Vegetable prices go up in Dhaka due to general strike

Vendors wait for customers at Karwan Bazar kitchen market in Dhaka on Monday. The prices of the vegetables increased in the city’s retail markets on Monday as a result of supply shortage due to the general strike enforced by the opposition alliance. — New Age photo

The prices of the vegetables increased in the city’s retail markets on Monday as a result of supply shortage due to the general strike enforced by the opposition alliance, traders said.
Prices of most of the vegetables increased by Tk 10-Tk 15 a kg in the different markets in the city.
The prices of aubergine, cucumber, okra and bitter gourd increased by Tk 10 a kg and were selling at Tk 60 a kg, Tk 40 a kg, Tk 70 a kg and Tk 60 a kg respectively on Monday.
The prices of bean and green chilli increased by Tk 15 a kg and were selling at Tk 80 a kg and Tk 115 a kg respectively on
the day.
The prices of potato and papaya increased by Tk 5 a kg and were retailing at Tk 25 a kg and Tk 20 a kg respectively on Monday.
Habibur Rahman, a retailer at Rampura kitchen market, told New Age that the price of potato increased in the market in last two days due to supply shortage as the hartal disrupted the supply chain.

Emran Master, president of Bangladesh Kanchamaal Arot Malik Samity, said that a supply shortage took place in the market as vegetables from various parts of the country could not reach Dhaka due
to hartal.
Transport owners were not ready to carry the goods during hartal in fear of vandalism and arson, he said.
Though a very small number of trucks agreed to carry the goods they were charging extra money due to hartal which also pushed the prices high, Emran added. (source)

Dhaka stocks extend gain to third day

Dhaka stocks advanced for the third trading session on Monday with a higher turnover thanks to soaring prices of banks’ shares and optimism fuelled by media reports that foreign investors’ participation had increased in October.
The benchmark general index of Dhaka Stock Exchange, DSEX, increased to 4,085.20 points, gaining 2.30 per cent, or 91.87 points.


DS30, the blue-chip index of the bourse, added 0.93 per cent, or 13.46 points, to close at 1,447.31 points.
The turnover of the bourse increased to Tk 412.05 crore from the previous trading session’s Tk 315.23 crore.
Of the 284 shares and mutual funds traded on the day, 232 advanced, 40 declined and 12 remained unchanged.
Shares prices of all the 30 listed banks increased significantly on the day as the sector gained 4.85 per cent.
Market operators said the investors’ confidence was boosted by media reports that participation of foreign investors had increased in October.
Rise in prices of banks’ shares was an important reason behind the significant jump of indices due to their large market capitalisation, they also said.
Active participation of the institutional investors was another reason behind the significant rise, added the operators.
‘News of increased net foreign investment despite political plight exerted a bullish vibe from 
the very beginning of today’s [Monday] session,’ IDLC Investments said in its daily market commentary.
‘In spite of gloomy political state of affairs and nationwide shutdown being on progress, the bourse marched on,’ it said.
‘Consequently, DSEX crossed the much-observed 4000 mark early in the session and closed at 4085.21 points, highest in 27 sessions. The robustness tempted inactive fund from the sideline, which ultimately found its way in significantly undervalued scrips,’ it added.
UCB led the turnover chart on the day as its shares worth Tk 20.13 crore changed hands.
Generation Next Fashions, Padma Oil, Envoy Textile Mills, Meghna Petroleum, Square Pharmaceuticals, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, Malek 
Spinning, Argon Denims and Grameenphone were the day’s other turnover leaders.
Desh Garments gained the most on Monday as the price of its shares increased by 10 per cent, while Legacy Footwear lost the most, 4.63 per cent. (source)

Bangladesh Biman to launch Dhaka-Yangon flight Dec 9

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will launch direct flights to the Myanmar capital of Yangon from Dhaka with its own Boeing 737-800 on December 9.
‘Biman will operate two flights a week to Yangon from December 9 following the air service agreement between the Civil Aviation Authorities of Bangladesh and Myanmar,’ Biman CEO and managing director Kevin Steel told journalists at a press conference at Balaka, its headquarters.


