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Adani Halves Power Supply to Bangladesh Over Outstanding Bills
Rtv News
02 Nov 2024, 16:21
Photo: File Picture
India's Adani Power Jharkhand Limited has halved its power supply to Bangladesh, saying it has yet to receive outstanding bills.
Load-shedding in the country rose to around 1,500 MW as the Indian industrial group shut down one of the two units built for Bangladesh with a capacity of 700 MW. Bangladesh's outstanding bill to Adani is $886 million (about Tk10,350 crore).
After investigation, it is known that since last July, Adani has been charging the electricity bill due to the increased price of coal used in the power plant. The Indian industrial group is also pressuring Bangladesh to pay the outstanding bills. They have already reduced the electricity production to half. Adani is taking advantage of the 'one-sided' agreement, the stakeholders claim.
In this regard, the advisor of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan told the media that there is no question of paying extra. PDB will look into the issue of the increased price of coal. The contractual issues will be dealt with professionally and impartially following international norms. The contract review committee has already started working on it.
However, before the start of power generation last year, there was a huge controversy about the price of coal. The Power Development Board (PDB) refused to pay the high price of coal. Adani then agreed to reduce the price. They also promised to supply coal at a lower price than Payra and Rampal power plants. But after a year, Adani is asking for 22 percent more price.
Incidentally, the previous Awami League government had issued special bonds to pay the outstanding electricity bills. At that time, the government took Tk20,620 crore from the market through bonds. City Bank and Pubali Bank were involved in this initiative to pay the outstanding liabilities of private power plants.
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163 Villages Inundated in Sherpur, Mymensingh
Heavy rains and landslides caused flash floods in several parts of Sherpur and Mymensingh. At least 113 villages in Sherpur's Nalitabari, Sreebardi, and Jhenaigati upazilas and 50 villages in Mymensingh's Dhobaura were inundated. Bhogai and Chellakhali dams are breaking and water is overflowing.
The water level of both rivers started rising last Thursday evening. Garakanda and Nichpara areas of the municipality including Poragaon, Nayabil, Ramchandrakura, and Baghber Union were flooded during the night. Upazila Parishad Square, Sadar Bazar, and lower areas of 40 villages have been inundated in Jhenaigati.
On Friday, around 5,000 people were stranded due to an abnormal rise in the water in the Maharshi and Someswari rivers. About 2,000 people in 13 Rani Shimul and Singabaruna Union villages bordering Sreebardi Upazila of Sherpur have become waterlogged due to heavy rains and landslides. Many roads were submerged in torrential water and traffic was stopped. Aman paddy's fields are submerged.
Meanwhile, at least 50 villages of the upazila have been flooded due to heavy rains and landslides in Dhobaura of Mymensingh, breaking the Netai River dam.
Akhlaq Ul Jamil, Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board, said that due to heavy rains, the Netai River dam was damaged and several areas were flooded. If the rain subsides, the area's water level will likely recede in the next two days. Later the damaged dam will be rebuilt.
Dhobaura Upazila Executive Officer Nishat Sharmin said that the people's representatives of the areas where water has entered have been asked to arrange shelter in primary schools. Actions will be taken to help the victims after the inquiry.
Traffic Congestion in Dhaka / Wasting Around 82,00,000 Working Hours Daily
The traffic congestion in the capital city is wasting around 8.2 million working hours daily. Massive use of private vehicles is responsible for the lack of order on the roads and thus, people cannot enjoy the advantage of rising public transport.
Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury revealed this at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Sunday (October 6) at 11 o'clock.
In his written speech, he said, "The citizens of the capital are stuck in a terrible traffic jam because of the lack of respect for the rules and regulations of the passengers. It takes more than 4 to 5 hours to go from one end of the city to another. 8.2 million working hours of working people are wasted every day in Dhaka's traffic jams. BUET's information says that the financial loss in this traffic jam is Tk50,000cr every year.
