Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus said, we want to build Bangladesh from now on in such a way that the people are the source of all power in this country, and Bangladesh is appreciated as a humane and welfare state in the world.

He said these things at a reception for freedom fighters at the Army Multi-Purpose Complex of Dhaka Army Base on the occasion of Armed Forces Day on Thursday (November 21).

He said, I am committed to fulfilling the dream of the freedom fighters who made the country a country without discrimination, exploitation, welfare and free air. We want to build Bangladesh from now on in such a way that the people are the source of all power in this country, and Bangladesh is appreciated as a humane and welfare state in the world. We will maintain friendship with all countries. Our foreign policy will be mutual respect, trust, faith and cooperation.

He said, "We have ushered in a new Bangladesh through the student-public revolution on August 5. Our responsibility in this new country is to bind all people into a larger family. There will be differences in the family, there will be arguments. But we will not be enemies of anyone. We will not consider anyone an enemy because of their opinion. We will not consider anyone an enemy because of their religion. We are all equal, we are all members of the same family. No one is above anyone, no one is below anyone. We want to establish this idea in national life." 

On the occasion of Armed Forces Day, President Md. Shahabuddin, Chief Adviser to the Interim Government Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the chiefs of the three services paid tribute to Shikha Anirban.

On Thursday (November 21) morning, they placed wreaths at Shikha Anirban at Dhaka Cantonment.

The day's program began with special prayers after Fajr prayers at all cantonments, naval bases and establishments and air force bases of the country, seeking the welfare and prosperity of the country, the continuous progress and advancement of the armed forces, and the forgiveness of the souls of the martyrs of the armed forces who sacrificed themselves in the war of independence.

Earlier, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Md. Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus gave separate messages on the occasion of the day. This information was given in a press release of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The ISPR said that the President and the Chief Adviser will pay tribute to the memory of the members of the armed forces who sacrificed themselves in the great war of Liberation in 1971 on Thursday (November 21) morning. After that, Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman, Navy Chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hasan and Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan will place wreaths at the Shikha Anirban on behalf of their respective forces. In addition, the chiefs of the three services will pay a courtesy call on the Chief Adviser at the Armed Forces Division and the President at Bangabhaban.

On the occasion of Armed Forces Day-2024, the Chief Adviser will felicitate the selected titled freedom fighters and their heirs at the Army Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka Cantonment. At this time, the Chief Adviser will distribute souvenirs and exchange greetings among the titled freedom fighters.

The program will be attended by the Adviser to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser (Defense and National Integration Development Affairs), Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Navy, Chief of Air Staff, Principal Secretary to the Office of the Chief Adviser, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division, Secretary to the Ministry of Defense, Secretary to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, and other high-ranking civil and military officials.

The ISPR also said that to celebrate the day, a reception has been organized by the Chief Adviser at 4 pm on November 21 at Senakunja, Dhaka Cantonment. Notable invited guests at the reception will include the Chief Justice, former President, former Chief Adviser, Advisers and Adviser-level individuals, foreign ambassadors posted in Bangladesh, heads of international organizations, judges, Cabinet Division Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, former Chiefs of the three services, former military officers, Independence Award and Ekushey Padak recipients, journalists, educationists, politicians and prominent figures, coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, heirs of all the heroes of the Liberation War, titled officers/their heirs living in Dhaka during the Liberation War and post-independence, high-ranking civilian officers and serving and retired officers of the three services. The program will be broadcast live by Bangladesh Television.

In addition to Dhaka, reception programs will be organized under the management of the respective area headquarters at Barishal, Cox's Bazar, Bogura, Sylhet, Ghatail, Chattogram, Jashore, Rangpur and Khulna cantonments or bases.

Meanwhile, various programs will also be held at other army garrisons, naval ships and installations and air force bases outside Dhaka to mark the day in a befitting manner. Specially decorated naval ships in Dhaka, Khulna, Chandpur, Barishal and Chattogram will be anchored at nearby ghats for public viewing from 2 pm to sunset on November 21.

The fate of the proposed third floating LNG terminal will be decided through an open tender. Petrobangla Chairman Janendra Nath Sarkar has confirmed that a preliminary survey will be conducted before the construction of the fourth floating terminal.

