Hundreds of thousands of frustrated homeowners in more than 100 cities across China are joining together and refusing to pay back loans on their unfinished properties, reports The New York Times.

Their boycott represents one of the most widespread acts of public defiance in China. Despite efforts from internet censors to quash the news, collectives of homeowners have started or threatened to boycott in 326 properties, according to a crowdsourced list. By some estimates, they could affect about $222 billion of home loans, or roughly 4 percent of outstanding mortgages.

The boycotts are also a sign of a growing economic fallout as China reckons with the impacts of its Covid restrictions. The country’s economy is on track for its slowest growth in decades. The real estate market, which drives about one-third of China’s economic activity, has proved particularly vulnerable.

Earlier in 2020, China started to crack down on excessive borrowing by developers to address concerns about an overheating property market. The move created a cash crunch, leading Evergrande and other large property developers to spiral into default.

Protests erupted last month in Henan Province when a bank froze withdrawals. The demonstration set off a violent showdown between depositors and security forces.

However, the boycotts threaten to undermine Xi Jinping’s pursuit of a third term as China’s leader.

A coal carrying ship has sunk in the Meghna river in the island upazila Hatiya of Noakhali.

At that time, 12 people, including sailors and workers of the sunken ship, were rescued with the help of another ship.

The shipwreck took place on Monday (October 2) around 10 am in Moulvir Char area of Ramgati Chargzaria and Hatia upazila of Meghna river.
The news was confirmed by Incharge (Inspector) Ferdous Ahmed of Barakheri River Police in Ramgatti.

Talking to the naval police and locals, it is known that the coal-carrying ship left Chittagong for Daudkandi.

On reaching the spot, the bottom of the ship burst. Water entered and most of the ship sank in the river.

Later another ship of the same company came and rescued the sailors and workers.

Chattogram City Corporation (CHSIC) has launched an operation to destroy dengue mosquito breeding grounds and eviction of illegal establishments in Chattogram city. Meanwhile, 5 institutions including Metropolitan Hospital were fined Tk. 58 thousand.

CCC Regional Executive Officer and Executive Magistrate Shaheen Ferdous led the operation conducted in different areas of the city on Monday (October 2).

During this time, he visited GEC, Golpahar, Jamalkhan areas of the city to prevent dengue disease and removed the illegal constructions on roads and footpaths along with rooftop gardens of houses and buildings under construction.

According to CCC sources, Tk. 25,000 to Chattogram Metropolitan Hospital for occupying roads and sidewalks, Tk. 10,000 to Mohammadia Hotel restaurant for placing generators on the road, Tk. 2,000 to Bay-Emporium Shoe Showroom for throwing garbage on the sidewalk, Tk. 1,000 to one Abdul Hannan, Tk. 1,000 to Jamal Khan. Sanmar Spring Garden Owners Association was fined a total of Tk. 58 thousand including Tk. 20 thousand due to the presence of Aedes mosquito larvae in the underground of the building in the area.

During the operation, the stone of Warrior Tower was seized on the roads and footpaths of Golpahar.

During this time, the private secretary of the city mayor and the chief cleaning officer Muhammad Abul Hashem along with the officers and employees of the relevant departments assisted Chattogram Metropolitan Police Magistrate. 

New price structure for diesel, kerosene, petrol and octane has been announced for fuel oil marketing companies. The Gazette in this regard has been published by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division.

Energy and Mineral Resources Division has published the gazette that this price will be effective from 12:00 PM on Monday (October 2). Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has been asked to sell its subsidiaries at new rates.

The price of diesel per liter has been fixed at Tk. 109 (including VAT). Kerosene with VAT is Tk. 101.44, octane with VAT is Tk. 119.62 and petrol with VAT is Tk. 114.86. It is reported that the new order has been given to coordinate the commission of fuel oil sellers. At present, diesel and kerosene are priced at Tk. 109 per litre, petrol at Tk. 125 and octane at Tk. 130 per litre.

According to the new price structure of widely used diesel, the ex-refinery price (after tax) is Tk. 101.44 with the actual price of Tk. 88.21 plus VAT of Tk. 13.23. At the merchant level, VAT is Tk. 2.14, marketing company's margin is 50 paisa, equal transport fare fund account is 90 paisa, BPC's fuel oil sector development fund is 10 paisa, and the main establishment price center price is Tk. 105.08. To this will be added local transport cost of dealers (within 40 km) of 93 paisa, dealer and agent commission of Tk. 2.99. All will be sold for Tk. 109.

On the other hand, kerosene has been fixed at Tk. 13.34, petrol at Tk. 14.98 and octane at Tk. 15.60.

In the last 24 hours, 11 more people died in dengue fever. With this, the death toll in this season has reached 1,017. Two thousand 596 people have been infected by dengue during this time.

This information was revealed in a notice sent from the Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room of the Directorate of Health on Monday (October 2).

According to the circular, seven of the 11 people who died are residents of the capital Dhaka and the remaining four are from outside the capital. 607 people have been admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka and 1989 people have been admitted to different hospitals outside Dhaka.

At present, a total of 9 thousand 283 dengue patients are under treatment in various public and private hospitals of the country. There are currently 3 thousand 120 dengue patients admitted in public and private hospitals of Dhaka and 6 thousand 163 dengue patients in various hospitals of other departments.

This year, 2 lakh 8 thousand 884 patients have been admitted to hospital and treated with dengue throughout the country. Out of this, 84 thousand 458 people were treated in Dhaka and 1 lakh 24 thousand 426 people outside Dhaka.

Among the infected 1 lakh 98 thousand 584 people recovered at the hospital and returned home. Of them 80 thousand 683 recovered in Dhaka and 1 lakh 17 thousand 901 outside Dhaka recovered and returned home.