The ship 'MV Yuan Jiang Fa Zhong' is arriving at Chattogram port for the second time from Karachi port in Pakistan with container goods.

It will reach the waters of Chattagram port next Friday (December 22), its local representative said.

This time the ship has a potential of 825 single containers, which is double the first time. The first time the ship came to Chattogram from Karachi with 370 single containers. Of these, 297 single containers were brought from Pakistan, while the rest were from the United Arab Emirates.

It is believed that the ship may have raw materials, chemicals, minerals and consumer goods for the garment industry. This can be confirmed if the shipping company submits a detailed list of imported goods online.

A direct container ship service between Pakistan's Karachi port and Chattogram port was launched in the second week of November 2023. It is operated by the United Arab Emirates-based Feeder Lines DMCC, and Regency Lines Limited is working as their local representative in Bangladesh.

The group's executive director, Anis Ud Dawla, said that the rate of container arrivals from Pakistan has increased this time compared to the first time. Now a ship is coming from the United Arab Emirates to Chattogram via Pakistan once in 38 to 42 days. If the number of containers increases, the number of ships on this new route can be increased.

This new service is planned to bring and receive goods from Pakistan and Bangladesh as well as Indonesia, Malaysia, India and the United Arab Emirates. However, this is the second time that this ship is coming from the United Arab Emirates to Chattogram port via Pakistan.

According to the Marine Vessel Traffic website, the ship is currently near Sri Lanka. It left for Chattogram on December 11 after loading its last container from Karachi port.

According to the latest census, the population of Feni district is 16,48,896. According to the information provided by the District Employment and Manpower Office, 331,927 people in the district have gone abroad for work since 2005. According to the census and housing census statistics, 33.85 percent or 125,270 families in the district have received expatriate income in the two years preceding the census.

At the national level, this rate is 9.28 percent. Of the families receiving expatriate income in Feni, 76.81 percent live in rural areas and 23.19 percent live in towns. The highest number of these families lives in Feni Sadar. On the other hand, Feni is ahead in Chattogram division in remittances from expatriates.

In the last 5 months (July-November) of the 2024-25 fiscal year, expatriates from Feni have sent 317.4 million or 31.70 crore US dollars to the country.

The information received shows that the expatriates of this district sent home 607.4 million US dollars in the 2023-24 fiscal year, 555.1 million US dollars in the 2022-23 fiscal year, 513.8 million US dollars in the 2021-22 fiscal year, and 576.6 million US dollars in the 2021-21 fiscal year.

According to the same source, 13,928 people in the district have gone abroad for work until November this year. Last year, 22,815 people went abroad from this district. Until October 2024, 5 bodies have arrived in the district from abroad. However, according to the statistics published by the Population and Housing Census 2022, 154,243 people were abroad in Feni at the time of the census, which is about 10.70 percent of the total population of the district.

Didar Mia, Assistant Director of the Feni District Employment and Manpower Office, said that if expatriates file a complaint with the district office about fingerprint complications or fraud through an agency, action is taken subject to investigation. However, if someone is cheated through a broker, there is no opportunity to do anything.

When asked if there is any financial assistance initiative for expatriates, he said that if expatriates want to invest the income they earn in any business, there is a loan facility from the Expatriate Welfare Bank. Any expatriate can take a loan if they want.

However, expatriates living abroad have various complaints. They have highlighted various problems including passport complications and immigration harassment.

A Kuwaiti expatriate named Nizamul Haque Rion said, "I have been abroad for a year. I am earning money while away from my family. I am sending remittances for the country, but the government has not yet ensured the respect due to expatriates. Even now, if someone dies abroad, their family has to run. Harassment in these matters needs to be stopped.

A Qatari expatriate named Shefaz Chowdhury said, there are many Bangladeshis in Middle Eastern countries. The financial security of expatriates here, including job security, needs to be further increased. Expatriates are called remittance warriors, but we are neglected when we go home. Immigration complications and theft of goods have not stopped yet. We have to endure various sufferings.

