Govt Approves Tk 164.84 Billion Deals for Fuel and Fertilizer

The government has decided to review contracts signed under the Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provision) Act 2010, commonly known as the indemnity act, which allowed public contracts to be awarded without tenders and shielded government actions in the energy sector from judicial scrutiny.

In Bangladesh, women are increasingly leading a transformation in agriculture, moving from traditional home management roles to managing small and medium-sized commercial farming enterprises. Over the past decade, women's participation in agriculture has surpassed men's, with a 7-percentage-point higher employment rate in this sector, according to official statistics. The Labour Force Survey (LFS) 2022 reveals that 26.2% of women aged 15 and above are involved in agriculture compared to 19.2% of men.

The Advisers Council Committee on Economic Affairs approved, in principle, a proposal for emergency LNG procurement from the spot market to address the country's gas demand. The LNG will be sourced from 23 firms under Master Sale Purchase Agreements with Petrobangla, following Public Procurement Rules, 2008.

Recent floods in Bangladesh have caused significant agricultural losses estimated at Tk3,346 crore, affecting 1.4 million farmers. The most severe impact was on paddy production, with losses of Tk2,519 crore, and extensive damage to 291,333 hectares of paddy fields and 19,680 hectares of Aman paddy seedbeds.

Linde Bangladesh Ltd has declared a 4,100% cash dividend, the highest since its Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) listing. This follows a dramatic 4,596.5% increase in profit to Tk 631.68 crore as of July 31, 2024, compared to Tk 13.45 crore the previous year. The earnings per share (EPS) soared to Tk 415.08 from Tk 8.84, mainly due to a capital gain from selling shares of its subsidiary, Linde Industries Pvt Ltd. Net operating cash flow per share (NOCFPS) also rose to Tk 13.19 from Tk 8.38. Linde's share price jumped 17.83% to Tk 1,547.30 after the dividend announcement.

The ongoing flood in Noakhali has devastated 85,379 fish farms, resulting in losses of approximately Tk 576.50 crore. The affected areas include Noakhali Sadar, Begumganj, Kabirhat, Companiganj, Subarnachar, Chatkhil, and Sonaimuri, with Begumganj and Companiganj being the hardest hit. The flood has impacted thousands of fish farmers, including those who had significant investments and expectations for the season.