after sending a letter earlier this year to the Roads and Highways Department, which is responsible for the construction and maintenance of bridges on the country's rivers. In this regard, Rabiul Islam, assistant director (Conservation and Pilotage) of the BIWTA, said, "We sent a letter to the RHD in February recommending a stop to the construction of those bridges, but it has not been paying heed to our objections. We cannot do more due to legal bindings." Apart from the above-mentioned bridges, the RHD is also constructing two bridges on the River Kopotakkho at Jhikargachha on the Jashore-Benapole highway in violation of the rules of minimum height defined in the 2010 gazette. Sources have said the RHD is constructing the twin bridges on the River Kopotakkho without obtaining vertical and horizontal clearance from the BIWTA, which is mandatory before the construction of any bridge is undertaken. "The BIWTA has not approved the construction of the bridges as the minimum height was not maintained," said Md Sobur Khan, deputy director (Conservation and Pilotage) of the BIWTA. He said, "We have asked the hydrography department to measure the height from the standard water level. Once we get the report, we will lodge complains to the authorities concerned." The bridges are being constructed at a cost of Tk150 crore, with funding by Japan International Cooperation Agency. Construction of a bridge has already been completed and work on another will begin soon. In this regard, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury told The Business Standard (TBS), "No bridge can be constructed without getting a no objection certificate (NOC). We will look into the matter as to how the RHD is constructing the bridges. BIWTA has been instructed to investigate the issue and action will be taken once the investigation ends." Replying to a query, he said, "We have no way of taking legal action. We are going to hold an inter-ministerial meeting to discuss the issue. Hopefully, it will be fruitful." Asked about other low-height bridges, the state minister said some of the bridges are very old and some were built before the publication of the 2010 gazette. "The prime minister is very much serious about recovering navigation routes across the country. She has instructed us to find out the low bridges and reconstruct them. Therefore, all low bridges constructed on different rivers across the country will be reconstructed to ensure smooth navigation," said the state minister, adding however, that it cannot be done overnight. It has to be done in phases. "Initially, we want to recover the important routes. Then, gradually, all the routes will be recovered. Restoring 10,000km of waterways across the country is going on while, simultaneously, action will be taken regarding low bridges on those routes," Chowdhury held out the assurance. Meanwhile, experts said inefficiency and whimsical decisions of the RHD, together with a lack of coordination and proper monitoring are the key reasons behind the construction of the low bridges. "The RHD's argument that some of the bridges were constructed before the issuance of the 2010 gazette is a lame one. They should have kept in mind the fact that a bridge is made for 50-100 years," said Professor Mir Tareque Ali, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). He said the construction of low bridges is a result of their inefficiency. It happened due to the lack of coordination between the BIWTA and the RHD. RHD Chief Engineer Md Abdus Sabur said, "Before the issuance of the gazette in 2010, we had been following our own guideline — RHD Bridge Design Standards 2004 — for construction of bridges. "Since the issuance of the gazette in 2010, we have been taking clearance from the BIWTA regularly before starting the construction of any bridge. But in a recent gazette on 'Construction Over Rivers Control Rules', published in 2018 by the shipping ministry, classification of some routes was upgraded. As a result, bridges constructed on those routes turned into low ones." Most of the bridges spotted by the BIWTA as low bridges were constructed even before RHD's 2004 guideline was prepared, he claimed. "We are serious about the low or most talked about bridges and trying to fix the problem. We are working to find out an alternative to demolishing the existing bridges. We are considering whether it is possible to increase the height keeping the existing girders," he added.

Sales of savings tools triple ARAFAT ARA | Published: August 22, 2021 08:27:02 | Updated: August 22, 2021 08:30:52 The government's net borrowing through the national savings instruments more than doubled in the fiscal year (FY) 2020-21 than that of the FY's target, according to the official statistics. The Department of National Savings (DNS) disclosed recently that the net sales of national savings certificates stood at Tk 419.59 billion in the last FY against a target of Tk 200.00 billion. The net sales of the instruments were nearly three times higher in the last FY than that of the previous FY's Tk 144.28 billion, data showed. Officials said the savers have invested more in these savings schemes due to lucrative yield rates. Many of them even borrowed money from the banks and invested in the instruments as the yield rates were higher than the interest rates on bank loans, said an official at the DNS. He also pointed out that a significant number of savers had reinvested in savings instruments after maturity of their previous investments which is another reason behind the increased sales in the last FY. The government sells savings instruments, including four types of savings certificates, with the yield rates up to 11.76 per cent. In contrast, the banks are providing interest rates on deposits up to 5.50 per cent while charging the lending rates up to 9.0 per cent. The interest rates vary depending on banks and bank-client relationship, insiders have said. Some banks were offering even 6.0 to 7.0 per cent lending rates, they added. Talking to the FE, Salma Begum, who invested in the Family Savings Certificate, said she had no alternative but to buy a savings certificate as other sectors, including banks, were not attractive for investing her money. "A substantial part of my family expenses comes from the proceeds of the savings certificates," she said. Another saver, Farid Ahmed, said he could not start any small venture due to the Covid-19 pandemic. So, investing in savings certificates was the better option for him to earn something in such a difficult time. When contacted, officials said that the DNS has no plan at this moment to cut the yield rates on savings tools, especially on savings certificates. The government is considering the financial security of small savers, who are struggling hard to survive because of the pandemic, they said. Meanwhile, the DNS in 2019 started taking necessary preparations to automate its services which are expected to complete by 2024. Then the clients are expected to get online services. Currently, the taxpayers identification number (TIN), and national identification (NID) number are mandatory for purchasing the savings certificates. Apart from the savings schemes, the DNS sells different types of bonds to local and expatriate Bangladeshis. Around 20 million investors are involved in this sector, DNS officials said.

Govt urged to utilize Bangladeshi expatriates’ expertise in infrastructure projects UNB Published at 11:31 pm August 21st, 2021 ‘Non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) should be brought to one forum’ Speakers at a webinar on Saturday urged the government to create opportunities to utilize expertise of the expatriate Bangladeshis in developing infrastructure projects. They also observed that more attention should be given to improve the country’s educational system to create skilled manpower. “The existing educational system is not being able to produce quality youths. As a result, they are not getting jobs and remain as educated but unemployed”, said Humayun Rashid, chief executive officer (CEO) of Energypac, while speaking at the virtual seminar organized by Energy and Power magazine. The seminar, titled “NRB’s & Local Technical Resource Integration For Capacity Development of Bangladesh”, was also addressed by Special Envoy to the Presidency of the Climate Vulnerable Forum Abul Kalam Azad, former power secretary Dr Sultan Ahmed, expatriate educationists Dr Habib Siddiqui, Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan, Abdus Saleque, and Managing Director of Summit Technopolis Abu Reza Khan. Magazine Editor Mollah Amzad Hossain conducted the function. The speakers said that certificates of Bangladesh’s vocational institutes are not accepted abroad. They said though many expatriate Bangladeshis want to engage themselves in the infrastructure projects to utilize their expertise, no initiative is taken by the government. Abul Kalam Azad said the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Finance Ministry can play a vital role in offering the expatriate Bangladeshis to engage in the infrastructure projects. The government is executing a project to develop 100 economic zones across the country where they could be employed, he opined. Dr Sultan Ahmed said if the expatriate Bangladeshis are employed in the country’s infrastructure projects, they could provide better services at a lower cost than that being offered by the foreign experts. Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan said many experts in our country are more qualified than foreign consultants. “We all need patriotism, honesty and then skills. They are qualified to give opinions on mega projects such as Padma Bridge and Metro Rail. But many times their opinion is not taken,” he added. Abu Reza Khan said that non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) have many forums. But they should be brought to one forum. He said if there is any database for the NRBs, then any ministry can utilize the relevant NRB experts when it comes to projects.

