DHAKA, 07 July 2022, (TON): Unicef Representative in Bangladesh Sheldon Yett has said “attacks on teachers are attacks on education.”

Yett said in a statement "if we fail to protect teachers from violence, it will be children who ultimately suffer.”

Yett said “Unicef is deeply concerned about the recent series of attacks on teachers in Bangladesh.”

"Unicef stands with the country in condemning these attacks, and we call for the safety and security of teachers to be upheld."

DHAKA, 07 July 2022, (TON): Although flood situation continues to improve in most places in north and northeast region of Bangladesh, it claimed three more lives in Netrokona, Kurigram and Moulvibazar districts, raising the total fatalities to 110.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services “all of them drowned in floodwater.”

The DGHS said “the total deaths were recorded between May 17 to July 6.”

The fatalities occurred due to lightning strikes, diarrhea, skin diseases, snakebites, electrocution, landslides and drowning.

DHAKA, 07 July 2022, (TON): Although flood situation continues to improve in most places in north and northeast region of Bangladesh, it claimed three more lives in Netrokona, Kurigram and Moulvibazar districts, raising the total fatalities to 110.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services “all of them drowned in floodwater.”

The DGHS said “the total deaths were recorded between May 17 to July 6.”

The fatalities occurred due to lightning strikes, diarrhea, skin diseases, snakebites, electrocution, landslides and drowning.

KABUL, 07 July 2022, (TON): The supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlawi Hebatullah Akhundzada, in an Eid message said “the Islamic Emirate seeks good relations with the international community including the US.”

The Islamic Emirate’s leader ensured neighboring countries that the Afghan soil will not be used against any country and that the Islamic Emirate expects other countries to not interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.  

He said in a message “we assure our neighbors, the region and the world that we will not allow anyone to use our territory to threaten the security of other countries. We also want other countries not to interfere in our internal affairs.”

“Within the framework of mutual interaction and commitment, we want good, diplomatic, economic and political relations with the world, including the United States, and we consider this in the interest of all sides.” 

DHAKA, 07 July 2022, (TON): Bangladesh Ambassador to Belgium Mahbub Hasan Saleh paid a courtesy call on President M Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.

During the meeting, the ambassador sought the guidance and overall cooperation of the President in discharging his assignment in Belgium.

The head of state said there is an ample opportunity to develop bilateral relations with Belgium as well as increase trade and investment.

President Hamid directed the Ambassador to avail the opportunity in the days to come.

He also asked the Bangladesh envoy to work for the welfare of expatriate Bangladeshis living in Belgium.

DHAKA, 07 July 2022, (TON): Chinese Embassy here on behalf of the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) donated $200,000 to the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society in order to help flood-affected people.

A press release said “Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka handed over the donation to BDRCS chairman Major General (Rtd.) ATM Abdul Wahab at the embassy here.”

Jiming said “China is a long-standing partner for Bangladesh, as evidenced by China’s assistance to Bangladesh’s response and other disaster relief efforts.”

He added “in the face of the flood situation in Sylhet, RCSC took the initiative to provide the necessary support, and this is another example of how China is standing beside Bangladesh all the time.” 

In the future, the envoy said “China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Bangladesh in the area of disaster relief and emergency response.”

DHAKA, 07 July 2022, (TON): Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming has said “the US allegation of “forced labour in Xinjiang” was a lie and this lie, he warned, may hurt Bangladeshi readymade garment industry if people here are not cautious enough.”

The diplomat said ‘obviously, Washington uses this lie about Xinjiang to smear and defame China, with the ultimate goal of containing China. The reason why I have brought it up here today is that, if Bangladeshi people are not cautious enough, this lie may hurt Bangladeshi RMG industry as well.”

He said “it has come to my attention that a certain RMG industry association in Bangladesh recently alerted its members to the risks associated with cotton from China, due to the US allegation of forced labour in Xinjiang.”

The ambassador said “he had also noticed that the alert was issued following a meeting between the association and two representatives from “Indo-Pacific Opportunity Project” affiliated to some US Agency."

