Switzerland will fully cooperate in accordance with international standards and procedures to return illegal money deposited by Bangladeshi citizens in Swiss banks.

On Thursday (September 12) Swiss ambassador Reto Siegfried Rengli made this promise in a meeting with foreign adviser Touhid Hossain.

During the discussion, the foreign adviser sought the cooperation of the Swiss authorities in identifying and recovering the illegal assets of certain Bangladeshi citizens in Swiss banks.

Citing the recent student uprising as a surprising development, the Swiss ambassador termed the change as an opportunity for comprehensive reforms in Bangladesh and assured the Swiss government's support in the reform process.

The foreign adviser highlighted the significant decision of the Interim government to form several commissions for state reform.

Both sides welcomed Bangladesh's accession to the UN Convention on Enforced Disappearances and agreed to work together to further advance the human rights agenda.

Swiss ambassador to Bangladesh on trade and investment described Bangladesh as a market with unprecedented potential and called for greater involvement of the private sector and creation of a level playing field to attract new Swiss investments.

Noting the immense potential of Bangladeshi youth especially in ICT, the foreign adviser requested Swiss assistance to harness the full potential of productivity and economic growth through entrepreneurship and job creation.

The ambassador expressed the interest of the Swiss side in this regard.

Both sides discussed the Rohingya issue and agreed that the only solution to the crisis is the repatriation of the displaced people in Myanmar with safety and rights to their home countries.

Power, energy sector was supposed to be the backbone, but it has become a burden due to the wrong policies of the previous government. 16-point recommendations including formation of independent commission of inquiry, cancellation of special provisions law were presented.

These proposals were given at a press conference on the topic of Citizens' Expectations of Power and Energy Sector Reforms at the Dhaka Reporters Unity Auditorium on Thursday (September 12). The press conference was organized by the Bangladesh Working Group on Environment and Development (BWGED).

Hasan Mehedi, member secretary of BWGED, said that various individuals and institutions are given the opportunity to steal profits. Many laws and policies have been made to favor special groups. A commission needs to be constituted to bring out these anomalies.

He said, we applaud the suspension of the Special Provisions Act. Not only should it be suspended, but the master plan prepared by JICA should be cancelled. It contains various inconsistencies and errors.

He also said that despite the previous government's talk of reducing dependence on fossil fuels, there has been no real progress. Gas-fired power plants produce electricity 49.3 percent of the time, remaining idle 51 percent of the time. Yet new LNG based gas power plants are being approved, which is totally unacceptable. Now is the time to stop sanctioning these failed projects and focus on sustainable and renewable energy.

Research Director of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Khandkar Gholam Moazzem said that a dominant cycle had developed in the energy and power sector, which had to be broken. The laws that were enacted in the past were meant to protect the interests of certain individuals or groups. Now in terms of making laws and policies, decisions should be made in the light of public welfare and scientific knowledge. There has long been a reluctance to adopt knowledge-based policies. Now is the time to break out of that reluctance and give the highest priority to knowledge in policy decisions.

The Rapid Increase in Supply of Electricity and Fuel (Special Provisions) Act, 2010 (with amendments) is repealed with immediate effect. Setting up of the Independent Public Inquiry Commission, Initial Environmental Assessment (IEE) and Environmental Assessment Report (EIA) should be made open and mandatory. Bringing fossil fuel based power plants under 'no electricity no pay' policy. All fossil fuel based power plants contracted but not under construction must be cancelled. Cancellation of approved and proposed construction of new LNG terminals, granting status of independent division to Sustainable and Renewable Energy Authority (SREDA), import duty and VAT exemption for renewable energy machinery and equipment, ensuring good governance in the power and energy sector, eliminating corruption in the sector and balancing the environment 16 points of demands are presented to protect and eliminate the risk of climate change . 

Four laborers were killed in a rice bran oil reserve tank explosion at Sherpur in Bogura.

The accident took place at Majumdar Products Limited rice bran oil production factory in Bhawanipur area of upazila on Thursday (September 12) around 1:30 pm.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sherpur Police Station Rezaul Karim confirmed this.

One of the dead has been identified as Imran Hossain (32). He is the son of Abdur Khaleq of Officer Colony of Syedpur Upazila of Nilphamari.

The OC of Sherpur police station said that oil was stored in a 50 feet high reserve tank in the factory named Majumdar Products Limited. Four workers were repairing the top of the tank with an electric welding machine. When the reserve tank exploded, the bodies of four workers were burnt and they fell down. Later they were rescued and taken to Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital where doctors declared them dead.

The OC also said that attempts are being made to contact the families of the victims by collecting their names. Legal action will be taken in this regard.

The Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus urged businessmen to help build a fresh state from the rotten country.

Referring to the dissatisfaction between the workers and the owners, he said, we will work together to resolve the unrest that has arisen in the garment sector in the country. The main objective of this government is that the worker-owner will work as a team.

He said this at the 'National Business Dialogue' event organized by the International Chamber of Commerce on Thursday (September 12) afternoon at Hotel Intercontinental.

The Chief Adviser to businessmen said, you invest in social business. Where there will be no profit. Start this business in the region where your business is located. I encourage you to do this. Remember making money is happiness but making other people happy is much more.

Mentioning that opportunities do not come again and again in the life of a nation, Dr. Muhammad Yunus said, "We want to stand as a healthy and strong nation, not a rotten one." Opportunity does not come again and again in the life of the nation, we should not lose this opportunity. We will build a new Bangladesh.

The nation could not have been saved from decay if the youth did not give it a chance. The head of the government also said that the Interim government will work with everyone in the formation of the country.