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DhAKA: May 12, 2022; Baishakh 29, 1429 BS; Shawal 10,1443 hijri
www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net
Regd.No.DA~2065, Vol.20; N o. 11; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00
Zohr
InternAtIonAl
Prices for gasoline,
diesel both rise to
record highs in US
>Page 7
03:55 AM
11:58 PM
04:32 PM
06:36 PM
07:58 PM
5:17 6:33
sports
Ex-NZ captain
McCullum linked to
England coach role
>Page 9
total work progress of the Padma bridge project is 93.50 percent and this much-hyped
Bridge will be inaugurated in June.
Photo : Star Mail
Bangladesh slightly
improves in global
tobacco tax index
DHAKA : Bangladesh has improved its
performance over cigarette taxation policy,
as its score slightly rose to 2.63 from
2.38 in 2018, according to a global tobacco
tax index, reports UNB.
The country scored 2.63 out of a scale of
5 in 2021 in the Cigarette Tax Scorecard,
an initiative of the Tobacconomics program
of the University of Illinois Chicago
(UIC), which assessed the performance of
cigarette tax policies in 160 countries.
The findings of the Bangladesh part of this
year's report were unveiled on Wednesday
in a virtual event, organised by anti-tobacco
advocacy organization PROGGA
(Knowledge for Progress) with support from
Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids (CTFK).
The latest report shows that Bangladesh
has ample opportunity to improve its performance
by increasing the prices of cigarettes,
increasing the tax share of price,
and improving the existing tobacco tax
structure, said a press release.
The report focused on four key dimensions
of cigarette tax systems-cigarette
prices, changes in cigarette affordability
over time, share of taxes in retail cigarette
prices, and cigarette tax structure.
In the function, eminent economist Dr
Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said the
study findings can help our policymakers
to adopt effective tobacco tax policies.
"The prices of cigarettes and other
tobacco products should be hiked to bring
these products beyond the purchasing
power of people. Without such measures,
the realization of the Prime Minister's
vision to build a tobacco-free country
would be impossible," he said.
Dr. Nigar Nargis, a member of the
Tobacconomics team, presented the findings.
"When it comes to cigarette tax structure,
Bangladesh should introduce uniform
specific excise taxes instead of multitiered
ad valorem taxes and annually
adjust tax rates with inflation and economic
growth.
Bangladesh losing 69,000 hectares
land per year : Shahab Uddin
DHAKA : Environment, Forest and
Climate Change Minister Md Shahab
Uddin has said Bangladesh is losing
around 69,000 hectares of land every
year, posing a serious threat to the country's
food security.
"Bangladesh is losing around 69,000
hectares of its land every year posing a
serious threat to ensuring the food security
for the growing population of
Bangladesh," he told a meeting in Abidjan,
Côte d'Ivoire. The 'Round table 2 - Land
restoration: A path to sustainable post
pandemic recovery' in the conference of
the parties (COP-15) to the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification
(UNCCD) was held on Tuesday night,
according to a message received.
Shahab Uddin said one third of
Bangladesh lies on the coast exposed to
tidal flooding, which leads to increased
salinity. Forced migration of one million
people from neighbouring country to
Bangladesh has created enormous threat
to its land, life, environment, biodiversity,
forest and ecosystems, he said.
The environment minister said the loss
of soil, flora and fauna and ecosystems
increases the risk of diseases like COVID-
19 and Ebola. Mentioning that the northwestern
part of the country is under the
threat of desertification, he said land
restoration is definitely a cost-effective
strategy which can ensure green recovery.
So, he said, Bangladesh is encouraging
and welcoming international cooperation
and support through UNCCD secretariat
as well as Global Mechanism.
Shahab Uddin said the government of
Bangladesh is trying its best to combat
land degradation and desertification.
To this end, he said, it has revised its
National Environmental Policy giving special
emphasis on checking land degradation
and desertification. "We have formulated
'Bangladesh National Action Program
(NAP) for Combating Desertification, Land
Degradation and Drought 2015-2024'.
Bangladesh has set voluntary targets to
achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)
by 2030 as per SDG Target 15.3 and the
decision of COP13," he added.