South Korean company Korean Expressway Corporation has won the maintenance and toll collection contract of the Padma Bridge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIRkRfsPD2A

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/move-reduce-foreigners-hire-more-locals-jobs-291292#.YSEubtEbwI4.facebook Reyad Hossain 21 August, 2021, 10:35 pm Last modified: 21 August, 2021, 10:48 pm Move to reduce foreigners, hire more locals in jobs As per the existing guidelines, for every foreign worker hired, a business entity must employ five locals The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) has come up with a set of recommendations like mandating foreign worker hiring ratio at every tier of job, particularly at mid-level management, in different sectors to offer more job opportunities to the country's own pool of skilled workforce. As per the existing guidelines, for every foreign worker hired, a business entity must employ five locals. But capitalising on no instructions on conforming to the ratio at every level, multinational companies mainly recruit foreign nationals for mid-level management jobs, leaving many local deserving candidates out of luck. They now maintain the ratio in hiring only at low-level jobs. When it comes to employing workers in the manufacturing sector, an ongoing industrial project needs to have 10 local workers for every foreign worker hired. The permissible cap goes down to 20:1 when the new facility goes into production. The permissible percentage of foreigners for educational institutions is a little over 9% of total employees and they also will have to comply with such a limit in hiring at every level. Bida in its draft proposal suggests that the government amend the existing guidelines for foreign worker recruitment with a view to making it mandatory for all employers that they abide by the hiring ratio at all job level. The draft proposal will be presented to the Prime Minister's Office next month. Local entrepreneurs say if the proposed amendment secures approval, local skilled people will get more opportunities at management levels. This will also allow the government to control the number of foreign workers to a permissible limit. At the same time, it will be possible to stop the huge amount of money going abroad legally and illegally through the recruitment of foreign nationals, they add. Ariful Haque, director of Bida, told The Business Standard, "We prepared the proposal to increase job opportunities for Bangladeshi workers at the top level of different companies." However, representatives of foreign investors think such a proposal might send a wrong message to foreign investors abroad. Rupali Haque Chowdhury, president of the Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, "Imposing more restrictions on the recruitment of foreign nationals would send the wrong message to foreign investors and increase the burden on compliant companies. If there are any irregularities, actions should be taken according to the law." "We lack skilled and qualified manpower in many fields. If foreign experts do not come there, the sectors will not develop. We should see what other countries are doing," she said. Bida in its draft proposal also suggests penalising and even blacklisting foreigners for staying in Bangladesh without a work permit. Besides, the investment authority recommends changing the procedure of permitting the setting up of branches, liaison or representative offices, and project offices of foreign companies. The procedure for granting work permits to foreign nationals will be amended too, according to the proposal. Bida has already sent letters to ministries and divisions concerned, and business associations, seeking their opinions on the draft proposal. Besides, Bida proposed some amendments to ensure transparency in expenses of companies while paying foreign workers. According to the proposal, no salary allowance or benefit can be taken outside the country without Bida's permission. If a foreign worker leaves the country without paying income tax, their employers will have to pay that. In Bangladesh, a significant number of foreigners work in local offices of various buying houses in the readymade garment sector. Kazi Iftequer Hossain, president of Bangladesh Garment Buying House Association (BGBA), said, "Foreign nationals only can be recruited in job levels where there are shortages of manpower with technical knowledge." "Bangladeshi manpower is now sufficiently qualified to cater to the demand of the apparel sector and buying houses. There is no need to recruit foreign nationals in these sectors anymore," he added. The BGBA president said over 1,000 foreign nationals are currently working in 300 out of 1,800 buying houses under his organisation. Officials of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) said they will send their opinion on Bida's draft proposal this week. BKMEA director Fazlee Shamim Ehsan told TBS, "Some projects like Padma Bridge, Rooppur Nuclear Power plant require hiring of foreigners with technical knowledge. Apart from this, our own workforce is good enough for almost all jobs in other sectors, including RMG and textile industries." Ahsan H Mansur, executive director of Policy Research Institute, said, "We have to bring in foreigners if we do not have expert manpower. But it will not be wise to impose more restrictions on foreign workers." Bida's proposal also mentions that the regulations can be relaxed if necessary. According to Bida, in sectors where there are Bangladeshi skilled workers, priority should be given to them. In addition, even if foreign workers are hired, they will have to submit a proper action plan to the government to transfer their specialised technical knowledge to local workers within five years. If the action plan is not implemented, the work permit of the foreign employees will not be extended. The contribution of a foreign worker in enhancing skills of his subordinates will be taken into account while considering the extension of their work permit, the Bida proposal reads. The draft proposal also aims to prevent foreigners from coming to the country on tourist visas and working illegally. People with such visas will not be allowed to work in the country and multiple trips for them will be discouraged. If an employer breaks these rules, the government will take actions against them. No specific data on foreign workers There is no specific data on the number of foreign workers in Bangladesh, but people concerned say the number will be several lakhs. According to the home ministry, the number is 86,000 and most of them are Indians. As per Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), the figure is at least 2.5 lakh, of them, only 90,000 are legal workers. The National Board of Revenue in 2020 disclosed that more than 14,000 foreign nationals have submitted income tax returns, meaning that all of them have work permits. The National Skill Development Authority, an institute under the office of the prime minister, revealed at a workshop in 2019 that foreign nationals working in Bangladesh remit about $6 billion every year to their countries. A report, published by the Centre for Policy Dialogue in 2015, said Bangladesh has become the third-largest remittance source of India, as Indian nationals sent home around $3.7 billion in 2013. According to TIB, foreigners working in Bangladesh are illegally sending around $3 billion to their countries a year. Foreign nationals are working in 32 sectors, including garment industries and buying companies, merchandising companies, NGOs, information and communication technology (ICT) sector, education, engineering institutes, consulting firms, multinational companies, private power plants, international contractors, hotel-restaurants, mobile phone companies, oil and gas companies among others. They usually are involved in mid-level management and higher positions. According to people concerned, there is a lack of coordination between the organisations responsible for overseeing the employment of foreign nationals in the country. They say there is no specific policy in this regard. In 2016, the NBR formed a taskforce to gather detailed information on the number of foreign nationals, their income, income tax and their employers. But, that initiative has now been stalled due to a lack of coordination. The NBR has a provision to impose a 50% penalty on the income tax of an organisation if it employs foreign nationals without a work permit. But there is no information about any organisation being fined under this provision. According to the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry, around 2.2 million people enter the job market in the country every year but a large part of them do not get any job. As per the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) study, the educated unemployment rate in the country was 33.32% in 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic, which started last year, has made the situation worse. Industry insiders say Bangladeshi workers have not yet become a substitute for foreigners in some jobs as they lack information technology and technical knowledge and foreigners are taking advantage of this. More than 40 foreigners are working in Sparrow Group, one of the largest readymade garment exporters in the country. Shovon Islam, managing director of the company, told TBS, "Bangladeshi workers are still lagging behind in tasks such as merchandising, marketing, price negotiation, different technical works and product design. That is why foreigners have to be recruited. But local people are gradually becoming more efficient."

