Earlier, the Russian company Gazprom used a special law to get work done at high prices. After the special law was repealed, it has now started racing for the Bhola-Barishal-Dhaka pipeline on a G2G basis.

The company always got work at more than double the price due to the previous government. The DPP (Development Project Proposal) was finalized considering the general work cost, but in the case of Gazprom, a formal DPP was issued based on how much money to pay. During the Awami League regime, the issue of giving work to Gazprom at high prices was an open secret. The state company Bapex could have dug a well for Tk. 70 to Tk. 80 crore, but Gazprom was given Tk. 220 crore to dig the same well. In this way, there have been allegations of wasting several thousand crore taka of the state in digging 20 wells.

As the fugitive Awami League lobbyists went into hiding, a new group emerged. They have started lobbying to provide work at high rates. It is said that they have continued to put pressure on the Energy and Mineral Resources Division and Petrobangla.

The issue of bringing the island district to the mainland through the Bhola-quoted gas pipeline has been under discussion for several years. The government has given in-principle approval subject to partial changes in the pipeline route. It has been decided to leave the Bhola-Barishal section of the Bhola-Barishal-Khulna gas pipeline unchanged and build the Bhola-Barishal-Dhaka (Aminbazar) pipeline.

Petrobangla Chairman Rezanur Rahman told Barta24.com that the in-principle decision has been made for the Bhola-Barishal-Dhaka pipeline. The feasibility study of the Bhola-Barishal pipeline has been completed, and a consultant is being appointed to study the feasibility of the Barishal-Dhaka pipeline.

In response to a question, the Petrobangla chairman said that there will also be a Barishal-Khulna pipeline, but the first phase will be a Bhola-Barishal-Dhaka pipeline.

The Bhola-Barishal pipeline has been estimated at Tk. 2,600 crore. Gazprom people are rushing to get the job. The ministry, Petrobangla and GTCL are rushing to get it. Some are being tempted and others are being pressured in various ways, according to sources in the Energy and Mineral Resources Division.

Not only the pipeline work, but also the work of the canceled 5 well drilling projects is being done at a high price. The runaway Awami League government had finalized the process of giving them to Gazprom under a special law. When the interim government came to power and canceled the special law, that process was stopped. Bapex saved several hundred crores of money.

Tenders for those 5 well drilling projects have already been invited. The last date for submitting tenders was February 3. Several tenders have also been submitted. But for some mysterious reason, Bapex has extended the time by another 46 days without opening the tender. Questions have started to arise about whether the strategy of wasting time is to give special benefits to Gazprom. This gives Gazprom an opportunity to put pressure on the higher echelons of the government regarding those wells.

A letter sent to the ministry regarding those wells of Gazprom has been presented in such a way. It would seem that Gazprom has emerged as a savior in this country. The letter states that Gazprom has contributed to the country's energy security by drilling 20 wells since 2012. Another paragraph states that if the work of drilling 5 wells is not given, the bill for reed and manpower demobilization will have to be paid. The reality is that whenever they remove the rig, they will get the demobilization bill as per the agreement.

But it has been presented in such a way that if the work is not done, the money will have to be paid. Bapex has consciously avoided the issue of high prices in the letter. Many have questioned Gazprom's apparent neutrality with the PD of the 5-well drilling project.

Dr. Amirul Islam, a consultant to Gazprom's Bangladeshi agent, told Barta24.com that primary talks are underway at the ministry level regarding the pipeline. We have brought Gazprom engineers to show them around the river on a speedboat. We have special technologies that can be used here.

He claimed that the pipeline issue is a very high-tech issue, for which Gazprom is very suitable. Very few companies have the experience of building pipelines in the sea like Gazprom. And the quality of our work is very high. Proof can be found only by verifying the wells we have drilled.

Gazprom claims high-quality work, but reality says otherwise. A confidential report on the wells drilled by Gazprom has raised objections about the quality. The report in this regard (November 17, 2016) was sent to Petrobangla with great confidentiality. The report highlights examples of poor quality work carried out by Bapex in the well.

Gazprom completed drilling the Titas 20 well on May 19, 2013. The Bapex report shows that production stopped within a short time due to poor quality drilling and ancillary activities. Production stopped due to excess water entering the well during test production. Later, remedial work was done to avoid possible damage to the reservoir. For this, Gazprom collected an additional bill of Tk. 136.63 crore.

Another well drilled by Gazprom, the Titas 21 well, started production on December 30, 2013. Within just 6 months, production stopped (self-killed) when excessive water and sand (35 mmscf) came in with the gas (on June 20, 2014). Mining experts believe that such problems usually occur when tubing and cementing are not proper. Later, while performing a work over through Bapex to activate the lift, an error was detected in the tubing placement.

This information-based work was done by the then Managing Director Engineer Atikuzzaman. He was supposed to receive a reward for this work. But in just 6 days, he was removed from the post of MD of Bapex. After Atikuzzaman's fate, no one else dared to speak out against Gazprom.

