• Dhaka Sat, 20 APRIL 2024,
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4th IR is not a threat for Bangladesh textile industries: Maruf Khan
Why plane fare is three times higher for hajj pilgrims in Bangladesh?
Plane fare for hajj passengers are collected several times higher than the normal period. Hajj agencies termed the decision of increasing plane fair as unjust and illogic as plane fare was not increased internationally. Even Religious Affairs Ministry thinks that the matter is abnormal but Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry in not willing to talk over the issue. A general passenger used to pay taka 50 thousand highest for plane fare with return ticket for travelling Saudi Arabia in other airlines including Bangladesh Biman at any time throughout the year. But plane fares from hajj passengers are collected several times higher. This year the plane fare for hajj pilgrims was fixed at taka one lakh 38 thousand 191. Which was 14 thousand taka more than the previous year. Proprietor of Ali Air Travels and Tours, Hossain Ahmed Majumder said, plane fare was not increased in any country of the world, but it was increased in our country. Usually 38 thousand taka is taken for one seat. But due to hajj it turns into one lakh 38 thousand. Mentioning example he said, from our neighboring country India pilgrims are going Saudi Arabia with expense of 850 dollars. Whereas, in our country hajj pilgrims are taken with a cost of 1575 dollars. Though we are neighboring countries but the difference is double. Proprietor of Imdad Air Travels and Tours, Md. Imdadullah Sayeed said, 40 thousand taka is charged for plane fare for sending umrah hajj passengers, according to the speech of Biman that seat returns vacant. If that is counted than the fare should be 80 thousand taka. Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) says, Bangladesh Biman and Saudi Airlines without any reason in imperious move collect illogical fare from the passengers. HAAB Secretary General Shahadat Hossain Taslim said, forcing hajj passengers to travel on two airlines, forcing them to buy tickets in highest price, these all means violating their rights. If we look into India, Pakistan or Indonesia than we will see that passengers are not taken in this way. Acknowledging the matter, in charge of hajj operations Religious Affairs Secretary Md. Anisur Rahman said that they had nothing to do as the matter of charging plane fare is jurisdiction of another ministry. He said, Religious Affairs Ministry is not associated with fixing plane fare. We only implement that what the Aviation Ministry gives us. But we acknowledge that higher fare is being taken. In this regard Civil Aviation Ministry declined to comment. The associated persons urged for integrated initiatives to reduce plane fare for hajj pilgrims at an acceptable level as well as government to be more sincere. AH          
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BUET for not renewing CNG auto rickshaws' expiration
BUET Mechanical Engineering department has suggested for not renewing the expiration of 2002 model CNG run auto rickshaws that are plying in the metropolitan areas in Dhaka and Chittagong. They also have suggested for declaring those as out of order and to assemble those in a fresh way. But the CNG owners as usual seek time. The CNG run auto rickshaws are passing bad times following introduction of alternative transport like Uber, Pathao or Sam. In this circumstance time limit of more than eight thousand auto rickshaws are going to be expired in this month. Earlier time limit of those auto rickshaws were fixed at 15 years which were increased in three phases. Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) gave three months time to the owners association as the time limit expired on December 31 lastly. In this situation owners again claimed for expansion of CNG auto rickshaws time limit for another 15 years. Then BRTA sought BUET’s opinion in this regard. But after examining the auto rickshaws Mechanical Engineering department of BUET suggested for not renewing the time limit as those were not hundred percent fit. Based on the suggestion, BRTA informed for taking quick decision over auto rickshaws. BRTA Secretary Mohammad Sowkat Ali said, owners and workers association demanded that if the time limit is not increased then they should be given time for the auto rickshaw replacement. Dhaka Metropolitan CNG Auto Rickshaw Owners and Workers Association has said, if their demand is not met then owners and workers will be affected financially as well as there is a fear of severe joblessness. AH      
Transport sector held hostage by unscrupulous influential racket
Transport sector is connected with living of 16 crore people. The aim of transport business is to get profit by providing service. But an unscrupulous racket has made this most important sector of economy as their own property. Transport sector seems to be held hostage by some dishonest influential persons. Labeling the identity of workers, they are gaining crores of taka in their pocket. Political leaders from both ruling party and opposition are associated with these syndicates. Though the minor activities of extortion are not noticed but in the macro financial perspective the scenario is easily understandable. According to the BRTA information, the number of registered vehicles is more than 32 lakhs. Of this the number of bus-truck, pick up-covered van, tempo-autorickshaw is 6 lakh 92 thousand 565. If taka 20 is taken as extortion from each of the vehicle in a day than the total sum stands at nearly one and half crore taka which turns more than 41 crore taka at the month end. Let’s look at the calculation. Registered vehicles number 6 lakh 92 thousand 565. At the rate of 20 taka extortion daily the total stands at 1 crore 38 lakh 51 thousand 300 taka. At the yearend it stands at 415 crore 53 lakh 9 thousand taka. This is only the estimation. The real scenario is more terrible. Why this huge amount of money is being collected and where are those going? There is no information in this connection. General workers say a syndicate is taking away the money using their names. Osman Ali, General Secretary of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Shramik Federation. Though he identified himself as a worker but he is owner of several buses. He also has businesses of motor and battery, a filling station at Tongi, two houses at Gazipur and expensive flat at Gulshan. Central leaders of Sarak Paribahan Shramik League said, he has made the transport sector hostage. Now he is owner of thousands crore taka. Rtv team tried their best to communicate with him over mobile phone but failed. Even the attempt foiled after going his Shramik Federation Office. Not Osman Ali, a vested quarter in the name of ‘worker’ has grabbed the entire transport sector. Also, terminal occupying occurrence is happening under patronization of this syndicate. This type of situation is not new. Government changes but their position does not change. For this reason, the owners and workers are being held hostage for decades. AH
How is Bangladesh after 46 years?
Bangladesh is a unique name in the emerging economic countries in the world. This small Bangladesh is also being called the role model of development of the last four decades after turning aside the slander of bottomless basket. Many things have been added in the achievements of last 46 years of independence. Analysts are saying that the the main challenge is to make the development trend as sustainable. The soil, open sky, birds, flowers, fruits and nature and independent red-green flag all are achieved through the lives of lakhs people. With the dream and courage the flag was attained in 46 years back, at present how is the dear Bangladesh? A backward country in the previous, Bangladesh-the land of 56 thousand square miles is now a unique name in the world. Inhabitants of the world are now calling it as Asian Tiger or Next Eleven. When the world economy is in ups and downs the per capita income of the country has raised to 1610 US dollars. As it has forwarded in the infrastructure development, it also improved its position in women empowerment or self sufficiency in food including the reserve and remittance. According to the statistics, for the long 25 years after independence GDP growth rate of Bangladesh did not increase more than 4.5 percent. During 1973-74 to 1979-80 the GDP growth rate was only 3.8 percent. For the next ten years GDP growth rate increased at 5 percent. After that period it crossed over 6 percent. In the fiscal year 2016-17 the GDP growth was 7.28 percent. In the last seven years poverty rate decreased by 10 percent and stood at 21.4 percent. At present 2 crore people are under the poverty line of the 16 crore. It was 4.5 crore after the independence. According to Social Analyst Syed Anwar Hossain, independence does not mean relief. We have to work for a long period to build a social and political discrimination free society in Bangladesh. AH