Interview
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 30 (UNB) - Chittagong City Corporation Mayor Manjur Alam
Manju has planned to form a 30-member advisory body inducting into it
former mayors and lawmakers for planned development of the port city
considered as the commercial capital of the country.
Lawyers, engineers, doctors, urban planners, cultural activists and
two former experienced councilors will also be on the advisory body,
he said in an interview with UNB Correspondent AKM Moinuddin at his
corporation office.
The advisory body will be functioning within a month and it will give
policy support to the city corporation in preparing plans and
successful implementation of development projects, he said, adding he
will formally invite them within next couple of days and also meet
with former Mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury.
The new Mayor, the guardian of nearly 40 lakh people of Chittagong
metropolis, said he has already started “work for change” giving
priority to removal of the perennial problem of water-logging from
the city.
Manju who took the charge formally on July 20 does not want to shelve
any of his election pledges made to the city dwellers; rather he
wants to show his sincerity for planned development of the city.
“People gave me big responsibility. I want a clean city which will be
free from water-logging and where all inhabitants will get desired
civic services. What I need is cooperation from all.”
Asked about his priority sectors for development, Manju said: “Water-
logging, education, health and infrastructure development are being
given priority.”
Manju unveiled his maiden city corporation budget of Tk 741.51 crore
for 2010-11 on Thursday, reflecting his plan to address the
water-logging problem on a priority basis.
“A Tk 50 crore tender under the new budget will be floated to develop
infrastructures for removing the water logging,” he said.
Manju said standing committees have already been formed to deal
effectively with the issues of water-logging and traffic jam. “The
corporation will start full-scale work to remove water-logging during
the dry season.”
The Mayor also expressed his desires to build Chittagong as a digital
city, apart from construction of a world-class hospital and a
convention center.
Asked about reported lack of accountability in the city corporation
in the past, he said: “We’ll ensure accountability and
transparency.” The corporation would take action if any irregularity
is found, no matter it happened in the past or if happens in the
future, he added.
Manju looks optimistic and intends to work unitedly with cooperation
from all, irrespective of party affiliation, for smooth improvement
of the port city. However, he does not want to stop any of the
ongoing development projects initiated in the past.
He said the city corporation will extend its full support if any
individual or organization comes forward to turn Chittagong into a
city of tourism.
“The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is very sincere for development of
Chittagong City…she assured me of all-out support,” said Manju.
Asked about the case filed by former Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury
for concealing information in the affidavit while submitting his
nomination papers, Manju said he would face it through legal
procedure. “He (Mohiuddin) is a wise politician. He has the right.
But it’ll be settled in the court.”
Asked about his plan to resolve power crisis in the city, Manju said
the city corporation would look into the generation of power by its
own means.
The new mayor does not have any plan to do politics with country’s
key seaport. “But, I want to see the port functioning better. If they
(port authorities) want my support, I’ll definitely extend that for
development of port and to keep it functional.”
Asked about former Mayor Mohiuddin’s role in the port related issues,
Manju said: “He (Mohiuddin) is a seasoned politician. I’m not. I won’
t do politics with the port.”
The Mayor said only few days have passed since he took the office.
“It would be premature to make any comment. So far I didn’t find any
difficulty to run the corporation.”
END/UNB/AKM
Friday, July 30, 2010
Govt won’t step back, no matter how big challenges come: State Minister Capt (retd) Taj
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 30 (UNB) - The nation has found a great chance to try the war criminals and there is no scope to step back but what is needed urgently is national unity, discussants said at a roundtable on Friday.
“Conspiracy was there, conspiracy exists and conspiracy will be there….But, we’ve to ensure victory at the end. There is no way to step back,” state minister for liberation war affairs Capt (retd) ABM Tajul Islam said.
He said the government has preparations to overcome any hurdles in the way of completing trial of war criminals. “Trial of war criminals will have to be accomplished to free the country from stigma…the government won’t step back no matter how big challenge comes.”
Tajul Islam made the remarks at the roundtable titled “Communalism, Militancy and Trial of War Criminals” held at the National Press Club this evening.
Dhakanews24.com, an online Bangla newspaper, arranged the roundtable. Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, World University of Bangladesh VC Abdul Mannan Chowdhury, Amena Ahmed MP, Gonoforum leader Pankaj Bhattacharya, CPB leader Mujahedul Islam Selim, Rokeya Kabir and Sommilito Sangskritik Jote leader Golam Kuddus among others took part in the discussion.
The state minister said the government has no doubt about the success of the trial of war criminals. “It’s a true…true always prevails.”
Tajul said “Conspiracy is on to foil the trial….no conspiracy will be able to stop us.”
He assured that the entire world would consider the trial process as a model for such trial in the future.
“We’ve got a stronger new generation. We want to keep a democratic and secular Bangladesh for them by uprooting militancy and punishing the war criminals,” he said.
Prof Arefin Siddique said the country’s 15 crore people want exemplary punishment of war criminals; and rule of justice can not be established without punishing them through quick trial.
Mujahedul Islam Selim said: “We’re now living under the 72 constitution as the Supreme Court upheld High Court’s verdict.”
He said Jamat-e-Islam is an illegal political party in accordance with the 72 Constitution.
Selim urged all to wake up people at the grassroot-level for involving them in the process of uprooting anti-liberation forces.
Pankaj Bhattacharya said countrywide rallies should be organized to encourage people to stand against the anti-liberation forces. “We’re planning to hold a big rally at Paltan Maidan by December,” he said.
END/UNB/AKM
Dhaka, Jul 30 (UNB) - The nation has found a great chance to try the war criminals and there is no scope to step back but what is needed urgently is national unity, discussants said at a roundtable on Friday.
“Conspiracy was there, conspiracy exists and conspiracy will be there….But, we’ve to ensure victory at the end. There is no way to step back,” state minister for liberation war affairs Capt (retd) ABM Tajul Islam said.
He said the government has preparations to overcome any hurdles in the way of completing trial of war criminals. “Trial of war criminals will have to be accomplished to free the country from stigma…the government won’t step back no matter how big challenge comes.”
Tajul Islam made the remarks at the roundtable titled “Communalism, Militancy and Trial of War Criminals” held at the National Press Club this evening.
Dhakanews24.com, an online Bangla newspaper, arranged the roundtable. Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, World University of Bangladesh VC Abdul Mannan Chowdhury, Amena Ahmed MP, Gonoforum leader Pankaj Bhattacharya, CPB leader Mujahedul Islam Selim, Rokeya Kabir and Sommilito Sangskritik Jote leader Golam Kuddus among others took part in the discussion.
The state minister said the government has no doubt about the success of the trial of war criminals. “It’s a true…true always prevails.”
Tajul said “Conspiracy is on to foil the trial….no conspiracy will be able to stop us.”
He assured that the entire world would consider the trial process as a model for such trial in the future.
“We’ve got a stronger new generation. We want to keep a democratic and secular Bangladesh for them by uprooting militancy and punishing the war criminals,” he said.
Prof Arefin Siddique said the country’s 15 crore people want exemplary punishment of war criminals; and rule of justice can not be established without punishing them through quick trial.
Mujahedul Islam Selim said: “We’re now living under the 72 constitution as the Supreme Court upheld High Court’s verdict.”
He said Jamat-e-Islam is an illegal political party in accordance with the 72 Constitution.
Selim urged all to wake up people at the grassroot-level for involving them in the process of uprooting anti-liberation forces.
Pankaj Bhattacharya said countrywide rallies should be organized to encourage people to stand against the anti-liberation forces. “We’re planning to hold a big rally at Paltan Maidan by December,” he said.
END/UNB/AKM
Thursday, July 29, 2010
New wages for RMG workers come into effect from Nov 1; FBCCI president asks owners to quit business if they fail to implement it
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 29 (UNB) – The minimum wage for entry-level workers in the country’s lucrative yet besieged readymade garment (RMG) sector has been raised to Tk 3000 per month, almost double the existing Tk 1662.5.
Although news of the increase had been leaked as early as Tuesday, the government formally revealed the much-anticipated new wage structure for the sector, fixing Tk 9300 as the maximum and Tk 3000 as the minimum a worker can earn in a month. The government announced the new pay structure will be effective from November 1, 2010.
The government-formulated pay structure stipulates Tk 2500 as an acceptable wage during any probation period a worker may have to serve, an increase of more than 108% over the previous probation period wage of Tk 1200, set in 2006.
Interestingly, although government expressed its optimism that the new pay scale would be implemented within three months, the owners of the over 4500 factories in which the workers are employed were hesitant about committing to the new pay scale within the given timeframe.
Labour and Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain unveiled the recommended wage structure at a crowded press conference in his ministry’s conference room, where representatives of all the parties involved in the wage board were present.
Before the formal announcement, the minister held a marathon meeting with the leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), the two most powerful trade bodies in the industry, with the aim of reaching an amicable conclusion.
In their initial reactions, BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedy and BKMEA President AKM Selim Osman both said they would ‘try’ to implement the recommended wage structure.
However, FBCCI president AK Azad came out more forcefully in favour of the rise, saying: “It will have to be implemented. Those who don’t want to implement it should give up this business and look for a new one.”
Azad noted that the decision had been reached through consensus, and so there should be no impediment to its implementation.
BGMEA president Murshedy said they would soon meet with the Prime Minister, as they have a number of demands including uninterrupted supply of gas and electricity for their factories to operate at fuller capacity, and improved banking facilities.
Murshedy admitted the new wage rate is ‘reasonable’ in the context of the global scenario, he evaded a question on its implementation, merely saying they would ‘try their best’.
At one point, he even suggested all owners might not be able to follow the new wage structure, but that they would be ‘encouraged to do so’.
Permanent member of the Wage Board Habibur Rahman Siraj reiterated that the decision was underpinned by consensus. “There is no relation between the implementation of the decision and demands of owners.”
Workers leader Shirin Akhter said they would give their formal reaction in 2 weeks, when the final draft would be sent for a gazette notification to be brought out, after further evaluation and modification.
According to the recommended wage structure, a Grade 1 worker will be entitled to Tk 9300 (against the existing Tk 5140), while a Grade 2 worker will get Tk 7200 (currently Tk 3840); Grade 3 workers will get Tk 4120 (currently Tk 2449); Grade 4 workers Tk 3763 (currently Tk 2250.10); for Grade 5 workers, Tk 3455 (currently Tk 2046); for Grade 6 workers Tk 3210 (currently Tk 1851) and the lowest Grade 7 workers will get Tk 3000 (against the current Tk 1662.50).
Announcing the new wage structure, Minister Mosharraf said the workers would be availing the benefit from November 1.
Replying to a question he said: “The next 14 days from tomorrow is a notice period. All parties will have the right to give their opinions on the draft and then it will be sent to BG Press for gazette notification.”
He said the government is reviewing wage levels in 36 labor-intensive sectors. “If we fix Tk 5000 as the minimum wage in the RMG sector, the process of reviewing other sectors might get hampered.” He urged the workers to accept the new wage structure.
The Wage Board formed to formulate a new wage structure for the sector earlier finalized the draft and placed it before the government on Tuesday.
All the representatives of different stakeholders on the Wage Board, except the owners’ representatives, signed the draft. Apparently, the owners placed a few conditions from their side and reportedly pressured the Labour minister to give them more time.
Finally however, the owners did sign the draft, after being provided with three months to implement the new pay structure.
On the other hand, the Bangladesh Garments Textile Workers Federation and the Samajtantrik Sramik Front have denounced the newly-set minimum wage of Tk 3000, terming it ‘unjust’.
The government on January 13 this year formed the Wage Board headed by District and Sessions Judge Iktedar Ahmed, to recommend an acceptable minimum wage for the garment sector, in the aftermath of brooding unrest in RMG units across the country. The board held 13 meetings before finalizing the draft wage structure.
Bangladesh’s apparel industry earns $12.5 billion, almost 80 per cent of the country’s entire export earnings annually, and the industry employs 3.5 million workers, mostly women.
END/UNB/AKM
Dhaka, Jul 29 (UNB) – The minimum wage for entry-level workers in the country’s lucrative yet besieged readymade garment (RMG) sector has been raised to Tk 3000 per month, almost double the existing Tk 1662.5.
Although news of the increase had been leaked as early as Tuesday, the government formally revealed the much-anticipated new wage structure for the sector, fixing Tk 9300 as the maximum and Tk 3000 as the minimum a worker can earn in a month. The government announced the new pay structure will be effective from November 1, 2010.
The government-formulated pay structure stipulates Tk 2500 as an acceptable wage during any probation period a worker may have to serve, an increase of more than 108% over the previous probation period wage of Tk 1200, set in 2006.
Interestingly, although government expressed its optimism that the new pay scale would be implemented within three months, the owners of the over 4500 factories in which the workers are employed were hesitant about committing to the new pay scale within the given timeframe.
Labour and Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain unveiled the recommended wage structure at a crowded press conference in his ministry’s conference room, where representatives of all the parties involved in the wage board were present.
Before the formal announcement, the minister held a marathon meeting with the leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), the two most powerful trade bodies in the industry, with the aim of reaching an amicable conclusion.
In their initial reactions, BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedy and BKMEA President AKM Selim Osman both said they would ‘try’ to implement the recommended wage structure.
However, FBCCI president AK Azad came out more forcefully in favour of the rise, saying: “It will have to be implemented. Those who don’t want to implement it should give up this business and look for a new one.”
Azad noted that the decision had been reached through consensus, and so there should be no impediment to its implementation.
BGMEA president Murshedy said they would soon meet with the Prime Minister, as they have a number of demands including uninterrupted supply of gas and electricity for their factories to operate at fuller capacity, and improved banking facilities.
Murshedy admitted the new wage rate is ‘reasonable’ in the context of the global scenario, he evaded a question on its implementation, merely saying they would ‘try their best’.
At one point, he even suggested all owners might not be able to follow the new wage structure, but that they would be ‘encouraged to do so’.
Permanent member of the Wage Board Habibur Rahman Siraj reiterated that the decision was underpinned by consensus. “There is no relation between the implementation of the decision and demands of owners.”
Workers leader Shirin Akhter said they would give their formal reaction in 2 weeks, when the final draft would be sent for a gazette notification to be brought out, after further evaluation and modification.
According to the recommended wage structure, a Grade 1 worker will be entitled to Tk 9300 (against the existing Tk 5140), while a Grade 2 worker will get Tk 7200 (currently Tk 3840); Grade 3 workers will get Tk 4120 (currently Tk 2449); Grade 4 workers Tk 3763 (currently Tk 2250.10); for Grade 5 workers, Tk 3455 (currently Tk 2046); for Grade 6 workers Tk 3210 (currently Tk 1851) and the lowest Grade 7 workers will get Tk 3000 (against the current Tk 1662.50).
Announcing the new wage structure, Minister Mosharraf said the workers would be availing the benefit from November 1.
Replying to a question he said: “The next 14 days from tomorrow is a notice period. All parties will have the right to give their opinions on the draft and then it will be sent to BG Press for gazette notification.”
He said the government is reviewing wage levels in 36 labor-intensive sectors. “If we fix Tk 5000 as the minimum wage in the RMG sector, the process of reviewing other sectors might get hampered.” He urged the workers to accept the new wage structure.
The Wage Board formed to formulate a new wage structure for the sector earlier finalized the draft and placed it before the government on Tuesday.
All the representatives of different stakeholders on the Wage Board, except the owners’ representatives, signed the draft. Apparently, the owners placed a few conditions from their side and reportedly pressured the Labour minister to give them more time.
Finally however, the owners did sign the draft, after being provided with three months to implement the new pay structure.
On the other hand, the Bangladesh Garments Textile Workers Federation and the Samajtantrik Sramik Front have denounced the newly-set minimum wage of Tk 3000, terming it ‘unjust’.
The government on January 13 this year formed the Wage Board headed by District and Sessions Judge Iktedar Ahmed, to recommend an acceptable minimum wage for the garment sector, in the aftermath of brooding unrest in RMG units across the country. The board held 13 meetings before finalizing the draft wage structure.
Bangladesh’s apparel industry earns $12.5 billion, almost 80 per cent of the country’s entire export earnings annually, and the industry employs 3.5 million workers, mostly women.
END/UNB/AKM
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Minister Muhith lauds Krishi Bank initiative to promote rural development and ease pressure on cities
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 27 (UNB) – The country’s villages will have to be transformed into modern outposts like the villages of Switzerland and Korea with municipal facilities, so that people prefer to stay in villages instead of rushing towards big cities, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said on Tuesday.
“We failed to ensure development of rural areas in the past but this government wants villages to flourish in the truest sense by ensuring connectivity between the activities of villages and towns,” he said.
The finance minister made this remark while addressing the inaugural ceremony of “Ghare Fera Karmasuchi-2010”, a special loan program designed for slum dwellers by Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) on Tuesday.
Bangladesh Krishi Bank arranged the function held at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in the city presided over by Bangladesh Krishi Bank Chairman Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled.
Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman attended the function as special guest while Managing Director of Bangladesh Krishi Bank Mohammad Mukter Hossain delivered the welcome speech.
Speaking as the chief guest, the finance minister emphasized strengthening activities of the Krishi Bank at the grassroots-level so that the loan seekers can get required information at their doorstep.
“Public involvement is the key tool for agricultural development. So, the bankers will have to knock on credit seekers’ doors, and that will help expand Krishi Bank’s activities,” Muhith said appreciating Grameen Bank’s role in adopting such strategy.
Muhith said the government has prioritised the program (Ghare Fera Karmasuchi) and urged all banks to open such “windows” in their branches for successful implementation of the program.
Central bank governor Dr Atiur Rahman said the program has been undertaken to rehabilitate ill-fated slum dwellers in their own villages with capital, technology and production tools, and it would play a significant role in expanding the social safety net.