Jahangirnagar University (JU)authority has decided to temporarily suspended 9 teachers for their involvement in aiding and abetting the attack on July protesters. At the same time, a decision has been taken to temporarily expel 289 students involved in the attack. In addition, a structured committee has been formed to give a final decision considering the involvement and extent of the crime of 10 more teachers.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan confirmed this information after a syndicate meeting that lasted for about fourteen hours on Monday (March 17).

9 teachers suspended, structured committee formed for 10 people:

According to the report of the investigation committee, 9 teachers have been temporarily suspended from their jobs for their involvement in the attack on protesters at JU during the July mass uprising and a structured committee has been formed for further investigation.

In addition, a structured committee has been formed to give a final decision considering the involvement of 10 teachers in the attack on protesting students on July 15-17 and the extent of the crime.

289 Chhatra League students temporarily expelled:

On the other hand, a decision has been taken to temporarily expel 289 students associated with the politics of the University branch of Chhatra League identified in the report of the investigation committee formed in the attack on protesting students on July 14-17 during the July movement.

It has been decided to suspend the certificates of those involved in Chhatra League among the expelled students. In addition, it has been informed that the results of students who have taken undergraduate or postgraduate exams will be suspended or, in special cases, their certificates will be suspended. On the other hand, a decision has been taken to temporarily expel regular students.

Pension of former JU vice-chancellor and registrar suspended:

Even if retired teachers and officials do not study under the University Efficiency and Discipline Ordinance, the University syndicate has suggested that decisions be taken where the retired teachers and officials are involved due to their involvement with the University. In this context, it has been decided to suspend the pensions of former JU Vice-Chancellor Professor Md. Nurul Alam and Registrar Abu Hasan for the attack on students during the July movement until the investigation and trial process is completed.

2 officers and 1 employee suspended:

The University administration has suspended 2 officers and an employee for their involvement in the July attack. In addition, an employee has been suspended for his involvement in the incident.

After a long wait, the country's longest 'Jamuna Rail Bridge' built over the Jamuna River is going to be inaugurated today. However, since it is a single-track rail line, the full benefits of the bridge will not be available immediately.

On Tuesday (March 18), Railway Ministry Secretary Md. Fahimul Islam will be present as the chief guest at the Jamuna Rail Bridge inauguration ceremony. The inauguration of the bridge will make rail travel between Dhaka and North and South Bengal easier.

The Railway Division has already made all kinds of preparations for the inauguration. As part of the program, guests and concerned persons will cross the Jamuna Rail Bridge in the inaugural train from the Jamuna Rail Bridge East Ibrahimabad Station to the Sayedabad Railway Station on the western end of Sirajganj at 11:20 am. There, a press conference will be held at the Sayedabad Railway Station at 11:40 am. Later, they will return to the east end of the Ibrahimabad Railway Station at 12 noon.

Trains will be able to run at a speed of 120 kmph over the bridge. However, from the day of inauguration, trains will run at a speed of 90 kilometers over the bridge in the first phase. It will take 3 and a half minutes. Earlier, it took 20 minutes for trains to cross the Jamuna Bridge.

The double-track bridge, built on 50 pillars and 49 spans with state-of-the-art steel technology, stands tall with a promise of durability for a hundred years, indicating the potential progress of Bangladesh.

Built with Japanese cutting-edge technology, this bridge is different from all other bridges in the country. The bridge has double tracks and two modern stations on both sides. There are gas pipelines and power lines under the deck of the bridge, which will play an important role in the development of North Bengal.

The interim government of Bangladesh has expressed deep concern over US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard's remarks on the rise of extremism and terrorists in Bangladesh.

On Monday (March 17) night, the press secretary to the chief adviser, Shafiqul Alam, gave the government's response in a statement.

The statement said that the interim government is deeply concerned about the remarks made by Tulsi Gabbard about the persecution and killing of religious minorities in Bangladesh and the establishment of an Islamic caliphate in the country.

The statement also said that Gabbard's remarks are not based on any evidence or specific allegations. They paint an entire nation from a broad and unjustified perspective. Like many countries in the world, Bangladesh has faced the challenge of extremism, but has worked in partnership with the international community, including the United States, to address these issues through law enforcement, social reforms and other counter-terrorism efforts.

The baseless association of Bangladesh with the concept of an “Islamic Caliphate” undermines the hard work of countless Bangladeshis and their friends and global partners who are committed to peace, stability and progress. Bangladesh strongly condemns any attempt to associate the country with any form of “Islamic Caliphate”.

Political leaders and public figures should base their statements, especially on the most sensitive issues, on factual knowledge. This should be done to avoid reinforcing harmful poisons.

In addition, caution should be exercised to avoid creating communal tensions.

In support of our joint global efforts to combat extremism and terrorism, the interim government of Bangladesh is committed to engaging in constructive dialogue based on truth and respect for the sovereignty and security of all nations, the statement added.