He said Biman would resume its domestic flights by end December or early January after procuring two turboprops. As per the earlier commitment Biman is supposed to resume domestic flights by this month.
‘Unfortunately, we have still not procured the two turboprop aircraft despite issuance of three RFPs (Request for Proposal). The last RFP did show three responsive bidders, so we are now hopeful that this can be finally resolved and we can launch domestic flights by early January,’ he said.
After procuring the two turboprops, Kevin said the airlines would deploy these small aircraft on Dhaka-Yangon route to make the air fare cheap.
The Biman chief said unaudited results indicate a loss of around $25 million in 2012-13 fiscal year, which was around $75 million in 2011-12 FY.
‘The trend shows that we will be able to make Biman profitable in 2014-15 fiscal as per our promise made to prime minister Sheikh Hasina,’ he said.
Kevin said the national flag carrier had made a profit of around Tk 40 crore in September thanks to Hajj flights.
From the next year, he said Biman would not lease any aircraft for operating Hajj flights. 
‘Before April, we will receive two more brand new wide- body Boeings and with those we will be able to operate entire Hajj flights,’ he said. (source)

Bangladesh opposition’s hartal enters second day

The 60-hour countrywide shutdown, enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance on Monday to force the government for arranging the next polls under a non-partisan administration, entered the second day today (Tuesday). The first of the hartal was marked by incidents of violent clashes, vandalism and crude bomb blasts across the country, leaving two people killed. (Go to source)

20 injured in AL-BNP clash in Patuakhali

At least 20 people were injured in a clash between local Awami League and BNP activists in Rangabali upazila during the opposition’s 60-hour hartal on Monday.

Witnesses said the clash erupted when local Awami League men obstructed a procession the BNP activists brought out in support of the ongoing hartal in the upazila headquarters around 12:30pm.

- See more at: http://unbconnect.com/clash-injury-32/#&panel1-7

At least 20 people were injured in a clash between local Awami League and BNP activists in Rangabali upazila during the opposition’s 60-hour hartal on Monday.

Witnesses said the clash erupted when local Awami League men obstructed a procession the BNP activists brought out in support of the ongoing hartal in the upazila headquarters around 12:30pm.

At one stage, both groups attacked each other, leaving 2O people injured from both sides.

- See more at: http://unbconnect.com/clash-injury-32/#&panel1-8

At least 20 people were injured in a clash between local Awami League and BNP activists in Rangabali upazila during the opposition’s 60-hour hartal on Monday.

Witnesses said the clash erupted when local Awami League men obstructed a procession the BNP activists brought out in support of the ongoing hartal in the upazila headquarters around 12:30pm.

At one stage, both groups attacked each other, leaving 2O people injured from both sides. (Read more on UNB)

Bangladesh cabinet apporves 10-year jail for illegal possession of formalin

The cabinet on Monday approved in principle a draft bill proposing imprisonment for 10 years and a fine of Tk five lakh as the maximum punishment for illegal possession of formalin. 
The draft Formalin Control Bill 2013 placed in the weekly cabinet meeting by the commerce ministry seeking approval stipulates a minimum punishment of two years’ jail term for the offence.


The meeting, held in the secretariat, was chaired by prime minister Sheikh Hasina. 
Massive public outcry led by rights groups against the rampant use of formalin in treating fruits, vegetables, fish and other perishable foods prompted the commerce ministry to draft the bill prescribing the punishments. 
As food items treated by formalin could cause cancer and a host of other harms to consumers, health experts and rights groups have been demanding a ban on the import and use of the dangerous chemical substance.
When the bill become law, anyone possessing formalin without license could get a maximum punishment of 10 years in jail and a fine of Tk 5 lakh, cabinet secretary Mohammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told a news briefing later. 
The cabinet asked the commerce ministry to further examine the draft bill so that it did not contradict with the recently enacted Safe Food Act.
The cabinet secretary said that the minimum punishment for any offence under the proposed law would be two-year imprisonment.
The cabinet gave final approval to the draft of Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust Bill 2013 subject to its vetting by the law ministry.
A draft bill proposes establishment of a statutory authority to provide assistances to needy journalists or their families from the fund to be created with contributions from the government allocations and the private sector. 
It proposes a 13-member board for the authority with the information minister as the chairman and the information secretary as the vice-chairman.
To be appointed by the government, the managing director would be its chief executive officer, Musharraf Hossain said.
He said government officials and representatives of journalists would also be in the board.
The cabinet also approved the Early Childhood Care and Development Coordination Policy 2013 to ensure proper physical and mental growth of children from the prenatal stage until they reach the age of eight.
The cabinet secretary said that the policy would also address cultural development of children.
The ministry of women and children affairs drafted the policy.  