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/walton-walcart-announce-exclusive-partnership-1629554998 Walton, Walcart announce exclusive partnership UNB | Published: August 21, 2021 20:09:58 Walton Hi-Tech Industries has become an exclusive partner of Walcart, an upcoming e-commerce platform. Walcart customers will be able to purchase Walton products and get the necessary support. The e-commerce platform, a subsidiary of Walton Group, will be launched soon. Walton Hi-Tech Industries Managing Director Golam Murshed and Walcart Managing Director Sabiha Jarin Orona signed a deal in this connection Thursday. "Online shopping has gained popularity all over the world with technological advancement. Namely, e-commerce is playing a big part in delivering necessary products to consumers during crises like the Covid-19 pandemic. But the e-commerce sector in Bangladesh has not yet been able to gain the full trust of customers. We hope Walcart will fill this gap," Murshed said. "Walcart will have over 150 categories of products and services, including fashion, lifestyle, electronics, food and beverages, and sports. Besides Walton, customers will get the products of other top and reputed domestic and global brands. With the formal agreement, we have got Walton as our exclusive partner. We will keep signing deals with other local and foreign brands and companies," Sabiha said.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2021/08/21/meat-prices-go-up-at-dhaka-s-kitchen-markets-as-demand-rises Meat prices go up at Dhaka’s kitchen markets as demand rises Tribune Report Published at 07:26 pm August 21st, 2021 Sugar prices keep rising on the back of higher prices in the global market The prices of meat went up at the kitchen markets of Dhaka this week, while vegetable and rice prices stabilized. As there is no lockdown at the moment, weddings and other events have resumed, leading to a higher demand for meat and poultry. Broiler chicken was being sold at Tk135-140 per kg on Saturday, while Sonali chicken cost Tk210-220 per kg. Local chicken was being sold at Tk400-410 per kg. Meanwhile, beef sold for Tk580-600 per kg on Saturday, while mutton prices ranged between Tk800-850 per kg. Lutfor Hasan, a butcher at Karwan Bazar, said: “As the lockdown has been lifted, demand for chicken and red meat is on the rise for weddings and other celebrations. As the demand has gone up, so have the prices.” The price of staple food rice has remained stable as prices were the same throughout the week: Miniket rice sold at Tk60-62 per kg, Nazirshail at Tk62-65 per kg, Atash Balam at Tk50-54 per kg, Paijam at Tk50-55 per kg, Guti Swarna at Tk50 per kg, and Chinigura rice sold at Tk90-95 per kg as of Saturday. In order to control the price of rice, the import duty on rice has been reduced by 36.75%, so sellers are expecting prices to fall in coming weeks. Vegetable prices have also remained the same, with no hikes reported from the start of the week. Visiting several kitchen markets around the capital including those in Hatirpool, New Market, Mohakhali, and Mugda, Dhaka Tribune found that the price of edible oil, lentil, and sugar have also risen by about Tk5-8 per kg in the last week. Loose soyabean oil was being sold at Tk138-140 per litre in the kitchen markets — a Tk5 rise from last week. Similarly, the price of sugar has also gone up by Tk5 per kg, costing between Tk72 and Tk80. Joynul Abedin, a grocer at Karwan Bazar, said: “Sugar prices have been increasing in the last couple of days. Earlier, per kg sugar was being sold at Tk68-72, now it is being sold at Tk75-85.” Another vendor from the market Tutul Hossain said imported white sugar is being sold at Tk72 per kg in the retail market, while local brown sugar is being sold at Tk82. Globally, the price of raw sugar has currently risen to above $430 per ton against $340 per ton in February. The steady spike in prices was aided by a 7% fall in sugar output in south-central Brazil between April and July. This is expected to pull down the global surplus in the ongoing sugar season 2021-22 underpinned the price rally in the past few days. And lentils, which were sold at Tk95 to100 per kg last week, are now being sold at Tk105 per kg. Prices of green chilies came down this week, selling for Tk90-120 per kg. When asked, seller Mominul Bepari at Hatirpoor kitchen market said: “In the coming days, there is a possibility of prices coming back to normal as imported chillies are entering the market.”

https://www.banglarunnoyon.net/education-news/43575 ১৯ জেলায় এক্সেল লোড কন্ট্রোল স্টেশন নির্মাণ করছে সওজ প্রকাশিত: ১৮ আগস্ট ২০২১ মহাসড়কে অতিরিক্ত ওজন নিয়ে যানবাহন চলাচল রোধের উদ্যোগ নেয়া হয়েছে। এজন্য দেশের ১৯টি জেলায় এক্সেল লোড কন্ট্রোল স্টেশন নির্মাণ করতে যাচ্ছে সড়ক ও জনপথ (সওজ) অধিদপ্তর। এসব জেলায় সব মিলিয়ে ২৮টি এক্সেল লোড কন্ট্রোল স্টেশন নির্মাণ করা হবে। এজন্য ব্যয় হচ্ছে ৪৯০ কোটি টাকা। জানা গেছে, এক্সেল লোড কন্ট্রোল স্টেশন নির্মাণের জন্য এরই মধ্যে দুটি ঠিকাদারি প্রতিষ্ঠানকে নিযুক্ত করা হয়েছে। ১৫ দিনের মধ্যে কাজ শুরু করবে তারা। এক্সেল লোড কন্ট্রোল স্টেশনগুলোর মধ্যে ১৮টি জাতীয় মহাসড়কে, পাঁচটি আঞ্চলিক মহাসড়কে ও বাকি পাঁচটি পড়বে জেলা মহাসড়কে। নির্মাণ করতে যাওয়া এসব এক্সেল লোড কন্ট্রোল স্টেশনের মধ্যে হবিগঞ্জের জগদীশ্বরপুরে একটি, কুমিল্লার ময়নামতিতে দুটি, বাগেরহাটের দিগরাজে একটি, নবাবগঞ্জের কয়লাবাড়িতে একটি, দোহাজারীর কেরানীর হাটে দুটি, কুড়িগ্রামের তুরা স্থলবন্দরে একটি, পঞ্চগড়ের ভজনপুরে একটি, দিনাজপুরের হিলিতে একটি, শেরপুরের শিমুলতলায় একটি, ময়মনসিংহের গোবরাকুরায় একটি, সাতক্ষীরার নাওবাদকাঠিতে একটি, নীলফামারীর কাজিরবাজারে দুটি, টাঙ্গাইলের বড় ইসাপুরে একটি, ফেনীর বিলোনিয়ায় একটি, চুয়াডাঙ্গার দর্শনায় দুটি, চট্টগ্রাম বন্দর সংযোগ সড়কে একটি, গাজীপুরের মাস্টারবাড়িতে দুটি, মুন্সীগঞ্জের রোহিতপুরে একটি, মাদারীপুরের ভাঙ্গায় একটি, চট্টগ্রামের সীতাকুণ্ড ও দরগারহাটে দুটি এবং সিলেটের সুতারকান্দিতে দুটি স্টেশন রয়েছে। হবিগঞ্জ, কুমিল্লা, চট্টগ্রাম, শেরপুর, ময়মনসিংহ, গাজীপুর, ফেনী, মুন্সীগঞ্জ, সিলেট ও টাঙ্গাইলের ১৭টি এক্সেল লোড কন্ট্রোল স্টেশন নির্মাণের জন্য সওজের সঙ্গে চুক্তিবদ্ধ হয়েছে ঠিকাদারি প্রতিষ্ঠান ন্যাশনাল ডেভেলপমেন্ট ইঞ্জিনিয়ার্স। চুক্তিমূল্য ৩০১ কোটি ৩৫ লাখ টাকা। অন্যদিকে বাগেরহাট, চাঁপাইনবাবগঞ্জ, কুড়িগ্রাম, পঞ্চগড়, দিনাজপুর, সাতক্ষীরা, নীলফামারী, ফেনী, চুয়াডাঙ্গা ও মাদারীপুরের ১১টি এক্সেল লোড কন্ট্রোল স্টেশন নির্মাণের জন্য চুক্তিবদ্ধ হয়েছে ঠিকাদারি প্রতিষ্ঠান স্পেকট্রা ইঞ্জিনিয়ার্স লিমিটেড। চুক্তিমূল্য ১৮৮ কোটি ৩৫ লাখ টাকা। গত সোমবার ঠিকাদারি প্রতিষ্ঠান দুটির সঙ্গে চুক্তিগুলো করেছে সওজ। সওজের কর্মকর্তারা জানিয়েছেন, ২০১২ সালের এক্সেল লোড কন্ট্রোল নীতিমালার আলোকে স্টেশনগুলো পরিচালিত হবে। স্টেশনগুলোর কার্যক্রম ২৪ ঘণ্টা সচল রাখতে নিজস্ব জনবলের পাশাপাশি আউটসোর্সিংও করা হবে। স্টেশনগুলোতে এক্সেল লোড ডাটা সংগ্রহের যন্ত্রপাতি, বিল্ট ইন ভিডিও ক্যামেরাসহ ওয়েববেজড সিস্টেম করা হবে। ফলে দূরবর্তী স্থান থেকে পরিচালনা কার্যক্রম পর্যবেক্ষণ করা সম্ভব হবে। সওজের আওতাধীন গুরুত্বপূর্ণ মহাসড়কে পণ্য পরিবহনের উৎসমুখে এক্সেল লোড নিয়ন্ত্রণ কেন্দ্র স্থাপন শীর্ষক প্রকল্পের মাধ্যমে স্টেশনগুলো নির্মাণ করা হচ্ছে। প্রকল্পটির পটভূমিতে বলা হয়েছে, গেজেট অনুযায়ী, দুই চাকাবিশিষ্ট সামনের এক্সেলের এবং চার চাকাবিশিষ্ট পেছনের এক্সেলের সর্বোচ্চ ওজনসীমা ইউনিট ধরা হয়েছে ১৫ দশমিক ৫ টন। কিন্তু বাস্তবে দেখা যায়, মহাসড়কে নির্দিষ্ট সীমার চেয়ে বেশি ওজন নিয়ে ট্রাক-কাভার্ড ভ্যান চলাচল করে। ফলে নির্ধারিত আয়ুষ্কালের আগেই মহাসড়কের আয়ু ফুরিয়ে যায়। এগুলো রক্ষণাবেক্ষণ ও পুনর্বাসনের জন্য দরকার হয় অতিরিক্ত অর্থ। এছাড়া পণ্যবাহী গাড়ির অতিরিক্ত ওজন নিয়ে চলাচল সড়ক দুর্ঘটনারও অন্যতম কারণ। সামগ্রিকভাবে দেশে অতিরিক্ত ওজন নিয়ে যানবাহন চলাচল রোধ করাই প্রকল্পটির মূল উদ্দেশ্য।

Markopolo Aims to Automate Digital Advertising and Help Companies Save Both Time and Money By Naziba Ali | Jun 26, 2021 Markopolo is a Dhaka-based marketing automation startup targeting SMBs both in local and international markets. Over the past years, we have seen a meteoric rise of digital commerce and digital marketing. For a large number of SMBs, today, marketing mostly means digital marketing. But managing digital marketing remains a costly affair. Managing multiple channels, complex processes, and resource requirements, and ensuring effective results out of digital campaigns remain a major challenge for most businesses. Markopolo has developed a solution to address challenges SMBs face when it comes to managing their marketing operation. The company's AI Marketing Assistant takes the information of a business as input and automatically generates ad campaigns, creatives, and copies for placement on multiple platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Google, etc. The AI-based digital marketing startup tailors strategy-driven marketing blueprints and recommendations according to a company’s requirements. From pure ad optimization to driving multiple ad campaigns on various channels, Markopolo allows companies to fully automate their digital marketing, from “campaign planning, creative and copy generation to A/B testing and Ad spending optimization”. In many ways, Markopolo aims to bring multiple aspects of digital marketing operations such as design, copywriting, analytics, and execution in one place. “All you need to do is focus on your ideas", says Markopolo CEO Tasfia Tasbin. "Our AI will figure out what your company's next