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BGMEA gets one more year for the last time
RTV Online Report
02 Apr 2018, 00:00
For the last time Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) gets one more year to demolish its complex located in the Hatirjheel-Begunbari Lake, reports UNB.
A four-member Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order after the apex trade body of the country’s garment sector submitted a fresh undertaking mentioning that it would not seek anymore time for pulling down the building.
Advocate Imtiaj Moinul Islam, who stood for BGMEA, said the trade body will get time until April 12, 2019 for demolishing its complex.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the Supreme Court asked the BGMEA to submit a fresh bond and fixed today (Monday) for passing an order on the petition filed by it seeking time for demolishing the BGMEA Bhaban in the lake.
On Tuesday last, the SC asked the BGMEA to give an undertaking that it would not file any more time petition over demolishing its building. As it submitted a bond on Wednesday, the apex court found it incomplete and ordered the trade body to submit it again inserting a few more lines.
On March 5, the BGMEA authorities filed a one-year time petition with the Supreme Court as its seven-month time granted in September, 2017 by the SC for reducing the building to ruins expired in March.
The BGMEA lost its last legal battle to keep its structure intact on the scenic water body as the Appellate Division rejected its plea seeking review of its judgment that upheld an earlier High Court verdict, ordering demolition of the structure.
In 2011, the High Court ordered demolition of the 16-storey building as it was constructed in defiance of relevant laws, calling it a 'cancer' in the lake.
The BGMEA later filed a leave-to-appeal petition with the Appellate Division against the High Court judgment, but the apex court on June 2, 2016, dismissed the plea as well as asked the RMG producers to demolish its headquarters at once and at its own cost.
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Severe Drinking Water Crisis in Bagerhat, Public Suffering Intensifies
Due to climate change, the salinity of seawater continues to increase. Every dry season, Bagerhat, a coastal district bordering the Bay of Bengal and Sundarbans, faces an acute crisis of safe drinking water. Government measures to tackle the issue fall far short of the demand, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents struggling for potable water.
A field survey reveals that seven out of Bagerhat's nine sub-districts, excluding Fakirhat and Mollahat, are grappling with severe drinking water shortages. Shallow tube wells in these areas yield highly saline or arsenic-contaminated water, rendering them unusable. Previously, people relied on these tube wells, but their installation has now been discontinued by the government.
Locals are forced to depend on pond water, with thousands in some villages relying on a single pond. Consumption of this water, often drawn from unhygienic conditions, has led to waterborne diseases in certain areas. Many ponds dry up early in the dry season due to prolonged lack of rainfall and years of neglect.
To address this, the government initiated the excavation of ponds under the jurisdiction of the district council, excavating 155 government ponds across the nine sub-districts. Solar-powered water filters were also installed at some pond sites.
However, these efforts largely failed. After excavation, influential locals began using the ponds for fish farming, introducing fish feed that made the water unsuitable for consumption. Moreover, many solar-powered filters became non-functional, with some failing to produce a single drop of water due to poor-quality equipment installed by contractors.
As a result, the drinking water crisis has worsened. Shipra Rani, a resident of Dakra village in Rampal, lamented, "We are facing an acute shortage of drinking water. A supply line was installed here, but the water is saline. Even so, we have to wait for hours to get a single pitcher of water."
Jayanta Mallik, Executive Engineer of the Bagerhat Public Health Engineering Department, acknowledged the crisis and stated, "The government has taken various initiatives, and some projects are still ongoing to address the drinking water shortage."
Tourist Ship Services Begin on Cox's Bazar-Saint Martin's Route
After a long closure of more than nine months, tourist ships have resumed their operations on the Cox's Bazar-Saint Martin route.
On Sunday (December 1), at around 10 am, a ship named "Bar Aulia" departed from the BIWTA terminal in Cox's Bazar, carrying 620 passengers to the island.
Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh, confirmed the resumption of ship operations.
He said that today the first day of the resumption of ship operations on the Cox's Bazar-Saint Martin route, the ship Bar Aulia left for Saint Martin with 620 passengers.
Nilufa Yasmin Chowdhury, the Saint Martin Tourism Management Committee convener and Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) said the first ship departed successfully, and authorities inspected all arrangements.
It is worth noting that due to the recent navigability crisis in the Naf River and the lack of security due to shelling on the Myanmar border, ships are not being allowed to sail from Teknaf for the time being. Currently, only Cox's Bazar is approved as a departure point.
The government permits ship operations on the Teknaf-Saint Martin and Cox's Bazar-Saint Martin routes from October to March each year. Ships are closed for the remaining six months due to rough seas.
On November 19, a separate office order signed by Sabrina Rahman, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, formed a committee to control tourism in Saint Martin and gave some guidelines on the movement of ships from Cox's Bazar to Saint Martin.
This year, to protect the island's environment, the government has introduced a cap on tourist numbers. Travelers must now register through an app provided by the Ministry of Tourism before visiting Saint Martin's Islam.
The hotels where tourists will stay after reaching St. Martin's Island will be recorded and stored in the register. Billboards will be installed at the ship's departure point and at the entry point of Saint Martin including the do's and don'ts for tourists.
The Cox's Bazar office of the Department of Environment will coordinate the overall issues and communication. The committee can increase its members if necessary to facilitate its work.
Dhaka's Air 'Unhealthy' Today, 5 Places With High Pollution
Air pollution is increasing day by day in various cities around the world due to various reasons including climate change. Along with this, Dhaka's air has also been under the grip of pollution for a long time.
Dhaka's air is still 'unhealthy' on Tuesday (December 3) morning.
According to the data of the international air quality technology company IQAir at around 8 am, the capital Dhaka is in sixth position with a score of 186.