He said Bangladesh would be able to see the desired rebirth of the country’s rural economy if such programs can be implemented successfully.
Appreciating Bangladesh Krishi Bank’s role in introducing such an innovative program, the BB governor said it (Krishi Bank) got Tk 5 crore out of total allocation of Tk 10 crore for the program in the last fiscal.
Chairman of Bangladesh Krishi Bank Khandakar Ibrahim Khaled said they want to make Dhaka free of slums by rehabilitating slum dwellers in the healthy areas either in the villages or Upazilas of different parts of the country.
“We have a plan to introduce another program titled “Relief from Slums” which will be the expansion of the present program,” he said adding that Bangladesh Krishi Bank needs other banks’ cooperation in this regard.
He also said that they are planning to form a regional board in seven divisional headquarters to expedite banking activities.
Two beneficiaries of the Ghare Fera Karmasuchi – Md Dula Mia and Shamima Akhter Sharmin narrated how they have become solvent by taking advantage of the program.
Later, the finance minister distributed letters of loan permission among the slum dwellers who will go back to their own villages to make themselves economically solvent.
END/UNB/AKM
Dhaka, Jul 27 (UNB) – The country’s villages will have to be transformed into modern outposts like the villages of Switzerland and Korea with municipal facilities, so that people prefer to stay in villages instead of rushing towards big cities, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said on Tuesday.
“We failed to ensure development of rural areas in the past but this government wants villages to flourish in the truest sense by ensuring connectivity between the activities of villages and towns,” he said.
The finance minister made this remark while addressing the inaugural ceremony of “Ghare Fera Karmasuchi-2010”, a special loan program designed for slum dwellers by Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) on Tuesday.
Bangladesh Krishi Bank arranged the function held at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in the city presided over by Bangladesh Krishi Bank Chairman Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled.
Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman attended the function as special guest while Managing Director of Bangladesh Krishi Bank Mohammad Mukter Hossain delivered the welcome speech.
Speaking as the chief guest, the finance minister emphasized strengthening activities of the Krishi Bank at the grassroots-level so that the loan seekers can get required information at their doorstep.
“Public involvement is the key tool for agricultural development. So, the bankers will have to knock on credit seekers’ doors, and that will help expand Krishi Bank’s activities,” Muhith said appreciating Grameen Bank’s role in adopting such strategy.
Muhith said the government has prioritised the program (Ghare Fera Karmasuchi) and urged all banks to open such “windows” in their branches for successful implementation of the program.
Central bank governor Dr Atiur Rahman said the program has been undertaken to rehabilitate ill-fated slum dwellers in their own villages with capital, technology and production tools, and it would play a significant role in expanding the social safety net.
He said Bangladesh would be able to see the desired rebirth of the country’s rural economy if such programs can be implemented successfully.
Appreciating Bangladesh Krishi Bank’s role in introducing such an innovative program, the BB governor said it (Krishi Bank) got Tk 5 crore out of total allocation of Tk 10 crore for the program in the last fiscal.
Chairman of Bangladesh Krishi Bank Khandakar Ibrahim Khaled said they want to make Dhaka free of slums by rehabilitating slum dwellers in the healthy areas either in the villages or Upazilas of different parts of the country.
“We have a plan to introduce another program titled “Relief from Slums” which will be the expansion of the present program,” he said adding that Bangladesh Krishi Bank needs other banks’ cooperation in this regard.
He also said that they are planning to form a regional board in seven divisional headquarters to expedite banking activities.
Two beneficiaries of the Ghare Fera Karmasuchi – Md Dula Mia and Shamima Akhter Sharmin narrated how they have become solvent by taking advantage of the program.
Later, the finance minister distributed letters of loan permission among the slum dwellers who will go back to their own villages to make themselves economically solvent.
END/UNB/AKM
Draft new wage structure for RMG workers finalized, owners yet to sign on draft;Minister to make formal announcement on July 29
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 27 (UNB) – The government will give its final decision on new wage structure for the readymade garment (RMG) workers on Thursday fixing minimum wage at Tk 3000.
“Minimum wage for RMG workers won’t be less than Tk 3000. We’ll formally announce the new wage structure at 5pm on July 29 (Thursday),” Labour and Employment Minister Engr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told newsmen at his Secretariat office in the evening.
He said they received a draft of the news wage structure from the wage board which will be sent to BG Press on Thursday as tomorrow (Wednesday) is a public holiday. “I’ll announce it formally at about 5pm from my office.”
The Labour Minister, however, said the government is not compelled to accept all the recommendations of the wage board.
The wage board formed to fix a new wage structure for the workers of the RMG sector earlier finalized the draft fixing minimum wage at Tk 3000 and placed it before the government today (Tuesday).
All representatives of the wage board except of the owners signed the draft, workers representative Begum Shamsun Nahar told UNB.
She said the wage board has recommended a seven-step wage structure fixing minimum wage at Tk 3000. “However, minimum wage during probation period has been fixed at Tk 2500, which is presently Tk 1200.”
While talking to journalists, FBCCI president AK Azad said everything would be decided through discussion. “We need to talk to the members of BGMEA and BKMEA.”
BKMEA president AKM Selim Osman said they have obtained a copy of the draft and would take decision soon. “Give us time to discuss, give us one day.”
Industry insiders said BGMEA and BKMEA would hold emergency general meeting (EGM) to decide on their next course of action as the wage board has recommended Tk 3000 as minimum wage.
An owner of a garment manufacturing unit told UNB that they would seek 3-4 months to implement the new minimum wage for the workers.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Garments Textile Workers Federation and Samajtantrik Sramik Front have rejected the minimum wage of Tk 3000 as unjust.
The new wage structure for the garment workers was scheduled to be announced on July 28 as both Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Labour Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain had informed parliament.
The government on January 13 this year formed the wage board headed by District and Sessions Judge Iktedar Ahmed to recommend an acceptable minimum wage in the backdrop of recent unrest at different RMG units in the country.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday night directed the representatives of BGMEA to fix the minimum wage at Tk 3000. She also gave directives for provision of additional facilities including transport allowances, attendance bonus and washing allowances.
She had also said the wages the owners of the ready-made garment units pay to their workers are “not only insufficient but also inhuman.”
So far, the minimum wages for the RMG workers have been fixed thrice by the government - first Tk 600, secondly Tk 975 and last at Tk 1,662.
END/UNB/AKM
Dhaka, Jul 27 (UNB) – The government will give its final decision on new wage structure for the readymade garment (RMG) workers on Thursday fixing minimum wage at Tk 3000.
“Minimum wage for RMG workers won’t be less than Tk 3000. We’ll formally announce the new wage structure at 5pm on July 29 (Thursday),” Labour and Employment Minister Engr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told newsmen at his Secretariat office in the evening.
He said they received a draft of the news wage structure from the wage board which will be sent to BG Press on Thursday as tomorrow (Wednesday) is a public holiday. “I’ll announce it formally at about 5pm from my office.”
The Labour Minister, however, said the government is not compelled to accept all the recommendations of the wage board.
The wage board formed to fix a new wage structure for the workers of the RMG sector earlier finalized the draft fixing minimum wage at Tk 3000 and placed it before the government today (Tuesday).
All representatives of the wage board except of the owners signed the draft, workers representative Begum Shamsun Nahar told UNB.
She said the wage board has recommended a seven-step wage structure fixing minimum wage at Tk 3000. “However, minimum wage during probation period has been fixed at Tk 2500, which is presently Tk 1200.”
While talking to journalists, FBCCI president AK Azad said everything would be decided through discussion. “We need to talk to the members of BGMEA and BKMEA.”
BKMEA president AKM Selim Osman said they have obtained a copy of the draft and would take decision soon. “Give us time to discuss, give us one day.”
Industry insiders said BGMEA and BKMEA would hold emergency general meeting (EGM) to decide on their next course of action as the wage board has recommended Tk 3000 as minimum wage.
An owner of a garment manufacturing unit told UNB that they would seek 3-4 months to implement the new minimum wage for the workers.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Garments Textile Workers Federation and Samajtantrik Sramik Front have rejected the minimum wage of Tk 3000 as unjust.
The new wage structure for the garment workers was scheduled to be announced on July 28 as both Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Labour Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain had informed parliament.
The government on January 13 this year formed the wage board headed by District and Sessions Judge Iktedar Ahmed to recommend an acceptable minimum wage in the backdrop of recent unrest at different RMG units in the country.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday night directed the representatives of BGMEA to fix the minimum wage at Tk 3000. She also gave directives for provision of additional facilities including transport allowances, attendance bonus and washing allowances.
She had also said the wages the owners of the ready-made garment units pay to their workers are “not only insufficient but also inhuman.”
So far, the minimum wages for the RMG workers have been fixed thrice by the government - first Tk 600, secondly Tk 975 and last at Tk 1,662.
END/UNB/AKM
Obituary of The Bangladesh Observer
THE obit of the Bangladesh Observer is certainly sad news for the media world and many will mourn it. The news of the Observer's closure appeared at a time when the country's media is already shadowed by closures of a TV channel and a vernacular daily, although the Observer wound down for a different reason.
The Observer's squabbling owners decided to close the long-suffering daily on June 8 as journalists and employees who had been running the broadsheet since 1991 came out of the office after a labour court judge handed them cheques as per an agreement signed earlier between the employees' union and the daily's owners. The newspaper had been gasping for many years due to a dispute between its owners and employees.
The Bangladesh Observer, which was earlier Pakistan Observer, appeared in 1949 when there was no TV, satellite cable, internet and other social networks. It chronicled the lives and struggles of this land's people. The paper was banned in 1952 for its favourable stance toward the Language Movement and East Pakistan's provincial autonomy.
The Observer also played a vital role promoting communal harmony when a small-scale communal riot occurred here in 1964. Its role in helping to grow an enlightened class of Bengali intelligentsia and raising the common people's fundamental ethos earned recognition from all quarters.
The paper was secular in outlook and strictly shunned hints of communalism at a time when Pakistan was insidiously injecting communalism into the people's way of thinking. The well-laid-out policy that made the Observer purposive and effective in its treatment of news and projection of views will be remembered for many years.
The Observer's first editor, Abdus Salam, became a journalism legend for his outstanding editorship and professionalism. People would consider the paper's editorials and columns as a means of guidance on any political and social issue. It became a symbol of opinionated and responsible journalism. The demise of such a newspaper has made many feel diminished.
It was renamed Bangladesh Observer in December 1971 but the then-government brought it under state control in 1972. President H.M. Ershad handed over ownership back to Hamidul Haque Chowdhury in 1984. The paper's closure has marked an end of an era of opinionated and responsible journalism.
However, one may feel consolation that the Observer's closure may be momentary and the paper may reappear after it straightens all its tangles. The Observer's owners must realise that their squabbling had plagued the 60-year-old newspaper, which had the chance of becoming a milestone in media history.
A newspaper's closure is not saddening news only for the paper's journalists and employees who lose their jobs, but also for its readers who miss the paper's presence in the morning. When the owners of the Rocky Mountain News, a 150-year-old daily newspaper of Colorado in the US, announced their decision to shut it down on February 26, 2009, not only the journalists and paper's employees but also the dwellers of Denver city were in grief.
"It's very rare that you get to play the music at your own funeral, so you want to make sure you do it well," said John Temple, the newspaper's editor at a hastily called press conference while he prepared for the paper's final edition. Lynn Bartels, one of its reporters held a box of tissues over her head and called out to her tearful colleagues: "This is for everybody." The people, who were present in and around the Observer House on June 8 might have witnessed a similar scene.
The world is changing tremendously. The breakthroughs that one witnessed in the past decade have been enormous. People are increasingly embracing the internet and new gadgets associated with it, instead of print media. Millions of people now receive their news and information from the internet. The print media's agonising struggle to survive in the changing world is notable.
The internet, Twitter, Facebook and others represent a revolution in communication, empowerment and the making of public opinion. Their effect on our lives has been astounding. Millions of people have become part of an exponentially growing network. Not all are informed, and few are leaving their imprint on major issues facing them and other citizens.
Spot on Public Relations, a Middle Eastern PR agency specialising in social media, found that, as of May 2010, Facebook has more than 15 million users in the Middle East, easily surpassing the region's newspaper sales of just under 14 million.
This news comes just over a year after the social networking site was introduced an Arabic platform. Facebook added an Arabic interface only in March of last year, and since then 3.5 million users have been added, so there was very quick growth in the Arabian market.
Newspapers and news magazines have been instrumental in shaping the world. Fragmentation has become a semblance of new media. Instead of one TV channel, the country now has many. Google and others have dispersed hundreds of millions of users into the realms of the World Wide Web. Thus, the world has changed a lot.
Still, the print media has been playing a central role in our political, economic and social evolution for decades. It was and still remains a conductor of ideas, a tool and a delivery mode, though in today's wired world, this tool is considered archaic and stale. Publishers have looked for ways to ride the technological wave and almost all newspapers now have online presence to support print.
The Observer, a chronicler of Bangladesh's tumultuous history, must not be allowed to die. We once again affirm our hope that the Observer will reappear with all its vigour and dignity.
The Observer's squabbling owners decided to close the long-suffering daily on June 8 as journalists and employees who had been running the broadsheet since 1991 came out of the office after a labour court judge handed them cheques as per an agreement signed earlier between the employees' union and the daily's owners. The newspaper had been gasping for many years due to a dispute between its owners and employees.
The Bangladesh Observer, which was earlier Pakistan Observer, appeared in 1949 when there was no TV, satellite cable, internet and other social networks. It chronicled the lives and struggles of this land's people. The paper was banned in 1952 for its favourable stance toward the Language Movement and East Pakistan's provincial autonomy.
The Observer also played a vital role promoting communal harmony when a small-scale communal riot occurred here in 1964. Its role in helping to grow an enlightened class of Bengali intelligentsia and raising the common people's fundamental ethos earned recognition from all quarters.
The paper was secular in outlook and strictly shunned hints of communalism at a time when Pakistan was insidiously injecting communalism into the people's way of thinking. The well-laid-out policy that made the Observer purposive and effective in its treatment of news and projection of views will be remembered for many years.
The Observer's first editor, Abdus Salam, became a journalism legend for his outstanding editorship and professionalism. People would consider the paper's editorials and columns as a means of guidance on any political and social issue. It became a symbol of opinionated and responsible journalism. The demise of such a newspaper has made many feel diminished.
It was renamed Bangladesh Observer in December 1971 but the then-government brought it under state control in 1972. President H.M. Ershad handed over ownership back to Hamidul Haque Chowdhury in 1984. The paper's closure has marked an end of an era of opinionated and responsible journalism.
However, one may feel consolation that the Observer's closure may be momentary and the paper may reappear after it straightens all its tangles. The Observer's owners must realise that their squabbling had plagued the 60-year-old newspaper, which had the chance of becoming a milestone in media history.
A newspaper's closure is not saddening news only for the paper's journalists and employees who lose their jobs, but also for its readers who miss the paper's presence in the morning. When the owners of the Rocky Mountain News, a 150-year-old daily newspaper of Colorado in the US, announced their decision to shut it down on February 26, 2009, not only the journalists and paper's employees but also the dwellers of Denver city were in grief.
"It's very rare that you get to play the music at your own funeral, so you want to make sure you do it well," said John Temple, the newspaper's editor at a hastily called press conference while he prepared for the paper's final edition. Lynn Bartels, one of its reporters held a box of tissues over her head and called out to her tearful colleagues: "This is for everybody." The people, who were present in and around the Observer House on June 8 might have witnessed a similar scene.
The world is changing tremendously. The breakthroughs that one witnessed in the past decade have been enormous. People are increasingly embracing the internet and new gadgets associated with it, instead of print media. Millions of people now receive their news and information from the internet. The print media's agonising struggle to survive in the changing world is notable.
The internet, Twitter, Facebook and others represent a revolution in communication, empowerment and the making of public opinion. Their effect on our lives has been astounding. Millions of people have become part of an exponentially growing network. Not all are informed, and few are leaving their imprint on major issues facing them and other citizens.
Spot on Public Relations, a Middle Eastern PR agency specialising in social media, found that, as of May 2010, Facebook has more than 15 million users in the Middle East, easily surpassing the region's newspaper sales of just under 14 million.
This news comes just over a year after the social networking site was introduced an Arabic platform. Facebook added an Arabic interface only in March of last year, and since then 3.5 million users have been added, so there was very quick growth in the Arabian market.
Newspapers and news magazines have been instrumental in shaping the world. Fragmentation has become a semblance of new media. Instead of one TV channel, the country now has many. Google and others have dispersed hundreds of millions of users into the realms of the World Wide Web. Thus, the world has changed a lot.
Still, the print media has been playing a central role in our political, economic and social evolution for decades. It was and still remains a conductor of ideas, a tool and a delivery mode, though in today's wired world, this tool is considered archaic and stale. Publishers have looked for ways to ride the technological wave and almost all newspapers now have online presence to support print.
The Observer, a chronicler of Bangladesh's tumultuous history, must not be allowed to die. We once again affirm our hope that the Observer will reappear with all its vigour and dignity.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Last meeting of wage board postponed, re-fixed for tomorrow; Govt to announce new wage structure for RMG workers on July 29
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 26 (UNB) - The government has reportedly finished its
difficult job of reaching a consensus over fixing minimum wage
structure for the garment workers and will deliver its verdict on
July 29 to promote owner-labour relationships, avoiding further
labour unrest in the highest export earning sector.
However, the new wage structure for the garment workers had been
scheduled to be announced on July 28 after both Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina and Labour Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said so in
parliament.
Owners’ representative and BGMEA acting president Shafiul Islam
Mohiuddin told UNB that they would sit together for the last time
tomorrow (Tuesday) to reach a concrete decision on the new wage
structure.