best marketing move is and do the legwork for you.” The beginning Three co-founders of Markopolo, Tasfia Tasbin, CEO, Mubtaseem Zaman, CTO, Rubaiyat Farhan, COO, have known each other for many years now and have experience of working in relevant fields, which make them an ideal team to tackle the challenge. Ms. Tasbin, one of the three co-founders of Markopolo, has wide-ranging experience both working in large tech companies and early-stage startups and says she is deeply passionate about marketing and has been helping SMBEs with marketing for a while now. Apart from acting as a consultant for several Government projects, Ms.Tasbin has worked at Gaze Technology, a visual AI startup, in various capacities. “I began my career as an IoT creator at DataSoft Systems Bangladesh Limited. However, I didn't feel empowered by technology alone. Rather I aspired to build a bridge between technology and management. To that end, I began working as a digital marketing consultant for small retail businesses and early-age startups. When Covid-19 struck, almost every small business (SMB) I consulted with was affected. I helped them as much as I could to survive the pandemic by strategizing their digital marketing. After that, while working on a project with Rubaiyat and Zaman, we started to hover about the prospect and possibilities of scaling this service” she adds. “Markopolo is not my first company, says Rubayat Farhan, the COO of Markopolo.ai. “After completing my undergrad, I became the CEO of TiGrow, a global SaaS startup. While I'm a salesman at heart, I taught myself product and project management, as well as coding skills, in order to contribute to the tech team. Zaman is my cousin and I’ve known Tasfia for quite some time. We first met during our university years, when we were both competing for the Hult Prize, and have remained in touch ever since. Zaman worked as a Software Developer at ZeitDice Inc, a Canadian Company. Zaman returned to the country about one and half years ago. While we explored the feasibility of our venture, Zaman decided to stay back in Bangladesh. From then on, there was no looking back” he added. Prior to starting Markopolo, the three founders deliberated on several ideas. They would jot down all of the ideas on a board and score them. After much thought, they settled on pursuing the Markopolo. Once decided, the three musketeers then embarked on a consumer study of digital marketing experiences instead of building a product right away to understand the challenges businesses face when it comes to managing digital marketing. They worked with several leading digital marketing agencies in Dhaka and SMBEs and startups to understand the workflow and challenges of digital marketing. The market research concluded that digital marketing is often cumbersome and overbearing. Managing numerous social media and marketing platforms, developing strategies, creating the right content, and distributing them properly require a lot of time and resources. Moreover, different social media and marketing platforms come with their unique functionalities and algorithms which makes managing them a demanding learning experience. Most SMBs have limited marketing knowledge. To tackle these challenges, the business owners either spend bucks on marketing ads based on gut instincts or hire digital agencies to curate content for them. The latter is more expensive, and the quality of services varies between marketers and agencies. The interaction is often sluggish and open-ended, resulting in a mismatch of preferences between consumers and agencies. Because of a lack of accountability from agencies, consumers do not feel in charge of their digital ads, which is the final nail in the coffin. With a deeper understanding of the problem, Markopolo team then went on to build the product. The company deliberately took an experimental approach to develop the product. The very first version of the product, the Markopolo team developed was a combination of Google calendar and Google form and excel sheet for agencies and customers to streamline communication and campaign. Building the product and finding the early users In October 2020, the Markopolo team began to delve deeper into the advertising industry. “We approached ad agencies like Magnito, Analyzen, and various types of businesses (ecommerce, startups, SMB, and so on) in order to better understand the user experience and pain points in the industry. We provided them with data analytics services (DaaS), and they were all enthused. We shifted user experience to Notion, calendar, and Google form, which you could call our first product. Next, we began working on an in-house ad optimization tool that conducts A/B research, budget allocation across various platforms (Facebook and Google), and ad spending reduction. We included it in our alpha release” says Rubaiyat. In the next stage, they developed a buyer persona for their first beta edition, and started interviewing customers from various demographics, such as different countries and different clusters of agency customers. “We ran A/B tests on our website landing page, used Google Advertising to drive traffic to it, and Hotjar to determine visitors' interests in the page. In the first month, we handpicked 5 paying customers and began serving them with our rough prototype created with Google Forms and Notion. We delivered the Alpha version of the software to them in the second month. At long last, we launched our Beta version” adds Rubaiyat. At the time of this interview in April 2021, Markopolo team was preparing to significantly grow beta users and publicly launch a beta version. The company says it has gained an excellent response from the market. The company credits Google Ads campaign and cold mail promotions for the early user growth. “We've crossed the border into India, Indonesia, North America, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and Turkey, among other countries. In reality, Indonesia is our largest customer base. Our goal is to partner up with small vendor businesses worldwide such as Amazon FBA and Shopify owners” says Ms. Tasbin. Markopolo uses the Freemium model. During onboarding, each user gets 300 credits to be used in the platform, which means a user can use the platform without any subscription. The company currently offers three subscription tiers: free, basic, and advance. It offers a customer enterprise for big businesses. Each tier comes with both Credits as well as added benefits and perks. Currently, there are over 4000 companies on their waiting list. The company has taken a strategic approach to increase its visibility on the Internet. Alongside targeting competitors through Google ads, they also concentrated on SEO-based content marketing by publishing at least four blogs every month. “While in college, Zaman founded an advertisement startup for Toronto's dying brick-and-mortar stores. While that startup did not take off, he has maintained a close relationship with the small businesses in Downtown Toronto ever since. So, Zaman consulted with the community leaders in order for them to spread the word about our venture to small businesses in North America” says Rubaiyat. The product has since evolved. Using Markopolo, a user now can plan campaigns, generate creatives, generate captions and copy — a feature powered by GPT-3, automate ads and receive actionable insights. The founders onboarded marketing veteran Kazi Monirul Kabir as an advisor. He is the founder of Spider Digital Innovation, the country director of Httppool, and has previously worked for Google, BAT, and Telenor, among others. Besides, they scheduled meetings with other industry experts to discuss their concept. Investment The initial operation was funded by the founders. Once they built an early version of the product, they went on to onboard founders. Raising money was difficult for the team because they had enough industry contacts. The growth factor, scalability potential, and team strength provided them with credibility in the eyes of investors. “We're backed by a few Angels, including Mohammad Maaz (previously backed startups such as Gaze and Loop), Abraham Khan (a Lincoln's Inn barrister), and Dekko Isho Group. So far, a total of $200,000 has been raised” comments Tasfia. “We expect to launch our product this month, following an expansion in North America that will directly target Amazon FBA and Shopify owners.” Lesson from Markopolo SaaS is being adopted by a growing number of businesses since it gives them access to a much larger IT infrastructure, allowing for greater inter-app integration and accomplishing more with fewer resources. This has a major impact on SMB efficiency and productivity. “Through our A/B testing, we’ve come to realize that developing markets are quite reluctant to adopt SaaS in comparison to developed markets. So, in order to succeed, we have to demonstrate that Markopolo is more efficient and cost-effective when compared to traditional digital marketing services,” says Rubaiyat. “The second lesson that we learnt would be the significance of community leaders as advocates of your company. If it