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PM Sheikh Hasina Inaugurates 29 Dev Projects in Khulna
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 29 development projects, totaling a cost of 2593 crore, in Khulna. At the grand rally held at Khulna Circuit House ground, she unveiled 24 completed projects and initiated five others. Among the inaugurated projects by the Public Works Department were the Genocide and Torture Archive and Museum Building, Civil Surgeon Office Building and Residence, Technical Training Center in Paikgacha upazila, Renovation and Modernisation of Khulna Apprentice Training Office, 10-story building of Khulna and Chattogram BSTI Regional Offices, 10-story women’s hostel building, Paikgacha upazila sub-registry office building construction, and a 4-story boys hostel construction of Agricultural Training Institute at Daulatpur.
The Education Engineering Department (EED) implemented projects such as the 5-story Dumuria Technical School and College academic cum 4-story administrative and workshop building, 6-story academic building of Boyra Secondary School, 6-story academic building of Khulna Collegiate School, 6-story academic building of Government LBK Degree Women’s College, 6-story academic building of Government Bangabandhu College, 6-story Academic Building of Chalna Bazar Government Girls High School, 6-story Talimul Millat Rahmatia Fazil Madrasa Academy Building, 6-story academic building of Nazrul Nagar Secondary Girls’ School, 6-story academic building of RRF Secondary School, 4-story academic building of Agar Ghata Secondary School, and 5-story Paikgacha Technical School & College Academic cum workshop building.
Additionally, Khulna City Corporation (KCC) oversaw the construction of drains, footpaths, and road widening on Khalishpur BIDC road. The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) implemented the Bridge over Bhodra river (315.30 meters) at Basundiadanga Bazar-Mugur Khali UP Office Road under Dumuria Upazila. Other projects included the Khulna Dredger Base Building by BIWTA, Shekhertek eco-tourism center by Sundarbans West Forest Division, and the 6-story newly constructed Khulna Regional Office by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
Projects for which foundation stones were laid include the Sanitary landfill in Mathabhanga area under the waste management development project of KCC, 5-story academic and 4-story administrative and workshop buildings of Dighlia Technical School and College of EED, Aklima Khatun Textile Vocational Institute project in Paikgacha of Architecture and Public works, Basantopur River port at Kaliganj Upazila in Satkhira of BIWTA, and Kurulia River Bridge (748.90 meters) of LGED.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted that the ongoing mild to moderate heat wave affecting six regions of the country will persist for the next 24 hours from 9 am today.
The heat wave is currently sweeping over the Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, as well as the districts of Tangail, Kishoreganj, and Naogaon. According to the BMD, this weather pattern is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
In addition to the heat wave, light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds are likely to occur in parts of the Khulna, Barishal, and Chattogram divisions. Isolated showers may also affect a few areas in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, with moderately heavy rainfall expected in some locations across the country.
Despite these weather conditions, the BMD noted that daytime and nighttime temperatures are expected to remain largely unchanged across Bangladesh.
On Wednesday, the highest temperature in the country was recorded at 37.5 degrees Celsius in Rangpur of Rangpur division, while today’s minimum temperature was 24.0 degrees Celsius, observed in Rangamati and Feni districts of Chattogram division.
Meanwhile, rainfall recorded over the last 24 hours, up until 6 am today, measured 54 mm in Sandwip of the Chattogram division.
In Dhaka, the sun is set to set at 5:58 pm today and will rise again at 5:47 am tomorrow.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed 17 cases against Beximco Group’s Vice-Chairman, Salman F Rahman, and 27 others, accusing them of laundering approximately Tk1,000 crore ($83 million) under the guise of export trade. This development was confirmed by Additional Superintendent of Police Azad Rahman through a notification on 18 September.
The investigation, conducted under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, found that Salman F Rahman and his brother, ASF Rahman, who serves as the Chairman of Beximco Group, were involved in laundering around Tk1,000 crore. This was done through the export of goods linked to 93 Letters of Credit (LCs) from Janata Bank PLC between 2021 and 2024. However, the proceeds from these exports were not repatriated to Bangladesh.
The CID revealed that the accused individuals, through an organised operation involving their affiliated companies, exported goods with the malicious intent of transferring money abroad. The probe indicated that they deliberately failed to return the export proceeds, violating multiple sections of the Money Laundering Prevention Act.
According to the CID, Salman F Rahman and his associates used their influence and collaborated with an organised criminal group to launder money. This resulted in 17 cases being filed by the CID’s financial crime unit at Motijheel Police Station.
Salman F Rahman, who has long been a prominent figure during Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule, is now facing an in-depth investigation by the CID’s financial crime unit. The investigation focuses on significant allegations of money laundering and financial misconduct, as highlighted in a preliminary report from the CID on 1 September.
Salman is also accused of laundering Tk33,470 crore abroad, allegedly obtained through loans from seven banks over the past 15 years. Of this, Tk21,681 crore was borrowed from state-owned Janata Bank, while Tk5,281 crore came from IFIC Bank, where Salman previously served as chairman.
In addition to these allegations, Salman is believed to have profited Tk6,600 crore through manipulation of the capital market and is accused of failing to repatriate Tk1,485 crore from export proceeds.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, in all eight divisions of the country over the next 24 hours, starting from 9 AM today.
According to the BMD forecast, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions are likely to experience light to moderate rain or thundershowers, while Dhaka and Barishal divisions may see similar weather at a few locations. In Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Khulna divisions, rainfall is expected in one or two places, with some areas potentially experiencing moderately heavy showers.
The BMD also stated that both day and night temperatures might rise slightly across the country.
On Tuesday, the highest temperature was recorded at 36.5 degrees Celsius in Rajarhat, Rangpur division, while today’s lowest temperature was 24.6 degrees Celsius in Tetulia, also in Rangpur.
In the last 24 hours up to 6 AM today, Cumilla in the Chattogram division recorded 3 mm of rainfall.
The sun is expected to set at 5:58 PM today and rise at 5:46 AM tomorrow in Dhaka.