“We have some composite proposals, so, it’s premature to make any
comments on it. You’ll know details about the structure tomorrow,
hopefully,” he said.
He said the last meeting scheduled to be held today (Monday) was
postponed as one of the members of the Wage Board - Habibur Rahman
Siraj got injured in an accident. “The meeting will be held at 2pm
tomorrow (Tuesday).”
Workers representative Begum Shamsun Nahar told UNB that the minimum
wage for the workers will not be less than Tk 3,000 anyway.
The government reportedly found it difficult to reach the consensus
as the workers were demanding a threefold increase in the monthly
minimum salary - from the existing Taka 1,662 to Taka 5,000 while the
factory owners were ready to offer upto only Tk 2,500 per month.
The government has time till July 28 to settle the issue after
getting the draft of a new wage structure from the wage board, which
is likely to be handed over to the government by tomorrow (Tuesday).
Labour, Employment and Expatriates Welfare Minister Khandaker
Mosharraf Hossain on Monday reiterated that the government would
formally announce new wage structure for the garment workers on July
29 aimed at protecting workers’ interest.
“Workers’ demands are being given priority in the new wage
structure,” Mosharraf told the journalists emerging from an
inter-ministerial meeting at the secretariat today.
He, however, said the new wage announcement is not enough to resolve
all problems in the RMG sector and assured government initiatives to
solve all problems of the workers gradually.
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan, however, kept his comment limited on
the issue, uttering few words - “Let’s wait and see. Something better
will happen.”
The tri-ministry meeting (Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce
and Ministry of Labour) was held at the office of the Finance
Ministry.
On the other hand, a section of garments workers cordoned the office
of the Minimum Wage Board in the city around noon on Monday and gave
a memorandum to the chairman of the Wage Board demanding Tk 5000 as
minimum wage for them.
The demonstrating garment workers declared that they would announce
an action programme immediately if the minimum wage is fixed below Tk
5,000.
The government formed a wage board on January 13 headed by District
and Sessions Judge Iktedar Ahmed for an acceptable minimum wage in
the backdrop of recent unrest at different RMG units in the country.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday night directed the
representatives of BGMEA to fix the minimum wage at Tk 3000. She also
gave directives for provision of additional facilities including
transport allowances, attendance bonus and washing allowances.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on July 21 said in the
parliament that the government would announce the minimum wage
structure for garment workers by July 28.
She also said the wages the owners of the ready-made garment units
pay their workers are not only “insufficient” but also “inhumane.”
So far, the government has fixed the minimum wage three times, first
at Tk 600, second at Tk 975 and for the last time at Tk 1,662.
END/UNB/AKM/
Dhaka, Jul 26 (UNB) - The government has reportedly finished its
difficult job of reaching a consensus over fixing minimum wage
structure for the garment workers and will deliver its verdict on
July 29 to promote owner-labour relationships, avoiding further
labour unrest in the highest export earning sector.
However, the new wage structure for the garment workers had been
scheduled to be announced on July 28 after both Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina and Labour Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said so in
parliament.
Owners’ representative and BGMEA acting president Shafiul Islam
Mohiuddin told UNB that they would sit together for the last time
tomorrow (Tuesday) to reach a concrete decision on the new wage
structure.
“We have some composite proposals, so, it’s premature to make any
comments on it. You’ll know details about the structure tomorrow,
hopefully,” he said.
He said the last meeting scheduled to be held today (Monday) was
postponed as one of the members of the Wage Board - Habibur Rahman
Siraj got injured in an accident. “The meeting will be held at 2pm
tomorrow (Tuesday).”
Workers representative Begum Shamsun Nahar told UNB that the minimum
wage for the workers will not be less than Tk 3,000 anyway.
The government reportedly found it difficult to reach the consensus
as the workers were demanding a threefold increase in the monthly
minimum salary - from the existing Taka 1,662 to Taka 5,000 while the
factory owners were ready to offer upto only Tk 2,500 per month.
The government has time till July 28 to settle the issue after
getting the draft of a new wage structure from the wage board, which
is likely to be handed over to the government by tomorrow (Tuesday).
Labour, Employment and Expatriates Welfare Minister Khandaker
Mosharraf Hossain on Monday reiterated that the government would
formally announce new wage structure for the garment workers on July
29 aimed at protecting workers’ interest.
“Workers’ demands are being given priority in the new wage
structure,” Mosharraf told the journalists emerging from an
inter-ministerial meeting at the secretariat today.
He, however, said the new wage announcement is not enough to resolve
all problems in the RMG sector and assured government initiatives to
solve all problems of the workers gradually.
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan, however, kept his comment limited on
the issue, uttering few words - “Let’s wait and see. Something better
will happen.”
The tri-ministry meeting (Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce
and Ministry of Labour) was held at the office of the Finance
Ministry.
On the other hand, a section of garments workers cordoned the office
of the Minimum Wage Board in the city around noon on Monday and gave
a memorandum to the chairman of the Wage Board demanding Tk 5000 as
minimum wage for them.
The demonstrating garment workers declared that they would announce
an action programme immediately if the minimum wage is fixed below Tk
5,000.
The government formed a wage board on January 13 headed by District
and Sessions Judge Iktedar Ahmed for an acceptable minimum wage in
the backdrop of recent unrest at different RMG units in the country.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday night directed the
representatives of BGMEA to fix the minimum wage at Tk 3000. She also
gave directives for provision of additional facilities including
transport allowances, attendance bonus and washing allowances.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on July 21 said in the
parliament that the government would announce the minimum wage
structure for garment workers by July 28.
She also said the wages the owners of the ready-made garment units
pay their workers are not only “insufficient” but also “inhumane.”
So far, the government has fixed the minimum wage three times, first
at Tk 600, second at Tk 975 and for the last time at Tk 1,662.
END/UNB/AKM/
Present govt to finish trial of war criminals, hopes Finance Minister Muhith
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 26 (UNB) - Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Monday hoped that the present government would be able to finish trial of the war criminals before the completion of its tenure.
“We’ve made arrangements for the trial of war criminals and we hope to accomplish it before the completion of the present government’s tenure,” he said at a discussion.
Forum for Secular Bangladesh and Trial of War Criminal of 1971 organized the discussion commemorating the martyrs gunned down by the Shibir cadres in Chittgaong on July 26, 1994.
National Prof Kabir Chowdhury presided over the meeting held at the office of Women’s Voluntary Association (WVA) in the city. Journalist Shahriar Kabir gave the introductory speech.
Chairman of Sector Commanders Forum and Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandker, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Capt (retd) ABM Tajul Islam, State
Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Haq Tuku, chief coordinator of Sector Commanders Forum Lt Gen (retd) M Harun-Ar-Rashid and Justice Golam Rabbani also spoke on the occasion.
Addressing the function as chief guest, Finance Minister Muhith said the government’s key goal is to establish rule of law in the truest sense.
Responding to a demand from a discussant, he said the government would place the old High Court building fully at the disposal of the International War Crimes Tribunal.
Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandker said they would not be satisfied until and unless the trial of war criminals is held.
“The government is in the right direction to ensure the trial of war criminals,” he said.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said her ministry would not show any negligence in providing support to the trial process.
“We did never think that they (war criminals) are more than us in terms of number… they won’t be spared even an inch of space,” she said.
State Minister for Home Shamsul Haq Tuku said the trial of war criminals would surely be completed. “None will be able to stop it through conspiracy…nation will face them.”
He said the democracy would prevail in the country and trial of war criminals would take place if the present government remains in power.
State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Tajul Islam said the entire nation is united to see the trial of war criminals.
“The trial has begun and it will be completed. But all should be careful so that no innocent people face punishment,” he said.
Justice Golam Rabbani urged the finance minister to give the old High Court building to the tribunal for the smooth trial of the war criminals.
Lt Gen (retd) Harun-Ar-Rashid said: “We’ve got a chance after 40 years. It may not come for the second time in future. So, the government should ensure the trial of war criminals.”
END/UNB/AKM
Dhaka, Jul 26 (UNB) - Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Monday hoped that the present government would be able to finish trial of the war criminals before the completion of its tenure.
“We’ve made arrangements for the trial of war criminals and we hope to accomplish it before the completion of the present government’s tenure,” he said at a discussion.
Forum for Secular Bangladesh and Trial of War Criminal of 1971 organized the discussion commemorating the martyrs gunned down by the Shibir cadres in Chittgaong on July 26, 1994.
National Prof Kabir Chowdhury presided over the meeting held at the office of Women’s Voluntary Association (WVA) in the city. Journalist Shahriar Kabir gave the introductory speech.
Chairman of Sector Commanders Forum and Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandker, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Capt (retd) ABM Tajul Islam, State
Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Haq Tuku, chief coordinator of Sector Commanders Forum Lt Gen (retd) M Harun-Ar-Rashid and Justice Golam Rabbani also spoke on the occasion.
Addressing the function as chief guest, Finance Minister Muhith said the government’s key goal is to establish rule of law in the truest sense.
Responding to a demand from a discussant, he said the government would place the old High Court building fully at the disposal of the International War Crimes Tribunal.
Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandker said they would not be satisfied until and unless the trial of war criminals is held.
“The government is in the right direction to ensure the trial of war criminals,” he said.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said her ministry would not show any negligence in providing support to the trial process.
“We did never think that they (war criminals) are more than us in terms of number… they won’t be spared even an inch of space,” she said.
State Minister for Home Shamsul Haq Tuku said the trial of war criminals would surely be completed. “None will be able to stop it through conspiracy…nation will face them.”
He said the democracy would prevail in the country and trial of war criminals would take place if the present government remains in power.
State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Tajul Islam said the entire nation is united to see the trial of war criminals.
“The trial has begun and it will be completed. But all should be careful so that no innocent people face punishment,” he said.
Justice Golam Rabbani urged the finance minister to give the old High Court building to the tribunal for the smooth trial of the war criminals.
Lt Gen (retd) Harun-Ar-Rashid said: “We’ve got a chance after 40 years. It may not come for the second time in future. So, the government should ensure the trial of war criminals.”
END/UNB/AKM
Pragati to bring luxurious Pajero sports jeep in market, price fixed at Tk 60 lakh: Industries Minister
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 21 (UNB)- Pragati Industries Limited, a subsidiary of Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC), will offer luxurious Japanese Pajero Sports Jeep in the local market by June next year after assembling in its Chittagong plant.
The price of each Pajero Sports Jeep, assembled by Pragati, will be Tk 60 lakh in the local market while it will cost at least Tk 1.20 crore if imported directly from Japan, BSEC chairman Mohammad Abu Hafiz said at press conference at the Industries Ministry conference room yesterday.
Industries minister Dilip Barua, industries secretary Dewan Zakir Hossain and additional secretary ABM Khorshed Alam were present at the press conference.
Briefing the journalists, minister Barua said the government would earn over Tk 27 lakh in revenue from each assembled Pajero Sports Jeep sold locally.
He said Pragati Industries would hopefully go into trial assembling of pajero sports jeep by January next year.
Pragati Industries have already taken steps to import 12 pajero sports jeeps in CKD (Completely Knocked Down) condition by November this year, the minister added. Replying to a question, industries secretary Dewan Zakir Hossain said the demand for such vehicle is remarkable in the local market. "Pragati has a capacity of assembling 800 units of pajero sports jeep each year."
Pragati Industries signed a five-year agreement with Mitsubishi Motor Corporation on July 8 in Japan for assembling its pajero sports jeep at their Chittagong plant.
Managing director of Pragati Industries Engr Mohammad Zahir Uddin Chowdhury and corporate general manager of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Genichiro Nishina signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides.
BSEC chairman Mohammad Abu Hafiz, additional industries secretary ABM Khorshed Alam and a senior official of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Mitsuyoshi Yokoi were present at the signing ceremony.
Earlier, the state-owned BSEC and the Mitsubishi Motor Corporation agreed to set up a joint venture plant to manufacture cars in country' s commercial capital Chittagong.
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation on December 3 last year sent a proposal titled "Proposal for pajero sports assembling project at PIL factory" to the industries ministry with an estimated cost of 110 million Japanese Yen.
Following the proposal, a memorandum of understanding between the two parties was signed on February 24 this year for assembling pajero sports jeep.
Separate teams from Japan visited the Chittagong plant of Pragati Industries thrice this year - in March, April and July - and had given training to the local engineers. The Cabinet committee on public purchase approved procuring through PIL 420 pajero jeeps for upazila chairmen and 208 pajero for Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) in the fiscal 2008-09 and 2009-10.
Pragati Industries made a record profit of Tk 25.05 crore against a target of Tk 21.79 crore in the just-ended fiscal, which was the highest achievement of the company so far. Its profit was Tk 16.60 crore in the fiscal 2008-2009. The government earned revenue worth Tk 87.33 crore from the PIL in the last fiscal while the amount was Tk 47.60 crore in the fiscal 2008-09.
END/UNB/AKM
Dhaka, Jul 21 (UNB)- Pragati Industries Limited, a subsidiary of Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC), will offer luxurious Japanese Pajero Sports Jeep in the local market by June next year after assembling in its Chittagong plant.
The price of each Pajero Sports Jeep, assembled by Pragati, will be Tk 60 lakh in the local market while it will cost at least Tk 1.20 crore if imported directly from Japan, BSEC chairman Mohammad Abu Hafiz said at press conference at the Industries Ministry conference room yesterday.
Industries minister Dilip Barua, industries secretary Dewan Zakir Hossain and additional secretary ABM Khorshed Alam were present at the press conference.
Briefing the journalists, minister Barua said the government would earn over Tk 27 lakh in revenue from each assembled Pajero Sports Jeep sold locally.
He said Pragati Industries would hopefully go into trial assembling of pajero sports jeep by January next year.
Pragati Industries have already taken steps to import 12 pajero sports jeeps in CKD (Completely Knocked Down) condition by November this year, the minister added. Replying to a question, industries secretary Dewan Zakir Hossain said the demand for such vehicle is remarkable in the local market. "Pragati has a capacity of assembling 800 units of pajero sports jeep each year."
Pragati Industries signed a five-year agreement with Mitsubishi Motor Corporation on July 8 in Japan for assembling its pajero sports jeep at their Chittagong plant.
Managing director of Pragati Industries Engr Mohammad Zahir Uddin Chowdhury and corporate general manager of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Genichiro Nishina signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides.
BSEC chairman Mohammad Abu Hafiz, additional industries secretary ABM Khorshed Alam and a senior official of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Mitsuyoshi Yokoi were present at the signing ceremony.
Earlier, the state-owned BSEC and the Mitsubishi Motor Corporation agreed to set up a joint venture plant to manufacture cars in country' s commercial capital Chittagong.
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation on December 3 last year sent a proposal titled "Proposal for pajero sports assembling project at PIL factory" to the industries ministry with an estimated cost of 110 million Japanese Yen.
Following the proposal, a memorandum of understanding between the two parties was signed on February 24 this year for assembling pajero sports jeep.
Separate teams from Japan visited the Chittagong plant of Pragati Industries thrice this year - in March, April and July - and had given training to the local engineers. The Cabinet committee on public purchase approved procuring through PIL 420 pajero jeeps for upazila chairmen and 208 pajero for Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) in the fiscal 2008-09 and 2009-10.
Pragati Industries made a record profit of Tk 25.05 crore against a target of Tk 21.79 crore in the just-ended fiscal, which was the highest achievement of the company so far. Its profit was Tk 16.60 crore in the fiscal 2008-2009. The government earned revenue worth Tk 87.33 crore from the PIL in the last fiscal while the amount was Tk 47.60 crore in the fiscal 2008-09.
END/UNB/AKM
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monetary policy announced; BB governor assures of speeding up investment in productive sector
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 19 (UNB) – Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman announcing the July-December monetary policy today assured of speeding up investment in productive sectors in support of the government development programme and discourage unproductive speculative investment.
The half-yearly policy was announced at press conference at the conference hall of Bangladesh Bank in presence of senior officials of the Bank.
He said the policy focused an approach of supportive stance to help promote faster inclusive economic growth with due vigil against inflationary pressures.
The monetary policy is aimed at supporting government’s policies and programme to place the economy in farmer footing through reducing poverty and maintaining monetary and price stability.
In the new monetary policy, the central bank attached importance to increasing productive investment through adequate lending supports and discouraging expansion in lending for wasteful consumption and unproductive speculative investments.
“Our financial inclusion initiatives for adequate lending supports for agriculture, SMEs, renewable energy and other productive sectors will further be expedited while the trend of discouraging unproductive investment will be strengthened,” said the Governor.
He sought for active role from the civil society leaders to support the initiatives of the central bank.
Replying to a question the governor said the growth in export and import was “deep-negative” in the last financial year due to global downturn.
“We’ve turned around since April last as we’re recovering from global recession and the export growth returned to a positive trend,” Dr Atiur said and hoped that both export and import growth will reach the double digit.
In response to another question he said the GDP growth rate would improve further if energy crisis is mitigated.
The governor said average CPI (consumer price index) inflation rate would remain within 6.5 percent at the end of the current fiscal.
Despite easing in domestic annual point to point CPI (consumer price index) inflation trend from March last year, average domestic inflation crept to 6.51 percent in April this year marginally crossing the target 6.50 percent..
The governor also said they would remain proactive in liquidity management operations.
The government set the GDP growth target for the current fiscal at 6.7 percent and inflation at 6.5 percent.
“To achieve the target we need favorable weather for agriculture, rapid recovery in export growth with market diversification and substantial increase in power and gas supply,” the governor said.
In the new monetary policy, the BB discouraged the commercial banks to excessive investment in the capital market to avoid risk. Circular issued to the banks directing them to keep investment in capital market with the prescribed limit.
Deputy Governors of the BB Md Nazrul Huda, Ziaul Hasan Siddiqui and Murshid Kuli Khan and advisers were present in the press conference.
