State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit on Thursday told Parliament that the government has decided to introduce a trial of 110 megawatts of load shedding in the capital to ensure uninterrupted electricity for irrigation and reduce the urban-rural disparity. “Due to lack of adequate energy supply, load shedding is happening in some places. On the advice of the Prime Minister and in discussions with the Opposition Leader, we have decided to initially conduct experimental load shedding of 110 MW in Dhaka to bring this issue to a tolerable level,” he said.

Making a statement under Rule 300 in the House, the state minister said the decision was taken to protect farmers during the peak irrigation season and ensure fair distribution of electricity between rural and urban areas.

"We think that the people in the city will be in comfort but the people in the villages who are the hard-working farmers will be suffering, which is in no way desirable," he said.

He said there should be no discrimination between cities and villages. “To eliminate that discrimination, we have decided to implement load shedding in cities as needed, so that farmers can get sufficient electricity for their irrigation,” he said.

The minister expressed regret over the suffering caused by ongoing power outages, noting that the current load-shedding—hovering around 2,000 megawatts—would ease within the next seven days.

“There is no denying that many people have suffered due to the power crisis during this intense summer heat. This is not a problem created overnight; rather, it is the result of accumulated mismanagement in the past,” he said, adding that the current government has to bear the liability caused by mismanagement by the ‘fascist’ government.

He explained that although the power generation capacity appears high on paper, actual output falls short due to fuel constraints.

On Wednesday, peak electricity demand stood at around 16,000 megawatts, while generation reached only 14,126 MW, forcing load-shedding of about 2,086 MW.

The minister said the government has prioritised uninterrupted electricity supply for irrigation to ensure farmers are not affected during the harvest season, in line with directives from the prime minister.

As the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) prepares for its upcoming National Council, the focus of the political landscape has shifted toward the selection of the next Secretary General. With the long-serving incumbent, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, signaling his retirement due to health concerns, the party stands at a critical juncture of organizational restructuring.

Background and Timing

The BNP’s constitution mandates a National Council every three years. However, due to a complex political climate, the last council was held nearly a decade ago, on March 19, 2016.

• Proposed Date: Party sources indicate plans to hold the council on September 1, coinciding with the party's founding anniversary.

• Strategic Context: Currently, the BNP is in a position of state power, and leadership views this council as a vital tool to revitalize field-level activities and strengthen the organizational framework.

The Shift in High Command

Following the passing of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman has solidified his position as the party's Chairman and ultimate decision-maker. Consequently, the appointment of the next Secretary General will primarily rest upon his strategic vision for the party's future.

Frontrunners for the Secretary General Post

While several names are circulating, two leaders have emerged as the primary contenders:

Other notable mentions include:

• Nazrul Islam Khan (Standing Committee Member)

• Shamsuzzaman Dudu

• Aman Ullah Aman

Mirza Fakhrul’s Impending Retirement

In a recent interview, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed his desire to step down following the council, citing physical exhaustion. His departure marks the end of an era, posing both a challenge in finding a successor of his caliber and an opportunity for the party to introduce fresh momentum.

 Broader Organizational Restructuring

The council is expected to look beyond just the Secretary General's post:

• Standing Committee: Vacancies in the highest policymaking body are expected to be filled.

• Infusion of Youth: There is a strong push to promote younger leaders to enhance organizational dynamism.

• Grassroots Inclusion: Plans are underway to ensure active participation from the grassroots to the central level, aiming for a more inclusive decision-making process.

A Political Turning Point

Analysts view this council as a "Turning Point" for the BNP. The selection of the new Secretary General will not only signify a change in personnel but will also dictate the party’s future political strategy and its ability to govern effectively. Whether the party chooses the grassroots-favorite Rizvi or the strategic veteran Salahuddin, the decision will be based on a combination of sacrifice, experience, and organizational efficiency.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday informed Parliament that the government has adopted a time-befitting seven-point plan to boost agricultural development and transform the sector into a sustainable and profitable one.He came up with the information while replying to a starred question from treasury bench member Md Robiul Awal (Tangail-6) in the House.The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is an agriculture-dependent country and the role of this sector is very crucial in ensuring food security, poverty reduction and overall economic growth. “But agriculture is facing various challenges, including climate change, population growth, shrinking arable land and technological limitations.”

“To face these challenges, the government is working to increase agricultural production and productivity, and turn the sector into a sustainable and profitable one,” he said.

Tarique Rahman said the government has already started distribution of “Farmers’ Card” on April 14 in line with the BNP’s electoral manifesto.

