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Removal of Import Duty Suggested to Stabilize Rice Supply
Rtv News
01 Nov 2024, 14:07
Photo: Collected
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has withdrawn all import and regulatory duties on rice. This decision is expected to reduce the price of rice by at least Tk9.60 per kg.
NBR issued a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) on Thursday (October 31) in this regard.
The existing 15 percent import duty and 5 percent regulatory duty on rice will be completely abolished, according to a press release issued by the NBR on Friday (November 1). As a result, the total import duty on rice will be reduced from 25 percent to 2 percent.
Earlier, import duty was reduced from 62.5 percent to 25 percent to reduce the price of rice. However, the result was not as expected.
NBR was requested by the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) to waive import duty. NBR took this decision after that.
The NBR claims that the import and control duty waiver will stabilize the price of rice and make it more accessible to the common consumer. This move will increase rice supply and keep prices affordable in the future; So that the necessary food items are easily available to the consumers.
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Repatriation of Rohingyas is the Only Solution: Foreign Affairs Advisor
The only solution to the Rohingya crisis is to send them back to Myanmar, said Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain.
He made these remarks on Monday, October 14, at an event held at a hotel in the capital.
The advisor emphasized that the presence of Rohingyas is becoming harmful to Bangladesh’s security and environment. "Repatriating them to Myanmar is the only solution. Bangladesh expects China to play a more sincere and active role in this process," he added.
At the event, Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen stated that China has always stood by Bangladesh during crises. "Whether it was during COVID-19 or the July movement, officials of Chinese companies did not leave the country. The relationship between Dhaka and Beijing will continue as before," he assured.
Yao Wen also expressed hope that the interim government would soon overcome challenges, including the law and order situation.
Currently, Bangladesh hosts over 1.2 million Rohingyas, with around 800,000 arriving between September 2017 and the following months.
The government has repeatedly stated that it can no longer accommodate more Rohingyas, but the influx continues. According to government estimates, over 8,000 new Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh in the past month and a half, although local sources claim the actual number is double that.
HSC Results Today: Steps to Get Results Quickly
The results of this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exams will be released today, Tuesday (October 15). Unlike previous years, the head of government, chief advisor, or education advisor will not be announcing the results. Instead, the chairpersons of the respective education boards will declare the results at 11 AM.
This year, the process for receiving results via SMS has been further streamlined. According to the new system, students can pre-register by sending an SMS before the results are officially published. The sooner a student sends the SMS, the sooner they will receive their results.
How to Pre-register for Results via SMS
To collect the results via SMS, follow these steps:
Type HSC [Board Name (first 3 letters)] [Roll] [Year] and send it to 16222.
Example: Send HSC Dha 123456 2024 to 16222.
As soon as the results are released, students who pre-registered will receive their results directly on their phones.
Background of This Year’s Exams
The HSC and equivalent exams began on June 30. Initially, the exams proceeded smoothly until July 16. However, due to the quota reform movement, the exams scheduled for July 18 were postponed, followed by further postponements on July 21, 23, and 25.
In the midst of these disruptions, a mass uprising led by the anti-discrimination student movement resulted in the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5.
Given the turbulent circumstances, the remaining exam dates were revised several times, with the final schedule set for August 11. Meanwhile, students started protesting to cancel the postponed exams. On August 20, they demonstrated at the Education Ministry, demanding cancellation. Eventually, the authorities decided to cancel the rescheduled exams.
This year, a total of 1,450,790 students participated in the HSC exams under nine general education boards, the Technical Board, and the Madrasa Board.
Army Chief Embarks on U.S. and Canada Tour
The Chief of Army Staff, General Waqar-uz-Zaman, has left for an official visit to the United States and Canada.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced the news in a press release on Tuesday (October 15).
During the visit, General Waqar-uz-Zaman will engage in discussions on various matters related to United Nations peacekeeping missions, enhancing the army's capabilities, strengthening bilateral relations, and planning future strategies. He will hold meetings with senior military and civilian officials at the UN headquarters, as well as in the U.S. and Canada.
He will also discuss matters related to mutual cooperation between the two countries. The army chief is scheduled to return to Bangladesh on October 25.
HSC Results Announced: Pass Rate 77.78%
The results of this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exams have been published, with an average pass rate of 77.78%. Last year, the pass rate was slightly higher at 78.64%.
On Tuesday, October 15, the Chairman of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee, Professor Tapan Kumar Sarkar, disclosed the results.
He mentioned that this year, the results were not released centrally. Instead, each education board announced the results. Students can check their results via SMS.
In previous years, under the Awami League government, the Prime Minister used to officially release the SSC and HSC results in a ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office, receiving the report from the board chairpersons in the presence of the Education Minister and other officials.
