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DCCI President Applauds Universal Pension Scheme for Advancing Inclusive Socio-economic Growth
In an official statement released on Sunday (August 20), Barrister Md. Sameer Sattar, the President of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI), lauded the introduction of the Universal Pension Scheme (UPS) as a timely and pivotal move aimed at establishing a comprehensive and sustainable social safety net to foster greater socio-economic advancement.
Sattar emphasized that this strategic initiative holds the potential to usher in a new era in Bangladesh’s economic landscape. The UPS, encompassing four distinct people-centric packages—namely ‘Pragati,’ ‘Surokkha,’ ‘Samata,’ and ‘Prabashi’—has been meticulously tailored to cater to diverse segments of society. These packages target a wide range of individuals, including private sector employees, non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs), informal sector workers, and those belonging to low-income groups.
The DCCI President highlighted that the UPS has the capacity to encompass a substantial portion of society within its ambit, signifying a significant step towards inclusive development. One of the standout features of the scheme is the provision for the government to contribute 50 percent of the deposit for insolvent beneficiaries under the ‘Samata’ package—an aspect that Barrister Md. Sameer Sattar deemed remarkable and far-reaching.
Drawing inspiration from the successful implementation of similar schemes in various developed and developing economies, such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Australia, India, Canada, Iceland, and Switzerland, Sattar expressed optimism that imbibing operational and safety lessons from these nations could position the new scheme as a transformative force in driving the much-needed economic evolution in Bangladesh.
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.
Two separate murder cases were filed today in connection with the deaths of a private service holder and a Madrasa student during the anti-discrimination student movement.
The first case was lodged by Ridwan Ahmed with Panchlaish police station, accusing former ministers Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, and 127 others for the death of his nephew Sujan, 14. Sujan, the son of Belal Hossain from Beramara village in Noakhali’s Sadar Thana, was a student at Al Jamirul Hayat Madrasa in the city’s Chandgaon area. He was fatally shot in the Muradpur area on July 18.
The second case was filed by Jamal Uddin at Doublemooring police station, accusing 225 individuals, including Dr. Hasan Mahmud and Education Minister Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, for the killing of his elder brother Alam, a private service holder, on August 5.