This air is harmful to any person. Today, pollution is high in five places in Dhaka and its surroundings. These places include Eastern Housing 2, Hemayetpur in Savar, Rob Bhaban in Gulshan-2, the US Embassy in Dhaka, and the Aga Khan Academy.
At the same time, the Indian city of Delhi is at the top of the list of the most polluted cities in the world with a score of 248. Iraq's capital Baghdad is in second place with a score of 226, Pakistan's Karachi is in third place with a score of 219, another Pakistani city Lahore is in second place with a score of 217 and China's Hangzhou is in fifth place with a score of 202.
An Air Quality Index (AQI) score of zero to 50 is considered good. 51 to 100 is considered moderate, and 101 to 150 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. A score of 151 to 200 is considered 'unhealthy' air.
An AQI score between 201 and 300 is called 'very unhealthy'. In this situation, children, the elderly, and sick patients are advised to stay indoors and others are advised to limit their outdoor activities. Furthermore, an AQI between 301 and 400 is considered 'hazardous', which poses a serious health risk to city dwellers.
Take Trip Ltd Celebrates 1st Anniversary
Take Trip Limited, a concern of US Bangla Group, celebrated its first anniversary yesterday 05 December 2024.
Serving its over 4500+ B2B clients, Take Trip Limited, in its short journey has become a major OTA (Online Travel Agent) in the Bangladesh travel market. It is committed to providing its clients with the best service along with providing access to industry-leading technology, which includes NDC and direct API of airlines such as Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, US Bangla, Air Astra, Air Arabia, Fly Dubai, Salam Air and many more.
The Take Trip team celebrated the event yesterday with its airline partners and esteemed guests.
Bottled Soybean Oil Suddenly Disappears in the Capital!
For several days, bottled soybean oil has been scarce in markets across the capital. The crisis has now intensified, with almost 90% of 1- and 2-liter bottles vanishing from shelves, leaving consumers frustrated.
Retailers report receiving only 10% of the required supply. Except for a few companies, most brands of bottled soybean oil are unavailable in the market, and the supply of the available brands is insufficient. The shortage is especially severe for 1- and 2-liter bottles.
Noman, a grocery store owner in Karwan Bazar, said, “For two weeks, I haven’t received bottled soybean oil in the quantities I need. This is affecting the sale of other goods as well. Companies and dealers are deliberately creating this situation to hike prices.”
Tofayel, a consumer looking for oil, shared, “I went to several stores but couldn’t find bottled soybean oil. Even where it’s available, they’re not selling it. I’m being forced to buy loose soybean oil at higher prices.”
Importers and distributors argue that the global market price hike has led to reduced supply. According to them, international prices have risen by 10 to 13 taka per liter, and imports have decreased by about 20% compared to demand.
Mohammad Khalilur Rahman Sajal, Executive Director of the Consumers Association, said, “Despite receiving tax reductions and other benefits, the suppliers have not lowered prices; instead, they’ve cut supply.”
He warned, “If the Ministry of Commerce doesn’t act now, the situation could become even more uncomfortable during the upcoming Ramadan.”
It’s worth noting that in October, the government reduced duties and taxes on the import of soybean and palm oil twice. Typically, lowering taxes on a product increases imports and reduces prices. However, instead of prices falling, the opposite trend has been observed in the domestic market.
Fire at a Packaging Factory in Chattogram
A fire broke out at a packaging factory in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ). Seven units of the Fire Service are working to control the blaze.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening (December 7). The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are not yet known.
Senior Station Officer Md Shahadat Hossain of the CEPZ Fire Station confirmed the matter.
He stated that upon receiving the report, seven units were immediately deployed to extinguish the fire.
Series of Explosions at Myanmar Border Sparks Panic in Teknaf
The border area of Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar is rattled by repeated explosions from Myanmar's Rakhine State, particularly Maungdaw Township. Deafening blasts have left residents of Teknaf municipality, its central area, Sabrang, and Shah Porir Island sleepless at night.
On Saturday (December 7), explosions were heard continuously from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m. Local residents in Teknaf reported that the powerful blasts from Myanmar caused their homes to shake. Fear-stricken, many spent the cold nights outdoors, unable to sleep.
For over a year, Myanmar's junta forces and the Arakan Army have been engaged in fierce battles. Most of Rakhine State, especially areas close to Teknaf, is now under the control of the Arakan Army. In its desperate attempts to reclaim lost territories, the junta has launched continuous airstrikes. On the ground, several armed Rohingya groups are fighting against the Arakan Army on behalf of the junta.
Residents near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border reported hearing loud explosions throughout Thursday evening until late Friday night. During this time, aircraft were seen circling Myanmar's airspace. It is believed that bombs are being dropped from planes targeting Arakan Army positions in Maungdaw. The presence of fighter jets in Myanmar's airspace was visible from Teknaf municipality, Sabrang Union, and Shah Porir Island.
Sabrang Union Parishad Chairman Noor Hossain confirmed that the sounds of explosions were coming from the southern villages of Maungdaw. The loud blasts from mortar shells and grenade attacks have been shaking houses on this side of the border, leaving locals sleepless.
According to border residents, areas like Ukil Para, Foyez Para, Sikdar Para, Hari Para, and Fatangza in southern Maungdaw have been at the center of fighting for over a year. Most of Rakhine State is now controlled by the Arakan Army. Myanmar's military is conducting air raids while armed Rohingya groups engage in ground battles against the Arakan Army.
Mohammad Sharif, a member of Sabrang Union Parishad’s Ward No. 5, and Abdus Salam, a member of Ward No. 9 of Shah Porir Island, said the loud explosions from across the border have left the people of Teknaf in a state of panic.