END/UNB/AK
Dhaka, Jul 19 (UNB) – Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman announcing the July-December monetary policy today assured of speeding up investment in productive sectors in support of the government development programme and discourage unproductive speculative investment.
The half-yearly policy was announced at press conference at the conference hall of Bangladesh Bank in presence of senior officials of the Bank.
He said the policy focused an approach of supportive stance to help promote faster inclusive economic growth with due vigil against inflationary pressures.
The monetary policy is aimed at supporting government’s policies and programme to place the economy in farmer footing through reducing poverty and maintaining monetary and price stability.
In the new monetary policy, the central bank attached importance to increasing productive investment through adequate lending supports and discouraging expansion in lending for wasteful consumption and unproductive speculative investments.
“Our financial inclusion initiatives for adequate lending supports for agriculture, SMEs, renewable energy and other productive sectors will further be expedited while the trend of discouraging unproductive investment will be strengthened,” said the Governor.
He sought for active role from the civil society leaders to support the initiatives of the central bank.
Replying to a question the governor said the growth in export and import was “deep-negative” in the last financial year due to global downturn.
“We’ve turned around since April last as we’re recovering from global recession and the export growth returned to a positive trend,” Dr Atiur said and hoped that both export and import growth will reach the double digit.
In response to another question he said the GDP growth rate would improve further if energy crisis is mitigated.
The governor said average CPI (consumer price index) inflation rate would remain within 6.5 percent at the end of the current fiscal.
Despite easing in domestic annual point to point CPI (consumer price index) inflation trend from March last year, average domestic inflation crept to 6.51 percent in April this year marginally crossing the target 6.50 percent..
The governor also said they would remain proactive in liquidity management operations.
The government set the GDP growth target for the current fiscal at 6.7 percent and inflation at 6.5 percent.
“To achieve the target we need favorable weather for agriculture, rapid recovery in export growth with market diversification and substantial increase in power and gas supply,” the governor said.
In the new monetary policy, the BB discouraged the commercial banks to excessive investment in the capital market to avoid risk. Circular issued to the banks directing them to keep investment in capital market with the prescribed limit.
Deputy Governors of the BB Md Nazrul Huda, Ziaul Hasan Siddiqui and Murshid Kuli Khan and advisers were present in the press conference.
END/UNB/AK
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Solar power can help resolve power crisis
By AKM Moinuddin
April 11, 2009
Is there any easier way to get over the country’s vexing power crisis? Experts say yes there is. They believe solar power system can be the best option to mitigate the worsening problem.
“Solar power system has a bright prospect in Bangladesh, but the country’s potential still remains untapped simply for lack of proper government initiative,” said Grameen Shakti Managing Director Dipal Chandra Barua.
Talking to UNB, Dipal Barua said 50 percent people of the country could be brought under power supply network through solar power system within the next seven years if the government wants to do so.
Experts think that the country’s vast rural areas can easily be brought under solar power system, minimizing the mounting pressure on the national power grid.
Dr Md. Rashed Chowdhury, a faculty of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Hawaii, USA told UNB correspondent AKM Moinuddin that solar power system can make a big difference, especially in rural areas of Bangladesh, in resolving its chronic power crisis.
“Another alternative is nuclear power system, which is relatively more expensive but achievable,” said Dr Rashed, also Principal Research Scientist of the Pacific ENSO Applications Center (PEAC).
“The rural areas of Bangladesh can be brought under this service very quickly and efficiently. There is a perfect environment in Bangladesh for solar water heating. As the sun shines most of the day here, we don’t have to worry about freezing. It’s relatively less expensive and our local utility supports the purchase and installation of solar systems. All we need is to have a bill passed making it mandatory for all new homes to have solar water heaters,” Dr Rashed said.
He suggested that at this initial stage, rebates and solar tax credit system will encourage people to accept this system quickly. “Given the socioeconomic choices and constraints in Bangladesh, the government should think about it seriously.”
Grameen Shakti MD Dipal Chandra Barua, who has 13 years of experience in the field, said the price of solar panels has come down on the global market recently which will help people get it at lower prices.
“The government has decided to withdraw tax on equipments of solar panel but it’s yet to be implemented. Once it is implemented, people will get solar panel at minimum costs,” he said.
He suggested subsidy for it, loan and allowing installment for buying solar panel. “We’ve a plan to introduce the system in the country’s telecom sector too. We would set up 75 lakh more solar panels in the country by 2015. The government should encourage it, as rural people are getting power because of it,” Dipal Barua said.
Referring to rise in energy prices and rising awareness about global warming, sea-level rise and air pollution, the experts said free source of solar energy have an excellent solution to the environmental effects of fossil fuels with residential solar panels and solar power systems.
Describing how the solar panel works, a Gramen Shakhti official said solar panels harvest the sun’s energy to produce electricity to power-driven lights and appliances or in any use that requires electricity.
”Energy is created when sunlight strikes the solar panel’s crystals and causes some electrons to break loose,” he said.
The amount of power production largely depends on the quality of solar panels and technology. Panels of special semiconductors like silicon convert the sun’s energy directly into electricity.
He said Solar Home Systems (SHSs) are highly decentralized and particularly suitable for remote, inaccessible areas, and their solar programme mainly targets those areas, which have no access to conventional electricity and little chance of getting connected to the grid within 5-10 years.
About introducing solar power system, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told parliament on April 7 that Bangladesh needs foreign assistance for installation of hydroelectric and solar-energy plants. She said the government wants to install hydroelectric and solar-energy plants to meet the growing demand for energy and power in the country.
END/UNB/AKM/
April 11, 2009
Is there any easier way to get over the country’s vexing power crisis? Experts say yes there is. They believe solar power system can be the best option to mitigate the worsening problem.
“Solar power system has a bright prospect in Bangladesh, but the country’s potential still remains untapped simply for lack of proper government initiative,” said Grameen Shakti Managing Director Dipal Chandra Barua.
Talking to UNB, Dipal Barua said 50 percent people of the country could be brought under power supply network through solar power system within the next seven years if the government wants to do so.
Experts think that the country’s vast rural areas can easily be brought under solar power system, minimizing the mounting pressure on the national power grid.
Dr Md. Rashed Chowdhury, a faculty of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Hawaii, USA told UNB correspondent AKM Moinuddin that solar power system can make a big difference, especially in rural areas of Bangladesh, in resolving its chronic power crisis.
“Another alternative is nuclear power system, which is relatively more expensive but achievable,” said Dr Rashed, also Principal Research Scientist of the Pacific ENSO Applications Center (PEAC).
“The rural areas of Bangladesh can be brought under this service very quickly and efficiently. There is a perfect environment in Bangladesh for solar water heating. As the sun shines most of the day here, we don’t have to worry about freezing. It’s relatively less expensive and our local utility supports the purchase and installation of solar systems. All we need is to have a bill passed making it mandatory for all new homes to have solar water heaters,” Dr Rashed said.
He suggested that at this initial stage, rebates and solar tax credit system will encourage people to accept this system quickly. “Given the socioeconomic choices and constraints in Bangladesh, the government should think about it seriously.”
Grameen Shakti MD Dipal Chandra Barua, who has 13 years of experience in the field, said the price of solar panels has come down on the global market recently which will help people get it at lower prices.
“The government has decided to withdraw tax on equipments of solar panel but it’s yet to be implemented. Once it is implemented, people will get solar panel at minimum costs,” he said.
He suggested subsidy for it, loan and allowing installment for buying solar panel. “We’ve a plan to introduce the system in the country’s telecom sector too. We would set up 75 lakh more solar panels in the country by 2015. The government should encourage it, as rural people are getting power because of it,” Dipal Barua said.
Referring to rise in energy prices and rising awareness about global warming, sea-level rise and air pollution, the experts said free source of solar energy have an excellent solution to the environmental effects of fossil fuels with residential solar panels and solar power systems.
Describing how the solar panel works, a Gramen Shakhti official said solar panels harvest the sun’s energy to produce electricity to power-driven lights and appliances or in any use that requires electricity.
”Energy is created when sunlight strikes the solar panel’s crystals and causes some electrons to break loose,” he said.
The amount of power production largely depends on the quality of solar panels and technology. Panels of special semiconductors like silicon convert the sun’s energy directly into electricity.
He said Solar Home Systems (SHSs) are highly decentralized and particularly suitable for remote, inaccessible areas, and their solar programme mainly targets those areas, which have no access to conventional electricity and little chance of getting connected to the grid within 5-10 years.
About introducing solar power system, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told parliament on April 7 that Bangladesh needs foreign assistance for installation of hydroelectric and solar-energy plants. She said the government wants to install hydroelectric and solar-energy plants to meet the growing demand for energy and power in the country.
END/UNB/AKM/
WIPO DG assures Bangladesh financial, technological support
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 18 (UNB) - World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on Sunday assured Bangladesh of its financial and technical support for modernizing the Directorate of Patent, Design and Trademarks, and amending existing laws relating to Intellectual Property (IP).
Francis Gurry, Director General of WIPO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, gave the assurance during a meeting with Industries Minister Dilip Barua at his Shilpa Bhaban office in the afternoon.
Gurry said Bangladesh would have to enhance its capacity in research and development to ensure sustainability of Bangladeshi products in the competitive global market.
“Bangladesh will have to emphasize on enhancement of its capability in human resources, infrastructure development, expansion of knowledge network, automation of production and service sectors to transform the country into an industrially rich nation,” he said.
Mentioning modern technology as a key driving-force of development, the WIPO director general said Bangladesh can avail technological support from more developed Asian neighboring countries like China, India and Japan.
“The WIPO will provide necessary support for transferring technology to the least developed countries (LDCs) like Bangladesh from the developed countries,” he said.
Industries Minister Barua informed the WIPO DG that the government is giving special attention to development sector and research for human resource development and industrialization.
“We’ll soon sign a memorandum of understanding in this regard with BUET (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology),” he said.
Additional Industries Secretary ABM Khorshed Alam, WIPO director Kifle Shemkoru and senior officials of industries and foreign ministry were present.
END/UNB/AKM/
Dhaka, Jul 18 (UNB) - World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on Sunday assured Bangladesh of its financial and technical support for modernizing the Directorate of Patent, Design and Trademarks, and amending existing laws relating to Intellectual Property (IP).
Francis Gurry, Director General of WIPO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, gave the assurance during a meeting with Industries Minister Dilip Barua at his Shilpa Bhaban office in the afternoon.
Gurry said Bangladesh would have to enhance its capacity in research and development to ensure sustainability of Bangladeshi products in the competitive global market.
“Bangladesh will have to emphasize on enhancement of its capability in human resources, infrastructure development, expansion of knowledge network, automation of production and service sectors to transform the country into an industrially rich nation,” he said.
Mentioning modern technology as a key driving-force of development, the WIPO director general said Bangladesh can avail technological support from more developed Asian neighboring countries like China, India and Japan.
“The WIPO will provide necessary support for transferring technology to the least developed countries (LDCs) like Bangladesh from the developed countries,” he said.
Industries Minister Barua informed the WIPO DG that the government is giving special attention to development sector and research for human resource development and industrialization.
“We’ll soon sign a memorandum of understanding in this regard with BUET (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology),” he said.
Additional Industries Secretary ABM Khorshed Alam, WIPO director Kifle Shemkoru and senior officials of industries and foreign ministry were present.
END/UNB/AKM/
Govt won’t allow business in education sector: Minister Nahid He says higher education seekers won’t face seat crisis
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 18 (UNB) – Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Sunday said the government would not allow anyone to do business in education sector.
“We’re working to enhance the quality of education… we won’t allow anyone to do business in education sector,” he said.
The education minister made the remark while talking to journalists after the inaugural ceremony of the 6th two-day meeting of the committee heads of UGC/equivalent bodies of the SAARC member countries at Hotel Sheraton in the city.
National Prof Kabir Chowdhury was the guest of honor at the function, chaired by UGC chairman Prof Nazrul Islam. Director of the SAARC secretariat, Kathmandu, RD Rajapakse and University Grants Commission (UGC) member Dr Atful Hye Chowdhury also spoke at the function.
Talking to the journalists, the Education Minister sought support from all concerned in doing away with commercialization of education.
He said no university without government approval would be allowed to continue operation in the country. “We’ll monitor this strictly so that no such unapproved university can publish and broadcast advertisements in the media.”
Replying to a question, Nahid said there would be no seat crisis in pursuing higher education for those who succeeded in the HSC exams although he admitted shortage of quality colleges and universities in the country.
“We’ve recently launched a five-year project – Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project - for the enhancement of quality education both in public and private universities,” he said.
Earlier, speaking as the chief guest at the function, the Education Minister said the new education policy which is in the process of implementation would bring qualitative change in the country’s education sector.
“By providing quality education for all at all levels,” he said, “we can broaden the base of opportunities of education and ensure sustainable economic development to achieve the millennium development goal (MDG).”
Nahid hoped that many recommendations and proposals for closer cooperation among the SAARC countries in the field of higher education, especially exchange of scholars and fellows, and establishment of common cultural and educational platform would come out from the two-day meeting.
In his speech, National Prof Kabir Chowdhury emphasized that English is a must in higher education. “English has actually become a common language in the large part of the world,” he said.
Prof Kabir Chowdhury suggested the government to allocate adequate fund for higher education apart from engaging skilled professionals to ensure quality education. “Higher education is a continuous process… it’s never-ending,” he reminded.
Dhaka University vice chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, heads of UGC and equivalent bodies of SAARC member countries were present at the inaugural session.
END/UNB/AMK
Dhaka, Jul 18 (UNB) – Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Sunday said the government would not allow anyone to do business in education sector.
“We’re working to enhance the quality of education… we won’t allow anyone to do business in education sector,” he said.
The education minister made the remark while talking to journalists after the inaugural ceremony of the 6th two-day meeting of the committee heads of UGC/equivalent bodies of the SAARC member countries at Hotel Sheraton in the city.
National Prof Kabir Chowdhury was the guest of honor at the function, chaired by UGC chairman Prof Nazrul Islam. Director of the SAARC secretariat, Kathmandu, RD Rajapakse and University Grants Commission (UGC) member Dr Atful Hye Chowdhury also spoke at the function.
Talking to the journalists, the Education Minister sought support from all concerned in doing away with commercialization of education.
He said no university without government approval would be allowed to continue operation in the country. “We’ll monitor this strictly so that no such unapproved university can publish and broadcast advertisements in the media.”
Replying to a question, Nahid said there would be no seat crisis in pursuing higher education for those who succeeded in the HSC exams although he admitted shortage of quality colleges and universities in the country.
“We’ve recently launched a five-year project – Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project - for the enhancement of quality education both in public and private universities,” he said.
Earlier, speaking as the chief guest at the function, the Education Minister said the new education policy which is in the process of implementation would bring qualitative change in the country’s education sector.
“By providing quality education for all at all levels,” he said, “we can broaden the base of opportunities of education and ensure sustainable economic development to achieve the millennium development goal (MDG).”
Nahid hoped that many recommendations and proposals for closer cooperation among the SAARC countries in the field of higher education, especially exchange of scholars and fellows, and establishment of common cultural and educational platform would come out from the two-day meeting.
In his speech, National Prof Kabir Chowdhury emphasized that English is a must in higher education. “English has actually become a common language in the large part of the world,” he said.
Prof Kabir Chowdhury suggested the government to allocate adequate fund for higher education apart from engaging skilled professionals to ensure quality education. “Higher education is a continuous process… it’s never-ending,” he reminded.
Dhaka University vice chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, heads of UGC and equivalent bodies of SAARC member countries were present at the inaugural session.
END/UNB/AMK
PM hands over land deed to Ramiza Khatun
By AKM Moinuddin and Sheikh Adnan Fahad
Dhaka, Jul 17 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday formally handed over to Ramiza Khatun the deed of land that was registered in the name of Sheikh Hasina in 2003 by Ramiza’s husband.
While handing over the deed at Ganobhaban Saturday night, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina suddenly got emotional and hugged elderly Ramiza Khatun for a while.
“I can’t express how much happy I’m right now to return your land,” she said in an emotion-choked voice while hugging Ramiza Khatun.
The Prime Minister said she would build a house and a farm full of pet animals like cows, ducks and hens for Ramiza Khatun on the land. You’ve nothing to worry. I’m taking all your responsibilities.”
In reply, Ramiza Khatun told Hasina: “You’re my mother. I’ve no more expectations in life.”
The conversation between Prime Minister Hasina and Ramiza Khatun continued for few minutes while the two hugged each other.
Later, in her reaction, Hasina said: “Love of common people is my asset. Their love is my power. All my close relatives were killed in ‘75.”
She said her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman worked all his life for the betterment of people.
Urging her party leaders and activities to work for people’s welfare, Hasina, also the Awami League President, said: “You can’t win people’s heart unless you concentrate on their welfare.”
The Prime Minister also asked her party leaders and workers to shun the path of mere pecuniary gain and devote to dedicate their political activities for the welfare of the people.
Industries Minister Dilip Barua, AL presidium member Kazi Jafrullah, Prime minister's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad, ambassador at-large M Ziauddin and BSMMU vice-chancellor Prof Dr Pran Gopal Datta were present on the occasion.
The new Bangla daily Kaler Kantho on June 2 published a front-page story that Ramiza Khatun's late husband, Hashmat Ali, who used to be a van driver, bought a piece of land in 2003 and registered the land in the name of Sheikh Hasina.
Ramiza Khatun, who scrapes a living by begging on the city streets, came to meet Hasina at the Prime Minister's office (PMO) following the news story in the Bangla daily.
According to the Kaler Kantho report, Hashmat Ali through his hard-earned money bought 6.45 decimal of land on February 22, 2003 at Kharua Barail village of Rawna Union in Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh district.
