Bangabandhu and energy sector of Bangladesh



Special Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
Photo: Collected

Photo: Collected

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Bangabandhu had secured the energy sector of Bangladesh just six days before he was killed by the assassins. Many intellectuals were surprised by his decision of that day.

On 9 August 1975, Bangabandhu bought five gas fields (Titas, Bakhrabad, Habiganj, Rashidpur and Kailashtila) from a foreign company at a nominal price. The price was set at just 4.5 million pound. On the basis of which the energy sector of Bangladesh now stands.

At the same time, Bangladesh bought all the shares of Shell Oil in Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company. The contract was signed with the provision to make payments in 36 installments within 18 years. Many viewed that this price was just a consolation. However, the actual price was much higher. The multinational company Shell Well had become very foolish that day due to the tactical handling of the Father of the Nation.

At that time the gas reserves in those 5 gas fields were 13.335 TCF. As of June 2010, 8.52 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas had been extracted with a market value of Taka 69,000 crore. The value of the whole gas is about Taka one and fifty thousand crore. This calculation is according to the 2010 rate. If it is calculated according to current market price it will increase several times. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid thinks that it is possible to supply gas at low prices as these gas fields were bought on that day.

That is why August 9 is considered as a turning point for the country's energy sector. From 2010 this August 9 is being observed as 'National Energy Security Day' to commemorate that historic moment. This year several programs several programs have been taken up including virtual seminars due to coronavirus.

The Bangabandhu government implemented many more important decisions in the energy sector. As enemy property, the government took over the management of the Sylhet and Chhatak gas fields and issued the Petroleum Ordinance.

Petrobangla was established to manage and monitor all aspects of petroleum operations. Similarly, Bangladesh Mineral Exploration and Development Corporation was established for exploration and extraction of solid minerals including coal.

The chairmen of the two organizations were given the rank of secretary. Bangabandhu abolished the system of petroleum concessions and introduced the system of Production Sharing Contract (PSC). He also signed oil and gas exploration agreements with five foreign companies.
At the same time, the Bangladesh Geological Survey Department was restructured and made dynamic. Arrangements were made to hire consultants for the feasibility study of the Madhyapara hard rock mine project and to train Petrobangla officials in various Eastern European countries, including Algeria, Indonesia, India and Soviet Russia.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said this was just one example of the visionary leader Bangabandhu. The nation is much in comfort today because of that historic decision.

   

‘Amrita Sagar’ variety banana of Narsingdi gets GI recognition



Sharif Iqbal Russel, District Correspondent, Barta24.com
Amrita Sagar

Amrita Sagar

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Narshingdi: Narsingdi's ‘Amrita Sagar’ variety banana has received Geographical Indication or GI (Geographical Indication) product recognition. Farmers are happy to get this recognition. The Deputy Commissioner said that Narsingdi's position has been taken higher.

In the context of the soil, water, and weather of a specific territory of a country, if the culture of the people there plays the most important role in the production of a product, it is recognized as a GI product of that country.

Recognition of GI is very significant in domestic and international trade. Now in the list of GI products Narsingdi’s ‘Amrita Sagar’ banana. On February 8, the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, an institution under the Ministry of Industries, granted the Geographical Indication or GI product recognition to Amrita Sagar banana of Narsingdi. The GI certificate was handed over to the Prime Minister on February 11. Banana cultivators are happy with this recognition.

According to the sources of Narsingdi Agricultural Extension Department, because of loam and sandy loam soil in Narsingdi, cultivation of Amrita Sagar banana is high here. Amrita Sagar banana is supplied to the surrounding districts and the capital to meet the local market demand.

Not only that, this banana is also being exported outside the country. In this context, an application was made by the district administration to include Narsingdi’s latkon and Amrita Sagar banana as geographical indication products in collaboration with e-commerce development center. Following the application, the authority recognized Sagar banana as a GI product after vetting the application.

Narsingdi Deputy Commissioner Dr. Badiul Alam said, due to recognition as a GI product, Amrita Sagar banana will have a huge response in commercial exports in the country and abroad.

