Tag: BANGLADESH

The statement added that the committee needed additional time to analyze other contracts, both solicited and unsolicited….reports Asian Lite News

Bangladesh’s interim government has initiated a review of power agreements signed during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, with a committee recommending the appointment of an international investigation agency to scrutinize deals, including one with India’s Adani Group. 

The National Review Committee on Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, led by retired High Court judge Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, proposed engaging a reputed legal and investigation agency to examine seven major energy and power projects signed between 2009 and 2024. These projects include the Adani (Godda) BIFPCL 1234.4 MW coal-fired plant and a 1320 MW coal-fired plant built by a Chinese company, along with agreements involving Bangladeshi business groups reportedly close to the previous regime. 

An official statement from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s office highlighted that the committee had gathered substantial evidence suggesting that some agreements may require cancellation or renegotiation under international arbitration laws. The statement added that the committee needed additional time to analyze other contracts, both solicited and unsolicited. 

“In light of the findings, we recommend the immediate appointment of one or more top-level international legal and investigation agencies to assist the committee,” the statement read. 

India’s External Affairs Ministry has previously emphasized the critical role of energy cooperation in India-Bangladesh relations. However, tensions have arisen over the Adani Group’s Godda thermal plant, built exclusively to supply power to Bangladesh. The plant has faced challenges as Bangladesh’s Power Development Board struggles with an $800 million unpaid bill amid a dollar shortage, having managed to pay $150 million so far. 

Additionally, India’s recent regulatory changes allowing domestic sale of Godda’s power have fueled speculation over whether Bangladesh will continue to receive dedicated supply from the plant. 

The interim government’s probe follows earlier steps to review contracts signed under the Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply Act, 2010, which was amended in 2021, amid allegations of corruption in the country’s power sector. 

ALSO READ: Pakistan’s first direct cargo ship docks in Bangladesh since 1971 

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed administered the oath at the Supreme Court Judges’ Lounge, in the presence of top court judges and officials….reports Asian Lite News

Bangladesh’s newly appointed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), AMM Nasir Uddin, and four other commissioners were sworn in on Sunday, nearly three months after the resignation of the previous commission. 

The earlier commission, led by Kazi Habibul Awal, stepped down following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s regime in a student-led mass movement. 

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed administered the oath at the Supreme Court Judges’ Lounge, in the presence of top court judges and officials. 

The appointments came after a search committee, formed by interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus’ government, recommended candidates with backgrounds in civil service, the judiciary, and the military. 

The new CEC, a retired government secretary, is joined by commissioners Mohammad Anwarul Islam Sarker, Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Begum Tahmida Ahmed, and Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah, all retired officials from various fields. President Mohammed Shahabuddin approved their appointments on November 21. 

This marks the first time since 1972 that the Election Commission was vacant for an extended period, with the previous commission resigning on September 5 after the Awami League government fell in August. 

The interim government, which has formed six commissions to overhaul the country’s governance, pledged reforms in the electoral process. Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and other political groups have been demanding swift elections post-reform. 

Interim leader Yunus announced on November 17 that an election roadmap would be released after finalizing reforms. 

ALSO READ: Pakistan’s first direct cargo ship docks in Bangladesh since 1971 

Mozumder said policies implemented by the interim administration have been positively received by donor agencies…reports Asian Lite News

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank will provide 600 million and $500 million, respectively, in loan assistance by December, Bangladeshi Finance Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder said.  

He made the disclosure during a press conference on Tuesday at the Ministry of Finance, organised to mark the interim government’s 100 days in office, Xinhua news agency reported. 

Mozumder said policies implemented by the interim administration have been positively received by donor agencies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. 

“Our interim government’s policy measures have yielded good results, exceeding our initial expectations in terms of funding. For instance, we have successfully negotiated 600 million dollars in loans with the ADB and expect to receive the funds by December,” he said. 

