Election Update
The upcoming general election in Bangladesh is likely to be pivotal, with the United States and other Western countries putting pressure on the ruling Awami League government to resign and allow the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to take power. The BNP has been accused of plotting to derail the election, and the US is considering sanctioning BNP leaders. (Views of Anita Mathur)
POLITICS
Foreign Relations
Bangladesh’s BRICS membership is uncertain because India and Brazil have yet to finalise the procedures for admitting new members. However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will still be in South Africa for the BRICS summit in order to strengthen ties with the country and other African nations. (Mir Mostafizur Rahaman, Financial Express)
Bangladesh has rejected a US proposal to assimilate Rohingya refugees, claiming that the country is too densely populated and does not require citizens from other countries. According to the foreign minister, the US previously expressed willingness to accept Rohingyas but did not follow through. He stated that the priority is repatriation to Myanmar, which is willing to accept them. (News Desk, Pakistan Defence)
Yao Wen, China’s ambassador to Bangladesh, stated that China will not interfere in the country’s upcoming general election, which is set to take place in January 2024. He stated that the people of Bangladesh will elect their leaders. (News Desk, bdnews24)
National
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused the BNP of plotting to derail the next election, claiming that the party is aware that it will never gain power through the ballot box. She also claimed that some foreign countries are attempting to stymie Bangladesh’s progress by utilising the Bay of Bengal. (News Desk, New Age)
Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Secretary General of the BNP, has warned the government not to hold the election without a caretaker government. He stated that the government would not be allowed to do so, and that the people of Bangladesh have awoken and are holding massive anti-government rallies. (News Desk, Dhaka Tribune)
A photo and video of a Jubo League leader carrying arms during a clash in Cox’s Bazar’s Chakaria has gone viral. A Jamaat activist was killed in the clash. The police have denied opening fire. (News Desk, Prothom Alo)
ECONOMY
HSBC, a foreign broker, believes that Bangladesh’s equity market has the potential to grow significantly in the next few years, similar to India and Vietnam in the past. This is due to the country’s strong economic growth, rising consumption, and increasing foreign investment. (Abhishek Vishnoi & Karl Lester M Yap, The Business Standard)
Despite the high demand for skilled workers in developed countries such as Japan and South Korea, Bangladesh has been slow to capitalise on these opportunities. The government has taken some steps to improve skilled worker training, but more must be done to make Bangladesh a more appealing destination for skilled migrants. (Arafat Ara, Financial Express)
To protect its food security and stabilise prices, Bangladesh has requested an annual import quota of 15 lakh tonnes of rice, 25 lakh tonnes of wheat, 10 lakh tonnes of sugar, 6 lakh tonnes of onions, 50,000 tonnes of garlic, and 1 lakh tonnes of ginger from India. (News Desk, The Business Standard)
Bangladesh has launched the Universal Pension Scheme (UPS), a social safety net initiative for citizens aged 18 to 50 years. The scheme offers four types of pension plans: Progoti (for private sector employees), Probash (for expatriates), Surokkha (for self-employed persons), and Somota (for the underprivileged). (Miraj Shams, Business Post)
Heavy rains and flooding in Chattogram have submerged nearly 50,000 hectares of agricultural land, resulting in a Tk 31,108 crore financial loss. Over 1,91,797 farmers have been affected by the flooding, which has damaged Aush paddy, Aman paddy, summer vegetables, and autumn vegetables. (Md Saidur Rahman, Business Post)
Bangladesh and India intend to build 16 new border haats to boost bilateral trade and create economic opportunities for border communities. The new haats will be located in Mizoram and West Bengal. (News Desk, Financial Express)
SOCIETY
Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman has been granted bail in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA). He was accused of sharing a “graphics card” on Facebook that was critical of the government. (News Desk, Daily Asian Age)
Although dengue fever cases are declining, other viral fevers and waterborne diseases are on the rise. Doctors warned people not to consume fluids from the outside because they could be contaminated with waterborne diseases. (Helemul Alam, Shaheen Mollah, Daily Star)
Infographic
Opinion: What do Dhaka and Bangkok have in common?
Both Dhaka and Bangkok are primate cities with overcrowded and unplanned transportation infrastructure. To reduce traffic congestion, cities must improve public transportation, decentralise economic activities, and reduce population density. (Nawshad Ahmed, Daily Star)
