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Articles by Shohel Mamun
Malaysia reopens door to Bangladeshi migrant workers
File photo of migrant workers at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune Recruiting syndicates must be controlled strictly, experts say Manpower exports from Bangladesh to Malaysia resumed after three years yesterday following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur.
Rampura-Demra Expressway: What’s causing the delay?
Project initiated six years ago but construction work yet to begin; cost likely to increase significantly The government took an initiative to upgrade the Rampura-Amulia-Demra (RAD) road to an expressway in 2015 to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka, but its progress has been significantly delayed due inefficiencies in dealing with the bidding process.
Asian elephants in Bangladesh face growing risk of extinction
Around 28 elephants killed in last 20 months alone; most perpetrators remain unidentified Killing of Asian elephants in Bangladesh has seen an increase in recent times, making it the biggest existential threat for the largest living land mammal in Asia. According to a study by the Forest Department and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are 268 Asian elephants living in the country’s forests. Two-thirds of them live in Cox's Bazar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
Uninterrupted travel now to Kuakata, Payra port
Putting an end to waiting game for hours for ferries, travelers can soon travel to Kuakata — one of the popular tourist destinations in the country — uninterrupted, as the government is set to open up the 1.47km-long Payra Bridge in October Dhaka Tribune Bridge to help improve tourism, trade, ease of access Once upon a time, tourists travelling from Dhaka to Kuakata had to wait for ferries at 11 different points, which would make a journey anything between 16 to 18 hours, and sometimes, even...
Nights are dangerous in Rohingya camps
Law enforcement officials patrol the camps during the day, terror groups on the prowl after dark Ordinary Rohingyas in the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar have been living in misery under the tyranny of criminal elements from their own community. The threat posed by Rohingya terror groups emerged in the limelight following the murder of the prominent Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah on Wednesday.
Why murder Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah?
FILE PHOTO: Mohib Ullah, a Rohingya Muslim leader from the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights, poses for a portrait at his office in Kutupalong refugee camp in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, April 19, 2018 Reuters Did the killers want to establish dominance or to hinder repatriation? Police are yet to discover the motive behind the murder of prominent Rohingya leader Md Mohib Ullah, but the arrest of a suspect in the case on Friday marks the first step towards finding answers.
Who is behind the murder of Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah?
Rohingya refugees offer funeral prayers for their leader Mohib Ullah at Kutupalong Refugee camp in Ukhiya on Thursday, September 30, 2021 a day after unidentified assailants gunned him down outside his office in a refugee camp AFP Family blames Rohingya militants; police yet to detain anyone The police are still in the dark about the miscreants involved in the murder of Mohib Ullah, an internationally recognized representative of the displaced Rohingya community.
DTCA: Encourage public transport use over private modes
According to a survey, around 6% of the population with private cars occupy 76% of Dhaka roads The transport coordination authority has encouraged the use of public transport over private ones, citing the limited capacity of the roads in Dhaka city. The Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) has been campaigning for people to use public transport, while World Car Free Day was observed globally on Wednesday.
Inter-district bus terminals to be moved outside Dhaka
Five terminals to allow management of 38,028 buses The government plans to build five new inter-district bus terminals outside Dhaka city, aiming to reduce traffic congestion in the capital. A consultant firm appointed by the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) has already completed a feasibility study that estimates the cost at Tk1,462.86crore for the terminals to manage 38,028 buses.
Experts: Chaos likely at Agargaon point, may spoil Metro Rail’s image
Bangladesh's first-ever metro rail train during its first formal trial run in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Sunday, August 29, 2021 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune Government mulls launching circular bus service from Agargaon to Farmgate Once the authorities start partially operating the country’s first metro rail service in December 2022 between Uttara and Agargaon, experts say, it will likely lead to a chaotic situation at the Agargaon point due to various reasons.
Govt to begin first traffic survey of Dhaka in 2 months
Overhaul of the capital’s chaotic roads to follow The government is set to begin a traffic survey of Dhaka within the next two months with the aim of finding a solution to the capital’s perennially congested roads. The Accident Research Institute (ARI) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) and the Traffic Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will conduct the survey, according to police and government sources.
Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar rail project: What causes construction delay?
Deadline likely to be extended to June 23, 2023 Much to the dismay of travellers who were looking forward to visiting Cox’s Bazar by train next year, many impediments are yet holding up the rail project, which is a hint that it will not reach completion even by the end of 2022.
Plans afoot to make Bangladesh a global aviation hub
Maritime runway, refuelling centre at Cox’s Bazar airport in the offing Bangladesh has drawn up a series of plans to transform Cox’s Bazar airport into an international aviation hub. According to the government’s plans, Cox’s Bazar airport will become the fourth international airport of the country by 2022. The government has also undertaken an ambitious project to extend the runway at the airport by reclaiming land from the sea.
