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Foreign investment sought while local investors face power, gas crisis

Meghna Group Chairman Mostafa Kamal asked how investors can feel confident when local businesses themselves are grappling with gas and electricity shortages, as the government continues to encourage foreign investment.

He raised the concern on Wednesday in a consultative meeting jointly organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the National Board of Revenue (NBR) at a hotel in the capital.

He claimed that “despite investing $600 million in a major industrial venture, his company is still deprived of necessary gas and electricity connections. If the country's entrepreneurs are the ones suffering from the energy crisis, then why would foreigners come to invest here?”

https://en.bd-pratidin.com/economy/2025/05/01/35978

So looks like the start of the political rallies today, with the lead up to the elections at some point between December 2025 to June 2026

Today the top three party’s, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the Jamaat-e-Islami, and The Jatiya Party all have rallies, all of which are in favour of Bangladesh using its own resources for energy should they win the election!!

Three days of political rallies began in Bangladesh on Thursday with rival groups set to stage mass demonstrations in Dhaka, drumming up support for eagerly anticipated elections following an uprising last year.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, 84, who has led an interim government since autocratic prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled into exile as crowds stormed her palace in August, has said elections will be held as early as December, and at the latest by mid-2026.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), widely tipped to win the poll, will hold a May Day rally in Dhaka.

"We are confident this will be the most memorable grand rally in recent times," BNP media officer Shairul Kabir Khan said.

The largest Islamist political party, Jamaat-e-Islami, will also take to the streets of the capital on Thursday.

The Jatiya Party, formerly close to Hasina's regime, will also hold a rally.

It will be its first outdoor political event since its offices were vandalised in October, allegedly for helping Hasina's Awami League cling to power.

https://24newshd.tv/01-May-2025/bangladesh-begins-three-days-of-mass-political-rallies?version=amp

Rival Political Rallies Sweep Dhaka Ahead of Bangladesh Elections

Three days of political rallies began in Bangladesh on Thursday, with rival groups staging mass demonstrations in Dhaka to build momentum ahead of long-awaited elections. The rallies follow an uprising last year that ousted autocratic Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled into exile in August after protestors stormed her palace. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, 84, who now leads the interim government, has pledged elections by December or, at the latest, mid-2026.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), widely favored to win the upcoming election, will host a May Day rally in Dhaka. “We are confident this will be the most memorable grand rally in recent times,” said BNP media officer Shairul Kabir Khan. The Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami and the Jatiya Party, which was formerly aligned with Hasina’s regime, will also rally in the capital. The Jatiya Party’s event marks its first public demonstration since its offices were attacked in October, allegedly for aiding Hasina’s Awami League in maintaining power.

https://english.pardafas.com/rival-political-rallies-sweep-dhaka-ahead-of-bangladesh-elections/

Bangladesh begins three days of mass political rallies

Three days of political rallies began in Bangladesh on Thursday with rival groups set to stage mass demonstrations in Dhaka, drumming up support for eagerly anticipated elections following an uprising last year.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, 84, who has led an interim government since autocratic prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled into exile as crowds stormed her palace in August, has said elections will be held as early as December, and at the latest by mid-2026.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), widely tipped to win the poll, will hold a May Day rally in Dhaka.

“We are confident this will be the most memorable grand rally in recent times,” BNP media officer Shairul Kabir Khan said.

https://humenglish.com/world/bangladesh-begins-three-days-of-mass-political-rallies/

😳😳

The interest payment against foreign loans crossed US$ 1.2 billion-mark in the first three quarters of the current fiscal year (FY 2024-25) as Bangladesh repaid $ 3.21 billion in outstanding debts, officials said Wednesday.

The government paid $ 1.20 billion in interest and $ 2.01 billion in principal against the total outstanding medium- to long-term loans (MTLs) during the July-March period, Economic Relations Division (ERD) data showed.

The country's foreign debt servicing has been rising year-on-year amid falling aid commitments and disbursements by the development partners (DPs).

