Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has reduced the price of a 12-kg cylinder of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by Tk 40 at the retailer level. The newly fixed price of LPG is Taka 1,442, which was Taka 1,482.  BERC Chairman Nurul Amin announced the new price at a press conference on Wednesday (April 3) noon. The new prices will be effective from 6 pm. Meanwhile, On March 3, the price of LPG was increased at the consumer level for the eighth consecutive month. Earlier  On February 4, the BERC raised the price of a 12-kg cylinder by Tk 41 to Tk 1,474.  

Chinese tech has been critical in bridging Africa’s digital divide but the support often comes with high and hidden costs. Digital technologies have many potential benefits for people in African countries. They can support the delivery of healthcare services, promote access to education and lifelong learning, and enhance financial inclusion. But there are obstacles to realizing these benefits. The backbone infrastructure needed to connect communities is missing in places. Technology and finance are lacking, too. In 2023, only 83% of the population of sub-Saharan Africa was covered by at least a 3G mobile network. In all other regions, the coverage was more than 95%. In the same year, less than half of Africa’s population had an active mobile broadband subscription, lagging behind Arab states (75%) and the Asia-Pacific region (88%). Therefore, Africans made up a substantial share of the estimated 2.6 billion people globally who remained offline in 2023. A key partner in Africa in unclogging this bottleneck is China. Several African countries depend on China as their main technology provider and sponsor of large digital infrastructural projects. This relationship is the subject of a study I published recently. The study showed that at least 38 countries worked closely with Chinese companies to advance their domestic fiber-optic network and data center infrastructure or their technological know-how. China’s involvement was critical as African countries made great strides in digital development. Despite the persisting digital divide between Africa and other regions, 3G network coverage increased from 22% to 83% between 2010 and 2023. Active mobile broadband subscriptions increased from less than 2% in 2010 to 48% in 2023. For governments, however, there is a risk that foreign-driven digital development will keep existing dependence structures in place. The global market for information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure is controlled by a handful of producers. For instance, the main suppliers of fiber-optic cables, a network component that enables high-speed internet, are China-based Huawei and ZTE and the Swedish company Ericsson. Many African countries, with limited internal revenues, can’t afford these network components. Infrastructure investments depend on foreign finance, including concessional loans, commercial credits, or public-private partnerships. These may also influence a state’s choice of infrastructure provider. The African continent’s terrain adds to the technological and financial difficulties. Vast lands and challenging topographies make the roll-out of infrastructure very expensive. Private investors avoid sparsely populated areas because it doesn’t pay them to deliver a service there. Landlocked states depend on the infrastructure and goodwill of coastal countries to connect to international fiber-optic landing stations. It is sometimes assumed that African leaders choose Chinese providers because they offer the cheapest technology. Anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise. Chinese contractors are attractive partners because they can offer full-package solutions that include finance. Under the so-called “EPC+F” (Engineer, Procure, Construct + Fund/Finance) scheme, Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE oversee the engineering, procurement and construction while Chinese banks provide state-backed finance. Angola, Uganda and Zambia are just some of the countries which seem to have benefited from this type of deal. All-round solutions like this appeal to African countries. What’s in it for China? As part of its “go-global” strategy, the Chinese government encourages Chinese companies to invest and operate overseas. The government offers financial backing and expects companies to raise the global competitiveness of Chinese products and the national economy. In the long term, Beijing seeks to establish and promote Chinese digital standards and norms. Research partnerships and training opportunities expose a growing number of students to Chinese technology. The Chinese government’s expectation is that mobile applications and startups in Africa will increasingly reflect Beijing’s technological and ideological principles. That includes China’s interpretation of human rights, data privacy and freedom of speech. This aligns with the vision of China’s “Digital Silk Road”, which complements its Belt and Road Initiative, creating new trade routes. In the digital realm, the goal is technological primacy and greater autonomy from Western suppliers. The government is striving for a more Sino-centric global digital order. Infrastructure investments and training partnerships in African countries offer a starting point. From a technological perspective, over-reliance on a single infrastructure supplier makes the client state more vulnerable. When a customer depends heavily on a particular supplier, it’s difficult and costly to switch to a different provider. African countries could become locked into the Chinese digital ecosystem. Researchers like Arthur Gwagwa from the Ethics Institute at Utrecht University (Netherlands) believe that China’s export of critical infrastructure components will enable military and industrial espionage. These claims assert that Chinese-made equipment is designed in a way that could facilitate cyber attacks. Human Rights Watch, an international NGO that conducts research and advocacy on human rights, has raised concerns that Chinese infrastructure increases the risk of technology-enabled authoritarianism. In particular, Huawei has been accused of colluding with governments to spy on political opponents in Uganda and Zambia. Huawei has denied the allegations. The way forward Chinese involvement provides a rapid path to digital progress for African nations. It also exposes African states to the risk of long-term dependence. The remedy is to diversify infrastructure supply, training opportunities and partnerships. There is also a need to call for interoperability in international forums such as the International Telecommunications Union, a UN agency responsible for issues related to information and communication technologies. Interoperability allows a product or system to interact with other products and systems. It means clients can buy technological components from different providers and switch to other technological solutions. It favors market competition and higher-quality solutions by preventing users from being locked into one vendor. Finally, in the long term African countries should produce their own infrastructure and become less dependent.   Source: Asia Times

