Govt makes the move to cut subsidy on petroleum products The government for the second time in two months increased the fuel prices by Tk 5 a litre to reduce subsidy on imports of petroleum products. The new price hike came into effect last midnight, the Press Information Depart-ment said in a statement late last ... Read more
bangladesh
‘Sky is the limit for Banglalink’
Orascom Telecom Group CEO reflects his thoughts on Bangladesh market The view from Orascom Telecom Holding’s group CEO’s office is breathtaking. You can see the mighty river Nile flowing right through the Egyptian capital Cairo. You can tell why they call this longest river in the world the lifeline of the country and watch the ... Read more
CNG price to skyrocket
Govt plans similar prices for CNG, diesel; experts argue justification; unhappy gas station owners mull strike Having hiked CNG prices twice this year, the government now mulls a third raise by December to close the gaps between CNG and diesel prices. “The price of CNG [compressed natural gas] is likely to increase by this year, ... Read more
80 lakh animals sacrificed
Rawhide supply up 23pc, prices fall 10pc Supply of rawhide following Eid-ul-Azha this year is expected to be satisfactory, but its price will be lower than it was last year due to slack demand for leather and leather products in the global market, industry officials have said. The manufacturers, however, reckon the price drop will ... Read more
Dhaka’s groundwater drops 6m in 7 years
Study sees excessive withdrawal of water as the reason; saline water will make inroads if trend continues The groundwater level in the capital has dropped by six metres in the last seven years. The stunning slide is due to excessive withdrawal of groundwater to meet the needs of about 15 million city residents, and inadequate ... Read more
150 software firms await 3G boon
Dhaka: About 150 software firms have been waiting for more than a year for the launch of the 3G technology. The government launch of the 3G technology will not only prove to be good news for telecom operators, a number of firms that develop software for 3G-enabled mobile phones for foreign buyers, at cheaper prices, ... Read more
Cell operators given a shock
Telecoms regulator asks for new fee for old bandwidth Telecoms regulator yesterday sent letters to four mobile operators in the country asking them to pay spectrum charges and renewal fees and have their licences renewed for the next 15 years. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) also sought papers related to tax, VAT and VoIP from ... Read more
HC questions sponsored TV news, headlines
The High Court yesterday questioned the legality of sponsored news and headlines on television. An HC rule asked the authorities concerned to explain in two weeks why broadcast of news and headlines, sponsored by different organisations, on TV channels should not be declared illegal. The bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Md ... Read more
It’s most transparent
Abul on Padma project Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain yesterday claimed the Padma Bridge is the most transparent project the World Bank ever financed in Bangladesh. “I will finally prove, it [Padma Bridge] is the most transparent project ever executed by any ministry under the World Bank funding,” the minister said while launching new vehicles ... Read more
Private coaching challenged
The High Court on Monday issued a rule asking the government to explain within four weeks why it should not be directed to take appropriate step to prohibit coaching business by MPO registered teachers and government teachers. It also issued rule asking the government why it should not be directed to publish a gazette
80pc production gone with gas
Konabari Industrial Belt 80pc production gone with gas Supply cut to feed Jamuna fertiliser factory; exporters of several hundred industries demand uninterrupted supply Production in scores of industries from Konabari in Gazipur to Mirzapur in Tangail has dropped by 80 percent since last month for severe disruption in gas supply. Gas distributor Titas has drastically ... Read more
Tk 20,000cr fuel subsidy this year
Although Bangladesh has revised retail fuel prices and power tariff frequently this fiscal year, the government would have to shell out more than Tk. 20,000 crore, which is highest so far, as fuel subsidy. According to a source at Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), fuel consumption is expected to cross seven million tonnes this year, ... Read more
National Univ decentralisation in limbo
The recommendation of a 2009 high-powered committee to decentralise the activities of the National University has not been implemented even in two years. The committee formed to restructure the National University submitted its report in 2009 containing a set of recommendations including decentralisation of the university through
WB names Abul, his firm
The minister denies allegation Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain and senior representatives of his family-owned company SAHCO, sought to coerce multiple companies into using SAHCO as a paid “silent agent” for getting permission to bid for the main bridge contract of Padma Multipurpose Bridge project. Companies failing to cooperate were threatened with retaliation, revealed an ... Read more
A hospital with a difference
BSMMU introduces specialised consultation service for patients More patients come, from more distant places every day. And the number rises every other day to take the “evening specialised consultation service” at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. October 1, the first day of the service, saw 89 patients. As the number crossed the 200 mark in ... Read more
Child marriage turning into major social evil
51 per cent of girls in Bangladesh are married early: UNICEF Though there is legal prohibition against child marriage, parents or guardians think that marrying their girls off, at an early age, would relieve them of economic burden and protect their daughters from the dangers of sexual assault, said advocate Salma Ali, executive director of ... Read more
Tragic deaths on vacation
TV producer, couple drown in pond at a Gazipur resort An executive producer of a private television channel and a couple drowned yesterday while on vacation at a resort in Rajendrapur, Gazipur. The deceased were identified as Tanveer Jahid Nayan, 32, of Ekattor Television, Jamil Akhter Lipu, 33, managing director of Srot Interior and Consulting ... Read more
Consumers not getting price benefits of govt LPG supply
The consumers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas are not getting the benefit of government announced lower price as dealers are still supplying LPG at double the price at which they are supposed to sell the kitchen fuel. In the absence of market monitoring, 12,000 dealers of government provided LPG are cashing more than Tk 100 crore ... Read more
Biofuel fuels food price
Global hunger research warns world against shifting to cultivation of fuel crop from food; 80pc Bangladeshi households worse off A steep rise in biofuel production and a highly concentrated export market coupled with export restrictions have contributed to the rising food prices across the world, badly affecting countries like Bangladesh. Increasing and volatile prices of ... Read more
Everybody is extortionist
Workers’ leaders reveal details of outrageous graft in transport sector; JS body terms disclosure tip of corruption iceberg * Bus: Over 5 lakh, * Workers’ Federation: 15, * Workers’ Organisations: 510, * Bus Owners’ Association: 412 , * Workers’ Union: 7,490 Transport workers’ leaders yesterday described to a parliamentary sub-committee how they run an extortion regime in league with ... Read more