He said, "The capital's public transport system has been broken for ages. Buses and mini-buses operating in the city are discolored with no rear light indicators and front-looking glasses. Can't sit on the seat with two legs apart. The footrests and catch handles are broken, have to stand for long periods. During the hot summer days, the bus is drenched in sweat, and in the rainy season, the bus is still drenched in rain. There is no cleanliness in any buses. Buses are not available at the right time even after enduring the agony of getting on and off the dirty, infested, cockroach-infested buses."
Mozammel further said, 'In such a reality, the able-bodied are buying private cars by taking loans. Others have turned to motorcycle ride-sharing, auto-rickshaws, easy bikes, e-bikes, and smaller vehicles like ride-hailing. As a result, 4,00,000 pedal-powered rickshaws, 6,00,000 battery-powered rickshaws and easybikes, 1,34,000 small ride-sharing vehicles, 30,000 CNG-powered auto-rickshaws are moving freely in the city, along with chaotic buses, the traffic congestion and crowding of the city are increasing extremely. On the other hand, the traffic system to control these vehicles is still outdated. After the change of government, 4,000 traffic police in the city are still inactive. In this situation, modern engineering traffic control system needs to be introduced on an urgent basis to reduce traffic congestion."
"According to BRTA's information, an average of 800 small vehicles are coming down in the capital every day. According to a JICA survey, 60 percent of the daily average 40 million trip passengers travel in Dhaka metropolis use public transport. 67 percent of these passengers use buses only. However, the quality of passenger service of Dhaka City Bus has been lacking quality for the last 20 years. To reduce the traffic congestion in Dhaka, the bus-minibus system must be fixed first. The registration of small vehicles and the movement of these vehicles on the main roads of the city should be stopped," he further added.
Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity has demanded to improve city services in Dhaka city by providing a bus route rationalization system with privileged lanes, removing small vehicles including rickshaws, and easy bikes from the main roads of the city, and scientifically controlling the traffic system.
No Security Threat During 'Durga Puja', Still We Are Cautious: IGP
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mainul Islam said that there is no security concern in the upcoming 'Durga Puja'.
He said this to reporters after visiting Dhakeshwari Temple in the capital on Monday (October 7) afternoon.
The IGP said that there is no fear of any terrorist attack during the puja. Law enforcement agencies are on high alert. There is no room for any kind of chaos and inactivity.
He also said that Ansar has been deployed in important Puja Mondops. They will be deployed in all puja Mondops from Tuesday. Other police patrols and striking forces will be deployed. Armed forces are deployed in all districts.
Moinul Islam said, there is no opportunity for inactivity anywhere. Cyber monitoring has been strengthened. 999 is always on. A special control room will monitor the security of the puja from across the country.
He said that control rooms have been launched in each upazila, district, and police headquarters. Action will be taken immediately if anyone wants to create disturbance anywhere, in any Pujamondop.
Lalmonirhat Magistrate Tapashee Tabassum Urmi Suspended
Tapashee Tabassum Urmi, an executive magistrate in the Lalmonirhat district administration, has been suspended temporarily after being On Special Duty (OSD).
A notification was issued in this regard from the Ministry of Public Administration on Monday (October 7).
Previously Urmi was making controversial comments on the social media Facebook about Dr Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor of the interim government.
It is to be noted that, Tapashee wrote on Facebook on Saturday (October 05): "The chief adviser of the constitutionally baseless interim government has said a reset button has been pushed. The past is erased. He deleted all the history of the country by clicking a reset button. So simple. The countdown has begun for you, sir."
Mansur Hossain, public relations officer of the Ministry of Public Administration, said that Assistant Commissioner Tapashee Tabassum Urmi has been suspended after OSD. At the same time, the process of taking departmental action against her has been initiated.
Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor: / Durga Puja Holiday Extended by One Day
The holiday for Durga Puja has been extended by one day, as announced by Mahfuz Alam, the special assistant to the chief advisor.