According to the ERD, the DPs released loans and grants during the period worth $ 4.808 billion, 14.61 per cent lower than the same period of FY '24. The aid commitment also dropped by 58.50 per cent to $3.0 billion until Q3, FY '25 from $7.24 billion in the same period of last FY.

The bilateral trios - China, India and Russia - are yet to make any commitment during the period under review, the ERD statistics showed.

Meanwhile, lower foreign aid inflow has already affected implementation of dozens of ongoing development projects, project officials said.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/interest-payment-against-foreign-loans-crosses-12b-mark-in-q3

I wonder why!!!

🙈🙈🙈🤣🤣🤣🤣

https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/electric-vehicle-sales-yet-gain-pace-3402506

🤔

Country no more dependent on IMF, WB: adviser

https://www.newagebd.net/post/Country/263605/country-no-more-dependent-on-imf-wb-adviser

That’s going to go down well ….

Bangladesh plans to overlook certain IMF conditions in loan agreement

https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/afb3b417258e

Endorsing the December-June timeline announced by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has specifically pinpointed December and April as the most suitable months within this period for holding the next general election.

https://www.daily-sun.com/post/802813

Govt sets benchmark power tariff for coal-fired plants

https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/govt-sets-benchmark-power-tariff-coal-fired-plants-3883511

Reform, election can go simultaneously: Biplobi Workers Party

Saiful Haque, general secretary of Biplobi Workers Party (the Revolutionary Workers' Party), has commented that reforms and elections can go hand in hand to ensure the democratic aspirations of the people.

"Since 1971, the aspirations and expectations of the people of Bangladesh have been repeatedly shattered. Even after the mass uprising of the 1990s, expectations have been shattered. Dreams have turned into nightmares. I don't want that nightmare to repeat again," he added.

https://en.prothomalo.com/amp/story/bangladesh/politics/yl60b8rclo

Severe energy crisis affects life, business in Bangladesh

https://www.newagebd.net/post/Country/263556/severe-energy-crisis-affects-life-business-in-bangladesh#google_vignette

With the National Charter to now to be completed by July 15th, and if the majority of political parties agree with the reforms, then I believe that December elections are now more likely …. 🤔

Let’s see how these reforms progress over the coming weeks ….

🤣🤣🤣🤣 digit, that’s so funny….

Redeyes, I’m not bothering to read YKIR’s posts anymore, but have just read this article and it may help with the understanding of what’s being suggested ….

https://www.newagebd.net/post/politics/263566/gana-adhikar-parishad-for-all-reforms-under-interim-govt

I believe that this means that if all political parties agree with the reforms, and the national charter is complete by July 15th being requested then elections can take place after about 4 months

“The NCC has been assigned to draft a national charter by July 15.”

Reform Process: Prof Yunus gives directives towards next steps

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday gave necessary directives towards next steps on the reform process as the National Consensus Commission reviewed the progress of the ongoing discussions with political parties.

He made the directives during a meeting with the members of the National Consensus Commission held at the State Guest House Jamuna.

https://unb.com.bd/category/Bangladesh/reform-process-prof-yunus-gives-directives-towards-next-steps/158573

I think that Yunus needs to take his rose tinted glasses off and turn his hearing aid up, may be even read the Bangla press occasionally as well for what is really happening in the country!!

Delayed elections may jeopardise foreign investment prospects: Mustafizur

Investment in Bangladesh could face obstacles if the upcoming national election is not held within the promised timeframe, warned Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).

"If the next election in Bangladesh is not held within the pledged timeframe, political uncertainty may arise, consequently hampering investment," he said while speaking at a shadow parliament debate competition on ‍‍`Prospects and Challenges of Foreign Investment‍‍` organised at the FDC on Saturday, reports UNB.

https://thereport.live/bangladesh/delayed-elections-may-jeopardise-foreign-investment-prospects-mustafizur/35083

Another political party saying that elections should be before December 2025….

Zonayed Saki: Explanation required if elections held after December

Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of the Ganosamhati Andolon, has said that the timeframe suggested by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus regarding the national election needs to be more precise, asserting that if the election is to be held after December, an explanation must be provided for the delay.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/amp/bangladesh/politics/379792/zonayed-saki-explanation-required-if-elections