wasn’t for Zaman’s acquaintances with the community leaders in Toronto’s SMB scene, maybe we couldn't have tapped that market so well.” In Bangladesh, advertising agencies are often biased towards big-budget companies. SMBs are not given the attention they need. For them, when they collaborate with agencies, the user experience deteriorates gradually. As Rubaiyat mentions “SMBs in Bangladesh shift agencies at least four times a year. The results have been nearly the same for SMBs in Europe.” These market insights have helped the Markopolo team build a product that works. “The most important lesson I have learned is: talk to your customers,” says Ms. Tasbin. “We have followed this mantra to the extreme. We have taken a product development approach where we are talking with our customers every day. I have seen many founders make this mistake where they build products based on their hypothesis without directly testing them in the market, which often leads to costly mistakes. We have worked hard to avoid them.” The founders' prior experience in startups has significantly influenced their entrepreneurial approach. “We experienced user bias when working at TiGrow. As a result, our business research was flawed and we had to pivot multiple times. I learned from that experience. Says Mr. Rubaiyat. “So, when conducting market analysis for Markopolo, I made sure I was extra careful this time”. According to Forbes, marketing and sales prioritize AI and machine learning more than any other department in businesses today (40 percent). During the second quarter of 2019, startups using artificial intelligence raised more than $7.4 billion in funding. Marketing automation has gained attention over the past years. There are several players in space. There are players like Canva, Buffer, and similar players who are offering solutions to some aspects of digital marketing such as design and social media management. There are companies that provide complete automation solutions like Markopolo. However, Markopolo says, the company has developed a unique product and is superior and easy to use than other alternatives in the market. The company is gearing up for a public beta launch, which means we will be able to see the real market response once the company launches to the public.

Purbachal Expressway Update 21/08/2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh1k9vyutkA

https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/west-bengal-will-become-bangladesh-2-without-nrc-says-indian-opposition-leader-290983#.YSCBWoQU7m0.facebook TBS Report 21 August, 2021, 10:20 am Last modified: 21 August, 2021, 11:49 am West Bengal will become Bangladesh 2 without NRC, says Indian opposition leader 'West Bengal will become Bangladesh 2': Suvendu Adhikari bats for NRC, gets support from Tathagata Roy | Twitter/@SuvenduWB Indian Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari claimed that NRC is needed in West Bengal, or else, West Bengal will become 'Bangladesh 2'. Senior BJP leader and former Governor of Tripura Tathagata Roy supported Suvendu's claim on Friday. In a tweet, he said that Suvendu's claim is '100 per cent correct', reports Free Press Journal. "Suvendu has raised question in favour of NRC and CAA in West Bengal which is very much needed. We need to learn lessons from Yogi Adityanath and Hemanta Biswa Sarma and implement them in West Bengal or else West Bengal will become Bangladesh 2. Suvendu's claim is 100 per cent correct," wrote Tathagata in Bengali. Several BJP leaders, including BJP Bongaon MP Shantanu Thakur, have repeatedly urged the central government to implement CAA in Bengal, but citing the pandemic, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said during his election campaign that the BJP government would implement CAA in West Bengal after the pandemic is contained. A big number of Matuas in Bongaon moved to the BJP from the TMC in the hopes of getting CAA and NRC. Both Suvendu and Tathagata have been criticised by TMC spokesperson and state general secretary Kunal Ghosh over the NRC issue. "In Assam, by creating detention camp several people were became homeless and they are away from their relatives. A person is known by the company he keeps. BJP is communal party and is unnecessary trying to create tension," mentioned Kunal.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2021/08/20/teesta-flowing-above-danger-level-as-india-opens-barrage-gates Teesta flowing above danger level as India opens barrage gates UNB Published at 09:16 pm August 20th, 2021 India opened 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage to control water flow The water level of the Teesta River in Lalmonirhat and surrounding areas is flowing above the danger level triggered by an onrush of water from the upstream. Abdullah Al Mamun, an executive of the Water Development Board (WDB), said that 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage on the Indian side had been kept open to control the flow of water. “Water level of the river was flowing 8cm above its danger mark around 9am," the WDB Flood Forecasting Warning Center said. Due to the onrush, the low-lying areas around the Teesta Barrage including Dahagram of Patgram Upazila, Gaddimari of Hatibandha Upazila, Singimari, Sinduna, Dauabari of Patikapara, Votmari of Kaliganj Upazila, Shailmari, Nohali, Charbairati, Choraha of Mahishkhocha Union of Aditmari Upazila, Rajpur of South Balapara and Gokunda Union have been inundated.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/bangladesh-close-to-100pc-electricity-coverage-1629466292 Bangladesh close to 100pc electricity coverage BSS | Published: August 20, 2021 19:31:33 Bangladesh has edged close to cent per cent electrification, as around 99.5 per cent of people have already come under electricity coverage, which was only 47 per cent in 2009. "Incredible success was achieved in the electricity and power sector as we are supplying power to 99.5 per cent of our population," said State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid. Since 2009, the country is managed to generate an additional 20,293 megawatts of electricity, raising the total output to 25,235 megawatts, he said. "We're highly optimistic that the remaining 0.5 per cent population will get electricity by this year," he added. Nasrul said that the government has undertaken a crash programme in 2016 in line with 'Sheikh Hasina's initiative-electricity in every house' project. Under the project, supply of electricity will have to be ensured to every house by 2021, he said, adding that the project will be completed this year. According to the latest data of power cell, the power generation capacity of Bangladesh now stands at 25,235 MW, with power connections increasing to 40.7 million. The number of power plants is now 146. The government is now importing 1160 MW electricity from India. Power and Energy experts said that Bangladesh has already been included in the list of countries in South Asia that have brought 100 per cent people under electricity coverage. According to the World Bank, 100 per cent of the people in Sri Lanka, Maldives and mountainous Bhutan have brought all people under electricity coverage in 2019. Bangladesh Awami League promised to ensure a comprehensive long term policy on electricity and energy and economic usage of oil, gas, coal, hydropower, wind power and solar energy before national polls. In its promise, big and small power generation units, coal extraction, and oil and gas exploration are supposed to be given priority. The government has already reached electricity to the off-grid population of Sandwip by installing submarine cables under the bottom of the sea. People of the remote char Ramkantpur of Sujanagar in Pabna are also getting power that has changed their life standard as people there are running small scale rice mills, poultry farms and electricity-driven vehicles. According to the World Bank data in 2019, electricity coverage reached 92.2 per cent in Bangladesh, 97.2 per cent in India, 73.9 per cent in Pakistan and 97.7 per cent in Afghanistan. But, now Bangladesh has brought 99.5 per cent of its population under electricity coverage, while the rest of the people will come under its coverage within this year. Talking to BSS, International Energy Consultant Khondkar Abdus Saleque Sufi said people's access to power across the country particularly in rural areas has a major positive impact on the agricultural economy. "The use of modern machinery has increased in agricultural production. This has created new avenues of livelihood. However, if electricity becomes affordable and uninterrupted, it will contribute more to economic growth," he added. Bangladesh has made significant progress in ensuring people's access to electricity as the power coverage reached 99.5 per cent mainly because of stronger political commitment of the Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said an energy expert. "Access to quality and reliable electricity is no more a dream as the government has been working round the clock to make Bangladesh a developed one by 2041," said state minister for energy Nasrul.