He also highlighted progress with the World Bank, which has agreed to provide 500 million dollars in loan support within the same timeframe. “Originally, these loans were set at 300 million dollars and 250 million dollars, respectively, but were later doubled due to favourable negotiations.” 

The government is seeking further financial assistance from the IMF, Mozumder said, adding, “We have requested an additional 1 billion dollars in support from the IMF for this year. 

Discussions are set to conclude when the IMF team visits on December 4, and we are optimistic about the outcome.” 

ALSO READ: ADANI INDICTED IN US 

Asaduzzaman argued that socialism and secularism do not reflect the realities of a nation where 90% of the population is Muslim…reports Asian Lite News

The Attorney General of Bangladesh, Mohammad Asaduzzaman called for substantial amendments to the Constitution of Bangladesh and suggested the removal of key terms from it, United News of Bangladesh (UNB) reported. 

Asaduzzaman suggested the removal of key provisions such as socialism, Bengali nationalism, secularism, and the designation of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as “Father of the Nation”, according to UNB. 

The remarks were made during the fifth day of hearings at the High Court on the legality of Bangladesh’s 15th Constitutional Amendment. 

Addressing Article 8 of the Constitution, Asaduzzaman argued that socialism and secularism do not reflect the realities of a nation where 90% of the population is Muslim. 

He advocated for reinstating the original phrasing, which emphasised unwavering faith in Allah. He also questioned the relevance of Bengali nationalism in Article 9, calling it inconsistent with modern democratic principles, UNB reported. 

As per the Dhaka Tribune, the 15th Amendment, which was passed in Bangladesh’s Parliament on June 30, 2011, recognized Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the Father of the Nation abolished the caretaker government system, and increased the reserved seats for women in Parliament from 45 to 50. 

Asaduzzaman argued that these changes would align the constitution with the country’s democratic and historical ethos. 

He also made a call to reinstate provisions for a referendum, which was abolished under the 15th Amendment. 

As per UNB, after the hearing, Asaduzzaman spoke to the media and said that retaining the 15th Amendment undermines the spirit of the Liberation War, the 1990 mass uprising, and the 2024 July revolution. “The amendment betrays the sacrifices of martyrs like Abu Sayed and Mugdho,” he said. 

Abu Sayed and Migdho were student activists who were involved in the July 2024 protests that took place in Bangladesh. 

He accused the amendment of prolonging authoritarian rule and violating constitutional supremacy. “It’s a direct assault on democracy and the rule of law,” he said, adding that the amendment perpetuates division among citizens and disrupts the country’s political stability. 

As per UNB, the Attorney General also criticised Article 6, which defines national identity through language, claiming it has fostered unnecessary divisions among citizens. He argued that no other country uses language as a basis for national identity, making this provision unique and problematic. 

Speaking about other parts of the constitution, he also took issue with Articles 7(ka) and 7(kha), claiming they undermine democracy and serve authoritarian purposes. Calling for their repeal, he asserted these articles were enacted with ill intent to stifle democratic institutions, UNB reported. 

The Attorney General vehemently opposed the abolition of the caretaker government system, calling it a “stab in the heart of democracy”. 

Asaduzzaman urged the reinstatement of referendum provisions under Article 142, arguing it was essential for restoring democratic accountability. He criticised the amendment for enabling MPs elected through “election engineering” to unilaterally eliminate this critical democratic mechanism. (ANI) 

ALSO READ: ‘Unrest’ among workers hurting Bangladesh’s garment industry 

The readymade garment (RMG) industry is the single biggest export earner for Bangladesh…reports Asian Lite News

Leading Bangladesh factory owner expressed concern over the unrest taking place in the garment industry which is alarming for the country’s economy. The crisis is also affecting the import of raw materials from India.Factory owners say that the interim government has failed to control the volatile situation due to a lack of experience. 

