State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said that everyone is suffering due to the ongoing load shedding and hopefully the power situation will be normal within the next two weeks.
He wrote on his verified Facebook page on Monday (June 5), "The people of the country are suffering due to the ongoing heat wave and load shedding, which is not desirable, but we are working on priority to bring relief to public life very soon... Hopefully, the situation will be completely normal in a few weeks." .
বিজ্ঞাপন
Nasrul Hamid said, there are several reasons behind load shedding, which everyone should know. As you are all aware, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent Russia-Ukraine war have caused severe volatility in the international energy markets.
He said that the price of all types of fuel including gas, coal and furnace oil has skyrocketed in the international market, and even its availability in the market has become uncertain. The state minister said, on the other hand, the exchange rate of the dollar has increased unbridled. This has impacted the import of fuels like gas, coal and furnace oil for power generation, resulting in ongoing load shedding.
He said that under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the government has brought electricity to every house in the country with its sincere efforts. Referring to the previous situation of electricity in the country, Nasrul Hamid said that in 2008 only 44 percent people got electricity, which is now 100 percent. He recalled that then the countrymen suffered at least 16-18 hours of load shedding in a day.
The state minister said, keeping in mind the demand for electricity, we have increased the production of electricity more than 5 times in the last period. At present our power generation capacity is about 27 thousand 361 MW (including captive). Pointing out that there is no dearth in the power sector in terms of generation capacity, he said, however, we are facing unexpected load shedding due to the global energy crisis and massive upward trend in the international currency market.
Nasrul Hamid said, I am sorry for your suffering. I want to assure you that the current situation is temporary. We can get back to a good position in no time.
He further said that under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has made extensive development in the power sector by adopting various short, medium and long term plans. I hope your (countrymen) trust and support will continue. Together we will be able to alleviate this suffering as soon as possible.
The wait is almost over, only two more days left. After that, Sharadiya Durga Puja, the biggest festival of Sanatan religions, is going to be officially celebrated. Dhakeshwari temple in the capital has been buzzing with anticipation of this festival which is going to start from October 9. After the invocation of the Goddess in the auspicious Mahalaya, now the preparations are going on in the Mandape-Mandape for the Goddess. The mood of the festival is felt in the hearts of the traditional people of all ages, starting from children and teenagers.
On Monday (October 07) a visit to the Dhakeshwari temple in the national temple premises of the capital showed such a picture of a festive atmosphere.
It has been seen on the ground that construction of pandal and stage is going on with in full swing right in front of the temple. The workers in charge of decoration are carrying out construction work with bamboo and wood at a constant speed. As if they don't even have a chance to catch their breath.
As soon as you enter the premises, under the building on the left side, there is a seating area for the puja committee and guests. The control room of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has been built right next to it. Opposite to Police Control Room is Durga Puja Temple.
Pandal construction worker Habib told Barta24.com that we have no chance to rest now. The work must be completed by tomorrow. There is still much work to be done. Even if we wake up at night, we have to finish the work before Wednesday.
Stage construction workers told Barta24.com that various events will be held here during the puja. That is why the stage is being built here. Hope the work will be completed by today. But the work of putting clothes will not end today.
After the work of the idol of the temple, the idol is covered with a white cloth tied to the front grill. The devotees coming right in front of her have been divided into different sections by tying bamboo to ensure control and safety.
As soon as you enter the temple premises, under the building on the left side, the puja committee and the seating area for the guests have been arranged. The control room of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has been built right next to it. Opposite to Police Control Room is Durga Puja Temple.
Besides, a closed circuit camera or CC camera has also been installed by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in the temple premises. Moreover, billboards with the words 'entire area controlled by CC cameras' were also seen at various places in the temple.
Basically, the law and order forces at all levels of the country have taken all kinds of initiatives to ensure a strong security system to prevent any kind of destructive activities in the worship of Sanatani.