The Petrobangla Chairman told Barta24.com that it has been decided to conduct a feasibility study on the proposed fourth terminal in the Payra area. There are cost issues in building a long pipeline, and again, there is an issue of navigability. The feasibility will be verified first to see how much gas will come through the floating terminal and whether it will be economically successful. Only if there is a possibility of being economically successful, the terminal will be built.

Currently, there are two floating LNG terminals operating in the country. One is being operated by Accelerate and Summit Group. The previous Awami League government had signed a special agreement with Summit Group under a special law to build the proposed third (Moheshkhali) floating LNG terminal (FSRU). On the other hand, the government signed a term sheet with American company Accelerate Energy in November 2023 to provide the fourth (Payra) terminal without any tender. The term sheet mentioned what the agreement would include. Accelerate Energy was officially informed about the cancellation of the agreement last week to repeal the Special Powers Act.

Accelerate Energy is currently operating a floating terminal in Maheshkhali. It is supplying 600 million cubic feet of gas daily through that terminal. The agreement was signed with Petrobangla on July 18, 2016. The company was going to build another floating terminal in Payra.

On the other hand, the Awami League government signed an agreement with Summit Group on March 30 this year under a special law without any tender. On December 6, 2023, the Cabinet Committee on Government Procurement approved the draft agreement for the country's third floating LNG terminal in Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar.

According to the agreement, Summit Group was supposed to receive a daily regasification charge of 300,000 dollars (equivalent to Tk. 3 crore 31 lakh 50 thousand at the exchange rate specified in the agreement) for a period of 15 years from the launch of the terminal. Summit Group had to pay about Tk.17,354 crore (Tk.110 to the dollar) for the regasification charge of the terminal over the period of 15 years. This was canceled by Petrobangla in October. Although Summit Group has threatened to take legal action in this regard. Petrobangla sources said that the state-owned Sylhet Gas Field Company Limited is charging Tk. 1, Bangladesh Gas Field Company is charging Tk. 1.25, and Bapex is charging Tk. 4. The average price of gas purchased from multinational companies Chevron Bangladesh and Tallo is Tk. 6.07 per cubic meter. Approximately 2000 million cubic feet of gas is being obtained from these domestic sources daily. 900 million gas is being supplied from LNG imports. The average price increased from Tk. 6.06 to Tk. 24.38 in the 2023-24 fiscal year, when the price of LNG brought from the sports market fell to Tk. 65, which had to be bought at Tk. 71 in August (2024). It is difficult to import one-third, at that time the reserves of domestic gas fields were running out, which is constantly reducing production. At one time, 2800 million cubic feet of gas were available from domestic gas fields daily. On November 17, 1952 million cubic feet were produced. Ten days ago, it was 1972 million.

Petrobangla estimates that the demand for gas in the country will exceed 4500 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year. Although some want to say that the actual demand for gas right now is about 4500. Although there are few alternatives to address the electricity shortage, many consider LNG import to be a dangerous option. Energy experts believe that today's tragic outcome is due to decades of stagnation in oil and gas exploration in the country.

The provision to ban political parties will not be in the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act, said Dr. Asif Nazrul, the law adviser to the interim government.

He said this at a press conference held at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Wednesday (November 20) evening.

Earlier, in response to questions from journalists at a press conference at the Secretariat on Tuesday (November 19), the law adviser said that if there are allegations of crimes against humanity against a political party and the court deems it necessary, it can recommend taking necessary punitive measures. This recommendation can be made to the concerned authorities. A draft amendment proposal to the International Crimes (Tribunal) Ordinance has been prepared with such a provision in mind.

He said that the draft of the International Crimes Tribunal Amendment Ordinance has been sent to various renowned lawyers and human rights organizations. It has also been sent to the United Nations Human Rights Organization. We have made a draft based on all the opinions. Today, it was raised in the Advisory Council meeting. It has been accepted by the Advisory Council. However, an important issue has been raised in the Advisory Council. The Advisory Council felt that the law we amended had a provision for punishing political parties. The draft said that if the court thinks it can recommend to the concerned authority to take necessary punitive measures against the political parties.