The environment minister said roadside
plantation, coastal afforestation and
social forestry are some of the successful
land-based adaptation programmes in
Bangladesh.
"We have also formulated Bangladesh
Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan
(BCCSAP) and Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100
(BDP 2100) and is preparing Mujib Climate
Prosperity Plan (MCPP)," he said.
BSA's revamped activities pushes
for cultural reawakening
KhandaKer Zanntun nahar Jerry
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) is
the government agency for the promotion
of cultural practice, development and
expansion across Bangladesh. It happens
to be one of the major centers of culture in
Bangladesh.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman established
Shilpakala Academy on 19 February 1974.
The aim of the academy is to create a creative
and humane Bangladesh rich in art
and culture by creating a flow of art and
culture for all people through the development
of national culture, preservation and
propagation of cultural heritage.
The BSA is conducting multifaceted
activities aimed at developing creative culture
throughout the country. The organization
pushes for practice and the spread
of fine arts, music, dance and drama.
Appropriate evaluation of talented artists
for the development of these, such as support
and recognition of talented artists,
grants to government-approved cultural
institutions and organizations, conducting
research on past traditions and contemporary
culture, and organizing international
and international festivals on music,
drama and fine arts. It is done with great
enthusiasm by BSA. The academy is
organizing music festivals, conferences,
seminars, plays, workshops, debates,
study groups and symposiums, patroning
local and international art exhibitions,
organizing various competitions and
award ceremonies, sending Bangladeshi
art teams as part of cultural activities. The
activities of inviting cultural delegations to
Bangladesh, awarding eminent cultural
personalities of the country and publishing
books, periodicals and introductory
memoirs on various subjects related to art
and culture. All the activities of BSA are
conducted through five departments.
Public relations officer Hasan Mahmud
said that construction projects of new
buildings of BSA are already underway in
18 districts and 106 upazilas. 3200 paintings
have been purchased for the National
Gallery. Bangladesh Cultural Festival has
been organized in 64 districts. A drama
festival based on the liberation war is
being organized.
>(Contd. on page-2)
Padma Bridge
inauguration in
June : Quader
DHAKA : Road Transport and Bridges
Minister and Obaidul Quader on
Wednesday said the much-hyped Padma
Bridge will be inaugurated in June and
preparations are going on for its opening,
reports UNB.
Quader, also Awami League General
Secretary, made the remarks while briefing
reporters after the 111th board meeting
of Bangladesh Bridge Authority at the conference
room of Bridges Division in the
capital. The minister said the work
progress of the main bridge is 98 percent
while river training is 92 percent and the
progress of carpeting work is 91 percent.
The total work progress of the project is
93.50 percent, he said. Obaidul Quader
said the total work progress of
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in
Chattogram is 85 percent.
Energy and Mineral Resources Division secretary
Md. Mahbub Hossain, Roads and
Highways Division secretary Md. Nazrul
Islam, Power Division secretary Md. Habibur
Rahman, Legislative and Parliamentary
Affairs Division secretary Md. Moinul Kabir,
Land secretary Md. Mustafizur Rahman,
Railway secretary Dr. Md. Humayun Kabir,
Physical Infrastructure Division secretary Md.
Mamun-Al-Rashid, Bridges Division secretary,
and Bangladesh Bridge Authority executive
director Md. Manzoor Hossain were,
among others, present at the meeting.
Govt remains cautious
on forex management,
says Kamal
DHAKA : The government is very much
cautious about foreign exchanging reserve
management in the prevailing global situation,
said Finance Minister AHM
Mustafa Kamal.
"Unusual situations are going on all over
the world at the moment. The government
does not want to spend unnecessarily at
this time. The government is especially
cautious about foreign exchange spending.
Therefore, initiatives are being taken
to reduce the import of luxury goods" he
said. The minister said this after the
Cabinet Committee on Government
Purchase (CCGP) meeting held virtually.