Hashmat, who died at the age of 80 in 2004, bought the land for Sheikh Hasina as he used to think of Hasina “an orphan” after the tragic killing of her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and mother Fazilatunnesa Mujib, along with most of her other family members, on August 15, 1975.
After Bangabandhu's death, Hashmat Ali and Ramiza Khatun came to the capital and started to live in Agargaon slum.
The news story of the Bangla daily also mentioned that Ramiza is now suffering from various complicated diseases and old age complications.
Soon after reading the news report, the Prime Minister directed her officials to ensure modern treatment for Ramiza. From then onwards, Ramiza has been undergoing treatment at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital.
END/UNB/SAF/AMK/
Dhaka, Jul 17 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday formally handed over to Ramiza Khatun the deed of land that was registered in the name of Sheikh Hasina in 2003 by Ramiza’s husband.
While handing over the deed at Ganobhaban Saturday night, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina suddenly got emotional and hugged elderly Ramiza Khatun for a while.
“I can’t express how much happy I’m right now to return your land,” she said in an emotion-choked voice while hugging Ramiza Khatun.
The Prime Minister said she would build a house and a farm full of pet animals like cows, ducks and hens for Ramiza Khatun on the land. You’ve nothing to worry. I’m taking all your responsibilities.”
In reply, Ramiza Khatun told Hasina: “You’re my mother. I’ve no more expectations in life.”
The conversation between Prime Minister Hasina and Ramiza Khatun continued for few minutes while the two hugged each other.
Later, in her reaction, Hasina said: “Love of common people is my asset. Their love is my power. All my close relatives were killed in ‘75.”
She said her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman worked all his life for the betterment of people.
Urging her party leaders and activities to work for people’s welfare, Hasina, also the Awami League President, said: “You can’t win people’s heart unless you concentrate on their welfare.”
The Prime Minister also asked her party leaders and workers to shun the path of mere pecuniary gain and devote to dedicate their political activities for the welfare of the people.
Industries Minister Dilip Barua, AL presidium member Kazi Jafrullah, Prime minister's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad, ambassador at-large M Ziauddin and BSMMU vice-chancellor Prof Dr Pran Gopal Datta were present on the occasion.
The new Bangla daily Kaler Kantho on June 2 published a front-page story that Ramiza Khatun's late husband, Hashmat Ali, who used to be a van driver, bought a piece of land in 2003 and registered the land in the name of Sheikh Hasina.
Ramiza Khatun, who scrapes a living by begging on the city streets, came to meet Hasina at the Prime Minister's office (PMO) following the news story in the Bangla daily.
According to the Kaler Kantho report, Hashmat Ali through his hard-earned money bought 6.45 decimal of land on February 22, 2003 at Kharua Barail village of Rawna Union in Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh district.
Hashmat, who died at the age of 80 in 2004, bought the land for Sheikh Hasina as he used to think of Hasina “an orphan” after the tragic killing of her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and mother Fazilatunnesa Mujib, along with most of her other family members, on August 15, 1975.
After Bangabandhu's death, Hashmat Ali and Ramiza Khatun came to the capital and started to live in Agargaon slum.
The news story of the Bangla daily also mentioned that Ramiza is now suffering from various complicated diseases and old age complications.
Soon after reading the news report, the Prime Minister directed her officials to ensure modern treatment for Ramiza. From then onwards, Ramiza has been undergoing treatment at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital.
END/UNB/SAF/AMK/
Regional conf on IP to create common platform for sharing ideas, experiences among 15 LDCs: Minister Barua
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 17 (UNB) – A two-day Regional Conference on Intellectual Property (IP) that begins here Monday will create a common platform for the least developed countries (LDCs) in the Asia and Pacific region for sharing ideas and experiences in advancing innovation and creativity.
The conference, first of its kind in Bangladesh, will focus on nature, modernization and implementation strategies of Intellectual Property Policy (IPP), copyright issues and industrial design of the LDCs in the Asia and the Pacific region, Industries Minister Dilip Barua said at a press conference on Saturday at the ministry’s conference room.
Briefing the newsmen about the aims and preparation of the July 19-20 conference, he said: “The recommendations and strategies to come from the conference will help Bangladesh a lot in formulating its future policy on Intellectual Property (IP).”
“Bangladesh will also get realistic ideas through the conference on how traditional knowledge, genetic resources, folklore and traditional cultural expressions can be incorporated in country’s development and economic growth,” Barua said.
He said the conference is the outcome of a sideline talks between him and WIPO director general Dr Francis Gurry during a meeting on strategic use of intellectual property held in Geneva July last year.
Fifteen least developed countries (LDCs) from the Asia and Pacific region will participate in the conference that will kick off at city’s Sonargaon Hotel.
Ministry of Industries, Bangladesh in cooperation with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will arrange the conference.
Minister Barua said it is for the first time that Bangladesh will be the part of such a big international conference, which is a big achievement of the present government.
Three members from each of the 15 LDCs, including host Bangladesh, consisting of a minister, a lawmaker and a top government official will take part in the conference.
Other participating countries are Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Maldives, Afghanistan, Yemen, Cambodia, Kiribati, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Island, Tuvalu, Laos and East Timur.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to formally inaugurate the conference at Sonargaon Hotel in the city Monday morning.
A total of 14 themes have been selected for discussion in the two-day conference.
Some of the vital themes of the conference are Integrating Intellectual Property into National Development Policy and Strategies; IP and Public Policy Issues; IP and Public Health: Policy and Strategies for LDCs; Strategic Importance of Transfer of Technology; Copyright and Related Rights: Striking the Balance between Protection and Public Interest; Protection and Exploration of Traditional Knowledge and Folklores; Contribution to Sustainable Development in the LDCs; and Cooperation for Building IP Institutions in LCDs.
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Industries Minister Dilip Barua and State Minister for Cultural Affairs Promod Mankin will preside over the sessions.
Industries Secretary Dewan Zakir Hossain and senior officials of foreign affairs and cultural affairs ministries were present at the press conference.
END/UNB/AMK/
Dhaka, Jul 17 (UNB) – A two-day Regional Conference on Intellectual Property (IP) that begins here Monday will create a common platform for the least developed countries (LDCs) in the Asia and Pacific region for sharing ideas and experiences in advancing innovation and creativity.
The conference, first of its kind in Bangladesh, will focus on nature, modernization and implementation strategies of Intellectual Property Policy (IPP), copyright issues and industrial design of the LDCs in the Asia and the Pacific region, Industries Minister Dilip Barua said at a press conference on Saturday at the ministry’s conference room.
Briefing the newsmen about the aims and preparation of the July 19-20 conference, he said: “The recommendations and strategies to come from the conference will help Bangladesh a lot in formulating its future policy on Intellectual Property (IP).”
“Bangladesh will also get realistic ideas through the conference on how traditional knowledge, genetic resources, folklore and traditional cultural expressions can be incorporated in country’s development and economic growth,” Barua said.
He said the conference is the outcome of a sideline talks between him and WIPO director general Dr Francis Gurry during a meeting on strategic use of intellectual property held in Geneva July last year.
Fifteen least developed countries (LDCs) from the Asia and Pacific region will participate in the conference that will kick off at city’s Sonargaon Hotel.
Ministry of Industries, Bangladesh in cooperation with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will arrange the conference.
Minister Barua said it is for the first time that Bangladesh will be the part of such a big international conference, which is a big achievement of the present government.
Three members from each of the 15 LDCs, including host Bangladesh, consisting of a minister, a lawmaker and a top government official will take part in the conference.
Other participating countries are Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Maldives, Afghanistan, Yemen, Cambodia, Kiribati, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Island, Tuvalu, Laos and East Timur.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to formally inaugurate the conference at Sonargaon Hotel in the city Monday morning.
A total of 14 themes have been selected for discussion in the two-day conference.
Some of the vital themes of the conference are Integrating Intellectual Property into National Development Policy and Strategies; IP and Public Policy Issues; IP and Public Health: Policy and Strategies for LDCs; Strategic Importance of Transfer of Technology; Copyright and Related Rights: Striking the Balance between Protection and Public Interest; Protection and Exploration of Traditional Knowledge and Folklores; Contribution to Sustainable Development in the LDCs; and Cooperation for Building IP Institutions in LCDs.
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Industries Minister Dilip Barua and State Minister for Cultural Affairs Promod Mankin will preside over the sessions.
Industries Secretary Dewan Zakir Hossain and senior officials of foreign affairs and cultural affairs ministries were present at the press conference.
END/UNB/AMK/
Dhaka hosts 2-day regional meet on Intellectual Property July 19-20; Top policymakers from 15 LDCs to take part
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 16 (UNB) – A two-day Regional Conference on Intellectual Property (IP) for the policymakers of 15 least developed countries (LDCs) in the Asia and Pacific region begins here on July 19 aiming at policy formulation and finalization of implementation strategies.
Ministry of Industries, Bangladesh will arrange the conference in cooperation with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). For the first time, Bangladesh will be the part of such a big international conference, which is considered a big achievement.
Three members from each of the 15 countries, including host Bangladesh, consisting of a minister, a lawmaker and a top government official will take part in the conference.
Other participating countries are Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Maldives, Afghanistan, Yemen, Cambodia, Kiribati, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Island, Tuvalu, Laos and East Timur.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to formally inaugurate the conference at Sonargaon Hotel in the city Monday morning.
A total of 14 themes have been selected for discussion in the two-day conference.
Some of the vital themes of the conference are Integrating Intellectual Property into National Development Policy and Strategies; IP and Public Policy Issues; IP and Public Health: Policy and Strategies for LDCs; Strategic Importance of Transfer of Technology; Copyright and Related Rights: Striking the Balance between Protection and Public Interest; Protection and Exploration of Traditional Knowledge and Folklores; Contribution to Sustainable Development in the LDCs; and Cooperation for Building IP Institutions in LCDs.
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Industries Minister Dilip Barua and State Minister for Cultural Affairs Promod Mankin are likely to preside over the sessions.
Industries Ministry sources said Bangladesh would get realistic ideas through the conference on how traditional knowledge, genetic resources, folklore and traditional cultural expressions can be incorporated in country’s development and economic growth.
The conference is the outcome of a sideline talks between Industries Minister Dilip Barua and WIPO director general Dr Francis Gurry during a meeting on strategic use of intellectual property held in Geneva July last year.
WIPO is a specialized agency of the United Nations, dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property (IP) system, which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interests.
END/UNB/AMK
Dhaka, Jul 16 (UNB) – A two-day Regional Conference on Intellectual Property (IP) for the policymakers of 15 least developed countries (LDCs) in the Asia and Pacific region begins here on July 19 aiming at policy formulation and finalization of implementation strategies.
Ministry of Industries, Bangladesh will arrange the conference in cooperation with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). For the first time, Bangladesh will be the part of such a big international conference, which is considered a big achievement.
Three members from each of the 15 countries, including host Bangladesh, consisting of a minister, a lawmaker and a top government official will take part in the conference.
Other participating countries are Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Maldives, Afghanistan, Yemen, Cambodia, Kiribati, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Island, Tuvalu, Laos and East Timur.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to formally inaugurate the conference at Sonargaon Hotel in the city Monday morning.
A total of 14 themes have been selected for discussion in the two-day conference.
Some of the vital themes of the conference are Integrating Intellectual Property into National Development Policy and Strategies; IP and Public Policy Issues; IP and Public Health: Policy and Strategies for LDCs; Strategic Importance of Transfer of Technology; Copyright and Related Rights: Striking the Balance between Protection and Public Interest; Protection and Exploration of Traditional Knowledge and Folklores; Contribution to Sustainable Development in the LDCs; and Cooperation for Building IP Institutions in LCDs.
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Industries Minister Dilip Barua and State Minister for Cultural Affairs Promod Mankin are likely to preside over the sessions.
Industries Ministry sources said Bangladesh would get realistic ideas through the conference on how traditional knowledge, genetic resources, folklore and traditional cultural expressions can be incorporated in country’s development and economic growth.
The conference is the outcome of a sideline talks between Industries Minister Dilip Barua and WIPO director general Dr Francis Gurry during a meeting on strategic use of intellectual property held in Geneva July last year.
WIPO is a specialized agency of the United Nations, dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property (IP) system, which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interests.
END/UNB/AMK
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Sugar price to remain stable during Ramadan, govt to fix sugar price Tk 40-Tk 45 per kg: Industries Minister
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 17 (UNB) – Industries Minister Dilip Barua on Saturday hoped that there will be no crisis of sugar in the holy month of Ramadan and sugar price will remain stable during the entire month of fasting.
Import of two consignments of sugar, each having 25,000 tons, has already been finalized and is expected to arrive in the country by mid-Ramadan, he told journalists at his office.
Barua said price of per kg sugar would be fixed between Tk 40 and Tk 45 at the mill gate of state-owned sugar mills so that the price in retail market can be kept within commoners purchasing capacity.
Earlier, on Thursday, Bangladesh Sugar Refiners Association (BSRA) sent a letter to the Industries Minister for fixing the sugar price at Tk 45 per kg at the mill gate as in the last year.
The Industries Minister said the government has planned a buffer stock of 100,000 tons of sugar through domestic and international procurement to meet additional demand and keep price stable during Ramadan.
This time, he said, the state-owned Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) under the Industries Ministry has been given the responsibility to import 50,000 tons of sugar to keep the price stable and the market free from any artificial crisis during month of fasting for the Muslims.
Besides, the corporation would procure another 10,000 tonnes of sugar locally, Barua said. “We’ve already floated tender for procuring sugar from local market. It’ll be opened on July 19.”
Replying to a question, he said that currently the government has a stock of 40,000 tons of sugar.
Asked about the distribution process, the Industries Minister said: “We’ve 4500 dealers under BSFIC across the country. The sugar will be sold by our dealers.”
Bangladesh largely depends on imported sugar to meet its annual demand of 1.4 million tons as the state-run sugar mills can produce only 125,000 tons.
END/UNB/AKM
Dhaka, Jul 17 (UNB) – Industries Minister Dilip Barua on Saturday hoped that there will be no crisis of sugar in the holy month of Ramadan and sugar price will remain stable during the entire month of fasting.
Import of two consignments of sugar, each having 25,000 tons, has already been finalized and is expected to arrive in the country by mid-Ramadan, he told journalists at his office.
Barua said price of per kg sugar would be fixed between Tk 40 and Tk 45 at the mill gate of state-owned sugar mills so that the price in retail market can be kept within commoners purchasing capacity.
Earlier, on Thursday, Bangladesh Sugar Refiners Association (BSRA) sent a letter to the Industries Minister for fixing the sugar price at Tk 45 per kg at the mill gate as in the last year.
The Industries Minister said the government has planned a buffer stock of 100,000 tons of sugar through domestic and international procurement to meet additional demand and keep price stable during Ramadan.
This time, he said, the state-owned Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) under the Industries Ministry has been given the responsibility to import 50,000 tons of sugar to keep the price stable and the market free from any artificial crisis during month of fasting for the Muslims.
Besides, the corporation would procure another 10,000 tonnes of sugar locally, Barua said. “We’ve already floated tender for procuring sugar from local market. It’ll be opened on July 19.”
Replying to a question, he said that currently the government has a stock of 40,000 tons of sugar.
Asked about the distribution process, the Industries Minister said: “We’ve 4500 dealers under BSFIC across the country. The sugar will be sold by our dealers.”
Bangladesh largely depends on imported sugar to meet its annual demand of 1.4 million tons as the state-run sugar mills can produce only 125,000 tons.
END/UNB/AKM
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Dhaka-Kathmandu commerce secretary-level meet prepare final draft of transit; Next meeting at Kathmandu in Feb
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 15 (UNB) – After two days of talks ending Thursday, Commerce secretaries of Bangladesh and Nepal prepared the final draft on the modalities of transit for transport of trade cargoes between the two countries allowing trucks from Nepal without any fees.
The final draft that allows trucks from Nepal into Bangladesh territory may get formal approval from the top government authorities before February next year paving the way for the implementation of the much-anticipated transport connectivity,” Commerce Secretary M Golam Hossain said after the talks at a joint press conference at the Secretariat.
“We’ll soon place it (final draft) before the highest level of the government for vetting and formal approval,” he said.
Bangladesh commerce secretary said the next secretary-level meeting would be held in Kathmandu in February next year for further discussion on other unresolved issues.
“We’ve finalized the route of transit from Banglabandh to Mongla for the trucks coming from Nepal. The route is Banglabandh-Panchagarh-Thakurgaon-Syedpur-Rangpur-Bogra-Natore-Dashuria-Paksey-Kushtia-Jessore-Khulna-Mongla port,” he said in reply to a question.
Replying to another question, Golam Hossain said: “It could have been an income if Bangladesh gets fees from for each truck’s entry into our territory, but we’ll benefit by other fees like carrying charges.”
He said Bangladesh could not fully utilize the facilities of Monga port. “If we allow our friends to utilize the facilities, we’ll be benefited… in trading one party might get a little more benefit and the other party little less, but to get something is better than nothing.”
The commerce secretary told another questioner that the pressure on the roads would not be much, as you know Nepal is a small country and its export-import volume is also small in size.
He said they could not reach a decision on duty-free access of goods for the markets of both countries but both sides tabled a list of own products for further consideration.
“In the meeting, Bangladesh placed a list of 184 products while Nepal mentioned 146 products for duty-free access to each other’s markets. We’ve directed the joint-secretary level body to finalize the list and place its recommendations to the next secretary-level meeting,” Golam Hossain said.
Nepalese commerce secretary Purushottam Ojha said though the transit agreement was signed in 1976, quite a long time back, still it has remained unimplemented. Transport connectivity was one of the bottlenecks.
