Nation this week
US business representatives expressed their long-standing interest to be a part of Bangladesh's development and private sector transformation. They expressed their spirit of collaboration with business and government at the US-Bangladesh Business Summit jointly organised by FBCCI and US-Bangladesh Business Council. FBCCI hosted the largest business delegation from the United States to have ever come to Dhaka on its historic visit.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said that now is the 'Golden Time' for investment in Bangladesh. He urged US businesses to invest in Bangladesh and build strong commercial and strategic relations between the United States and Bangladesh. Chevron's Vice President for Business Development and Mission Lead of the Trade Delegation Jay R Prior noted that Bangladesh has made remarkable economic progress across a diversity of sectors. He noted that 100% electrification of Bangladesh and energy development in Bangladesh is key to Bangladesh's success.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has suspended its principal engineer and four others over the damage to two Boeing aircraft on April 10, 2022. The five officials are Principal Engineer Mohammad Badrul Islam; three engineer officers -- Md Mainul Islam, Syed Bahaul Islam, and Selim Hossain Khan; and GSE Operator Md Hafizur Rahman, The action was taken based on a report of the investigation committee formed by the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry.
According to the investigation report, the five officials and staff were held responsible for flouting section 55 of the service rules of Bangladesh Biman Corporation Employees (1979) Regulations, which is a punishable offence. The punishment will come into effect immediately, said the report. The Boeing 777-300ER while entering the hanger on April 10, collided with a Boeing 737-800, which was already there, As a result, the radome and front bulkhead of the 777 aircraft and the horizontal stabiliser on the left of the 737 aircraft were partially damaged.
Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman expressed his dissatisfaction with the standard of customer services at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. He expressed his discontent after a surprise visit to the airport on Monday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sent him to visit the airport after receiving news that passengers are being harassed in various ways there.
"Overall, I'm not satisfied. There is much scope to improve the situation," he added. If it comes to notice that even after this visit the complaints continue, severe actions will be taken, he added. Passengers are bringing in gold to the country following the necessary rules. However, they face some difficulty in paying the taxes as the branch of the bank for payment is a bit far from the customs zone. They have now been directed to set up bank booths within the customs zone, the adviser also said.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) claims to have uncovered corruption of around Tk390 crore centring the construction of three power plants that are all currently being built. The alleged corruption happened in land acquisition and providing compensation that involved some power plant officials, local public representatives, land acquisition officials, and middlemen. The power plants are the Barishal coal-based 350MW power plant, the Banshkhali 1320MW power plant, which is also coal-fired, and the Matarbari LNG-based 600MW power plant.
TIB disclosed the information in a virtual press conference on Wednesday when they released a research report titled "Coal and LNG Power Projects in Bangladesh: Governance Challenges and Way Out". Of the total estimated amount, a Tk15.59 crore corruption took place at the Barisal power plant, Tk255 crore in Banshkhali, and Tk119.45 crore in Matarbari, according to the TIB study conducted from February 2021 to April 2022. The report recommended strict legal action against and punishment of people involved in corruption at various phases of project implementation.
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