Through the card, farmers will receive 10 types of services, including fair-priced agricultural inputs, subsidies and incentives, affordable farm machinery, irrigation support, easy agricultural loans, crop insurance, fair market access, training, and digital access to weather and market information along with pest control advice, he said, adding that all farmers of the country will be brought under the scheme in phases.

The Prime Minister detailed the government’s seven-point plan, which includes expansion of modern irrigation systems, bringing fallow land under cultivation and introducing crop zoning to ensure optimal land use, diversification of agricultural products, ensuring transparent and accountable incentives through farmer cards, providing low-interest agricultural loans and crop insurance, building modern cold storage and warehouses, and promoting research for high-yielding, disease-resistant and short-duration crop varieties.

He said the government has taken plans to expand modern irrigation systems alongside the use of improved and high-yielding seeds and balanced fertiliser to increase agricultural production and productivity. In this regard, the government has already undertaken a programme to excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals, which will be implemented over the next five years.

Tarique Rahman said the current government has also planned to make various agricultural machinery, including tractors, harvesters and reapers, easily accessible to farmers by providing subsidies for agricultural mechanisation.

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“Crop zoning” has been introduced to bring fallow land under cultivation and ensure optimal use of land, he said, adding that through this system, crops suitable for the soil, climate and environment of specific regions are determined, which helps reduce land wastage and increase production. “At the same time, various programmes have been taken to identify fallow land and bring it under cultivation,” he said.

Highlighting the government’s emphasis on diversification of agricultural products, the Prime Minister said the country’s once rice-dependent farming system is now gradually being expanded to include fruits, vegetables, pulses, oilseeds, spices and flowers.

“To ensure transparency and accountability in incentives and support programmes for farmers, subsidies will be provided through the Farmers’ Card for seeds, fertilisers, agricultural machinery and other inputs,” he said.

Besides, initiatives are being taken to introduce low-interest agricultural loans and crop insurance, Tarique Rahman said, adding that special assistance programmes are also being implemented to rehabilitate farmers affected by natural disasters.

He said modern cold storage facilities and warehouses are being constructed to preserve agricultural produce. Besides, initiatives have been taken to install mini cold storage units for fruits and vegetables and to distribute air-flow machines for onion preservation.

“There are also plans to establish agricultural export zones and procurement centres in the northern region to boost the export of agricultural products,” the Prime Minister added.

He also highlighted the government’s activities in agricultural research and innovation.

Tarique Rahman said the government has a plan to implement climate-smart agriculture to cope with the climate changes adversity as well as to promote environment-friendly farming with reduced use of irrigation, chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and introduce prepaid meters and farming apps.

Replying to a supplementary question from the same lawmaker, he said the government has taken a plan to enhance soil fertility.

“Due to the use of chemical fertilisers, soil fertility has declined. So, we want to increase the use of nano fertilisers in the country through soil testing. We aim to establish a practice so that fertiliser costs are reduced and soil fertility is not degraded,” the Prime Minister said.

In reply to another supplementary question from opposition bench member Masum Mustafa (Netrokona-5), he said agricultural labourers will also receive support. “Marginal and small farmers have been brought under the Farmers’ Card support programme. Through the support, we will also try to ensure that agricultural labourers receive support,” he said.

The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) on Wednesday conferred a reception to the Bangladesh Under-20 national football team following their title win in the SAFF U-20 Championship.At a event held at the Gulshan Nagar Bhaban, each player of the champion team was awarded a cheque of Tk 50,000, along with crests and souvenirs. Members of the coaching staff were also honoured.DNCC Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton attended the event as the chief guest, while Bangladesh Football Federation President Tabith Awal was present as special guest. DNCC Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Asaduzzaman delivered the welcome speech.

Speaking on the occasion, the DNCC Administrator said the nation feels proud whenever Bangladeshi players carry the national flag in victory laps, adding that football in the country is entering a new phase.

He also noted that steps are being taken, under the prime minister’s directives, to free open spaces from illegal occupation and make them suitable for sports activities.

Addressing the players, he said they are seen as the future of the national team and emphasised that the purpose of the event was to honour and inspire them rather than focus on financial rewards.

In his speech, Tabith Awal thanked the DNCC Administrator for supporting sports, saying city corporations play an important role in developing sports and fostering social unity.

Among others present were BFF Vice-President Fahad Mohammad Ahmed Karim, members of the U-20 team, DNCC Chief Health Officer Brig Gen Imrul Kayes Chowdhury, Chief Engineer Brig Gen Syed Rakibul Hasan, and officials from both DNCC and BFF.