In view of the expatriates' complaints, the Assistant Director of the District Employment and Manpower Office said that if an expatriate is a victim of fraud or dies abroad, the District Employment and Manpower Office works for the welfare of expatriates, including bringing back their bodies.

He said that if an expatriate is a victim of harassment or fraud, if it is a government registered agency, action is taken subject to investigation. However, if cheated by a broker, there is nothing to be done.

Regarding unregistered travel agencies, he said, there is no scope for assistance if cheated by an unregistered agency. If the documents are in order, then action can be taken according to the law. There is also the opportunity to file a case in court.

Meanwhile, Feni District Administration held a rally and discussion meeting on the theme of International Migrants Day and National Expatriates Day, with Deputy Commissioner Saiful Islam as the chief guest. 

Bangladesh has only given to India for the past 17 years, said BNP Standing Committee member Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain.

He said these things in his speech as the chief guest at a protest rally organized by the 12-party alliance in front of the National Press Club on Wednesday (December 18) to stop the propaganda of the Indian government and media and Indian aggression against the recent communal destruction.

Dr. Zahid Hossain said that the attitude expressed by the Indian Prime Minister through tweets has raised questions about the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh. The conspiracy that was done on the race course. In the past 17 years, Bangladesh has only given to India. It has been said that if India is given transit, will it become Bangladesh or Singapore? We have only been misunderstood in the past years.

He said that we are grateful that India stood by our side during our liberation war. However, in the past many years, they have retaliated harshly. Even today, the Farakka water problem has not been resolved. People are being killed on the border. Bangladesh is being flooded by India by opening its dams. They are increasing the price of onions.

Dr. Zahid Hossain said, we are working on 31 points to repair the state. National elections must be held very soon. Everyone should remember how long the elections were held after Ershad's fall. The people of the country know how long it takes to hold elections.

He told the interim government, you cannot do all the reforms. Make it clear when the elections will be held. The chief adviser said one thing. Again, his press secretary said another. Who will you speak, speak responsibly. Otherwise, people will be confused.

The protest rally, chaired by the head of the 12-party alliance and Jatiya Party (Jafar) Chairman Mustafa Jamal Haider, also addressed by Bangladesh LDP Chairman and Alliance Spokesperson Shahadat Hossain Selim, Bangladesh Jatiya Party Chairman and Alliance Coordinator Syed Ehsanul Huda, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh Secretary General Mufti Golam Mohiuddin Ikram, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh Chairman Professor Dr. Nurul Amin Bepari, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA) Vice President Rashed Pradhan, Bangladesh Labor Party Chairman Lion Muhammad Faruk Rahman, Bangladesh Kalyan Party Chairman Shamsuddin Parvez, Islami Oikya Jote Secretary General Maulana Abdul Karim, Islamic Party Secretary General Abul Kashem, Naya Ganatantrik Party President MA Mannan, and Progressive Nationalist Party (PNP) Chairman Firoz Md. Liton. The rally was conducted by Tamizuddin Titu, Additional Secretary General of Bangladesh LDP. 

Followers of Saad Kandhalvi have announced to leave the Tongi Ijtema ground in Gazipur to avoid unwanted incidents. Reza Arif gave this information on their behalf.

He made this announcement after a meeting at the conference room of the Home Ministry at the Secretariat on Wednesday (December 18). Reza Arif said that it was decided in the meeting that the government will take over the ground on its own responsibility. No one will be in the ground.

Following the casualties in the clash between followers of Maulana Zubair and Maulana Saad Kandhalvi over the occupation of the Bishwa Ijtema ground, five advisers to the interim government met with followers of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi at 11 am.

Home Affairs Advisor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury presided over the meeting, and Land Adviser AF Hasan Arif, Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md. Nahid Islam, Religious Affairs Adviser AKM Khalid Hossain were present.

Three people were killed in a clash between Maulana Saad and his followers over the occupation of the Bishwa Ijtema ground in Tongi, Gazipur, on Tuesday (December 17) midnight. Nearly a hundred people from both sides were injured in the incident. Four platoons of BGB have been deployed in Tongi to control the situation.