Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) has launched the primary report of the recently conducted Economic Census 2024 showing a downward trend in the share of female employees in economic units and also an unparalleled dominance of the service sector in the economy across the country.
It reveals that in 2024, the share of female employees in economic units was 6.4%, which was 7.21% in 2013. The last economic census was conducted in 2013.
About the service sector, it shows that in 2013, the number of economic units in the service sector was 6,915,982, which increased to 10,835,896 in 2024. The share of the service sector is 91.23% of the total units in 2024.
Human Rights Watch has handed a report on the July Uprising to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, saying that officers had told them the ousted Bangladesh dictator, "Sheikh Hasina directly ordered enforced disappearances and killings".
A HRW delegation, led by Elaine Pearson, Asia Director of the world most respected human rights group, called on Professor Muhammad Yunus and praised the Interim Government for its reform initiatives and the efforts to improve the rights situation in the country.
"We commend the progress you have made so far," the HRW Asia chief said.
Highlighting that establishing rights was the core principle during the July-August Monsoon Revolution, she said Bangladesh "ordinary people now realise the importance of human rights" in every sphere of life.
The HRW recommended the disbanding of the Rapid Action Battalion, saying its officers who were responsible for killings and enforced disappearances should be held accountable for their crimes.
"There needs to be some accountability," she said.
The arrears of Beximco workers will be paid by February, after selling the mortgaged shares of the Beximco Pharma and Shinepukur Ceramics, said Labour and Employment Adviser Brig. Gen (retd) Dr Sakhawat Hossain on Tuesday.
The adviser came up with the announcement at a press conference held at the Secretariat in Dhaka. Earlier, he attended a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee to review the labour and business situation of Beximco Industrial Park.
Sakhawat said Tk 550 to 600 crore would be needed to pay the arrears of the workers of all lay-off organizations of the Beximco.
“The government will pay the salaries and allowances by February once this amount is not managed by selling the shares,” he said.
The government has decided to nationalise all registered Ebtedayee madrasahs in the country in phases.
SM Masudul Haque, joint secretary to Technical and Madrasah Division under the Ministry of Education, came up with the announcement at on Tuesday afternoon following demonstrations by Ebtedayee madrasah teachers at Shahbagh since Sunday demanding nationalisation.
At least five people were injured when police dispersed a group of Ebtedayee madrassah teachers attempting a march towards the Chief Adviser official residence on Sunday to press home their demand.
The law enforcers lobbed at least two sound grenades and used water cannons to disperse the protesters.