As a result, Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Bangladesh Police Md. Moinul Islam visited Dhakeshwari temple in the capital to ensure all security arrangements for the puja. After the visit on Monday (October 7) afternoon, he also said that if there is any attempt to disrupt the worship, he will be arrested immediately.
The IGP said that if anyone disturbs peace and order or conducts illegal activities, immediate and swift action will be taken.
He further said that our mobile team striking force and plainclothes personnel will be everywhere. Every puja mandap has volunteers along with discipline forces, Ansar forces. They are working 24 hours.
The IGP said, there is no scope for any kind of inactivity and chaos anywhere. We have strengthened cyber monitoring. Cyber patrolling is in place so that no one can spread false information, rumors and exaggeration using electronic media or social media. We wish to celebrate Sharadiya Durga Puja in a festive atmosphere and safety with everyone's cooperation.
He said, we have started the control room in the district upazila and headquarters. From where anyone can report news quickly. NTMC has also arranged them quickly.
Also, from tomorrow, Ansar members will start working in every puja mandap along with army, RAB and police. He also said that they will work round-the-clock in the security of the puja mandaps.
This year, the possible number of pavilions for Durga Puja across the country is 32 thousand 666. Out of this, 157 mandaps will be held in Dhaka South City and 88 in North City. However, this number is expected to increase. However, the number of puja mandaps being said is not the official or puja celebration council list. This is a possible list.
Last (September 10) Tuesday, a meeting was held at the Secretariat regarding the law and order situation of Durga Puja. At the end of the meeting, this information was given by the Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen (Rtd)Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
In the meeting, he said that the law and order forces will provide round-the-clock security at the Puja mandaps, and it has been decided to maintain uninterrupted power supply during Durga Puja.
Adviser Jahangir Alam said, an important decision has been taken this time, that is to appoint volunteers. This year's volunteer recruitment will be a little different. Any citizen of Bangladesh will be recruited as a volunteer. These volunteers will be scheduled. For example, volunteer (a) from 1 am to 3 am, volunteer (b) from 3 am to 5 am. Their number shall be minimum three persons at night and two persons during the day. Measures will also be taken to resolve the traffic jam.
Meanwhile, Religion affairs adviser AFM Khalid Hossain has also informed about increasing the allocation for the puja mandaps. In the conference, he said that the Chief Adviser has allocated Tk. four crore for Durga Puja. This money will be distributed to poor mandaps through District Administrators. 500 kg of rice was allotted for each puja mandap. Religion affairs ministry has recommended to increase it to 200 kg. more.
A Bangladeshi was shot dead by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) in Sadar Dakshin Upazila of Cumilla. At that time BSF members also took the body of the young man to India.
The incident took place near Jashpur BOP of Paharpur village in Goliara North Union of the upazila on Monday (October 7) evening.
The deceased Kamal Hossain is the son of Idu Mia of Kuriapara village of Sadar Dakshin Upazila. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) 10 Battalion Cumilla Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Iftekhar Hossain confirmed the truth of the information.
Hiron Mia, elder brother of the deceased, said that Kamal Hossain was shot dead by the BSF of India as he went 25 yards inside the Indian border at Paharpur border adjacent to Jashpur BGB camp of Golyara South Upazila of Cumilla Sadar South Upazila on Monday evening. Later, the BSF took Kamal's body away in an Indian ambulance. When the company commander of the Jashpur BGB camp was contacted about bringing the body, he asked to wait.
When asked about this, Sadar South Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Rafiqul Islam said, we are not aware of this yet.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) 10 Battalion Cumilla Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Iftekhar Hossain said that discussions are underway to bring back the body.
There is a foot over bridge to cross the road in front of Rampura Bangladesh Television. Even if there is a bridge, common people go from one side of the road to the other side as they wish. There is an opportunity to cross the road freely at risk as there are no road dividers. Such a picture can be seen from Rampura Abul Hotel to Kuril Bishwa Road.
