Bangladesh’s worsening gas shortage has stalled industrial projects, disrupted factories and placed billions of dollars in investments and bank loans at risk, business and energy leaders warned Wednesday.
Sylhet district authorities have begun raids against 14 private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers operating without renewed licenses after receiving a request for legal action from the divisional health directorate.
Bangladesh’s economic growth slowed sharply in the January-March quarter as industrial production contracted and agriculture and services lost momentum.
Bangladesh’s government has set a one-year goal to reduce a 4.5 million-case court backlog to between 2 million and 2.5 million through mediation, arbitration and out-of-court negotiations.
Four more children died with symptoms consistent with measles in the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday, raising the combined number of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 797, health officials said.
Milestone School and College has resumed construction of a seven-story building in an aircraft approach path despite recommendations issued after a fighter jet crash killed 36 people, including 28 children.
Fire hazards, abandoned rural clinics, illegal hospital conversions and a broken oxygen plant are exposing deep failures in Bangladesh’s healthcare system, according to recent reports from several districts.
More than 1,500 applications for industrial gas connections are pending with Titas Gas, underscoring an energy shortage that business leaders say is slowing investment and leaving new factories idle.
Authorities have arrested retired major Mozaffar Hossain, a fugitive accused in the assassination of former president Ziaur Rahman, and transferred him to military custody for trial by general court-martial, home minister Salahuddin Ahmed said.
Bangladesh plans to generate 10,000 megawatts of solar power during the government’s current term as rising fossil fuel imports and energy subsidies place mounting pressure on the country’s finances, the energy minister said.
