National
Govt to Procures 10,000 Tons of Sugar, 8,000 Tons of Lentils
The government has greenlit separate plans to acquire approximately 10,000 metric tons of sugar and 8,000 metric tons of lentils to address the nation’s increasing demand. This approval was granted during the 6th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) for the current year, chaired by Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali at the Cabinet Division in the Bangladesh Secretariat.
Following the meeting, Cabinet Division Secretary (Coordination and Reforms) Md. Mahmudul Hossain Khan briefed reporters, stating that a total of 13 proposals were approved. He highlighted that, as per a proposal from the Ministry of Commerce, the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will procure around 10,000 metric tons of sugar from the Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) using the Direct Procurement Method (DPM). This decision aims to meet the increased demand during the ongoing Holy Month of Ramadan, with an allocated budget of Taka 160 crore, at a cost of Taka 160 per kilogram of sugar.
Additionally, Mahmudul mentioned that TCB will also obtain 8,000 metric tons of lentils through the DPM method from Agrigo Trading Pvt Ltd, India, with an estimated budget of approximately Taka 76.65 crore, at a cost of Taka 100.80 per kilogram of lentils.
He further elaborated on two separate proposals from the Ministry of Industries, stating that the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) would acquire 25,000 metric tons of rock phosphate from M/S Desh Trading Corporation, Dhaka (Manufacturer: OCP, SA, Morocco), with an allocated budget of around Taka 94.51 crore. Similarly, BCIC will procure 30,000 metric tons of phosphoric acid from M/S Agro Industrial Input, Dhaka, and M/S Desh Trading Corporation, Dhaka, with a budget of approximately Taka 189 crore.
In a proposal from the Ministry of Shipping, the contract for the “Design, Manufacture, Supply, and Installation of Container Handling Equipment, Terminal Operation System, and Security System (package 2A)” under the ‘Matarbari Port Development Project’ has been awarded to Mitsui E&S Machinery and Tec International Consortium (Mitsui E&S), Japan, at a cost of around Taka 799.49 crore.
Furthermore, the CCGP meeting also approved one proposal from the Ministry of Industries, one from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, three from the Local Government Division, and three others from the Ministry of Shipping.
Prior to the CCGP meeting, the 5th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) for the current year, also chaired by Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, took place.
Mahmudul noted that during this meeting, two proposals were approved in principle. These included a proposal from the Ministry of Shipping for the implementation of the “Development of Container Terminal-1 of Payra Port under PPP Model” and a proposal from the Medical Education and Family Welfare Division for the implementation of the “Establishment of International Nurses and Midwives Skills Training Institute,” both under the PPP initiative.
National
Professor Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman Appointed Vice-Chancellor of Northern University Bangladesh
Professor Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman, a distinguished academic from the Department of Marketing at the University of Dhaka, has been appointed the new Vice-Chancellor of Northern University Bangladesh (NUB). The Ministry of Education confirmed the appointment through an official notification issued on Sunday (23 November), signed by Sultan Ahmed, Assistant Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, on behalf of the President.
The notice states that, with the approval of the Honorable President and Chancellor, Professor Rahman will serve a four-year term as Vice-Chancellor under Section 31(1) of the Private University Act, 2010. He will receive all salary, allowances, and benefits as determined by the university, and his duties will commence immediately in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
Professor Rahman has an outstanding academic background. He secured First Class First in his Honors degree from the University of Dhaka’s Marketing Department, achieving record-breaking marks. He completed his MBA with dual majors in Finance and Marketing at Dalhousie University in Canada, graduating in the top 1% of his class. He later earned his Master’s degree (First Class Second) and PhD from the same department at the University of Dhaka.
During his illustrious 35-year career, he has served as Chairman of the Department of Marketing at the University of Dhaka for three years and was elected to both the Syndicate and Senate of the university. He also served as Dean at Daffodil International University and has taught as an adjunct professor at North South University, BRAC University, and Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB).
Professor Rahman has an extensive body of research, with over 35 publications, including four international papers and three research monographs. Several MPhil and PhD scholars have completed their degrees under his supervision. He also served for many years as Vice President of the Dhaka University Marketing Alumni Association.
Outside academia, he has contributed significantly to the corporate sector and educational governance. He has worked as an independent director and strategic adviser to various reputed organizations and has served on the governing bodies of several well-known colleges in Dhaka. He currently holds the position of Chairman of the North South Society.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds at most places across the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas may experience moderately heavy to very heavy rainfall, according to their latest weather bulletin released on Thursday.
Day and night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged across the country.
The highest rainfall in the country over the past 24 hours was recorded in Kumarkhali, with 104mm of rain by 6 a.m. on Thursday.
The axis of the monsoon trough extends from India’s Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal to Assam, passing through Bangladesh, with one of its associated troughs stretching into the North Bay of Bengal.
The monsoon remains active over Bangladesh and moderate to strong over the North Bay region.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted that the mild heat wave currently affecting parts of the country, including the capital, is expected to subside in most areas within the next 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.
“A mild heat wave is sweeping across the divisions of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet, as well as the districts of Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia. It is likely to ease in most regions,” the department reported.
In addition, BMD predicted light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, across most of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas are expected to experience moderate to very heavy rainfall.
Temperatures across the country may drop by 1-2 degrees Celsius during both day and night.
On Monday, Dinajpur in the Rangpur division recorded the country’s highest temperature at 38.6°C, while Bandarban in the Chattogram division saw the lowest temperature at 24.6°C early today.
Meanwhile, rainfall recorded in the past 24 hours, ending at 6 am today, reached 66 mm in Nikli of Dhaka Division.
The sunset in Dhaka is at 5:53 pm today, and sunrise is expected at 5:49 am tomorrow.
