The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Power Department officials on Sunday said it would take until today (Monday) morning to fully restore power supply across the country disrupted after Saturday's disaster in the national grid.

They said the power supply did not fully restore across the country until 7pm on Sunday.

Official sources said the country generated 3,100 MW of power during the peak hours Sunday against the demand for 3,450 MW which led to a load-shedding of 350 MW across the country.

Managing Director of Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) Harunur Rashid told UNB that they have almost restored power supply throughout the country, except a few areas.

He said still two generation units-one in Ashuganj and another in Khulna-remained out of order following Saturday's national grid failure.

He said the 110 MW Khulna power plant again tripped Sunday morning while one unit at Ashuganj remained off.

He said the investigation committee formed following the November 15 national grid failure has also been asked to probe Saturday's breakdown.

Sources, however, said the power supply in the capital city fully restored by Sunday morning.

Following the incident, neither the Power Division nor the Power Development Board issued any press release or handout regarding Saturday's disaster in the power supply.

Local juice manufacturers may face tough competition

Staff Reporter

One of the top 10 manufacturers of fruit juices in the world, the Dabur Nepal, is eyeing Bangladesh as its potential market posing a threat to the local players.

Currently the Tk 90 crore Bangladeshi juice market is being dominated by Pran Group, which accounts for 44 per cent of the total sales. Partex Group and Abul Khair Group, two other manufacturers are holding 22 per cent each. Acme Laboratories is in the fourth place, which controls from eight to 10 per cent of the market.

Bangladesh's juice market is growing at the rate of about five per cent. Local manufacturers said entering of the giant player in Bangladesh may put them at risk.

Dabur Nepal, wholly owned subsidiary of the Indian FMCG giant, recently urged Bangladesh government to reduce the import duty on juice as its bid to enter the market is thwarted due to the 'high' customs duty.

At present the import duty on juice is 80 per cent. The government imposed the import duty to help boost the local juice industry.

According to the Dabur Nepal website, it is the biggest juice manufacturer in the Himalayan Kingdom, holding 58 per cent of the local market with its Real brand.

Its annual turnover in juice exports amounts to over Nepali Rs 1.5 billion, the consignments going mostly to India.

According to Chief of Dabur Nepal Udayan Gang, Nepal has a juice market of Rs 1 billion and because of the government's encouraging policies it is growing at a rate of 35 per cent.

Dabur Nepal received a boost this year when the government agreed to refund it the duty it had been paying on the packaging material imported from outside Nepal for Real.

Dabur Nepal is eying Bangladesh as one of its potential markets as the SAARC countries are stepping up efforts to boost inter-region trade as well as infrastructure. Bangladesh and Nepal is likely to be connected by rail service.

UNB, Dhaka

At least 10 people were killed and 39 injured in fatal road accidents in five districts on Saturday night and Sunday, largely because of rash driving that resulted in collisions.

In Sirajganj, five people were killed and as many injured as a bus rammed into a 'nasimon' three-wheeler on Dhaka-Bogra highway at Sahebganj village in Raiganj upazila on Saturday night.

Police said a Mymensingh-bound bus dashed the shallow-engine-run locally made three-wheeler at about 9pm, leaving two 'nasiman' passengers dead on the spot and injuring eight others.

The two killed instantly were identified as Shamsu, 30, and Fani, 32, of Chariashikha of Ullapara upazila.

Of the injured, two unidentified men, aged around 30, died on way to Bogra General Hospital while another succumbed to his injuries at the hospital on Sunday afternoon. The other injured were undergoing treatment at the Hospital.

In another major accident in Sherpur, four molasses businessmen were killed and one injured when a truck rammed into a 'bhatvati' three-wheeler on Dhaka-Sherpur highway at Teghar in Nakla upazila on Sunday morning.

Police said a Sherpur-bound goods-laden truck dashed the Mymensingh-bound 'bhatvati', loaded with molasses, at about 10am, killing three molasses businessmen on the spot and injuring two others. One of the injured died later at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

The deceased were identified as Saiful, 30, Mantaj, 18, Chan Mia, 45, and Shamim, 13, of Panchkahania village of the upazila.

The injured bhatvati driver, Mazharul, was admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

In Bogra, two people were killed and 30 others injured when a bus rammed into a roadside tree in Babubagan area in Dupchanchia upazila on Bogra-Naogaon highway in the morning.

Witnesses said a Bogra-bound passenger bus dashed a roadside tree at about 10:30 am, killing passenger Abu Bakar Siddiq, 40, son of late Ijjatull of Bhuipur village of the upazila and an unidentified man, aged around 50, on the spot.

Thirty other passengers were injured. Twenty-one of them were admitted to Dupchanchia Health Complex while the rest nine to Shahid Jiaur Rahman Medical College.

In Khulna, a middle-aged man and his daughter were killed when a bus hit their bicycle from behind on Khulna-Paikgachha road at Ghoshnagar in Paikgachha upazila in the morning.

Police said a Paikgachha-bound bus dashed the bicycle of Ansar Ali, 48, of Sonali village in Tala upazila of Satkhira, near the Shapla crossing in the area at about 10am. Father Ansar Ali and his daughter, Reshma, 12, died instantly.

"The father, along with his daughter, was going to Paikgachha for Eid shopping when tragedy struck them down for rash driving of the bus," says a spot account of the accident.

In Pabna, two day-labourers were killed and three others injured when a truck crashed into a 'nasiman' at Paksey-Ruppur bypass crossing on Iswardi-Lalanshah Bridge road in Iswardi upazila in the morning.

Witnesses said a Pabna-bound truck rammed the locally made tempo, crammed with passengers, from behind at about 7:30 am, killing two day-labourers on the spot and injuring three others.

The deceased are Shahjahan, 37, and Habibur Rahman, 22, of Mirkamari village of the upazila.

The injured were released after providing first aid.

Separate cases were filed with the local police stations.