This year the rate of minimum Sadakatul Fitra has been fixed at Taka 115 per head while the maximum amount is Taka 2,640, said a release of the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh today. The National Fitra Determination Committee took the decision at a meeting held at the Islamic Foundation Baitul Mukarram conference room this noon with the committee chairman and Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Hafez Maulana Mufti Mohammad Ruhul Amin was in the chair. The authorities concerned have raised this year's minimum amount of Fitra by 53 percent to Taka 115 per person as this year's maximum Fitra amount is Taka 2,640 per person which was Taka 2,310 last year. According to the Islamic Shariah, Fitra can be paid by any of the products like flour, barley, raisins, dates and cheese and these Fitra is fixed on the basis of the market price of flour, barley, dates, raisins and cheese collected from all parts of the country. "If Fitra is collected by wheat or flour, 1 kg 650 grams or its market price should be paid Taka 115. If collected by barley, 3 kg 300 grams or its market value is Taka 396, if collected by raisin, 3 kg 3 hundred grams or its market value is Taka 1,650, if collected by dates, 3 kg 3 hundred grams or its market value is Taka 1,980 and if collected by cheese, 3 kg 300 grams or its market value Taka 2,640 must be paid fitra," the release added. Muslims can collect Sadaqatul Fitr from any one of these products or its market value according to their ability, it also said. Noting that the local retail market prices of the above products may vary, the meeting was told that, even if you pay at the local price, you will be charged Fitra. Islamic Foundation Governor Maulana Muhammad Kafiluddin Sarkar, Principal of Madinatul Uloom Kamil Madrasa Maulana Md Abdur Razzak, Vice Principal of Jamia Shariah Mufti Nazrul Islam and prominent scholars and ulama-kerams, among others, were present there. 

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has asked banks to keep the margin on the opening of letters of credits (LCs) to import onion at a minimum level. “The prices of onion are on an upward trend at local markets following the price hike of the key cooking ingredient in international markets,” said a BB circular issued today. Under the circumstances, BB instructed banks to keep the margins on opening letters of credits (LCs) for importing onions at a minimum level. The instruction would be effective until December 31 this year. Source: BSS AH

The Cabinet on Monday approved the draft Hajj Package-2020, fixing the minimum cost for an intending pilgrim at Tk 3.15 lakh under package-3 of the government. Pilgrims will have to pay Tk 4.25 lakh to avail package-1 and Tk 3.60 lakh under package-2 under the government management which is Tk 6500 and Tk 16,000 more than the previous year respectively. Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam disclosed this at a press briefing at the Secretariat after the Cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. This year, a total of 1,37,198 people will go to Saudi Arabia to perform hajj and 17,198 of them will go under government management while the rest under private management. Source: UNB AH

Some changes have been brought in the method and process of first year bachelor degree (honors) admission in National University (NU) affiliated colleges. The required minimum GPA for admission has been increased. According to the NU decision, for admission in humanities department it needs 2.50 minimum GPA in the SSC, HSC and equivalent examinations. For science and business studies it needs GPA 3 in SSC and GPA 2.50 in HSC examinations. So far the minimum qualification was GPA 2 in SSC, HSC and equivalent examinations. The decision was taken at the 89th academic council meeting of National University at its campus in Gazipur on Saturday. NU Vice Chancellor Professor Harun-or-Rashid presided over the meeting. Pro-vice Chancellor Mashiur Rahman and Hafiz Mohammad Hasan Babu, Treasurer Noman ur Rashid and other academic members among others were present in the meeting. AH  

The High Court has delivered order declaring the revised gazette notification illegal which was issued by liberation war affairs ministry fixing the minimum age 12 years 6 months for the freedom fighters till November 30, 1971. The High Court bench comprising Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Razik Al Jalil passed the order on Sunday after final hearing of a writ filed by Director of Bangladesh Geological Survey Directorate Mahmud Hasan. Barrister Omor Sadat represented the writ petitioner before the court while Deputy Attorney General Mokhlesur Rahman represented the state. The High Court earlier issued the rule asking the concerned authorities to explain why the amended gazette notification shall not be declared beyond legal authority. The court had asked Liberation War Affairs Ministry, its Secretary, Joint Secretary, power and energy Secretary, finance Secretary, Jatiya Muktijoddha Command Council Director General and Director General of Department of Geological Survey to respond. Earlier in a gazette notification issued on January 17, 2018  the ministry fixed minimum age for freedom fighters at 12 years 6 months instead of 13 years. Later challenging the decision some concerned persons filed writ with the High Court challenging the gazette notification. After publishing the first gazette in 2016 it was said that the minimum age for the freedom fighters should be at least 13 years till March 26, 1971. Last year in a revised gazette notification it was said that the minimum age for the freedom fighters will be 12 years 6 months till November 30, 1971. AH