Motorcycles and rickshaw vans are regularly seen crossing with people as there are no road dividers along the 13 km road from Rampura to Kuril Bishwa Road. As a result, traffic jams are created across the road. As well as increasing the risk of accidents. Such a picture is not only on this road, but on almost every road in the capital Dhaka.
Meanwhile, the Road Safety Foundation informed that 426 people were killed and 813 injured in road accidents in September of this year. Among them, 179 people died in 164 motorcycle accidents.
A tour of the capital on the ground shows that during the anti-discrimination student movement (July-August) there are no road dividers in the areas of the capital where there were more clashes. Two months have passed since the dictatorial Sheikh Hasina government fled the movement, but the damaged road dividers in those areas have not been fixed yet.
Rampura, Badda, Naya Bazar, Kuril Bishwa road, Uttara, Abdullahpur, Mohammadpur, Mirpur road dividers of North City Corporation of capital Dhaka have been damaged more. Although the road dividers of the roads affected by the movement were damaged, the authorities did not take any visible initiative to fix them.
According to urban expert Professor Adil Muhammad Khan, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), the capital is essentially an unlivable city. With unplanned urbanization in the midst of it, there is no order on the roads. With the change in the political pot in August, people's thinking has changed. But looking at the state of the city, it seems that the thinking of the authorities has not changed yet.
According to this expert, it should not take much time to repair the road divider that was damaged in the movement. But the city dwellers are crossing the road as they please due to the indifference of the authorities. This expert emphasized on the awareness of the people with the authorities.
Kalam Hossain was crossing the main road without using the Rampura TV Center foot over bridge. When asked why the road is being crossed without using the foot over bridge, he told Barta24.com that there is a problem in crossing the foot over bridge. Moreover, there are no dividers so you can cross the road quickly.
Same situation in Madhya Badda area without using the foot over bridge, everyone is crossing the road in their own way. Tahamid, a student of BRAC University in Madhya Badda, told Barta24.com that earlier there was a road divider on this road. Since these were demolished during the agitation, the City Corporation has not fixed them.
This student claims that as everyone is crossing the road, he is also crossing the road. He does not see any difficulty in it.
The speed of vehicles has decreased on this road due to crossing the road as it pleases. As a result, severe traffic jams are created. The traffic sergeants on duty are struggling to deal with the traffic jam.
Mamun Mia, who is in charge of the traffic police on Badda Link Road, told Barta24.com that no one is obeying the rules of the road. Common people are stopping cars and crossing the road as they wish. As a result, the risk of accidents increases as the speed of the vehicle decreases.
According to this traffic police, if the city corporation had fixed the road dividers quickly then people would not have been able to cross the road at will. Everyone was forced to use the footover bridge. It would have been convenient for us to work on traffic control.
Dhaka North City Corporation Chief Executive Officer Mir Khairul Alam told Barta24.com that a tender has been issued to repair the damaged dividers on the road from Rampura to Kuril Bishwa Road. Our work to repair the damaged road divider will begin soon. He called upon the common people to be aware and cross the road until the repairs are made.
The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has ordered the seizure of all bank accounts belonging to the former mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapas, his wife and son.
The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), the financial intelligence agency of Bangladesh Bank, has sent instructions to the country's banks and financial institutions to seize the accounts.
A senior official of BFIU confirmed this information to Dhaka Post on Monday (October 7). Accounts of the person whose account is frozen and their sole proprietorship will remain suspended. For the next 30 days, you will not be able to make any kind of transaction. If necessary, this period of suspending the transaction will be extended.
BFIU's letter said that relevant provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Rules will apply to this order to suspend transactions. In the letter, the name of Fazle Noor Tapas, National Identity Card information is given.
The BFIU directive further states that the account related information or documents such as account opening form, KYC and transaction details of the accounts which have been suspended should be sent to the BFIU within 2 working days from the date of issue of the letter.