The Sharadiya Durga Puja holiday will begin on Thursday. Since there are public holidays on Friday and Saturday this month, the total duration of the Puja holiday will be four days. The official notification will be issued soon.
On Tuesday (October 8), Mahfuz Alam provided this information at the Dhakeshwari Temple.
He stated that this year the Durga Puja holiday has been extended by one day. He sent a message to those trying to destabilize the country that the current interim government stands with everyone.
The formalities of Sharadiya Durga Puja will begin on Wednesday (October 9), and therefore, Dashami will be celebrated next Sunday (October 13). The Sharadiya Durga Puja concludes for followers of the Sanatan Hindu religion with the immersion of the idols on Dashami. Therefore, there will also be a public holiday on Sunday. In total, this year there will be a four-day holiday for Sharadiya Durga Puja.
HSC, Equivalent Results to be Published on October 15
HSC and equivalent exam results of 2024 will be published on October 15. However, the result will be published in the new system, not in the previous rules.
Dhaka Education Board's Chairman and head of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee Professor Tapan Kumar Sarkar confirmed this information to the media. The results will be published around 11:00 am, he added.
Inter Education Board officials said that the results of HSC and equivalent examinations will be published on October 15 (Tuesday). Candidates will know their results around 11 am on that day. But like other times, there will be no central event this time. As per the new rules, the results will be declared separately by each education board.
In this regard, Professor Tapan Kumar Sarkar, coordinator of the Inter-Education Board, said that the central program is not being held this year. However, like every year, students will be able to know the results through SMS, website, and their respective educational institutions.
The results this year were prepared through subject mapping, where marks for six canceled exams were calculated based on students' results from the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams.
For subjects where exams were conducted, the answer sheets were evaluated based on the full marks for those subjects.
Earlier, the HSC and equivalent exams started on June 30 this year. Because of the quota movement, first the exam on July 18 and then the exam on July 21, 23, and 25 were postponed.
Meanwhile, the Sheikh Hasina government was ousted on August 5 in the face of the mass uprising led by the anti-discrimination student movement.
The dates of the remaining exams are changed several times based on the overall situation. The last date was set for August 11. Meanwhile, the candidates started a movement demanding cancellation of the postponed exams. They protested under the building of the Ministry of Education at the secretariat on August 20 and the remaining exams were cancelled.
A total of 14 lakh 50 thousand 790 people participated in this year's HSC examination under 9 General Education Boards, Technical Boards, and Madrasa Boards.
Incidentally, for the past 22 years, the summary of public examination results has been handed over to the Prime Minister. The board chairmen used to hand over the summary of the results of their respective boards to the Prime Minister. The Education Minister, State Minister, Secretary, and many people related to education were present there. After that, the education ministry held a separate press conference, then the candidates could know the results.
All Jewellery Shops to be Closed on 11 October: BAJUS
On the occasion of Durga Puja, all jewellery shops in the country will be closed on Friday (October 11).
Bangladesh Jewelers Association (BAJUS) informed this in a circular on Tuesday (October 8).
It is said that as usual on the occasion of Autumn Durga Puja, BAJUS has decided to close all jewellery establishments across the country including the capital Dhaka, on Ashtami Puja on October 11.
According to the announcement of BAJUS, all jewellery associations in the country will be closed on October 11.
Incidentally, the country's market is currently selling 22-carat gold at Tk1,37,449. Tk1,31,197 per 21 carat, Tk1,12,453 per 18 carat, and Tk92,286 per traditional method gold.
Apart from this, the selling price of gold has to be compulsorily added with a government-mandated 5 percent VAT and BAJUS-mandated minimum wage of 6 percent. However, the wages may vary depending on the design and quality of the jewellery.
The price of gold has been adjusted 42 times in the country's market so far this year. Where the price has been increased 25 times, and reduced 17 times. In 2023, the price was adjusted 29 times.