Chinese envoy: Maritime runway will boost economy of neighbouring regions
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually inaugurated the construction work of the Cox’s Bazar airport project from her official residence Ganobhaban Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming said the maritime runway project will promote Cox’s Bazar to become an international metropolis. Once completed the project, all the giant aircrafts will be able to take off and land on the coastal runway, and this will boost the development of the Cox’s Bazar and neighbouring regions.
PM Hasina to open Cox’s Bazar airport runway extension works on Sunday
The new 10,700-feet runway in Cox's Bazar will allow larger aircraft to take off and land, paving the way for int'l flights Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the runway expansion works of the Cox's Bazar Airport virtually on Sunday. The government has taken up the initiative to upgrade the airport through extending its runway by reclaiming land from the sea.
Dhaka Metro Rail mainline test run on Sunday, late 2022 launch aimed
File photo of Bangladesh's first-ever metro rail train on its performance test run in Dhaka's Uttara on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune Once complete, metro rail will be able to transport 60,000 people an hour, considerably reducing travel time between Uttara and Motijheel A mainline test run of Dhaka Metro Rail will be conducted on Sunday from Diabari depot to Pallabi, as the government aims to start the country’s first ever metro train service by December next year.
Bangladesh to get first maritime runway in 2024
The new 10,700ft-long runway will allow much larger aircraft to take off and land at the airport Courtesy Runway at Cox’s Bazar airport to be extended by 1,700ft, effectively turning it into an international airport The government has taken up an ambitious project to extend the runway at Cox’s Bazar airport by reclaiming land from the sea.
Experts: Go for shutdown again if tourist spots become too crowded
Most hotels and resorts in tourist places across the country are almost 100% booked With tourist spots, resorts as well as recreation centres in the country set to open with 50% capacity from Thursday, experts have urged the government to shut them down again if they get too crowded. They also fear that the infection rate will go up if huge numbers of people start gathering at the holiday destinations without following health safety rules.
Vaccine diplomacy: Dependence on Sinopharm, Covax deepens
The Cabinet Committee on Public Procurement approved the proposal to buy another 60 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from China's Sinopharm With not many sources for procuring Covid-19 vaccines, Bangladesh now depends on China’s Sinopharm and the Covax facility for its future supplies. The Bangladesh government has planned to arrange 120 million more doses of the Covid-19 vaccine by December to vaccinate nearly half of the population.
Bus owners urge govt to call off limit on number of buses
Public busses seen plying on the roads of Dhaka city on the third day of the week-long lockdown on April 7, 2021. Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune Limiting bus services while lifting passenger capacity restrictions may lead to more Covid-19 transmission, they say The Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association has urged the government to call off plans to limit the number of buses on roads upon their return to operating at full capacity on Wednesday.
Government eases strict Covid curbs
Empty roads near the Shapla Chattar in Motijheel, Dhaka on the second day of the reinforced lockdown on July 24, 2021 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune Experts, officials stress that this does not mean health rules can be ignored The government is set to ease strict restrictions on public movement across the country from Wednesday, although it has stressed that health guidelines must still be maintained.
Inoculation in Rohingya refugee camps starts Tuesday
Nearly 50K Rohingyas, aged 55 years and above, will be vaccinated in three days Bangladesh government is all set to start vaccinating the Rohingya refugees of the camps in Cox's Bazar from Tuesday under its walk-in mass vaccination drive. Some 48,000 Rohingyas, aged 55 and above and registered with the UNHCR, will be vaccinated between Tuesday and Thursday with the help of the UN agencies, Cox's Bazar Civil Surgeon Dr Mahbubur Rahman told Dhaka Tribune on Sunday.
Hospitals run out of beds, ICUs as rural patients rush to Dhaka
Seven out of 10 patients in a hospital are from the rural areas, says DGHS chief Many rural patients have been moving to Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, for better treatment as the Covid-19 infection rate is still very high in many districts of the country. Due to this, an alarming shortage of beds and ICUs has been seen in Dhaka’s hospitals.
What is the status of Russian vaccine purchase?
File Photo: Sputnik V gives around 92% protection against Covid-19, according to late-stage trial results published in the Lancet in February this year Reuters The Foreign Ministry has rejected the vaccine import proposal of Gonoshasthaya Kendra due to inconsistencies Bangladesh may face another setback in procuring Sputnik V vaccine from Russia under the government-to-government arrangement due to the recent Covid surge in Russia, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Major railway expansion projects in limbo
Currently, Bangladesh Railway is implementing 41 projects at a total cost of Tk 141,883.70 crore Courtesy China decides not to fund projects as proposed costs get revised Three “special priority” railway expansion initiatives have plunged into uncertainty as China has decided not to fund the projects following a downward re-evaluation of the proposed costs.