According to the information of the District Agriculture Department, Amrita Sagar banana has been cultivated in 580 hectares of land in the district this year. In this recognition, its cultivation will increase further next year, and there is optimism in the conscious community.

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242 metric tons of Indian sugar seized in Pabna, 23 detained



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
ছবি: সংগৃহীত

ছবি: সংগৃহীত

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Pabna district police seized 12 trucks with 242 metric tons of Indian sugar smuggled from India by evading customs duty. At this time, 23 people including the truck driver and helper were arrested.

They were arrested in a special operation by the District Intelligence Police on Thursday (April 18) afternoon.

Pabna Additional Superintendent of Police Masood Alam confirmed the matter.

He said that for a long time a gang was bringing illegally imported Indian sugar to the country and selling it in different districts. Based on such news, the police entered the field. Later they were arrested in a raid in the Kazirhat Ghat area. At that time they could not show the valid documents of the goods. They were later seized and 23 people were arrested.

Additional Superintendent of Police Masood Alam also said that the case is under process. Details will be given after the investigation.

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Parimoni has been summoned to appear in court



Special Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
Photo: Collected

Photo: Collected

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The court has issued a summons to the plaintiff businessman Nasiruddin Mahmud to appear in the court in the case of attempted murder in the case against the popular and criticized actress Parimani. At the same time the accused Junaid Bogdadi Jimmy asked to appear in court.

Dhaka Senior Judicial Magistrate M Saiful Islam gave this order on Thursday (April 18). Nasiruddin, the plaintiff in the case, had applied for the issuance of an arrest warrant against Parimoni.

The plaintiff's lawyer Abul Kalam Mohammad Sohail gave this information.

Earlier, the investigation officer of the case, police inspector Monir Hossain filed a report in the Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court stating that the allegation of beating and intimidation against Parimoni and her costume designer Junaid Bogdadi Jimmy alias Jim was found to be true.

However, the report mentions that the allegations against another accused, Fatema Tuz Jannat Boni, were found to be true.

Businessman Nasiruddin filed the case in court on July 6, 2022.

In the statement of the case, it is said that Parimoni and her associates are alcoholics. Taking advantage of the opportunity, they entered various famous clubs and drink alcohol and do not pay the price with the parcel. Parimoni threatened harassment by filing false cases with police officials she knew. On June 9, 2021, after 12 midnight, the accused entered Savar's Boat Club and used the washroom on the second floor.

Later they sat inside the club and drank alcohol. When the plaintiff and his accomplice Shah Shahidul Alam were leaving the club at around 1.30 am, Parimoni purposefully called the plaintiff Nasiruddin and requested him to sit with them for some time. At one point Parimoni tried to lure Nasiruddin through obscene gestures and pressured the plaintiff to give the parcel a bottle of Blue Label alcohol free of charge.

As the plaintiff did not agree to this, Parimoni insulted the plaintiff. During an altercation between the plaintiff and the accused, Paramoni threw a serving glass at the plaintiff and also threw the mobile phone in his hand. Nasiruddin was injured in the head and chest. Parimoni and her accomplices beat up and threatened to kill Nasiruddin and vandalized him. 

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"During the rule of BNP, the country had food shortage, now it is self-sufficient"



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

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The country has become self-sufficient in food under the present government. And Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mentioned that there was a food shortage during the BNP.

She said, we will produce our own meal. Along with food security, the government will also ensure nutritional security.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said this while attending a function organized at the old trade fair ground in Sher Bangla Nagar at 10 am on Thursday (April 18).

The Prime Minister said, when I formed the government in 1996, I saw a shortage of 40 lakh metric tons of food. In this condition we started the journey. There was not much reserve money then. There was a food crisis in Asia. Our aim was, we are not going to touch anyone. I will grow my own crops.

Stating that there was a shortage of food in the country during the BNP, the Prime Minister said that during the BNP we had to depend on other countries for food. Their thinking was to make the country dependent. But we came back from that situation after coming to power. Now Bangladesh is self-sufficient in food.

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