The price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has increased again at the consumer level in the country The price of a 12 kg cylinder has been increased by Tk 8 to Tk 1,482 per 12 kg cylinder. Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has increased the prices of LPG gas. At the consumer level, the price of 5.5 kg bottled LPG has increased from Tk 676 to Tk 679, 12.5 kg to Tk 1544 from Tk 1536, 15 kg to Tk 1853 from Tk 1843, 16 kg from Tk 1966 to Tk 1976, 18 kg from Tk 2211 to Tk 2223, 20 kg from Tk 2457 to Tk 2470, 22 kg from Tk 2703 to Tk 2717.  The price of 25 kg LPG has increased from Tk 3072 to Tk 3088, 30 kg from Tk 3686 to Tk 3706, 33 kg from Tk 4054 to Tk 4076, 35 kg from Tk 4300 to Tk 4323 and 45 kg from Tk 5529 to Tk 5558. The new prices will be effective from Sunday (March 3) evening.  

The government has withdrawn the decision to increase the price of sugar considering the sufferings of the people.   However, it was decided to increase the price of sugar by Tk 20 per kg on Thursday (Feb 22). Mahmudul Hasan, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Industries, confirmed the matter on Thursday night. He said the government has changed the decision to increase the price of sugar considering the sufferings of the people.  BSFIC said it will sell sugar at previous rate of Tk 140 per kg. Earlier, the Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) raised the maximum retail price of sugar by Tk 20 per kg.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has lifted the customs tariff and reduced regulatory duty on rice, sugar and dates and lifted value added tax (VAT) on edible oil to boost supply and contain prices of the essentials during the Holy month of Ramadan to begin in the middle of March. Some 25 percent customs duty for rice import has been removed and regulatory duty slashed to 5 percent from 25 percent, according to a notification published by the NBR today.  In a separate notice, the NBR lifted VAT on edible oil. It reduced the specific duty for import of raw sugar to Taka 1,000 per tonne from Taka 1,500 earlier. The NBR also cut import duty for dates, mostly consumed during the fasting month of Ramadan, to 15 percent from 25 percent. The new rates have already become effective.

The price of LPG has been increased Tk 41 again at the consumer level. The new price of 12 kg cylinder has been ifixed at Tk1,474 from Tk1,433. Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) said that the new price will come into effect from Sunday evening (Feb 4).   According to the BERC decision, the price of “auto gas” (LPG for motor vehicles) also increased to Tk 67.68 per litre (including VAT) from Tk 65.76 per litre. Due to increase in the prices of Saudi CP (contract price), LPG price witnessed an increase in the local market, a BERC officials statement said.   The operators of Bangladeshi LPG  normally import their products from the Middle-eastern market on the basis of Saudi CP. The price of LPG witnessed the highest at Tk 1,498 (12 kg cylinder) in the local market in February 2024.

Diamond Egg Ltd and CP Bangladesh have been fined Tk 3.5 crore for artificially raising the price of eggs. Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) slapped the fine. The commission gave a final order on this matter last Monday and the judgment was published on Wednesday (Jan 24). Diamond Egg will have to pay Tk 2.5 crore and CP Bangladesh Tk 1 crore in 30 days from the day the order was issued, BCC said in separate notices. Earlier, in October last year, the BCC had fined two companies, Kazi Farms, and Suguna Foods about Tk8.5 crore in a case related to the abnormal increase in the price of broiler chicken.  

The price of 22-carat gold has hit Tk1,12,440 per bhori, the highest in the history of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Jewellers' Association (Bajus) has decided to raise the price of gold by Tk1,400 per bhori following an increase in the price of pure gold in the local market. It is the highest price of gold as of Wednesday (Jan 17). Earlier on December 24, the price of gold hit the highest record of Tk1,11,041 per bhori. Bajus's standing committee on pricing and price monitoring took the decision in a meeting on Wednesday, a press release said. Now, gold of 22-carat will cost Tk 1,12,440 per bhori (11.664 grams), 21-carat Tk 1,07,308, 18-carat Tk 92,028, and gold of traditional method Tk76,632 respectively. The new prices will come into effect from Thursday.

The new price of 12kg LPG now stands at Tk 1,433. The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced the hike on Tuesday (Jan 2). The new price will be in effect from 6:00 pm today.   Earlier, on Dec 3, the price of LPG was increased at the consumer level for the fifth consecutive month. The price of a 12 kg cylinder was increased by Tk 23 to Tk 1,404 in December. Subsequently, BERC also increased the price of autogas. In the month of December, the price of autogas at the consumer level was fixed at Tk 64.43 per litre.   In 2023, the prices of LPG and autogas decreased in January, March, April, June, and July and increased in February, May, August, September, October, November, and December.   Bangladesh has an annual LPG demand of nearly 14 lakh metric tonnes. The government produces 2% of the consumers’ demand, while the rest is met through imports by the private sector, according to State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid.

Gold prices are set to hit a new record as the Bangladesh Jewellers' Association (Bajus) decided to sell each bhori (11.664 grammes) of the precious metal at over Tk 1.10 lakh from tomorrow (Dec 24). The standing committee on pricing and price monitoring of Bajus took the decision at a meeting today due to a rise in pure gold prices, the association said in a statement. The current price of each bhori of 22-carat gold ornaments is Tk 1.09 lakh. Badal Chandra Roy, general secretary of Bajus, said prices were increasing due to the demand-supply gap. The rising US dollar price is another factor behind the hike. In July, the price of gold crossed the Tk 100,000-mark for the first time in Bangladesh.