By Usman Khan

Constantly increasing fuel prices in Nepal have a direct effected on the cost of living and essentials. The rising cost of fuel has become part and parcel of everyday life, but the price jump that occurred recently left Nepalese speechless. The oil domination raised the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs21 per liter each and kerosene by Rs27, which is the sharpest increase in living memory. Motionless salaries and cumulative price rises have been a periodic feature for all and sundry.

This has had a devastating result on economies imagining to restore back after months of uncertainty. With the recent hike, the price of petrol has reached Rs199 per liter, and diesel and kerosene now cost Rs192 per liter each. At a time when the government’s focus should be on increasing economic output, the recent hike will certainly diminish economic activity.

The unreasonable rise in fuel prices could be attributed to the government’s fear to raise internal revenue, which would otherwise be obtained from duty levied on imports. The avenue of raising revenue from import duty has virtually come to a standstill. The rising prices is tantamount to squeeze every little penny from the already miserable public.

Continually growing fuel charges have a direct effect on the cost of essentials. And this variation inclines to endanger domestic finances producing agony in to masses. It is certainly worse for people working on a daily wage basis.

The current global crisis may be part of the problem, but the major reason is the deplorable condition of the foreign exchange reserves, negligible focus on exports over the years previous the pandemic in Nepal. The widespread joblessness causing from the cold-hearted approach of consecutive governments to handle the Nepalese economy.

The country is founding itself in the central of a financial collapse, and policymakers have not the courage to face it as growing problem which reflects their incompetence and indifference more than anything else.

The pressure has since been mounting on the retailers and the feeble output sector, who have no other recourse than to meet the expected targets by relying on imports. However, with other countries tightening exports of essentials, productivity can be expected to take a hit in the ensuing months adding to the existing anguish.

As the national and provincial elections looming, the government should bring measures that uplift the tattered public confidence by easing the financial burden. However, the current steps initiated by the policymakers show astute political acumen and understanding of general psychology. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if the price hike is down to more acceptable levels as the government is closer to the elections scheduled for the end of November.

The means to hold on to power by manipulating various instruments at their disposal is an old trick mastered over the years. What is necessary is sound economic policies within a medium- to the long-term timeframe. Economic success does not happen on a whim; it requires utmost dedication, mainly from those at the helm of affairs.

High prices is the main hindrance in the way of industrial progress. As the high cost of capital; bank rates are high and bank financing is difficult to get due to a lack of liquidity in the banking system. The second one is the lack of infrastructures, like roads, electricity, etc., for industries.

The land is another big hindrance at present. Land prices have hit a lot in the industrial sector and it is becoming difficult for them to acquire land for the industries. The procedural hurdles are quite a nuisance. There are numerous issues related to tax that get in the way of industrial growth in Nepal.

To overcome these problems, there are some effective solutions. The first one is to facilitate the industries with a continuous supply of electricity at a certain rate. The government should deliver electricity at reasonable rates during the rainy season. To address the problems in land acquisition. The government should also get rid of procedural hurdles while respecting the industrialists and acknowledging their contribution to the private sector.

SEOUL, 06 July 2022, (TON): US Air Force F-35A stealth fighters arrived in South Korea on their first publicly announced visit since 2017 as the allies and nuclear-armed North Korean engage in an escalating cycle of displays of weapons.

Joint military drills had been publicly scaled back in recent years, first in 2018 because of efforts to engage diplomatically with North Korea and later because of the pandemic.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took office in May, has sought to increase public displays of allied military power, including exercises, to counter a record number of missile tests conducted by North Korea this year.

North Korea also appears to be preparing to test a nuclear weapon for the first time since 2017.

JEDDAH, 06 July 2022, (TON): US special envoy Robert Malley said “Iran has made alarming progress on enriching uranium and is hampering talks on a revived nuclear deal by making a series of unrelated demands.”

Negotiations in Vienna aimed at salvaging the collapsed 2015 agreement have been stalled since March, and talks in Qatar last week to break the impasse ended in failure.

Malley said “Tehran added demands that I think anyone looking at this would view as having nothing to do with the nuclear deal, things that they’ve wanted in the past.”

“The discussion that really needs to take place right now is not so much between us and Iran, although we’re prepared to have that. It’s between Iran and itself. They need to come to a conclusion about whether they are now prepared to come back into compliance with the deal.”