The readymade garment (RMG) industry is the single biggest export earner for Bangladesh. The sector accounts for 83 per cent of the total export earnings of the country. The apparel industry is Bangladesh’s biggest export earner with a value of over USD 28 billion of exports in a year. The “Made in Bangladesh” tag has also brought glory to the country, making it a prestigious brand across the globe. 

More than 150 countries import ready-made garments from Bangladesh. The industry employs 4 million employees; of which most are women. 

The workers made an 18-point demand including raising wages, attendance bonuses, night shifting and others during the previous government. The demands were fulfilled after intensive consultations between the government, factory owners and, workers’ leaders. 

After the change of government through the uprising in August, dissatisfaction arose in various garment factories. 29 factories failed to pay salaries for September, sparking renewed discontent in the garment industry. 

“Most of the issues were already solved because they came all together made a decision and workers back to work. Again, unrest started and it really horrible”, said Jannatul Baker Khan, Managing Director of Needle Works BD Limited, an export-oriented garment factory. 

“Most of the factories are OK and meet the requirements. But few factories may be facing problems. They are unable to meet, they are not even settled, and workers are unhappy. But the quantity of the factories is less”, he added. 

“For example, there are a hundred factories around but two factories have unrest. It creates problems for all”, Khan exclusively told ANI. 

He blamed the inefficiency of the interim government to control the situation. “The interim government is not able to solve the problem. They are not very experienced. Everything is new for them that’s why the issue is increasing and increasing and it is out of control now”, he said. 

Khan, who also runs a buying house, NW RMG LTD, talked about shifting tof foreign buyers from Bangladesh to its competitors. 

According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), clothing imports are decreasing in the world, during January-August of this year, clothing imports from the United States increased by 1.5 per cent in terms of volume, while from Bangladesh decreased by 3.8 per cent, but from China increased by 3.6 per cent, and from Vietnam increased by 5.2 per cent, up 7.6 per cent from India and 7.7 per cent from Cambodia. 

Total imports to Europe increased by 3.3 per cent in the January-July period, while those from Bangladesh increased by only 2.8 per cent, but those from China increased by 6.4 per cent, India increased by 5.18 per cent, Cambodia increased by 18.35, Vietnam increased by 18.3 per cent, BGMEA said. 

Judging by the comparative export growth in the period of July-September of this year, where the export growth of Bangladesh has been 5.34 per cent, the growth of Vietnam has been 15.57 per cent and the growth of India has been 13.45 per cent, BGMEA said. 

“The foreign buyers are shifting their orders to other countries. It will be a big disaster for us. The factories are facing losses in different ways. The workers are becoming injured during protests. When production stopped, the shipment became delayed. Due to this reason, buyers are asking for air shipments or delay penalties. If the factory is laid off, the workers also will lose their jobs. In that case, a big problem is waiting before us”, he said. 

He warned about serious consequences for the social, economic and industrial sectors if Bangladesh failed to control the unrest in the garment industry. 

“If the unrest continues, the industry will suffer long time. The garment industry is not only a matter of workers and owners. It links up backwards and forward industries. It is a big chain. It is not only that 4 million workers are working including 60 per cent women; but also backwards and forward links with the export chain. So, this is really the backbone of our economy,” he said. 

According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), India exports nearly USD 14 billion worth of products to Bangladesh in a year. The main products that India exports to Bangladesh are refined petroleum (9.93 per cent), non-retail pure cotton (9.93 per cent), and raw cotton (6.82 per cent). 

“Already the import from India is going slow. Mostly we buy fabrics, huge denim and non-denim, from India. We also source from other countries including China. If we lose the order, the raw materials import automatically will be slowed down from India”, Khan said without details. 

“Most of the employees from India are senior employees. If you consider the buying house, they work as country managers, senior merchandisers, technicians and other industries, the textiles, washing plants and other factory technical managers senior positions of industry. If the factory loses order, it will be impacted everywhere”, he said. (ANI) ‘

ALSO READ: India, China to patrol once every week in Demchok and Depsang