Hartal enforcers to be charged with murder, says Bangladesh home minister

The enforcers of the recent hartals would be prosecuted for murder after investigation for the death of 12 people during the opposition-sponsored  60-hour nationwide shutdown. 
 ‘We think those who enforced the immoral shutdown cannot avoid the responsibility of the killings. They are responsible for the killings. We will prosecute them under sections 302, 304 and 307 after investigation,’ said home minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir while speaking on rule 300 in parliament.


The minister said 12 innocent people were killed, 167 people injured, 87 vehicles were torched and 109 more damaged by the strike enforcers.
He said the opposition was enforcing shutdown at the instruction of their foreign lords. They are sparing examinations like O-level and A-level under foreign authorities but ruining the academic life of majority of the students who take examinations under local authorities, he said.
Earlier, treasury bench member Abdul Matin Khasru and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal lawmaker Mainuddin Khan Badal wanted to know what action the government was taking against those who were killing innocent people in the name of enforcing hartal.
Badal said an orphan was killed in his constituency by strike enforcers and he had found no answer despite being a representative of the people in front of the mother who was wailing.
‘I feel like taking up arms to fight against these terrors,’ an angry Badal said.
Khasru said he had earlier called for prosecution of strike enforcers but no steps were taken.
Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir in response to Suranjit Sengupta said the government would not allow anything that would threaten communal harmony. ‘The government is taking appropriate measures so that incidents like Ramu, Chandpur and Santhia do not recur,’ he said.
Suranjit citing reports from a newspaper condemned the attacks on Hindu community in Santhia of Pabna. ‘Babul Saha was a rich trader and he came under attack for his wealth. It cannot be accepted,’ he said. (source)

Bangladesh: Hindu village attacked, looted in Lamonirhat

Houses at a Hindu village in Lamonirhat were attacked, vandalised and robbed and 15 Hindu people, including five women, were injured on Monday afternoon.
The villagers said that a group of 15-18 people carried out the violence at Satpatki Majhipara, where a bunch of fishermen live.
The injured were admitted to Lalmonirhat sadar hospital, villagers said.


Police were deployed at the village following the attack.
Many Hindus, especially women and children of 125 Hindu families, fled and took shelters at the neighbouring Muslim houses, said Lalmonirhat sadar police station officer-in-charge Jamir Uddin.
He said that the police rushed the village and chased the attackers away.
He, however, said, that none of the attackers was arrested.
Additional superintendent of police Aslam Khan said that he initially heard names of some persons to be involved in the attack.
‘I have told Hindu community people to lodge a case. If they do not dare to do so, we will record a case and take legal actions against the attackers,’ he said.
The gang attacked 40 Hindu families, vandalised the houses and looted four of them, the villagers said.
Local resident Narayan Chandra Das said he believed that the violence was committed by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activist Shawn Islam and his gang, who, according to him, had demanded Tk 5,000 in extortion from each of the 15 fish trading families on Sunday evening.
‘The gang members said that the money was needed to meet the expenses for the 60-hour general strike,’ he alleged.
He said that the villagers denied the demand of the gang and complained about the matter to Bangladesh Nationalist Party Mohendranagar union unit general secretary Abdul Mazid Mandal.
Mazid said that the local Hindus complained about the matter to him and he had cautioned his men not to do any harm to the Hindus.’
He claimed that no BNP or Chhatra Dal man was involved in the attack.
Injured woman Sumitra Rani Roy, 65, alleged that she was assaulted by the gang when she tried to save her son Nikhil Chandra Roy.
‘My son Nikhil was beaten up mercilessly by the attackers in my presence at my home, but I had nothing to do but crying,’ she said.
Mohana Rani Das, 55, another resident, said, the gang looted valuables including Tk 30,000 in cash after vandalising her house.
‘Although police have been deployed, we are still scared as the gang may attack us again anytime,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina says section of Bangladesh press spreading false information

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Monday lamented that a section of the press is spreading ‘sugar coated’ false information and they are not ready to follow the basic principles of journalism and democracy.
‘They even don’t obey the constitution. They’re out to misguide people by giving false news and indulgence in terrorism and militancy.