“Once we’ve transport connectivity it’ll help create opportunities for increasing the bilateral trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people contact,” he said.
During the talks, Bangladesh also focused on export of pharmaceuticals to Nepal, railway connectivity, Dhaka-Kathmandu bus service, on arrival visa for the Nepalese and simplification of visa procedures for the Bangladeshis.
The secretary-level talks began on Wednesday after nearly three years. Bangladesh commerce secretary led a 15-member team while his Nepalese counterpart Purushottam Ojha led a six-member delegation at the talks.
Bangladesh team included representatives from the ministries of foreign affairs, industries, shipping, communication, and power, Board of Investment, National Board of Revenue, Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority, and the Tariff Commission.
Transit agreement between Bangladesh and Nepal was signed on April 2 in 1976. The agreement, which did not incorporate any provision for using the territory and ports and routes for entry and exit of Nepalese vehicles, made it almost non-functional.
END/UNB/AMK
Dhaka, Jul 15 (UNB) – After two days of talks ending Thursday, Commerce secretaries of Bangladesh and Nepal prepared the final draft on the modalities of transit for transport of trade cargoes between the two countries allowing trucks from Nepal without any fees.
The final draft that allows trucks from Nepal into Bangladesh territory may get formal approval from the top government authorities before February next year paving the way for the implementation of the much-anticipated transport connectivity,” Commerce Secretary M Golam Hossain said after the talks at a joint press conference at the Secretariat.
“We’ll soon place it (final draft) before the highest level of the government for vetting and formal approval,” he said.
Bangladesh commerce secretary said the next secretary-level meeting would be held in Kathmandu in February next year for further discussion on other unresolved issues.
“We’ve finalized the route of transit from Banglabandh to Mongla for the trucks coming from Nepal. The route is Banglabandh-Panchagarh-Thakurgaon-Syedpur-Rangpur-Bogra-Natore-Dashuria-Paksey-Kushtia-Jessore-Khulna-Mongla port,” he said in reply to a question.
Replying to another question, Golam Hossain said: “It could have been an income if Bangladesh gets fees from for each truck’s entry into our territory, but we’ll benefit by other fees like carrying charges.”
He said Bangladesh could not fully utilize the facilities of Monga port. “If we allow our friends to utilize the facilities, we’ll be benefited… in trading one party might get a little more benefit and the other party little less, but to get something is better than nothing.”
The commerce secretary told another questioner that the pressure on the roads would not be much, as you know Nepal is a small country and its export-import volume is also small in size.
He said they could not reach a decision on duty-free access of goods for the markets of both countries but both sides tabled a list of own products for further consideration.
“In the meeting, Bangladesh placed a list of 184 products while Nepal mentioned 146 products for duty-free access to each other’s markets. We’ve directed the joint-secretary level body to finalize the list and place its recommendations to the next secretary-level meeting,” Golam Hossain said.
Nepalese commerce secretary Purushottam Ojha said though the transit agreement was signed in 1976, quite a long time back, still it has remained unimplemented. Transport connectivity was one of the bottlenecks.
“Once we’ve transport connectivity it’ll help create opportunities for increasing the bilateral trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people contact,” he said.
During the talks, Bangladesh also focused on export of pharmaceuticals to Nepal, railway connectivity, Dhaka-Kathmandu bus service, on arrival visa for the Nepalese and simplification of visa procedures for the Bangladeshis.
The secretary-level talks began on Wednesday after nearly three years. Bangladesh commerce secretary led a 15-member team while his Nepalese counterpart Purushottam Ojha led a six-member delegation at the talks.
Bangladesh team included representatives from the ministries of foreign affairs, industries, shipping, communication, and power, Board of Investment, National Board of Revenue, Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority, and the Tariff Commission.
Transit agreement between Bangladesh and Nepal was signed on April 2 in 1976. The agreement, which did not incorporate any provision for using the territory and ports and routes for entry and exit of Nepalese vehicles, made it almost non-functional.
END/UNB/AMK
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Awami Foundation to be rebuilt as ‘safety net’; it will set up 250-bed hospital at Savar: PM Hasina
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 14 (UNB) - Awami Foundation will soon be rebuilt as a
‘safety net’ organization for destitute people, including leaders and
activists of Awami League and pro-liberation forces, Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina said Wednesday.
She said that the Foundation will soon set up a 250-bed hospital and
nursing institute on its 19 bighas of land at Savar. Later, it will
be turned into a 500-bed hospital.
Hasina, also the chairman of Awami Foundation, a non-profit
organization, revealed the plan in a meeting held at Gonabhaban this
(Wednesday) evening.
In her introductory speech, Hasina said the Awami Foundation was
formed in March 1994 aiming to serving the society and ensuring
safety of the Awami League leaders and activists apart from its other
activities.
“The activities of the foundation could not progress much as it faced
a lot of hurdles, especially during the tenure of BNP-Jamaat led
alliance government,” she said.
Deputy Leader in Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, AL advisory
council members Suranjit Sengupta, Tofael Ahmed, AL presidium member
Matia Chowdhury and general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam attended
the meeting, conducted by Foundation’s secretary general Ashikur
Rahman.
END/UNB/AKM/
Dhaka, Jul 14 (UNB) - Awami Foundation will soon be rebuilt as a
‘safety net’ organization for destitute people, including leaders and
activists of Awami League and pro-liberation forces, Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina said Wednesday.
She said that the Foundation will soon set up a 250-bed hospital and
nursing institute on its 19 bighas of land at Savar. Later, it will
be turned into a 500-bed hospital.
Hasina, also the chairman of Awami Foundation, a non-profit
organization, revealed the plan in a meeting held at Gonabhaban this
(Wednesday) evening.
In her introductory speech, Hasina said the Awami Foundation was
formed in March 1994 aiming to serving the society and ensuring
safety of the Awami League leaders and activists apart from its other
activities.
“The activities of the foundation could not progress much as it faced
a lot of hurdles, especially during the tenure of BNP-Jamaat led
alliance government,” she said.
Deputy Leader in Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, AL advisory
council members Suranjit Sengupta, Tofael Ahmed, AL presidium member
Matia Chowdhury and general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam attended
the meeting, conducted by Foundation’s secretary general Ashikur
Rahman.
END/UNB/AKM/
Delwar blames Prime Minister Hasina for “stigmatizing” democracy
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 14 (UNB) - BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain
on Wednesday blamed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for “stigmatizing
democracy by using police illegally” against its leaders and
activists.
“The Prime Minister does not have the right to use police force
illegally to serve political purpose,” he said at a rally at city’s
Muktangon today.
Delwar also said that Prime Minister Hasina cannot jeopardize country’
s independence and sovereignty by handing over Chittagong port to
foreigners.
Jubo Dal organized the rally demanding withdrawal of “false” cases
against BNP leaders Mirza Abbas, Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, Shahid
Uddin Chowdhury Annie MP and their immediate release as well as
finding out missing DCC ward councilor Chowdhury Alam.
Jubo Dal president Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal presided over the rally,
which was also addressed by BNP senior joint secretary general Mirza
Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, joint secretary generals Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and
Amanullah Aman, and Jubo Dal general secretary Saiful Islam Nirob.
Addressing the rally as chief guest, Delwar said people became
surprised when police re-arrested the BNP leaders after getting bails
from the High Court.
Criticizing the government for its failure to find out missing ward
councilor Chowdhury Alam, he said people want to know about the
whereabouts of Chowdhury Alam.
“The government will have to answer to the people if Chowdhury Alam
is harmed in any way,” Delwar said accusing the police and ruling
party cadres for his missing.
END/UNB/AKM/
Dhaka, Jul 14 (UNB) - BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain
on Wednesday blamed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for “stigmatizing
democracy by using police illegally” against its leaders and
activists.
“The Prime Minister does not have the right to use police force
illegally to serve political purpose,” he said at a rally at city’s
Muktangon today.
Delwar also said that Prime Minister Hasina cannot jeopardize country’
s independence and sovereignty by handing over Chittagong port to
foreigners.
Jubo Dal organized the rally demanding withdrawal of “false” cases
against BNP leaders Mirza Abbas, Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, Shahid
Uddin Chowdhury Annie MP and their immediate release as well as
finding out missing DCC ward councilor Chowdhury Alam.
Jubo Dal president Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal presided over the rally,
which was also addressed by BNP senior joint secretary general Mirza
Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, joint secretary generals Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and
Amanullah Aman, and Jubo Dal general secretary Saiful Islam Nirob.
Addressing the rally as chief guest, Delwar said people became
surprised when police re-arrested the BNP leaders after getting bails
from the High Court.
Criticizing the government for its failure to find out missing ward
councilor Chowdhury Alam, he said people want to know about the
whereabouts of Chowdhury Alam.
“The government will have to answer to the people if Chowdhury Alam
is harmed in any way,” Delwar said accusing the police and ruling
party cadres for his missing.
END/UNB/AKM/
Bangladesh-Nepal secretary level talks begin; transport connectivity, removal of trade barriers top agenda
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 14 (UNB) - A two-day commerce secretary-level talks between Bangladesh and Nepal began in Dhaka on Wednesday in a bid to finalize bilateral issues including trade expansion, transport connectivity and removal of trade barriers.
Commerce Secretary Mohammad Ghulam Husain is leading the 15-member Bangladesh team while his Nepali counterpart Purushottam Ojha is heading the six-member team. The talks were held at the conference room of commerce ministry.
Representatives from foreign, industries, shipping, communication, power ministries, Board of Investment, National Board of Revenue, Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority and Bangladesh Tariff Commission were included in the Bangladesh team.
Commerce Ministry sources said apart from transit connectivity and transport issues, key points of the talks are duty-free market facilities, tariff preference, full-fledged operation of Kakarbhitta-Panitanki-Phulbari-Banglabandh corridor and allowing Nepalese trucks into Banglabandh land port.
Railway connectivity, Dhaka-Kathmandu bus service and transport of perishable goods through air cargo service also came under discussion.
The last secretary-level meeting between Nepal and Bangladesh was held in October 2007 in Nepal’s capital Katmandu.
END/UNB/AMK/
Dhaka, Jul 14 (UNB) - A two-day commerce secretary-level talks between Bangladesh and Nepal began in Dhaka on Wednesday in a bid to finalize bilateral issues including trade expansion, transport connectivity and removal of trade barriers.
Commerce Secretary Mohammad Ghulam Husain is leading the 15-member Bangladesh team while his Nepali counterpart Purushottam Ojha is heading the six-member team. The talks were held at the conference room of commerce ministry.
Representatives from foreign, industries, shipping, communication, power ministries, Board of Investment, National Board of Revenue, Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority and Bangladesh Tariff Commission were included in the Bangladesh team.
Commerce Ministry sources said apart from transit connectivity and transport issues, key points of the talks are duty-free market facilities, tariff preference, full-fledged operation of Kakarbhitta-Panitanki-Phulbari-Banglabandh corridor and allowing Nepalese trucks into Banglabandh land port.
Railway connectivity, Dhaka-Kathmandu bus service and transport of perishable goods through air cargo service also came under discussion.
The last secretary-level meeting between Nepal and Bangladesh was held in October 2007 in Nepal’s capital Katmandu.
END/UNB/AMK/
BGMEA seek media’s positive stand to protect RMG sector;Editors, economists, teachers call for balanced wage for RMG workers
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 14 (UNB) - Conspiracy, low wages for workers and lack of congenial working environment are the main reasons behind the recent violence and unrest in the RMG sector that almost brought the highest export earning sector near extinction, speakers said at a discussion Wednesday.
They suggested balanced wage structure for workers, introduction of trade unionism, developing internal intelligence unit, permanent platform of discussion, skilled and trained workforce, and strong public relations body towards resolving the prevailing crisis by protecting the interests of both workers and owners.
The discussants, which included editors of leading national dailies, economists, university teachers and garment manufacturers, made the observations at an opinion exchange meeting on `Present Crisis in RMG Sector’ held at Hotel Sheraton in the city.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) arranged the meeting, which was presided over by its president Abdus Salam Murshedy.
Taking part in the discussion, executive director of Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Prof Mustafizur Rahman said bargaining will be there between owners and workers but the people want to see a balanced wage structure for the RMG workers.
“We hope the minimum wage structure, likely to be announced on July 28, will match our assumption and expectation,” he said urging the owners to protect the interest of workers.
Prof Mustafiz identified conspiracy, low wage and uncongenial working environment as the key reasons behind violence and unrest in the RMG sector.
Samokal editor Golam Sarwar said it is urgently needed to have an acceptable wage structure through blending the workers’ expectation and the owners’ interest for protecting the garment sector.
He sought political consensus for the protection and further flourishing of RMG sector keeping the RMG units out of political programmes including hartal.
“Media is supportive to you. We’ll stay beside you, not to protect your interest but to protect country’s interest,” he said.
Dhaka University Prof Asif Nazrul said the owners should consider with utmost sympathy the minimum wages for the RMG workers.
“It (RMG) is not an industry of any party, rather of the country. It’s the responsibility of all - owners, workers and the government - to protect this industry,” he said adding that conspirators are getting the scope to create unrest in the sector as anger is prevailing within it.
Prothom Alo joint editor Abdul Qaiyum said the number of RMG units providing better facilities to the workers is very few. If the owners fail to ensure better facilities to the workers of all RMG units, there will be unrest in future even with increased minimum wages.
Bhorer Kagoj editor Shyamol Dutta said neither the government nor the RMG owners have any mechanism to deal with over 30 lakh RMG workers and this puts the sector into trouble.
“The garment sector is now on the verge of destruction… a victim of negligence and both the government and owners are responsible for this,” he said.
Acting editor of the daily Sangbad Moniruzzaman said mutual trust between workers and owners did not develop in the RMG sector even after 30 years of the sector’s journey.
“If you can’t build trust and if you fail to take the workers into confidence, you can’t resolve the problem even by increasing the minimum wages,” he said.
Former BGMEA president Tipu Munshi MP said they are sincere about increasing the wages for the workers gradually, not at a time.
“We can’t give the amount that they (workers) desire, as our capability didn’t increase. If we’re given time, we’ll increase the wages gradually.”
He sought a positive stand from media after the announcement of minimum wages for the workers.
Independent editor Mahbubul Alam, advisory editor of the daily Ittefaq Habibur Rahman Milon, BFUJ president Iqbal Sonhan Chowdhury, News Today editor Reazuddin Ahmed, New Nation editor Mostafa Kamal Mazumdar, Commonwealth Journalist Association president Hasan Shahriar, special affairs editor of bdnews24.com Baby Moudud and Destiny executive editor Mahmud Al Faisal, among others, also took part in the discussion.
END/UNB/AKM/
Dhaka, Jul 14 (UNB) - Conspiracy, low wages for workers and lack of congenial working environment are the main reasons behind the recent violence and unrest in the RMG sector that almost brought the highest export earning sector near extinction, speakers said at a discussion Wednesday.
They suggested balanced wage structure for workers, introduction of trade unionism, developing internal intelligence unit, permanent platform of discussion, skilled and trained workforce, and strong public relations body towards resolving the prevailing crisis by protecting the interests of both workers and owners.
The discussants, which included editors of leading national dailies, economists, university teachers and garment manufacturers, made the observations at an opinion exchange meeting on `Present Crisis in RMG Sector’ held at Hotel Sheraton in the city.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) arranged the meeting, which was presided over by its president Abdus Salam Murshedy.
Taking part in the discussion, executive director of Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Prof Mustafizur Rahman said bargaining will be there between owners and workers but the people want to see a balanced wage structure for the RMG workers.
“We hope the minimum wage structure, likely to be announced on July 28, will match our assumption and expectation,” he said urging the owners to protect the interest of workers.
Prof Mustafiz identified conspiracy, low wage and uncongenial working environment as the key reasons behind violence and unrest in the RMG sector.
Samokal editor Golam Sarwar said it is urgently needed to have an acceptable wage structure through blending the workers’ expectation and the owners’ interest for protecting the garment sector.
He sought political consensus for the protection and further flourishing of RMG sector keeping the RMG units out of political programmes including hartal.
“Media is supportive to you. We’ll stay beside you, not to protect your interest but to protect country’s interest,” he said.
Dhaka University Prof Asif Nazrul said the owners should consider with utmost sympathy the minimum wages for the RMG workers.
“It (RMG) is not an industry of any party, rather of the country. It’s the responsibility of all - owners, workers and the government - to protect this industry,” he said adding that conspirators are getting the scope to create unrest in the sector as anger is prevailing within it.
Prothom Alo joint editor Abdul Qaiyum said the number of RMG units providing better facilities to the workers is very few. If the owners fail to ensure better facilities to the workers of all RMG units, there will be unrest in future even with increased minimum wages.
Bhorer Kagoj editor Shyamol Dutta said neither the government nor the RMG owners have any mechanism to deal with over 30 lakh RMG workers and this puts the sector into trouble.
“The garment sector is now on the verge of destruction… a victim of negligence and both the government and owners are responsible for this,” he said.
Acting editor of the daily Sangbad Moniruzzaman said mutual trust between workers and owners did not develop in the RMG sector even after 30 years of the sector’s journey.
“If you can’t build trust and if you fail to take the workers into confidence, you can’t resolve the problem even by increasing the minimum wages,” he said.
Former BGMEA president Tipu Munshi MP said they are sincere about increasing the wages for the workers gradually, not at a time.
“We can’t give the amount that they (workers) desire, as our capability didn’t increase. If we’re given time, we’ll increase the wages gradually.”
He sought a positive stand from media after the announcement of minimum wages for the workers.
Independent editor Mahbubul Alam, advisory editor of the daily Ittefaq Habibur Rahman Milon, BFUJ president Iqbal Sonhan Chowdhury, News Today editor Reazuddin Ahmed, New Nation editor Mostafa Kamal Mazumdar, Commonwealth Journalist Association president Hasan Shahriar, special affairs editor of bdnews24.com Baby Moudud and Destiny executive editor Mahmud Al Faisal, among others, also took part in the discussion.