https://www.tbsnews.net/interviews/excelerate-expand-gas-supply-western-region-through-payra-290734#.YR89dJ_M6to.facebook Eyamin Sajid 20 August, 2021, 11:00 am Last modified: 20 August, 2021, 11:14 am Excelerate to expand gas supply in western region through Payra As the pioneer and global leader in floating LNG infrastructure, Excelerate is developing technologies to solve Bangladesh’s most pressing energy issues TBS Sketch of Ramon Wangdi Excelerate Energy LP – a US-based Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) solutions company – has been supplying gas to Bangladesh's national grid through its floating storage and regasification units (FSRU) located in the Moheshkhali coast since August 2018. As the pioneer and global leader in floating LNG infrastructure, Excelerate wants to expand its collaboration with Bangladesh's energy ministry in implementing solutions to reliably supply gas into the western part of the country. Speaking recently to The Business Standard, Excelerate's Vice President for Asia Pacific Ramon Wangdi said Bangladesh's next landmark gas project will need to focus on supplying underserved parts of the market. For example, reliable gas supply should be made available in western districts of Barishal, Gopalganj and Khulna to meet consumer demand – utilising an LNG import facility through Payra in the Patuakhali district of southern Bangladesh. Being a leading LNG solution provider and innovator, how is Excelerate Energy's service since 2018 contributing to Bangladesh's economic growth and energy supply stability? To better understand the contribution of Excelerate's LNG facilities in Moheshkhali, one must first recognise the recent history of Bangladesh's vibrant energy sector. This has been defined by the country being blessed with abundant supply of a very affordable, clean natural resource – namely natural gas, which it has produced domestically and in large quantities for decades. Today, natural gas accounts for two-thirds of the country's energy mix, and over the years, this has allowed Bangladesh to develop its downstream energy infrastructure across the entire value chain – from pipelines to power plants, transmission grids, to gas dependent industrial factories and even within residential communities, where gas is used for cooking. So, reliable gas supply has played an enormous role in underpinning the rapid growth of Bangladesh's rich diverse economy – an economy which has grown over 6% on average, since the turn of the century. A remarkable feat by international standards! In more recent times, as domestic reserves continue to decline, imports of LNG have played an essential role in ensuring the continuity of reliable gas deliveries through an abundant supply from the global marketplace, so that the government may continue on its ambitious, but achievable, vision to become a high-income nation by 2041. Since Bangladesh started importing LNG through Excelerate's FSRU facilities in Moheshkhali in 2018, the country steadily increased its gas supply through LNG imports – which today accounts for about one quarter of the country's total gas supply. With this, LNG has brought enormous stability to the region's energy sector and has greatly contributed towards growing confidence in markets downstream, with many power plants and factories that previously lay dormant having now resumed operations. As a result, further infrastructure investments are taking place within the southeast region, which has witnessed an economic boon since reliable LNG supplies were introduced. Excelerate has operations across nine countries worldwide. What is your experience in operating FSRU in Bangladesh, which is a highly natural disaster-prone country? With a global portfolio of 13 floating LNG terminals and over 60 years of regasification experience under our belt, there isn't much which Excelerate hasn't experienced in its operational history within the LNG industry. While operating terminals in the Bay of Bengal indeed comes with certain distinct challenges – such as cyclonic conditions from time to time – we have been able to draw upon those experiences to supply LNG into Bangladesh safely, reliably, and sustainably for over 3 years now. For example, one of Excelerate's first terminals, the Gulf Gateway in the United States, was located over 180KM offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, which is a hurricane prone region of the world. At the time when "Katrina" – a category 5 hurricane that ravaged the coasts of Louisiana and Texas – made landfall, Excelerate's FSRU remained at the terminal, continuing to provide critical fuel supply to the gas grid during a time when the market needed it the most. Experiences such as this and others have been invaluable to prepare Excelerate for environments like the Bay of Bengal. Since we began operating in Bangladesh, we have faced two cyclones – Fani in 2019 and Amphan in 2020 – both of which had severe impact to the region, but I am happy to say that similar to our experiences in the US many years ago, we were able to continuously provide gas deliveries into Bangladesh throughout these events, and have generally had very minimal disruptions in our operations due to natural weather events. This is a testament to the combined experience of Excelerate's entire operational team – men and women in the field, onshore and offshore, Bangladeshis and foreign – all collectively working together with Petrobangla and the government to face each challenge and overcome them together. In a world that is seeing the rapid rise of cheap green energy, how do you project the future of LNG in terms of use and price globally? Global shift in adopting green energy solutions is undeniable, as is the science behind climate change which is driving this trend. I believe the only question is how fast and in what form will this adoption be for different countries around the world. As a regional leader in this effort, I think Bangladesh has already taken bold action to play a substantial role on the global stage in contributing towards a decarbonised future – as evidenced by the country's recent cancellation of several coal projects, along with the government's focus on expanding Bangladesh's renewable programme. Looking ahead, Bangladesh has a few fundamental issues that it needs to address for the successful broad-based adoption of renewables within the country's energy grid. Firstly, when looking at renewables in isolation, it provides an incomplete energy solution due to its intermittency – for instance, how do you generate electricity when the sun is not shining, or the wind is not blowing? Secondly, in order to implement utility-scale renewable facilities, projects require a substantial allocation of land. For example, a 100MW solar farm may take approximately 300 to 400 acres of land, which in a very densely populated country like Bangladesh comes at a significant cost due to the scarcity of land available for development. For those reasons, I believe natural gas and LNG will continue to be instrumental in complementing renewables – first by ensuring continuous energy supply, by filling any gaps in generation from renewables, and secondly, by driving down net energy costs by enhancing energy efficiency and by utilizing existing infrastructure, such as pipelines, whose investments have already been made. When coupled with the benefits in regards to clean air quality of gas over comparable fossil fuels, such as oil based fuels – which still accounts for about 30% of the country's energy mix, we believe that LNG clearly is, in and of itself, also a "green energy solution" for Bangladesh. Bangladesh now plans to establish land-based LNG storage to meet the energy demand. Being the pioneer and market leader in floating LNG solutions, what is Excelerate's plan for the government's next project? Since our founding, Excelerate has always focused its business on tackling the biggest problems within the energy sector of a market, and in turn, developing our technologies around finding solutions to these problems. To this end, we look at every technical solution – whether it be land based, near shore or offshore – through this lens and ask ourselves "does this solution in fact address the root problem which needs solving for a particular country?" In the Bangladeshi context, that core problem that needs solving has been increasing gas supply quickly, reliably, and affordably – and any technical solution that gets built to address this fundamental issue must account for these three key items in order to succeed. With this in mind, land-based solutions are absolutely technically viable, but generally have been more costly and taken longer to construct. Floating LNG has effectively helped Bangladesh develop fast track solutions in addressing some of these issues. What's next for Excelerate? Well, in keeping with this same philosophy, we believe the next major area in the country's gas sector which needed addressing was to broaden energy access to the under supplied regions of Bangladesh. In particular, the western region of Bangladesh has not been able to secure the same reliable access to gas supply due to its further distance from existing supply sources. For this reason, Excelerate began looking since 2018 at developing an LNG solution to supply gas into the Patuakhali, Barishal and Khulna districts – where currently there is no reliable gas supply source. We have invested and been working diligently on developing a solution for supplying LNG into this region through an FSRU facility in Payra, and have submitted proposals to the Energy Mineral Resources Division