Their activities would only encourage the anti-liberation force and their followers,’ she said. The prime minister said this while
inaugurating the newly constructed eight-storied building of Bangladesh Press Institute in Dhaka.
Pointing out the current political situation, she said, her government wants to uphold the constitution. In this regard, she urged the journalists to support holding a free, fair and neutral election in the country.
Information minister Hasanul Haque Inu, lawmaker Rashed Khan Menon, PM’s media advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, chairman of PIB Habibur Rahman Milon attended the function as special guests.  Director general of PIB Shah Alamgir gave the welcome address while acting secretary of the Ministry of Information Murtaza Ahmed was in the chair.
Recalling the speech of Bangladesh’s founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the first annual general meeting of Dhaka Journalists Union on July 16, 1972, the prime minister said, ‘Bangabandhu told that democracy lies on a principle. Journalism has a principle too. We can resolve many problems if we keep it in mind.’
In today’s context, the quote of Bangabandhu is still relevant. Democracy might be endangered if responsible persons act opposite to their words, she said.
Mentioning the attachment of Bangabandhu with media people, the prime minister said, Bangabandhu, if he would not be a politician and pathfinder of the nation, would surely be a journalist. During his student life, Bangabandhu was the local correspondent of the Daily Ittehad published from Kolkata.
Sheikh Hasina said media is now enjoying highest freedom than ever before. However, misuse of this freedom might bring detriment for the media itself and people of the country, she warned.
The prime minister said, now-a-days, we see ‘expertise opinion’ on all issues from a section of people. They neither have any responsibility nor accountability to people. But, media should play a role to bring every people under the jurisdiction of accountability for their words and actions.
Terming the media as one of the important pillars of the state, the prime minister said, journalists are the lifeline of media. So their professional excellence is required in country’s interests.
Pointing out her party’s electoral pledge in 2008 for building a Digital Bangladesh by 2021, the prime minister said, her government has guaranteed the full freedom of media and free flow of information.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is more or less a digital country now. Digital facilities were extended to rural areas over the last five years. All media, students, professionals, rural women, farmers, patients and people of every section are enjoying this facility, she said.
The prime minister said online media is now booming in the country while use of social websites is on the rise day by day.  But, the digital facilities are also being misused. So social awareness is required to check its abuse, she said.
The prime minister announced constituting a trust fund for welfare of journalists saying the fund will be created with seed money from the government. Journalists can collect money for this fund from other sources.
Awami League government laid the foundation stone of the PIB building on February 8, 2000. But, the project made no progress during the five years of BNP and caretaker government.
The present government refurbished the project creating more facilities in the building and completed the construction at a total cost of Tk 9.54 crore, she said. (source)

Jahangirnagar University VC confined again as teachers begin indefinite sit-in

A section of teachers of Jahangirnagar University again took position in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s residence from Sunday night to press home their demand for immediate resignation of the VC, Professor Anwar Hossain.
JUTA president Professor Ajit Kumar Majumdar announced the indefinite sit-in in front of the VC’s residence protesting a warning notice against him where the VC mentioned that JUTA president was patronising the movement.


The VC, however, said that the teachers’ sit-in in front of anyone’s residence was a violation of fundamental right.
‘They also behaved rudely with me while I was silent as altercating with the teachers would push JU into an unending stalemate,’ he said.
The VC also alleged that the teachers were practicing falsehood against him and expressed shock at the teachers’ behavior against VC.     
‘I requested them to go from my residence peacefully but they behaved with me roughly’, he alleged. 
The agitating teachers also put barricades on the entrance to the VC’s office.
At one stage on Monday morning, Pro-VC and Treasurer came to his office and tried to meet with the VC but they were forced to return back.
At a press conference, convener of General Teachers Forum professor Anwar Hossain said that the warning notice against a teacher could not be issued without syndicate meeting,
Sit-in would be continued until the declaration of the resignation of the VC who is a ‘persona non grata’, he said, adding that the university was not a paternal property of the VC.
Earlier on Sunday night, a good number of teachers asked the VC why he issued the warning notice against JUTA president but the VC, without answering them, entered his residence and the agitating teachers hurled abusive words on him.
On the other hand, JUTA in a separate conference declared non-cooperation movement against the VC and sought corporation from all concerned.
They also expressed worry about the upcoming first year admission test under the VC and urged him to resign from his post and not to play with admission seekers’ fate.
Meanwhile, a panic was prevailing on the campus as the VC was determined to hold the JUCSU polls on Dec 5 amid the ongoing volatile situation while the teachers vowed to resist the JUCSU polls.   (source)