Experts: Worst period of pandemic in Bangladesh may last longer than expected
Covid-19 patient dies at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital on July 8, 2021 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune Due to the relaxed lockdown people gathered in cattle markets and moved from one city to another causing an upsurge of Covid-19 transmission Bangladesh is currently experiencing its worst period of the Covid-19 pandemic, which will linger due to a weak enforcement of lockdowns and delay in mass vaccination, scientists and public health experts of the country have warned.
Rampal power plant project moving at snail’s pace
A bird's-eye view of Rampal power plant, a 1,320-megawatt coal-fired power station in Rampal upazila of Bagerhat district in Khulna Division Mahmud Hossain Opu Technical works put on hold due to absence of Indian experts, say officials With land borders closed and air-travel halted with India, Rampal power plant project authorities are having a hard time to continue the work without the experts from India.
How is transshipment working out for Bangladesh?
Not very well, but the reason are not what critics think they are A lack of necessary infrastructure and insufficient equipment for the weighing and handling of goods are behind the slow movement of cargo under the transshipment agreement with India, government officials have said. Poor highway connections with the neighbouring country and the Covid-19 pandemic have also heavily hampered transshipment, they added.
Will online cattle market gain popularity?
'A total of 60 marketplaces, such as Daraz, Evaly and 2,000 farmers, will be connected through this platform' It remains to be seen whether the government's endeavour of setting up a virtual marketplace to sell cattle and other sacrificial animals picks up pace ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. On Sunday they launched an online platform, Digital Haat, in this regard to purchase the sacrificial animals virtually and avoid public gatherings amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Where do things stand with transit of goods to Nepal and Bhutan?
Bangladesh currently sends goods to Nepal and Bhutan under separate preferential trade agreements (PTA), using the South Asian Free Trade Area or special permission from India Bangladesh is yet to receive any regular transit facilities from India for the export of goods to Nepal and Bhutan, despite a decade and a half having passed since the two subcontinental neighbours began discussions on the matter in 2005.
When will the franchise bus system start in Dhaka?
Project progress to be discussed at Thursday meeting No remarkable progress has been made in the launch of the bus franchise system in Dhaka over the last six years, despite high expectations that the system would solve the capital’s traffic problems. After numerous delays to the project proper, including a redesign, a pilot run was supposed to begin on April 1. However, the deadline was missed once again.
Could Bangladesh win back the religious space from fundamentalists through the model mosques?
A general view of one of the 50 model mosques inaugurated on June 10 as part of a government initiative to build 560 such structures across the country Dhaka Tribune The model mosque program is a way to preach the true meaning of Islam, its values and stand against extremism and militancy, says the govt With religious intolerance and hatred causing violence in Bangladesh and around the world, the government has come up with yet another initiative to uphold religious harmony and peace by...
How will UK foreign aid cuts impact Bangladesh?
File photo: With the UK’s support, Brac ran the largest non-formal school program in Bangladesh from which around 12 million children have graduated Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune Social development targets may need revisions, NGO’s looking for alternative sources of funding The UK government’s decision to cut foreign aid funding to deal with the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic is set to severely hamper social development activities in Bangladesh, experts and representatives of...
Construction of Bangladesh’s first metro line likely to begin in March 2022
It will take only 24 minutes to travel from Dhaka airport to Kamalapur once the line is up and running The construction work of the country’s first underground metro rail is expected to begin in March 2022, more than a year after it was scheduled to start. The physical work was originally set to start in December 2020. As the Covid-19 pandemic made it impossible, the starting time was pushed to June 2021. But that has proved to be impossible as well because of the pandemic.
Lightning protection projects progressing at snail’s pace
At least 1,164 deaths in lightning strikes from 2016-20 The government has taken several initiatives to protect people from thunderstorms and lightning strikes, but the projects are progressing at a snail’s pace. Government sources said the projects were progressing slowly as they had been stalled since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Disaster Management and Relief Ministry declared lightning strikes a disaster after 80 people died on a single stormy day in the country in 2016.
Budget FY22: Second highest allocation for better transport, communication
The Transport and Communication Sector has been allocated 11.6% of the total proposed budget Transport and Communication sector is set to get the second highest budgetary allocation in the coming fiscal year as the government aims to build a better infrastructure for faster development and create employment in the coming years.
Government to prioritize mega projects in upcoming budget
Covid-19 cannot hamper the progress of mega projects anymore as they are being implemented by following health guidelines, says a member of the Physical Infrastructure Division The government has prioritized the fast-track mega projects amid the Covid-19 pandemic and set a goal to complete a maximum of those before the next general election, likely to be held in December 2023.
Rampal coal power plant needs more time
A bird's-eye view of Rampal power plant, a 1,320-megawatt coal-fired power station in Rampal upazila of Bagerhat district in Khulna Division Mahmud Hossain Opu Officials blame Covid restrictions for the sluggish progress The authorities of the 1320MW coal power plant in Rampal of Bagerhat, near the Sundarbans, may need more time to complete the project despite being given one additional year.