and Petrobangla to implement the solution for gas supply through Payra all the way to Khulna. We are in discussions with the government to implement this program, and if we can move forward quickly, we would have gas supply in Khulna by 2024. Besides LNG products, Excelerate also has power solutions. Does it have any plan for working with Bangladesh's power sector? As an integrated energy company, Excelerate actively looks for investment opportunities in all areas of the gas value chain, including the power sector, where we can most add value. Within Bangladesh's power sector, there are two broad areas where Excelerate are exploring project development opportunities. One is for new LNG-based power plants being developed along the coast of the country. An example of this is the 1,200MW Payra LNG power plant being developed by North-West Power Generation Company Ltd (NWPGCL) and Siemens. The NWPGCL has an impeccable track record of execution for innovative complex projects in the region, such as Payra LNG, and we strongly believe this important project will add to that long list of their achievements. Excelerate is in the final phases of a Joint Development Agreement for the Payra LNG power plant, which we hope to conclude shortly. The second area is to convert or replace existing oil-based power plants to gas-fired or LNG based plants. These plants are typically highly inefficient and expensive to run. While they are usually smaller modular plants, when looked at as a whole, they still account for a big part of Bangladesh's power mix today – almost 30%. Once reliable gas supply is made available, converting these plants to gas-fired is not only the greener choice, but also the more economical one. These are the two segments of the power sector where Excelerate is most focused on within Bangladesh. How do you project Bangladesh's energy sector scenario in the next 10 years? What areas need more focus? Within the government's Vision 2041 plans, Bangladesh has laid what I believe is a very clear road map on the country's plans to continue on its path of socioeconomic growth. As a key pillar of this plan, sustainable growth of Bangladesh's energy sector will be crucial, as the government plans to double its energy generation capacity to about 40GW by 2041. In the next decade, as Bangladesh looks to strongly rebound from the pandemic in unison with the rest of the world, the energy sector must take steps now to prepare for what we fully expect to be a multi-year period of explosive economic recovery around the world. This growth must be met with bold policy decisions, fiscal prudence, and continued innovation in project implementation models and technologies. This will require an even deeper collaboration between public and private sectors in the next ten years, when compared to the prior decade. LNG will continue to be an instrumental part of that story in supporting Bangladesh's journey towards meeting its targets. In the next ten years, I believe LNG paired with robust gas distribution solutions can greatly contribute towards two main goals within Bangladesh's energy sector – firstly, to broaden energy access throughout the country, and secondly, to greatly increase energy efficiency. Continued investment in downstream gas infrastructure will be essential – such as continued investments in the country's pipeline network, expanding use of CNG in the transportation sector and LNG trucks to deliver LNG to off grid customers that are currently disconnected from gas supply. In its CSR policy, Excelerate focuses on Health, Education and climate. Would you say a bit about your CSR activities in Bangladesh? Similar to many US energy companies, Excelerate follows a partnership model in all the markets in which we operate globally – not only with our customers, but also within the communities in which we serve and operate. In Bangladesh, we have concentrated our community investments towards addressing some of the most important sustainable development goals which the government has clearly set as key areas of focus – such as the areas of clean energy, reducing the gender gap, healthcare and education. Before the pandemic, this manifested itself in various initiatives such as where Excelerate engages with schools within the communities of Moheshkhali to distribute school supplies or advancing on our Solar Maternity Clinic project – a solar powered hospital which provides maternal healthcare to women in the rural communities where we are operating. Naturally, during the pandemic, our CSR program has been more focused on supporting Bangladesh in its time and areas of greatest need, so that it may overcome the devastating effects of Covid-19. This has meant sponsoring various programmes which contribute towards the recovery effort, such as the Hope Foundation infectious disease center opened in Cox Bazar in 2020, or through the sponsorship of project CURE – a program coordinated by the US Chamber of Commerce and USAID, where Excelerate along with other US companies made donations of medical supplies and other essential medical equipment to support Bangladesh's fight against the pandemic.

https://publisher.tbsnews.net/features/food/palm-oil-ideal-deep-frying-and-reusing-290785#.YR9JmLkM10c.facebook Jaheda Begum and Sheikh Mehdi Hasan 20 August, 2021, 11:55 am Last modified: 20 August, 2021, 12:18 pm Palm oil: Ideal for deep frying and reusing Bangladesh annually consumes around three million tonnes of edible oils, of which about 53 percent is palm oil on average. It has also been the leading edible oil since 2003 in Bangladesh, mainly because of its price competitiveness, versatile uses and compatibility in preparing local dishes As of today, nearly half of the world population consumes palm oil. Since 1980, palm oil production has increased tenfold with a prediction that it will continue to increase in the future. According to statista.com, the consumption of palm oil during 2020 to 2021 was 75.45 million metric tons and the second most consumed soybean oil was at 59.48 million metric tons. Bangladesh annually consumes around three million tonnes of edible oils, of which about 53 percent is palm oil on average. It has also been the leading edible oil since 2003 in Bangladesh, mainly because of its price competitiveness, versatile uses and compatibility in preparing local dishes. Where palm is used The easier question is: Where is palm not being used? It is used in every household kitchen, in hotels and restaurants, fast food outlets, bakeries, food and other industries. Palm oil is widely used mainly because of the qualities of the oil, which directly influences the taste, stability and texture of the overall product. The bland taste of the oil does not affect flavours and instead allows target ingredients to shine. Frying and deep frying The distinct aromas, flavours and mouthfeel of deep-fried foods is irresistible. Simply envisioning crispy fried chicken can water one's mouth. This sensory description is frequently called "golden, crispy, crunchy" and it is generally associated with deep frying. During deep-frying, the oil undergoes physical and chemical changes due to the presence of oxygen and moisture. As a result of various reactions, the degradation of the frying oil takes place, which hinges on fatty acid composition. The stability of the oils that contain higher amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids degrades faster. While palm oil contains only 10 percent polyunsaturated fatty acids, soybean oil contains 61 percent and sunflower oil contains 62 percent. Palm oil contains less linolenic acid which is highly susceptible to oxidation during frying. For polyunsaturated oils to be used for deep frying, these oils need to undergo partial hydrogenation to increase the oil's stability, which is unfortunately harmful as it causes the formation of trans fatty acids. Today, oils with lower stability such as sunflower and soybean oil are commonly blended with palm oil to gain a higher melting point for better frying application. Palm oil consists mostly of saturated and monounsaturated fats, making it a great choice for deep frying as it sustains the natural taste of food. Repeat frying is safe Many households and industrial kitchens are accustomed to repeat frying to ensure cost-effectiveness. After one frying session, sometimes the oil is too fresh to be thrown away. However, reheating vegetable oil at a high temperature leads to the production of rancid odour and flavour due to oxidation. Hydroperoxides and aldehydes are formed and absorbed into the food and eventually enter our system after ingestion. These have been indicated as potentially harmful components. Baking Palm oil is commonly used in baking in many ways. It does not require to be hydrogenated, saving the food manufacturer's cost. Hydrogenated fats result in trans-fat, which is linked to heart disease. Palm oil is also the preferred choice in making margarine for the same reason, as it naturally solidifies at room temperature. Palm oil-based margarine can be used to make cookies, cakes, bread, pastries and more. It retains moisture in baked goods. Palm oil as a shortening also functions as a flavour carrier since it does not interfere with the overall flavour of the product. This oil can be used to make the icing glossy and smooth or as a releasing agent between the doughs or batters and the pan, and it does not add any flavour. Red palm oil comes with its own antioxidants, which protects cholesterol from going rancid, and beta-carotene - a precursor to vitamin A, and contains phytosterols which prevent cholesterol absorption.