This year, over 1.45 million students from 11 boards participated in the HSC and equivalent exams. The exams started on June 30, but the Sylhet Board's exams were delayed until July 9 due to flooding. Only six to seven exams were conducted before they were postponed due to anti-discrimination student protests.
The remaining written and practical exams were initially scheduled to resume on September 11. However, on August 20, the government decided to cancel the remaining exams in response to student demands.
The education board prepared the final results by mapping students' HSC scores to their SSC performance. In cases where subjects didn’t align, a subject mapping policy was applied.
How to Check Results:
Online: Visit the Dhaka Education Board website and click on the "Result" section. Results can be downloaded either by entering the institution’s EIIN or through individual roll and registration numbers.
SMS: Send an SMS in the following format to 16222:
HSC [Board Name (first 3 letters)] [Roll] [Year]
Example: HSC DHA 123456 2024
The result will be sent to the student's mobile phone shortly after.
Cyclone 'Dana' Brewing in Bay, May Hit Soon
A cyclonic storm called 'Dana' is feared to be brewing in the Bay of Bengal next week, according to weather forecasts, meteorological agencies in India, the United States and the European Union.
The cyclone is likely to form by the end of this month. Once formed, might make landfall in coastal areas of India and Bangladesh between 24-26 October.
These data were reported from weather forecast models on Friday (October 18).
According to most weather forecast models, a cyclone is likely to form in the Bay of Bengal between the 21st and 26th of this month.
From these weather forecast models, the formation of the cyclone is much confirmed, but it is still uncertain where it will hit. We have to wait till October 20 to confirm the matter.
The possible cyclone's name has been given by Qatar. It is likely to hit the coastal areas of Barishal Division and the neighboring Odisha state of India.
In a notification on Thursday (October 17), India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that there is a strong possibility of a cyclone forming in the North Andaman Sea around October 20. Due to this, a low pressure may develop in the central Bay of Bengal around October 22.
Meteorologist Nazmul Haque of Bangladesh said, "In October, there are favorable conditions for cyclones in the sea. A low pressure may also occur over central Bay of Bengal on October 22. However, the situation has not yet developed.
Earlier, the Met Office's long-term forecast said that there is a possibility of several low pressures in the Bay of Bengal in October. One of these may take the form of depression or cyclone. However, the weather office has not announced the specific time.
After Egg, Chicken Prices Soaring Now
The people of the country have seen many dramas about eggs for several days. Its price was increasing by leaps and bounds on various pretexts. Finally, some relief has returned to the egg market due to import duty exemption, but discomfort has started in the chicken market.
This was seen by visiting various markets of the capital including Karwan Bazar, and New Market Bazar on Friday (October 18).
A few days ago, the retail price of eggs touched Tk180-190 per dozen. Egg prices fell after the last egg import duty was reduced to 20 percent. At present, each dozen eggs are being sold at the retail level at Tk155-160. In wholesale, a dozen eggs are being sold at Tk150 and hali at Tk50.
Traders said that efforts are being made to sell eggs at government prices. If the supply is good, the price will come down very soon.
Buyers say that the price of fish and chicken in the market is already unbridled. Still more than Tk150 per dozen eggs.
A buyer named Md. Hossain Ali said that it is not possible to buy fish and meat. Now the price of eggs is also high. It also has to struggle to meet the protein needs.
It has been seen in the market that broiler chickens are being sold at Tk200-210 per kg and golden chickens are being sold at Tk280-300. The white layer is selling for Tk250 and the red layer is selling for Tk280.
The sellers say that the supply of chicken has decreased in the market. Moreover, rising prices of chicken feed and chicks are disrupting the production system, which is also affecting the market.
Abdul Alim, a chicken trader in Karwan Bazar, said that chickens are not coming like before. Along with this, the price increase in wholesale has an impact on the retail market as well.
A buyer named Faruque said that the price of eggs and chicken is very high in the market. The campaign is not working. The syndicate of traders is very strong. It will not be possible to break this syndicate unless strict laws are enforced.
Earthquake Jolts Several Regions of Bangladesh Including Dhaka
A mild earthquake with a magnitude of 4.1 on the Richter scale shook several regions of the country, including the capital city of Dhaka, early on Friday.
The tremor was felt at 12:43 am on Thursday night (October 17).
Volcano Discovery confirmed this information. According to the website, the epicenter of the earthquake was 41 km south of Dhaka. Its depth was 10 km.
In addition to Dhaka, the tremor was also felt in Chattogram and Barishal divisions.
There were no immediate reports of damage.
Users on social media platforms like Facebook posted about feeling the tremor in different parts of the country.
Earlier, on September 6, a mild earthquake was felt in Rangpur and surrounding areas. The earthquake was felt at 8:28 pm on Friday (September 6). The earthquake lasted for a few seconds.