Readymade garment workers have blocked city road for the third consecutive day on Tuesday demanding the increase and implementation of their minimum wage structure. They took positions on the Kalshi road of Mirpur around 9:30am, halting traffic movement on the road. Eyewitnesses said that 22-storey garment workers took to the city thoroughfare since the morning to press home their demand of salary hike. Pallabi Police Station OC Nazrul Islam said efforts were being made to remove them from the road. Although the workers stayed on one side of the road, vehicular movement on the other side was normal. Police are also trying to conduct negotiation between garments’ owners and workers to solve the problem, he said. Two days ago, the garment workers took positions on the airport, Uttara, Tongi, Gazipur roads demanding an increase in their minimum wage structure and its implementation. MHK

Hundreds of workers from different garment factories in the city’s Uttara area have blocked Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway for realizing various demands, including implementation of minimum wage. Airport Police Assistant Commissioner Mizanur Rahman said the garment workers took to the streets around 9am on Sunday and took position on the road stretching from Azimpur to Jasim Uddin to press home their demand. A huge traffic jam on both sides of the busy city road has been created following the blockade, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded for hours. Uttara West Police Station OC Ali Hossain Khan said they were talking to the protesting garments workers and owners of the garment factories to resolve the issue. MHK

Jatiya Oikyafront Spokesman Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, to bring back democracy and rights of people Oikyafront is taking part in the election. Level playing field is inevitable for holding free and neutral election. But that was not created at a minimum stage. He said these at a press conference over the issue of election and ongoing political situation at the National Press Club organized by Jatiya Oikyafront on Saturday. Mirza Fakhrul said, to uphold the constitution and to free the other political leaders including Begum Khaleda Zia all the political parties under Oikyafront are taking part in the election. He said, unfortunately after declaring the election schedule still leaders and activists are being arrested everyday under mysterious cases illegally. Even the election candidates, former members of parliament are being arrested. If the situation continues then level playing field for election will not be created. Mirza Fakhrul demanded saying, these arrests have to be stopped. The arrested have to be freed, cases have to be withdrawn. Otherwise this election will not be acceptable to the people. We repeatedly said, said to the Prime Minister, she promised, even told the Election Commission but arrests are not being stopped. He warned saying, we will hope that arrests will be stopped after the press conference of Dr. Kamal Hossain. Otherwise to create an environment for fair election and to make the election acceptable we will be forced to declare greater programs. In the press conference it was mentioned that a list of 681 leaders and activists who were arrested after declaring election schedule was handed over to the Election Commission. Jatiya Oikyafront convener and Gono Forum president Dr. Kamal Hossain also spoke on the occasion. Founding president of Krishak Shramik Janata League Banga Bir Kader Siddique, founder of Ganashasthaya Kendra Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury, former VP of DUCSU Sultan Mohammad Mansur, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Gono Forum executive president Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu among others were present at the press conference. AH       

The government has announced minimum wage for the garments workers. It was announced keeping minimum wage 8 thousand taka. It will be effective after the month of December next. State Minister for Labor and Employment Mujibul Haque Chunnu announced the wage structure at an emergency press conference at the ministry on Thursday. On January 14 of the current year the government formed wage board for the garments workers. The wage board consisting four permanent members, president of garments owners’ association-BGMEA and a representative from the workers fixed the wage considering the overall matters. Earlier, on November 7, 2013 the gazette was issued fixing minimum wage 5 thousand 300 taka for the garments workers. AH

The apex organization of readymade garments businessmen BGMEA proposed to fix taka 6,360 as minimum wage for the garments workers. President of the organization Siddiqur Rahman said that this wage was fixed considering the inflation. His proposal came in at the third meeting of the minimum wage commission on Monday. Minimum wage commission chairman Syed Aminul Islam was present in the meeting. Workers leader Begum Shamsunnahar Bhuiyan among others was present on behalf of the workers. Proposal was made from the workers to fix 12,020 taka as the total minimum wage for the garments workers. The new wage frame work was made considering the livelihood expense of workers, quality, production cost, inflation, types of work, risk and quality, business ability and other socio economic affairs. Meanwhile, Garment Workers Trade Union held human chain program in front of minimum wage board office at Paltan in the capital for their demand of fixing minimum wage 16,000 taka. BGMEA president Siddiqur Rahman said, 11 matters are considered to fix the wage of workers. No exception was made this time. We proposed wage 6,360 taka for the worker of minimum grade 7th. Later wages for other grades will be increased gradually. Workers leader Shamsunnahar Bhuiyan said, some organizations proposed to fix minimum wage 16,000 taka and some other 18,000 taka. But in our country qualifications are not the same for all garments workers. New technologies have come in this sector. Experienced people are needed in this regard. So we want that any inexperienced person becomes jobless. Besides, capacity of providing wages for all of our factories is not the same. We hope that wage commission will consider the matters. AH