https://bangla.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/08/20/38301/শিক্ষকতার-পাশাপাশি-ড্রাগন-চাষে-সাফল্য শিক্ষকতার পাশাপাশি ড্রাগন চাষে সাফল্য নয়ন খন্দকার, ঝিনাইদহ প্রকাশিত ১১:২২ সকাল আগস্ট ২০, ২০২১ ৫ বিঘা জমিতে পিংক রোজ ড্রাগনের আবাদে খরচ হয়েছে প্রায় ৮ লাখ টাকা। আর বিক্রি করেছেন করেছেন ১০ লাখ টাকার ফল বাংলাদেশে গত বেশ কয়েক বছর ধরে নানা ধরনের বিদেশি ফল চাষ হচ্ছে। দেশীয় বাজারে এসব ফলের চাহিদা থাকার কারণে অনেকেই ফল চাষের দিকে ঝুঁকছেন। করোনাভাইরাস মহামারিতে অনেকেই কাজ হারিয়ে ফিরেছেন গ্রামে। দেশের বাইরে থেকেও ফিরে এসেছেন অনেক শ্রমিক। তারা ঝুঁকছেন কৃষিকাজে। আবার অনেকে নিজ পেশার পাশাপাশি চাষ করছেন এসব বিদেশি ফল। তাদেরই একজন ঝিনাইদহের কোটচাঁদপুর উপজেলার কাগমারী গ্রামের হারুনুর রশীদ মুসা। পেশায় মাধ্যমিক বিদ্যালয়ের শিক্ষক। তবে শিক্ষকতার পাশাপাশি তিনি নিজ গ্রামে সুখ্যাতি পেয়েছেন দেশি বিদেশি বিভিন্ন ফলের আবাদ করে। আর মুসার এ অভাবনীয় সাফল্য দেখে এখন গ্রামের অনেকেই অনুপ্রাণিত হয়ে ঝুঁকছেন এসব বিদেশি ফল চাষে। এর আগে হারুনুর রশীদ মুসা ত্বীন ও অ্যাভোকাডো ফলের চাষ করে সাফল্য পেয়েছিলেন। তবে এবার তিনি ৫ বিঘা জমিতে আবাদ করেছেন “পিংক রোজ” জাতের ড্রাগন ফলের। এই ফলগুলোর এক একটির ওজন ৫০০ থেকে ৮০০ গ্রাম পর্যন্ত হয়ে থাকে। চারা, সেচ, সার, কীটনাশক পরিচর্যাসহ ৫ বিঘা জমিতে তার খরচ হয়েছে প্রায় ৮ লাখ টাকা। চলতি বছর তিনি এই ৫ বিঘা জমিতে পিংক রোজ ড্রাগনের আবাদ করে ১০ লাখ টাকার ফল বিক্রি করেছেন। হারুনুর রশীদ মুসা জানান, তিনি প্রায় ১৬ বছর আগে আপেল কুলের আবাদ করেন। এরপর পেয়ারা, মাল্টাসহ অন্যান্য ফলের বাগান করেছেন। ৫ বছর আগে ড্রাগন ফলের চাষ শুরু করেন। এছাড়া তিনি অ্যাভোকাডো ফলেরও চাষ করেছেন। বর্তমানে তার ১১ বিঘা জমিতে ড্রাগনের আবাদ রয়েছে। এর মধ্যে পিংক বড় জাতের ড্রাগনের আবাদ রয়েছে ৫ বিঘা জমিতে। তিনি আরও জানান, এক বিঘা জমিতে চারাসহ তার খরচ হয়েছে দেড় লাখ টাকা। চারা লাগানোর ৬ মাস পর ফল পাওয়া যায়। ড্রাগন গাছ একবার লাগালে ১৫ থেকে ২০ বছর বাঁচে। বাজারে অন্যান্য ড্রাগনের ফল যখন বিক্রি শেষ হয়ে যায় তখন পিংক রোজ ড্রাগন ফল ওঠে। অর্থাৎ পিংক বড় জাতের ড্রাগন ফল একটু দেরিতে আসে। যে সময় বাজারে ড্রাগন ফল খুবই কম থাকে। ফলে দাম ভালো পাওয়া যায়। মুসা বলেন, “মহামারিতে ড্রাগনের ফলের বাজার মন্দা গেলেও পিংক রোজ বড় জাতের ড্রাগন ফল ২৫০ থেকে শুরু করে ৩৫০ টাকা পর্যন্ত কেজি দরে বিক্রি হয়েছে। এখন প্রতিদিনই বাগান থেকে পিংক রোজ ড্রাগন ফল তুলছি। বাগান থেকে ক্যারেটে করে ফল ভর্তি করে ঢাকার ওয়াইজঘাটে পাঠাচ্ছি।” এছাড়া দেশের বিভিন্ন স্থান থেকে কৃষক, কৃষি উদ্যোক্তা ও কৃষি গবেষণায় নিয়োজিত ব্যক্তিরা তার বাগান পরিদর্শন করতে আসছেন। কাগমারী গ্রামের ইসমাইল হোসেন সিরাজী জানান, শিক্ষকতার পাশাপাশি তিনি দীর্ঘদিন ধরে বিভিন্ন ফলের আবাদ করে একজন আদর্শ কৃষক হিসেবে পরিচিতি লাভ করেছেন। নতুন নতুন ফলের আবাদ করে তিনি কৃষিতে অভাবনীয় সাফল্য অর্জন করেছেন। এখন তিনি অন্যান্য কৃষক ও কৃষি উদ্যোক্তাদের কাছে উদাহরণ হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছেন। অনেকেই তার কাছে কৃষি পরামর্শসহ চারা কিনতে আসছেন। কোটচাঁদপুর উপজেলা কৃষি অফিসার মহাসিন আলী বলেন, “হারুনুর রশীদ একজন ইনোভেটিভ কৃষক। তার বাগানে শুধু ড্রাগন নয়। মাল্টা, অ্যাভোকাডো, ত্বীনসহ বিভিন্ন ধরনের বিদেশি ফলের আবাদ রয়েছে। কৃষি বিভাগ থেকে আমরা তাকে নানাভাবে পরামর্শ দিয়ে আসছি। আমি নিজেই তার প্রতিটি বাগান পরিদর্শন করেছি। এছাড়া কৃষি বিভাগ থেকে তাকে বিভিন্ন সময় প্রশিক্ষণেও পাঠানো হয়। মুসার মত কৃষি উদ্যোক্তারা দেশের কৃষিক্ষেত্রে দারুণ অবদান রাখছেন।”

Dhaka Elevated Expressway Update 20/08/2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIXKLtnGc8Q