Local production cools down AC prices
Prices of air conditioners have seen a drastic fall in recent years due to increased local production and assembly. Photo: Star
Air conditioners (ACs) were once thought of as luxury items that are only enjoyed by the elite, but their prices have seen a drastic fall in the recent years thanks to increased local production and assembly.
Jhimi Chakma, a lecturer of the philosophy department at Dighinala Degree College in Khagrachhari, has been using a locally made 1.5-tonne inverter AC for the past one year without any disruption.
According to him, it would cost at least Tk 90,000 for an international brand unit while he spent only Tk 65,000 for practically the same service.
Arifur RahmanDhaka
Published: 07 Jan 2021, 17:23
Yet another scam has come to light regarding procurement of machinery in the health sector. Furniture and equipment have been purchased at inflated rates in violation of the rules and regulations. Equipment to detect thalassemia has been bought for eight times more than allocated. Anesthesia ventilator has been bought at a price 12 times more than the estimated cost of Tk 481,000 a unit. And unnecessary equipment has been purchased, outside of requirements.
Irregularities and corruption in health sector procurement have made headlines many times during the coronavirus pandemic. Purchasing fake masks at a high price, providing COVID-19 reports without tests and huge wealth being amassed by a health ministryâs driver, are just some of the scandals
The textiles and jute ministry issued a circular to this effect on December 6.
In January 2014, the government had made it mandatory to source half of the jute bags and sacks for the packaging of paddy, rice, wheat and fertiliser from the jute mills run by the BJMC and the rest from private sources. But the government shut all of the 25 jute mills of the BJMC in July to get rid of continuous losses. The corporation used to supply half of the jute bags and sacks used by the food department and the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation.
The latest decision came at a meeting at the textiles and jute ministry on December 2. Lokman Hossain Miah, textiles and jute secretary, presided over the meeting.