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PM Directs Measures to Prevent Excessive Compensation Claims in Development Projects
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has emphasized the importance of vigilance in preventing excessive compensation claims during land acquisition for development projects. She stated that the government offers compensation to affected individuals at three times the market value of the land and cautioned against individuals hastily constructing makeshift structures to claim additional compensation. Prime Minister Hasina issued this directive during her leadership of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting, held at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
The Prime Minister urged authorities to take photographs of project sites during their initial visits to deter fraudulent compensation claims. In addition, while approving a revised project for the Solar Power Plant at Sonagazi, she instructed the executing agency to maintain standard pole heights for the solar plant to maximize air, water, and sunlight circulation for improved land cultivation. Prime Minister Hasina stressed the importance of accurate project designs to avoid design revisions during project implementation, referring to a design error in a bridge project over the River Nabaganga in Narail district.
She expressed dissatisfaction with the need to demolish two sections of the under-construction bridge due to low height, resulting in increased project costs. The Prime Minister underscored the importance of conducting integrated feasibility studies and comprehensive project designs to prevent wastage of public funds. Regarding the approval of the Chandpur Medical College and Hospital and Nursing College project, she directed the Ministry of Water Resources to protect project site embankments from erosion and proceed with the necessary construction.
At the start of the meeting, the ECNEC congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government on the inauguration of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway. The Planning Minister highlighted the public’s excitement and support for development projects and acknowledged the possibility of completing the remaining portions of the expressway. He also mentioned the upcoming metro rail operation from Uttara to Motijheel.
Regarding the timing of the Elevated Expressway’s partial opening, the Planning Minister noted that such developments are not unusual before a national election and emphasized the importance of engaging with voters. He assured transparency in sharing general inflation data when it becomes available. State Minister for Planning Dr. Shamsul Alam clarified that the expressway’s progress followed its natural course and discussed the inherent ups and downs in a country’s economy. He also highlighted the positive impact of the metro rail, with approximately 80,000 people using it daily to alleviate transportation challenges
Leaders of the quota reform movement have resolutely refused to negotiate with the government, insisting that their movement will persist until their demands are met.
In a Facebook post, Hasnat Abdullah, a coordinator of the movement, declared, “No discussion through stepping onto blood.”
Asif Mahmud, another prominent leader, echoed this sentiment, stating, “There can be no dialogue with bullets. I would prefer death over this betrayal.”
He further elaborated, “On one side, there are bullets. On the other, there is a call for dialogue. We can’t sit for dialogue while stepping onto the blood of our brothers.”
Earlier, leaders of the quota reform movement accused the government of escalating the law and order situation towards violence, asserting that their movement was peaceful until the government’s intervention.
Vowing to continue their struggle, Asif Mahmud stated, “We will continue our protests till we achieve our demands for reformation of the quota system, reopening of the halls and campuses, making university campuses terror-free, withdrawing political forces from the campuses, and punishing the killers and attackers.”
He added, “The people of the country have encircled those who tried to corner us. No conspiracy will be able to derail our movement.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged both local and international investors to invest in the extraction of marine resources from Bangladesh’s extensive sea areas.
“In order to fortify the blue economy through the diverse utilization of our marine resources, I call upon local and foreign investors to seize the opportunity to invest in Bangladesh. This will enable us to harness more of our marine resources,” she announced.
The Prime Minister made these remarks during the inauguration of the Bangladesh International Aquaculture and Seafood Show-2024 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka.
She emphasized the importance of adhering to proper standards in the collection, distribution, and processing of fish to boost exports, aiming to make fish the country’s second-largest source of foreign currency.
Sheikh Hasina pointed out that her government has made limited progress in harvesting fish and other sea resources from the deep sea due to a lack of interest from local investors.
“Therefore, we need foreign investment to advance in this area. This is the reality we must face,” she noted.
She also suggested that both local and foreign investors can collaborate in joint ventures or invest separately in this sector to achieve better results.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted light to moderate and moderately heavy rainfall or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, across all eight divisions of the country over the next 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.
In its weather bulletin issued this morning, the BMD stated, “Light to moderate rain or thundershowers with temporary gusty wind is expected in a few places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Additionally, one or two places in Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, and Barisal divisions may experience similar conditions, with moderately heavy falls anticipated at several locations in Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions.”
The bulletin also highlighted that the current mild heat wave sweeping across the Rangpur division and the districts of Tangail, Chuadanga, Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogra, and Netrokona may persist.
Daytime temperatures are expected to rise slightly, while nighttime temperatures are likely to remain nearly unchanged throughout the country.
On Wednesday, the highest recorded temperature was 36.7 degrees Celsius, observed in Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Rajarhat. The lowest temperature recorded today was 26.0 degrees Celsius, noted in Bandarban and Teknaf.
Over the last 24 hours, rainfall amounted to 16 mm in Bandarban.
For the capital, the sun will set at 6:48 pm today and rise at 5:21 am tomorrow.