Mayor Taposh: No corruption in city corporation service delivery anymore
The Dhaka South City mayor says he has acted on all illicit activities he knew about A year after taking charge as Dhaka South City mayor, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh says there is no longer any massive corruption in the delivery of services at the city corporation. In an interview with Dhaka Tribune, the mayor said the mischief of corrupt people had stopped because he did not “leave anyone out”. “I have acted on any illicit activities that I have known about,” said Taposh.
Health Ministry fails to spend 3 quarters of ADP budget in pandemic
The health sector is the lowest performer among the top 15 ministries in implementing the ADP, according to an IMED report The Health Ministry has been unable to spend three quarters of its allocation in the Annual Development Program (ADP) for the 2020-21 fiscal year after the government placed emphasis on the health sector considering the Covid-19 pandemic.
Inside the Suhrawardy Udyan redesign
A child holds a banner at a human chain yesterday organized to protest the ongoing tree felling at the Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka Focus Bangla The ongoing Tk265 crore project will help the government generate revenues The felling of the trees at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan that recently created massive outrage is not precisely for restoring the monuments of the Liberation War but to build some structures that will serve the public interest.
Govt to revise policy to allow Russian, Chinese vaccines
China’s Sinopharm and Russia’s Sputnik V vaccines have been found effective in many countries The government is set to modify its policy to pave way for the import of Covid-19 vaccines from Russia and China, as vaccines from these countries are yet to be approved by global regulatory bodies. Bangladesh currently allows the Covid-19 vaccines that are approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Public transport to remain suspended till April 28
A gazette will be issued before April 28 regarding the new operational procedures for public transport Despite the government allowing shops and malls to reopen from Sunday amid the strict countrywide lockdown, suspension of public transport will remain in place till April 28. “We have discussed with Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader about the suspension of public transport.
Proposal to shut down borders with India shot down at inter-ministerial meeting
Ministries concerned asked to instruct port officials to follow and enforce necessary hygiene and quarantine rules The Foreign Ministry’s proposal to shut down Bangladesh’s borders with India, in a bid to prevent the entry of Indian coronavirus variants, was rejected at the inter-ministerial meeting held on Thursday.
Covid-19 vaccines: What are Bangladesh’s options as stocks run dry?
Government committee looking at COVAX program, direct acquisition from vaccine manufacturers With Bangladesh fast running out of stock, the top authorities of the government have been frantically searching for Covid-19 vaccines from various global sources. As of Monday, Bangladesh had just three million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine from Serum Institute of India (SII) remaining, according to statistics from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
‘DNCC Covid-19 hospital will be turned into general hospital after pandemic’
Several ambulances are seen near the entrance of the recently opened DNCC Covid-19 hospital, the largest of its kind in Bangladesh, in this photo taken on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 Mahmud Hossain Opu In an interview with Dhaka Tribune, Dhaka North Mayor Atiqul Islam also says shops from Karwan Bazar kitchen market will not be relocated to the site, as originally planned Why did you take the initiative to transform the DNCC market into a Covid-19 hospital?
Covid-19: Government mulls cash aid disbursement for underprivileged again
According to the plan, five million vulnerable households across Bangladesh will get Tk2,500 each Although the inconsistencies identified in distributing cash aid last year are yet to be fully addressed, the government has been preparing again to allocate financial support among vulnerable households hit hard by the ongoing nationwide strict lockdown enforced to contain transmission of Covid-19. According to the initial plan, a total of five million families will get Tk2,500 cash aid each.
Will Dhakaites start getting affordable healthcare services by 2025?
File photo of the main entrance of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital Dhaka Tribune 287 zone-based public hospitals to be built in the first phase (2021-2025) of the DAP When her minor daughter fell ill with fever and diarrhoea, apparel worker Rabeya Sultana rushed her to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), some 4.5km away from her home in a Hazaribagh slum.
Lockdown: Govt clears 121C for poor people
A detailed plan for distributing relief will be fixed on Tuesday The government has decided to disburse relief, food and cash aid during the weeklong lockdown, effective from Monday, enforced to curb the new wave of Covid-19 infections in the country. As per plan, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief will disburse Tk121crore to district administrations and upazila administration offices for distribution among the poor, needy and people who became unemployed due to the restrictions.
DMP: Major roads in Dhaka will be closed for 12 hours during lockdown
Traffic police personnel flag down rickshaw pullers and motorcycle riders at Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka on Friday, March 27, 2020 Rajib Dhar/Dhaka Tribune Only emergency services vehicles will be allowed to move through those roads during this period The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has decided to block traffic movement in major roads of the capital between 6pm and 6am from now on to ensure a strict enforcement of the weeklong lockdown.
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