Grameen Bank Bill submitted to Bangladesh Parliament

The parliamentary standing committee on finance ministry on Monday submitted its report on Grameen Bank Bill 2013 to the parliament.
Committee chairman AHM Mustafa Kamal submitted the much-talked about Grameen Bank Bill which is expected to be passed in parliament very soon.


Earlier on October 30, the parliamentary watchdog finalised its recommendation for the passage of the Grameen Bank Bill that had sought enactment of a new law to bring the microcredit institution under the strong watch of the central bank.
The parliamentary watchdog assigned to scrutinise the bill, enactment of which would repeal the Grameen Bank Ordinance 1983, at its meeting finalised its recommendation for the passage of the bill without any major change.
It observed that the authorities could make the Grameen Bank accountable to the central bank as the government itself was its major shareholder.
It said the microcredit institution pursued the regime of HM Ershad to reduce the government’s share in the bank to 25 per cent from 60 per cent.
Earlier on October 27, finance minister AMA Muhith tabled the Grameen Bank Bill 2013 in parliament.
The draft law has proposed that two firms would audit the Grameen Bank transactions and place the reports to the central bank.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and the government had serious disagreement over the appointment of the managing director of the bank.
The bill proposed that the government would appoint a chairman from the three government-nominated directors to the Grameen Bank management board.
In consultation with the board of management, the chairman will form a select committee with three to five members, which will prepare a panel of three candidates for the post of the managing director, the chief executive of the microcredit institution having 8.3 million borrowers, the bill proposed.
The central bank is the authority for the appointment of the managing director who must have knowledge on rural economics, economics or micro-finance. The managing director will be a full-timer and serve up to 60 years of age.
The bill says that the government can issue any order to resolve any inconvenience that comes to the fore for the execution of the proposed Grameen Bank Act. (source)

4 satellite towns to be developed near Dhaka

Housing and public works minister Abdul Mannan Khan on Monday told the Jatiya Sangsad that the government has planned to develop four satellite towns surrounding the capital to ease housing crisis in Dhaka City.
Of the four towns, three will be developed by National Housing Authority and one by the Public Works Ministry, said the minister while replying to a question from treasury bench member Pinu Khan.


Four satellite towns are Dhaka-Kamrangir Char Satellite Town, Bangshi-Dhamrai Satellite Town, Ichhamati-Sirajdikhan Satellite Town in Munsiganj and Dhaleswari-Singair Satellite Town in Manikganj.
A Malaysian company visited the site of Dhaka-Kamrangir Char Satellite Town project on June 23, 2011.
The government appointed a consultancy firm on July 24, 2012 that has already submitted inception report, mid-term report and draft final report. It will soon submit the final report, he added.
An MoU has already been signed with Malaysia on October 18, 2011 to implement Bangshi-Dhamrai Satellite Town under government to government agreement.
Besides, steps have already been taken to implement Ichhamati-Sirajdikhan Satellite Town and Dhaleswari-Singair Satellite Town under public-private partnership initiative, the minister added. (source)

Ashura to be observed in Bangladesh on November 15

The holy Ashura will be observed across the country on November 15 (Friday) as the moon of Muharram month was not sighted in Bangladesh sky on Monday.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee held at the Baitul Mukarram Islamic Foundation conference room on Monday evening.


Religious affairs secretary Quazi Habibul Awal, also vice-president of the committee, presided over the meeting.
Principal information officer Aminul Islam, Islamic Foundation director general Shamim Mohammad Afzal, and joint secretaries to the ministries of Information and Religious affairs M Bazlur Rahman and Hasan Jahangir Alamgir respectively were, among others, present at the meeting.
Ashura is observed on the 10th of Muharram of Hijri calendar to commemorate the Karbala tragedy in which Hazrat Imam Hossain (RA) along with his family members and followers embraced martyrdom. The day is a public holiday. (source)