Responding to a question, Kamal said
the government has decided to delay projects
those involve foreign exchange spending
but are not urgently needed now, by
six months or even more if needed to
avoid dollar crisis. He mentioned that
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also
instructed not to allow government officials
to visit foreign countries without
urgent need. He said that the projects
which have foreign exchange expenditure
issues and are not urgent to be implemented
now will be implemented later;
adding that the government is doing what
it needs to manage this unusual time.
Arts & Culture
Partha, Bappa, Pantho
Kanai in Operation
Sundarbans soundtrack
>Page 10
US support to continue
over Rohingyas despite
Ukraine crisis:USAID
DHAKA : The United State (US) is committed
to continue its support to
Bangladesh over Rohingya crisis despite
its additional funding to Ukraine in view
of "unprecedented humanitarian crisis"
there, a senior visiting USAID official said
here. "We are committed to continuing
our support for Rohingya response,"
USAID's Deputy Administrator Isobel
Coleman told a media briefing at the
American Centre in the capital with a
small number of journalists before wrapping
up her 5-day Bangladesh visit.
She added: There is a very principal
approach that we take towards humanitarian
response and making sure that the
refugees (Rohingyas) who are here
receive the basic needs to meet is a priority
for us." In an apparent reference to the
enhanced US focus on Ukraine, Coleman
said the US congress already responded
with additional funds to address the
European challenge.
She said the Russian military assaults
on Ukraine virtually caused a global crisis
posing a threat of worldwide food crisis,
prompting the USAID to work closely
with the US congress to face the situation
with extra funding as manifestation of the
Americans generosity.
"(So) we can deal with food crises
(worldwide) that has resulted by Russian
unprovoked invasion in Ukraine," she
Sri Lanka crisis
Ex-PM flees to naval base
as arson attacks spread
Security forces are out in force across Sri
Lanka with orders to shoot looters on sight
amid continuing protests at the government's
handling of a devastating economic
crisis, reports BBC.
Despite a nationwide curfew, there was
a second night of arson attacks.
Shops near Colombo were torched, as
well as a resort owned by former Prime
Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's son.
The ex-PM is holed up in a naval base
after resigning on Monday when fury
erupted over fuel and food shortages.
At least nine people have been killed and
about 200 injured in unrest since
Monday.
It began when government supporters
attacked protesters who are demanding
that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the
former PM's younger brother, should
leave office.
said. Coleman said her interactions with
Rohiongyas in their Cox's Bazar and
Bhashanchar island camps, gave her an
idea that every Rohingyas wanted to go
back to their homeland in Rakhine, but
their dignified and peaceful repatriation
would not take place until their security
was ensured.
"I don't think we are going to see any
(Rohingya) movement back in any meaningful
way . . . (However) we must be
hopeful for volunteer (Rohingya) repatriation,
but it's not in horizon," The USAID
official said. She said her country was trying
to pressurize Naypyidaw to acknowledge
the atrocities they carried out against
Rohingyas was "genocide", impose individual
sanctions on Myanmar military
leaders and work with the ASEAN member
states to push for peaceful resolution
to the crisis.
Asked for comments if the United
Nations Security Council (UNSC) was
playing its due role in resolving the crisis,
Coleman said, currently the UNSC was
"not the most functional" organization.
"Of course, we would like to see the
security council to play more robust role
in a number of different crisis around the
world, but with the current (global) political
situation it is highly unlikely to do so
particularly in this (Rohingya) crisis and
others (including Ukraine)," she said.
Opposition politicians have warned the
violence could have been staged to give the
army a pretext to take power. Rumours of
a possible coup have been fuelled by the
presence of large numbers of troops with
armoured vehicles on the streets.
But the military have denied any such
move is planned.
"When there is a dangerous situation in
the country, powers are given to the military
to deal with it," Defence Secretary
Kamal Gunaratne told a news conference.
"Don't ever think that we are trying to
capture power. The military has no such
intentions."
Sri Lanka had already seen weeks of
protests over its dire financial situation,
which has caused the Sri Lankan rupee to
plunge, provoking severe shortages of
basic items such as food, fuel and medical
supplies.
Mobs have attacked buses as well as property belonging to the rajapaksas and other
politicians.
Photo : BBC