Economy
PM Sheikh Hasina Warns Against New Structures in Rohingya Camps Amid Environmental Concerns
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has stated that allowing new structures in the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar is inadvisable, citing environmental and ecological imbalances caused by extensive deforestation to accommodate the forcibly displaced people from Myanmar.
“It wouldn’t be wise to allow new structures in Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar as environmental and ecological imbalance has already emerged there due to massive deforestation,” she remarked during a meeting with Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa at her official residence, Ganabhaban, this evening.
Prime Minister’s Speech Writer Md Nazrul Islam briefed the media after the meeting. He conveyed the Prime Minister’s concerns about the congestion and unhealthy living conditions in the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar. She suggested that relocating the Rohingyas to Bhashanchar would improve their living standards and health conditions.
The Prime Minister appealed to Yohei Sasakawa for support in repatriating the Rohingyas to Myanmar, as they have been stranded in Bangladesh for over six years. Additionally, she sought more assistance from the Nippon Foundation to relocate more Rohingyas to Bhashanchar temporarily.
The Nippon Foundation is currently providing various forms of assistance to the Rohingyas. Yohei Sasakawa praised the accommodation facilities in Bhashanchar and expressed the Foundation’s willingness to offer training to the Rohingyas to enhance their income generation and to provide education for Rohingya children. He also proposed new initiatives to the Prime Minister.
Sheikh Hasina highlighted that Bangladesh provided shelter to the Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds, noting that over 40,000 women were pregnant at the time. The government established field hospitals to offer food and medical services, with non-governmental organizations and international agencies joining later to support the efforts.
The Prime Minister pointed out the rapid population increase among the Rohingyas, attributing it to the conservative mindset of Rohingya women who are reluctant to adopt family planning. Yohei Sasakawa expressed the Nippon Foundation’s readiness to work on this issue.
The meeting was also attended by Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin and PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah.
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday paid tribute to the Armed Forces Division by placing a floral wreath at its headquarters.
Prof Yunus, who visited the division as part of his official duties, laid the wreath to honor the sacrifices and dedication of the members of the Armed Forces.
Following the wreath-laying ceremony, he signed the visitor’s book.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal, along with four other election commissioners, announced their resignation during a press conference today at the Election Commission (EC) building. The resignation follows growing speculation and pressure.
CEC Awal stated, “In this changed situation, I and other commissioners have decided to step down. We’re handing over our resignation letters to the EC Secretary to send it to the President.” After submitting the letters, the CEC and some commissioners quickly left the premises, with no clear explanation for the absence of two election commissioners.
The resignations come amid increasing unrest tied to the registration of political parties such as Nagarik Oikya and Gono Odhikar Parishad. Sources revealed the CEC felt unsafe due to aggressive behavior from activists, prompting the decision to step down.
Protesters outside the EC building hurled shoes at vehicles carrying Election Commissioners Rashida Sultana, Md Alamgir, and Anisur Rahman as they left. Meanwhile, preparations for their exit had already been underway, with the commissioners reportedly relocating personal belongings from their offices.
The commission, appointed in February 2022 for a five-year term, had previously expressed confusion over demands for their resignation, maintaining they had conducted fair elections. However, internal discussions led to the collective decision to resign earlier than expected.
The government will now purchase LNG from the international spot market through open tender instead of negotiation.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in a meeting on Wednesday in principle approved a proposal in this regard.
Adviser of the interim government for Finance Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, who presided over the meeting, said that the government will procure LNG through open tender.
The Energy and Mineral Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources placed the proposal where it sought approval to import LNG from 23 listed companies in the international spot market.
The adviser said that though such 23 companies were enlisted by the previous Awami League government and signed Master Sales and Purchase Agreement, they will remain unchanged.
He said that instead of applying the Speedy Increase of Energy and Power Supply (Special) Act 2010, the interim government will follow the Public Procurement Rules 2008 to ensure the competitive bidding process.
“We don’t want to change them as we wanted to import LNG quickly, ensuring proper competition among the suppliers,” he told reporters.
Committee also approved another proposal in principle to sign a contract to import urea fertiliser for the 2024-25 fiscal year from Fertiglobe Distribution Limited, UAE, on a G-to-G basis.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Government Procurement (CCGP) in a meeting, presided over by the Adviser for Finance, approved 3 proposals for import of lentil and fertiliser.
As per the proposal, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh will procure 10,000 metric tons (MT) of lentil from local firm Sahara Enterprise at a cost of Tk 98.20 crore with each kg priced at Tk 98.20.
The Commerce Ministry which moved the proposal on behalf of the TCB in the meeting mentioned in the proposal that the supplier firm was selected through open tender.
The CCGP approved two separate proposals of the Industries Ministry under which Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation will import 30,000 MT of bulk granular urea fertiliser from Fertiglobe Distribution Limited, UAE, under state to state contract at a cost of Tk 121.48 crore.
Each metric ton of fertiliser will cost $343.17.
Another 30,000 MT of bagged granular urea fertiliser will be procured from the local Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (Kafco) at a cost of Tk 116.99 crore with each metric ton costing $330.50.