END/UNB/AKM/
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
NBR collects record Tk 62,007.47 crore revenue last fiscal
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 13 (UNB) - National Board of Revenue (NBR) recorded highest revenue collection in the last fiscal (2009-10) exceeding its target, the first time under any democratic government since 2000, showing a growth rate of 18.05 percent.
The NBR collected Tk 62,007.47 crore in revenue in the last fiscal against its target of Tk 61,000 crore - an achievement rate of 101.65 percent, NBR chairman Dr Nasiruddin Ahmed said at a press conference on Tuesday.
He, however, said the calculation is temporary and the figure might rise further.
The government’s highest tax administration collected Tk 52,527.25 crore as revenue in the 2008-09 fiscal.
The NBR chairman said: “The achievement rate has been shown on the original revenue collection target as we didn’t keep the provision of revised target. We had taken the challenges to achieve the target.”
The NBR could achieve the revenue collection target during the 2007-08 fiscal under the military controlled caretaker government, which was not a normal period, he said.
NBR’s tremendous performances in two categories - VAT (value added tax) and income tax among the four categories of revenue collection - helped it to exceed the target in the last fiscal.
It earned Tk 21,643.25 crore as VAT (local) against the target of Tk 20,735 crore - 104.38 percent achievement rate with 24.51 percent growth, and Tk 17,087.14 crore under income tax against the target of Tk 16,560 crore - 103.18 percent achievement rate with 23.30 percent growth.
The NBR, however collected only Tk 385.71 crore under the category of ‘other taxes’ against its target of Tk 469 crore, which showed a negative growth of -7.39 percent.
It showed 98.52 percent success rate in revenue collection from imports with Tk 22,891.37 crore against the target of Tk 23,236 crore.
Replying to a question, NBR chairman Dr Nasir said some 1200 institutions so far installed ECRs (Electronic Cash Registers). “We’re taking preparation to launch countrywide campaign to popularize ECRs.”
The NBR took the move to introduce ECR at all small and medium enterprises in a bid to plug holes in the VAT (value added tax) collection procedure.
Dr Nasir hoped that they would be able to achieve the bigger revenue collection target set for the current fiscal (2010-11).
“The target is bigger in size but we’re hopeful to achieve the target. We’re taking preparations at grassroots level,” he said.
The NBR chairman said they set a target of bringing 400,000 new taxpayers in the tax net last fiscal but that remained marginally unachieved. “We’ve a plan to identify 5 lakh new taxpayers in the current fiscal.”
NBR members Jahan Ara Siddiqui (Board Admin), Farid Uddin (Customs and VAT), Hussain Ahmed (Customs), Md Abdul Mannan Patwary (VAT), Basir Uddin Ahmed (Tax Admin and Monitoring), Sayed Md Aminul Karim (Tax Appeal and Exemption), Shambunath (Tax Survey and Inspection) and Aminur Rahman (Income Tax Policy) were present at the press conference and replied to the queries from newsmen.
END/UNB/AKM
Dhaka, Jul 13 (UNB) - National Board of Revenue (NBR) recorded highest revenue collection in the last fiscal (2009-10) exceeding its target, the first time under any democratic government since 2000, showing a growth rate of 18.05 percent.
The NBR collected Tk 62,007.47 crore in revenue in the last fiscal against its target of Tk 61,000 crore - an achievement rate of 101.65 percent, NBR chairman Dr Nasiruddin Ahmed said at a press conference on Tuesday.
He, however, said the calculation is temporary and the figure might rise further.
The government’s highest tax administration collected Tk 52,527.25 crore as revenue in the 2008-09 fiscal.
The NBR chairman said: “The achievement rate has been shown on the original revenue collection target as we didn’t keep the provision of revised target. We had taken the challenges to achieve the target.”
The NBR could achieve the revenue collection target during the 2007-08 fiscal under the military controlled caretaker government, which was not a normal period, he said.
NBR’s tremendous performances in two categories - VAT (value added tax) and income tax among the four categories of revenue collection - helped it to exceed the target in the last fiscal.
It earned Tk 21,643.25 crore as VAT (local) against the target of Tk 20,735 crore - 104.38 percent achievement rate with 24.51 percent growth, and Tk 17,087.14 crore under income tax against the target of Tk 16,560 crore - 103.18 percent achievement rate with 23.30 percent growth.
The NBR, however collected only Tk 385.71 crore under the category of ‘other taxes’ against its target of Tk 469 crore, which showed a negative growth of -7.39 percent.
It showed 98.52 percent success rate in revenue collection from imports with Tk 22,891.37 crore against the target of Tk 23,236 crore.
Replying to a question, NBR chairman Dr Nasir said some 1200 institutions so far installed ECRs (Electronic Cash Registers). “We’re taking preparation to launch countrywide campaign to popularize ECRs.”
The NBR took the move to introduce ECR at all small and medium enterprises in a bid to plug holes in the VAT (value added tax) collection procedure.
Dr Nasir hoped that they would be able to achieve the bigger revenue collection target set for the current fiscal (2010-11).
“The target is bigger in size but we’re hopeful to achieve the target. We’re taking preparations at grassroots level,” he said.
The NBR chairman said they set a target of bringing 400,000 new taxpayers in the tax net last fiscal but that remained marginally unachieved. “We’ve a plan to identify 5 lakh new taxpayers in the current fiscal.”
NBR members Jahan Ara Siddiqui (Board Admin), Farid Uddin (Customs and VAT), Hussain Ahmed (Customs), Md Abdul Mannan Patwary (VAT), Basir Uddin Ahmed (Tax Admin and Monitoring), Sayed Md Aminul Karim (Tax Appeal and Exemption), Shambunath (Tax Survey and Inspection) and Aminur Rahman (Income Tax Policy) were present at the press conference and replied to the queries from newsmen.
END/UNB/AKM
1923 people whiten around Tk 923 crore in last fiscal; govt got over 121 crore taxes: NBR
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 13 (UNB) - About Tk 923 crore black money have been whitened by investing in four categories, the lion share being in the stock market, during the outgoing fiscal year.
A total of 1,923 people declared investment of undisclosed Tk 922.98 in four categories - new industry, infrastructure development, BMRE (balancing, modernization, rehabilitation and expansion), stock market and purchase flat or land.
This was informed by NBR Member (Tax Admin and Monitoring) Basir Uddin Ahmed at a press conference today. The exchequer got about Tk121.21 crore in taxes for legalizing the black money.
Of the black money holders, highest 1320 people legalized their money by purchasing flat or plot, 296 invested in capital market, 162 invested in new industry and 145 invested in BMRE, he said.
The government kept open the scope to whiten the black money by paying 10 percent tax and invest the money in different sectors. In case of flat and land purchase, undisclosed money holders were given a chance to legalize their money by paying tax varying on the size of the flat and land.
The investment of black money in the stock market was around Tk 427 crore while approximately Tk 258 crore was legalized in BMRE. More than Tk 239 crore was invested in new industry and approximately Tk 29 crore whitened by purchasing flats and lands.
Most of the money was whitened in the last two months of the fiscal year and only 81 people took advantage of the opportunity and legalized Tk 57 crore from July to April of 2009-10.
In the current fiscal year, the scope to whiten black money is restricted to only one category - investment in Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund (BIFF).
During the army backed caretaker government 56,845 people legalized Tk 9,773 crore by paying Tk 911 crore in taxes.
Since fiscal 1976-77, all successive governments provided the opportunity to whiten the black money.
During the fiscal year 2000-2001 when Awami League was in power only Tk 1,000 crore was whitened. Meanwhile, approximately Tk 2,000 crore was legalized under the money whitening opportunity for three fiscal years during BNP-led four-party alliance rule.
Dhaka, Jul 13 (UNB) - About Tk 923 crore black money have been whitened by investing in four categories, the lion share being in the stock market, during the outgoing fiscal year.
A total of 1,923 people declared investment of undisclosed Tk 922.98 in four categories - new industry, infrastructure development, BMRE (balancing, modernization, rehabilitation and expansion), stock market and purchase flat or land.
This was informed by NBR Member (Tax Admin and Monitoring) Basir Uddin Ahmed at a press conference today. The exchequer got about Tk121.21 crore in taxes for legalizing the black money.
Of the black money holders, highest 1320 people legalized their money by purchasing flat or plot, 296 invested in capital market, 162 invested in new industry and 145 invested in BMRE, he said.
The government kept open the scope to whiten the black money by paying 10 percent tax and invest the money in different sectors. In case of flat and land purchase, undisclosed money holders were given a chance to legalize their money by paying tax varying on the size of the flat and land.
The investment of black money in the stock market was around Tk 427 crore while approximately Tk 258 crore was legalized in BMRE. More than Tk 239 crore was invested in new industry and approximately Tk 29 crore whitened by purchasing flats and lands.
Most of the money was whitened in the last two months of the fiscal year and only 81 people took advantage of the opportunity and legalized Tk 57 crore from July to April of 2009-10.
In the current fiscal year, the scope to whiten black money is restricted to only one category - investment in Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund (BIFF).
During the army backed caretaker government 56,845 people legalized Tk 9,773 crore by paying Tk 911 crore in taxes.
Since fiscal 1976-77, all successive governments provided the opportunity to whiten the black money.
During the fiscal year 2000-2001 when Awami League was in power only Tk 1,000 crore was whitened. Meanwhile, approximately Tk 2,000 crore was legalized under the money whitening opportunity for three fiscal years during BNP-led four-party alliance rule.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Mani Shankar invites Bangladeshi businesspeople in NE region; proposes further talks in Agartala
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, July 12 (UNB) - Indian Congress leader and seasoned diplomat Mani Shankar Aiyar has invited the business community leaders to take advantage of the business opportunities in north eastern region known as seven sisters and proposed further talks in Agartala within six months.
“Bangladesh’s both eyes are always focused on West Bengal but there are huge business opportunities in NE which remained unfocused to Bangladesh,” the veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sava member said urging Bangladeshi businesspeople to put their second eye on the east.
The former Indian minister for petroleum and natural gas, Mani Shankar, made the call while talking to the leaders of country’s apex trade body FBCCI at its conference room today. FBCCI president AK Azad presided over the discussion attended by Indian High Commissioner Rajeet Mitter, India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) president Abdul Matlub Ahmad, FBCCI first vice president Jashim Uddin Khan, and members of NE business delegation.
Mani Shankar viewed that Bangladesh would be highly benefited and its growth rate might accelerate by 2 percent if it avails the opportunities as North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) provides a number facilities including tax exemption, capital investment subsidy, interest subsidy and comprehensive insurance.
Mentioning the Indian government’s vision 2020, Mani Shankar said the government has allocated Rs 20 lakh crore for its Northeastern (NE) region which lacks managerial, technical and technological support to implement the programme and urged the Bangladeshi businessmen to take the advantage.
“It’s a huge cake (Rs 20 lakh crore). If you get a slice of it, you will reduce trade imbalance with India to a large extent,” Mani Shankar said.
Explaining geographical advantages with long border, Mani Shakar said Bangladeshi businesspeople would get greater scope in the NE region compared to Indian businessmen.
“The Indian government has planned to raise the growth to 9 percent in the NE region which is now half of the mark. Without Bangladesh’s cooperation, it’s not possible to achieve the target,” admitted the Indian leader.
He said Chittagong and Mongla ports have been made available to India through Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s New Delhi visit in January this year. “Now road connectivity needs to be modernized and well-connected for better trade relations.”
He also said the prime ministers of both the countries have opened up new opportunities allowing each other to use their lands for transit and transshipment.
Mani Shankar proposed a follow-up meeting between FBCCI delegation led by its president AK Azad and NE trade delegation within next six months in Agartala to put things together for further discussion on trade ties between them.
He proposed that India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) president Abdul Matlub Ahmad will coordinate the talks.
Mani Sankar arrived in Dhaka on Saturday leading a 31-member business delegation from the Northeast region. He aimed at using his diplomatic skills to improve trade between the landlocked region and Bangladesh.
END/UNB/AMK/
Dhaka, July 12 (UNB) - Indian Congress leader and seasoned diplomat Mani Shankar Aiyar has invited the business community leaders to take advantage of the business opportunities in north eastern region known as seven sisters and proposed further talks in Agartala within six months.
“Bangladesh’s both eyes are always focused on West Bengal but there are huge business opportunities in NE which remained unfocused to Bangladesh,” the veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sava member said urging Bangladeshi businesspeople to put their second eye on the east.
The former Indian minister for petroleum and natural gas, Mani Shankar, made the call while talking to the leaders of country’s apex trade body FBCCI at its conference room today. FBCCI president AK Azad presided over the discussion attended by Indian High Commissioner Rajeet Mitter, India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) president Abdul Matlub Ahmad, FBCCI first vice president Jashim Uddin Khan, and members of NE business delegation.
Mani Shankar viewed that Bangladesh would be highly benefited and its growth rate might accelerate by 2 percent if it avails the opportunities as North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) provides a number facilities including tax exemption, capital investment subsidy, interest subsidy and comprehensive insurance.
Mentioning the Indian government’s vision 2020, Mani Shankar said the government has allocated Rs 20 lakh crore for its Northeastern (NE) region which lacks managerial, technical and technological support to implement the programme and urged the Bangladeshi businessmen to take the advantage.
“It’s a huge cake (Rs 20 lakh crore). If you get a slice of it, you will reduce trade imbalance with India to a large extent,” Mani Shankar said.
Explaining geographical advantages with long border, Mani Shakar said Bangladeshi businesspeople would get greater scope in the NE region compared to Indian businessmen.
“The Indian government has planned to raise the growth to 9 percent in the NE region which is now half of the mark. Without Bangladesh’s cooperation, it’s not possible to achieve the target,” admitted the Indian leader.
He said Chittagong and Mongla ports have been made available to India through Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s New Delhi visit in January this year. “Now road connectivity needs to be modernized and well-connected for better trade relations.”
He also said the prime ministers of both the countries have opened up new opportunities allowing each other to use their lands for transit and transshipment.
Mani Shankar proposed a follow-up meeting between FBCCI delegation led by its president AK Azad and NE trade delegation within next six months in Agartala to put things together for further discussion on trade ties between them.
He proposed that India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) president Abdul Matlub Ahmad will coordinate the talks.
Mani Sankar arrived in Dhaka on Saturday leading a 31-member business delegation from the Northeast region. He aimed at using his diplomatic skills to improve trade between the landlocked region and Bangladesh.
END/UNB/AMK/
Ex-Indian Minister Mani Shankar seeks Bangladesh’s investment in India’s northeastern states; he terms Hasina’s New Delhi visit a historic breakthroug
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 11 (UNB) – India’s former union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said here Sunday that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New Delhi last January was a historic breakthrough in strengthening Indo-Bangladesh relations.
“The document signed during the visit demonstrates a very welcome recognition of what are the potentials and how the potentials are realized between the countries,” the renowned politician-cum columnist said.
Mani Shankar made the remarks while delivering a talk titled “Bangladesh-India Relations” at the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI). BEI president Ambassador Farooq Sobhan presided over the discussion.
Mani Shankar observed that lot of time was wasted in the last 37 years and urged his Bangladeshi friends to calculate how much it had adversely affected the people of both the countries.
The Indian politician invited Bangladesh to invest in Indian northeastern region where he thinks possibilities are enormous.
“Northeast region was the most neglected element of the India-Bangladesh relations in the last 40 years but it (northeast region) has to be part and parcel of the Indo-Bangla ties,” he said.
Mani Shankar who worked for Rajiv Gandhi from 1989-91, said one can look forward to invest there. “In the northeast you will find opportunities and advantages which are not available to you in other parts of the country (India).”
“There are enormous possibilities but it’s the question of good will, and a good sign has already been reflected through Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India,” he said.
Mani Shankar said that Indian northeastern states want to enhance trade relations with Bangladesh. “I do believe things will look much brighter.”
He expressed happiness over the present initiatives to enhance the trade ties between Bangladesh and the seven-sister states of India.
Recalling his old memories Mani Shankar said things were very informal between Bangladesh and India in those days.
Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Rajeet Mitter, former diplomats and political leaders were present.
END/UNB/AKM
Dhaka, Jul 11 (UNB) – India’s former union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said here Sunday that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New Delhi last January was a historic breakthrough in strengthening Indo-Bangladesh relations.
“The document signed during the visit demonstrates a very welcome recognition of what are the potentials and how the potentials are realized between the countries,” the renowned politician-cum columnist said.
Mani Shankar made the remarks while delivering a talk titled “Bangladesh-India Relations” at the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI). BEI president Ambassador Farooq Sobhan presided over the discussion.
Mani Shankar observed that lot of time was wasted in the last 37 years and urged his Bangladeshi friends to calculate how much it had adversely affected the people of both the countries.
The Indian politician invited Bangladesh to invest in Indian northeastern region where he thinks possibilities are enormous.
“Northeast region was the most neglected element of the India-Bangladesh relations in the last 40 years but it (northeast region) has to be part and parcel of the Indo-Bangla ties,” he said.
Mani Shankar who worked for Rajiv Gandhi from 1989-91, said one can look forward to invest there. “In the northeast you will find opportunities and advantages which are not available to you in other parts of the country (India).”
“There are enormous possibilities but it’s the question of good will, and a good sign has already been reflected through Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India,” he said.
Mani Shankar said that Indian northeastern states want to enhance trade relations with Bangladesh. “I do believe things will look much brighter.”
He expressed happiness over the present initiatives to enhance the trade ties between Bangladesh and the seven-sister states of India.
Recalling his old memories Mani Shankar said things were very informal between Bangladesh and India in those days.
Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Rajeet Mitter, former diplomats and political leaders were present.
END/UNB/AKM
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Tk 2171.34 crore DCC budget announced; no fresh tax, holding tax; 80 % of total budget for development
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 8 (UNB) – Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka on Thursday unveiled a Tk 2171.34 crore budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal without raising holding taxes or imposing any new taxes on the city dwellers.
Announcing his ninth budget at the crowded auditorium of city’s Mohanagar Natya Manch, the Mayor said that the DCC is concentrating on strengthening the tax collection process instead of increasing tax rate.
The Corporation allocated Tk 1735.49 crore, which is nearly 80 percent of the total budget, for the development of Dhaka metropolitan city.
The DCC Mayor gave priority to maintenance and development of roads and traffic infrastructure in the development budget and assured to increase civic facilities for the city dwellers.
Tk 279.50 crore has been allocated for the maintenance and development of roads and traffic infrastructure for the current fiscal, which was Tk 225 crore in the previous fiscal (2009-10).
Meanwhile, an allocation of Tk 18 crore has been kept for mosquito control activities and purchasing equipments. The amount was Tk 16 crore in the previous year.
The new budget reduced allocation against purchase of bulldozers and dump trucks, development of graveyards and crematoriums. It, however, kept allocation for citizens' recreational facilities and development of parks and children's parks almost unchanged in the current fiscal.
The DCC has set its own revenue collection target of Tk 704.35 crore for the fiscal 2010-11, which is slightly higher than the previous fiscal.
Though the corporation set a revenue collection target of Tk 603.80 crore in the last fiscal, it could collect only Tk 493.45 crore.
Mayor Khoka in his budget speech said the corporation is expecting to get Tk 100 crore as block allocation and Tk 50 crore as special allocation from the government, and Tk 7.05 crore from other sources.
Besides, the corporation has set an ambitious target of Tk 1,254.49 crore as income from government and foreign financed projects as well as public private partnership (PPP) projects though it received Tk 297.18 crore from this sector against a target of Tk 540.78 in the previous fiscal.
The corporation set a total expenditure target (revenue, development and others) of Tk 2,116.34 crore for the current fiscal compared to Tk 1,351.58 crore in the last fiscal. However, the revised budget of the fiscal 2009-2010 showed the expenditure as Tk 915.56 crore.
Of the total expenditure target, Tk 371.85 crore for revenue expenses, Tk 1735.49 crore as development expenditure and Tk 9 crore for others.
The highest Tk 188 crore has been allocated against the salary and allowances of corporation officials under revenue expenditure.
Mayor Khoka in his budget speech, however, said that the Corporation’s budget size should be Tk 10,000 crore as the 10 percent of the country’s population lives in the Dhaka City.
He urged the government to increase government allocation for the corporation to Tk 100 crore, which was Tk 26.83 crore in the last fiscal (2009-10).
“DCC’s yearly operational expenditure stood at Tk 372 crore while its revenue income was only Tk 704 crore. Naturally, it is not possible to see desired development of the city dwellers with the little surplus amount,” the Mayor said.
Earlier, the general meeting of the ward councilors approved the budget finalized by corporation’s sub-committee on finance.
END/UNB/AMK/
Dhaka, Jul 8 (UNB) – Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka on Thursday unveiled a Tk 2171.34 crore budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal without raising holding taxes or imposing any new taxes on the city dwellers.
Announcing his ninth budget at the crowded auditorium of city’s Mohanagar Natya Manch, the Mayor said that the DCC is concentrating on strengthening the tax collection process instead of increasing tax rate.
The Corporation allocated Tk 1735.49 crore, which is nearly 80 percent of the total budget, for the development of Dhaka metropolitan city.
The DCC Mayor gave priority to maintenance and development of roads and traffic infrastructure in the development budget and assured to increase civic facilities for the city dwellers.
Tk 279.50 crore has been allocated for the maintenance and development of roads and traffic infrastructure for the current fiscal, which was Tk 225 crore in the previous fiscal (2009-10).
Meanwhile, an allocation of Tk 18 crore has been kept for mosquito control activities and purchasing equipments. The amount was Tk 16 crore in the previous year.
The new budget reduced allocation against purchase of bulldozers and dump trucks, development of graveyards and crematoriums. It, however, kept allocation for citizens' recreational facilities and development of parks and children's parks almost unchanged in the current fiscal.
The DCC has set its own revenue collection target of Tk 704.35 crore for the fiscal 2010-11, which is slightly higher than the previous fiscal.
Though the corporation set a revenue collection target of Tk 603.80 crore in the last fiscal, it could collect only Tk 493.45 crore.
Mayor Khoka in his budget speech said the corporation is expecting to get Tk 100 crore as block allocation and Tk 50 crore as special allocation from the government, and Tk 7.05 crore from other sources.
Besides, the corporation has set an ambitious target of Tk 1,254.49 crore as income from government and foreign financed projects as well as public private partnership (PPP) projects though it received Tk 297.18 crore from this sector against a target of Tk 540.78 in the previous fiscal.
The corporation set a total expenditure target (revenue, development and others) of Tk 2,116.34 crore for the current fiscal compared to Tk 1,351.58 crore in the last fiscal. However, the revised budget of the fiscal 2009-2010 showed the expenditure as Tk 915.56 crore.
Of the total expenditure target, Tk 371.85 crore for revenue expenses, Tk 1735.49 crore as development expenditure and Tk 9 crore for others.
The highest Tk 188 crore has been allocated against the salary and allowances of corporation officials under revenue expenditure.
Mayor Khoka in his budget speech, however, said that the Corporation’s budget size should be Tk 10,000 crore as the 10 percent of the country’s population lives in the Dhaka City.
He urged the government to increase government allocation for the corporation to Tk 100 crore, which was Tk 26.83 crore in the last fiscal (2009-10).
“DCC’s yearly operational expenditure stood at Tk 372 crore while its revenue income was only Tk 704 crore. Naturally, it is not possible to see desired development of the city dwellers with the little surplus amount,” the Mayor said.
Earlier, the general meeting of the ward councilors approved the budget finalized by corporation’s sub-committee on finance.
END/UNB/AMK/
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Nearly half of migrant workers were low-skilled during 1976-2009; Bangladesh may face challenge to stay competitive in labour market
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 7 (UNB) - Bangladesh, which is eyeing increasing remittance flow through exploring new labour markets in the coming days, may face stiff challenges unless it ensures sending of skilled workers abroad, an expert says.
“One of the most important challenges that lie ahead for Bangladesh, as a labour sending country, is to enhance the skills of its labours, to stay competitive in the market,” said Kristina Mejo, Regional Programme Manager of International Organization for Migration (IOM).
In a recent paper on Bangladeshi labour migration, Kristina shows that 49 percent of the migrant labours during the period of 1976-2009 were low-skilled (cleaners, sweepers, domestic workers, etc.) while only 31 percent were skilled and 17 percent semi-skilled. Only the remaining 3 percent were professionals that included doctors, nurses, engineers and architects.
Skilled workers include garment-makers, drivers, electricians and caregivers while the semi-skilled workers include construction workers, carpenters and guards.
The IOM official said low-skilled migrants often find them exploited and face difficulty to protect them. She thinks that despite the benefits that migrant labours bring into the country by sending remittances, the sector is one which has not gained as much prominence as it should.
Remittances from Bangladeshi migrants have grown at an average rate of 17 percent since 2001, which surged by 32.39 percent and reached a record high of about US$10.72 billion in 2009.
The study shows that Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka are the major countries of origin of migrant workers. Experts think that Bangladesh may lose its competitiveness in international labour market and other countries will take the advantage if it fails to produce skilled workers to send abroad.
Kristina in her paper titled “Opportunities and Need for Skills Development for Migrant Workers” cited that Bangladeshis working abroad sent home a record US$ 950.92 million in the first month of current year, showing 8.81 percent growth over December 2009.
A total of 168,026 Bangladeshis secured jobs in different countries till May 2010 from the beginning of the year.
According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), a total of 475,279 Bangladeshi migrants left the country in 2009, a 4 percent drop from the previous year. Approximately 875,055 workers left Bangladesh in 2008.
Meanwhile, the number of migrants that left Bangladesh during 2001-2005 period averaged 250,000 per year. This figure rose to almost 400,000 in 2006 and then doubled to 832,600 in 2007, according to BMET.
Citing global migration trends, Kristina said approximately 2.5 million Asian migrant workers leave their countries every year to work abroad.
“The number of international migration in the world has more than doubled since the 1960s and is currently standing at an estimated 214 million.”
Kristina in her paper said public and private sectors’ coordinated efforts is needed to enhance the skills of workers.
“Before making investment in enhancing skills of workers, it is important to know which skills are in demand. The government, with its new Market Research Unit, can assist the private sector to provide details on the demand of skills for migrant workers.”
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Engr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Wednesday admitted that training is a must for enhancing skills of workers and said the government has taken all necessary steps to produce skilled workers for sending abroad.
He also said apart from the existing training institutes across the country, establishment of 31 new training centers is underway.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Mosharraf told the newsmen that during the fourth ministerial meeting of the “Colombo Process,” to be held in Dhaka October 20-21, they would give priority on reducing migration cost and making the entire process hassle-free apart from workers skill enhancement.
END/UNB/MK/
Dhaka, Jul 7 (UNB) - Bangladesh, which is eyeing increasing remittance flow through exploring new labour markets in the coming days, may face stiff challenges unless it ensures sending of skilled workers abroad, an expert says.
“One of the most important challenges that lie ahead for Bangladesh, as a labour sending country, is to enhance the skills of its labours, to stay competitive in the market,” said Kristina Mejo, Regional Programme Manager of International Organization for Migration (IOM).
In a recent paper on Bangladeshi labour migration, Kristina shows that 49 percent of the migrant labours during the period of 1976-2009 were low-skilled (cleaners, sweepers, domestic workers, etc.) while only 31 percent were skilled and 17 percent semi-skilled. Only the remaining 3 percent were professionals that included doctors, nurses, engineers and architects.
Skilled workers include garment-makers, drivers, electricians and caregivers while the semi-skilled workers include construction workers, carpenters and guards.
The IOM official said low-skilled migrants often find them exploited and face difficulty to protect them. She thinks that despite the benefits that migrant labours bring into the country by sending remittances, the sector is one which has not gained as much prominence as it should.
Remittances from Bangladeshi migrants have grown at an average rate of 17 percent since 2001, which surged by 32.39 percent and reached a record high of about US$10.72 billion in 2009.
The study shows that Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka are the major countries of origin of migrant workers. Experts think that Bangladesh may lose its competitiveness in international labour market and other countries will take the advantage if it fails to produce skilled workers to send abroad.
Kristina in her paper titled “Opportunities and Need for Skills Development for Migrant Workers” cited that Bangladeshis working abroad sent home a record US$ 950.92 million in the first month of current year, showing 8.81 percent growth over December 2009.
A total of 168,026 Bangladeshis secured jobs in different countries till May 2010 from the beginning of the year.
According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), a total of 475,279 Bangladeshi migrants left the country in 2009, a 4 percent drop from the previous year. Approximately 875,055 workers left Bangladesh in 2008.
Meanwhile, the number of migrants that left Bangladesh during 2001-2005 period averaged 250,000 per year. This figure rose to almost 400,000 in 2006 and then doubled to 832,600 in 2007, according to BMET.
Citing global migration trends, Kristina said approximately 2.5 million Asian migrant workers leave their countries every year to work abroad.
“The number of international migration in the world has more than doubled since the 1960s and is currently standing at an estimated 214 million.”
Kristina in her paper said public and private sectors’ coordinated efforts is needed to enhance the skills of workers.
“Before making investment in enhancing skills of workers, it is important to know which skills are in demand. The government, with its new Market Research Unit, can assist the private sector to provide details on the demand of skills for migrant workers.”
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Engr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Wednesday admitted that training is a must for enhancing skills of workers and said the government has taken all necessary steps to produce skilled workers for sending abroad.
He also said apart from the existing training institutes across the country, establishment of 31 new training centers is underway.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Mosharraf told the newsmen that during the fourth ministerial meeting of the “Colombo Process,” to be held in Dhaka October 20-21, they would give priority on reducing migration cost and making the entire process hassle-free apart from workers skill enhancement.
END/UNB/MK/
Minimum wage structure for RMG workers will be acceptable to both sides: Minister Musarraf ; Govt wants trade union in RMG sector to ensure workers’ r
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Jul 7 (UNB) - The government is in its final stage to come up
with the new wage structure for the readymade garment workers which
is expected to be acceptable to both owners and workers, Minister for
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Khandker Musharraf
Hossain said on Wednesday.
“I hope the new wage structure to be announced on July 28 will
satisfy both owners and workers. The committee, working on it, will
ensure a win-win situation for both parties,” he said while talking
to the journalists after a seminar held in the city today.
Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) in association with CSR
(corporate social responsibility) Center arranged the seminar titled
“UN Global Compact Labour Standards” in Lake Shore Hotel in the city
with its president Farooq Sobhan in the chair.
Musarraf said garment workers’ “cry and sorrows” remained unheard
simply due to non-existence of trade union in the garments sector.
“It’s (trade union) urgent in the garment sector. We want
introduction of trade union in this sector as we believe it’ll
protect the right of both workers and owners,” Musarraf said adding
that the government is working on it.
He said the government is already discussing with the concerned
parties to create a formal trade union for RMG sector for keeping the
vital sector ‘trouble-free.’
Justifying his stand on trade union, he said: “We want to listen to
their complaints and grievances. We only find owners when a dispute
arises.”
The minister further said the government is actively reviewing wage
structure of 46 sectors with special attention to readymade garments
to ensure a harmonized environment both for owners and employees.
“An independent committee is working on it and the committee has so
far held 10 meetings which were fruitful,” the minister said.
He reassured that the government would form special security force -
industrial police - for ensuring peace in industrial zones. “It’s
(formation of industrial police) under process.”
Musarraf also said the government is reviewing the Labour Act (2006)
to remove all discrepancies including difference of wages between
male and female workers.
On enhancing skill and efficiency of workers, he said training is a
must and the government has taken all required steps to produce
skilled workers for sending abroad.
“Apart from the existing training institutes across the country,
establishment of 31 new training centers is underway,” he said adding
that currently 70 lakh Bangladeshi workers are working abroad.
Earlier, the panel speakers focused on child labour, forced labour,
discrimination and right to collective bargaining.
Regional Programme manager of International Organization for
Migration (IOM) Kristina Mejo, programme officer of International
Labour Organization (ILO) Nur Nabi Khan, sector head of ActionAid
Bangladesh Asgar Ali Sabri, president of Bangladesh National Woman
Lawyers Association (BNWA) Fawzia Karim Firoze, country manager of
Bureau Veritas Golam Kibria and UNDP, Bangladesh official Majeda Haq
presented papers on the four key principles on labour issues in the
seminar.
END/UNB/AKM
Dhaka, Jul 7 (UNB) - The government is in its final stage to come up
with the new wage structure for the readymade garment workers which
is expected to be acceptable to both owners and workers, Minister for
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Khandker Musharraf
Hossain said on Wednesday.
“I hope the new wage structure to be announced on July 28 will
satisfy both owners and workers. The committee, working on it, will
ensure a win-win situation for both parties,” he said while talking
to the journalists after a seminar held in the city today.
Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) in association with CSR
(corporate social responsibility) Center arranged the seminar titled
“UN Global Compact Labour Standards” in Lake Shore Hotel in the city
with its president Farooq Sobhan in the chair.
Musarraf said garment workers’ “cry and sorrows” remained unheard
simply due to non-existence of trade union in the garments sector.
“It’s (trade union) urgent in the garment sector. We want
introduction of trade union in this sector as we believe it’ll
protect the right of both workers and owners,” Musarraf said adding
that the government is working on it.
He said the government is already discussing with the concerned
parties to create a formal trade union for RMG sector for keeping the
vital sector ‘trouble-free.’
Justifying his stand on trade union, he said: “We want to listen to
their complaints and grievances. We only find owners when a dispute
arises.”
The minister further said the government is actively reviewing wage
structure of 46 sectors with special attention to readymade garments
to ensure a harmonized environment both for owners and employees.
“An independent committee is working on it and the committee has so
far held 10 meetings which were fruitful,” the minister said.
He reassured that the government would form special security force -
industrial police - for ensuring peace in industrial zones. “It’s
(formation of industrial police) under process.”
Musarraf also said the government is reviewing the Labour Act (2006)
to remove all discrepancies including difference of wages between
male and female workers.
On enhancing skill and efficiency of workers, he said training is a
must and the government has taken all required steps to produce
skilled workers for sending abroad.
“Apart from the existing training institutes across the country,
establishment of 31 new training centers is underway,” he said adding
that currently 70 lakh Bangladeshi workers are working abroad.
Earlier, the panel speakers focused on child labour, forced labour,
discrimination and right to collective bargaining.
Regional Programme manager of International Organization for
Migration (IOM) Kristina Mejo, programme officer of International
Labour Organization (ILO) Nur Nabi Khan, sector head of ActionAid
Bangladesh Asgar Ali Sabri, president of Bangladesh National Woman
Lawyers Association (BNWA) Fawzia Karim Firoze, country manager of
Bureau Veritas Golam Kibria and UNDP, Bangladesh official Majeda Haq
presented papers on the four key principles on labour issues in the
seminar.
END/UNB/AKM
Friday, July 2, 2010
Mohiuddin Chowdhury becomes more active in politics; he is likely to meet Hasina before July 9
By AKM Moinuddin
Chittagong, Jul 2 (UNB) - After the recent electoral debacle, former
mayor and Chittagong city Awami League president ABM Mohiuddin
Chowdhury has apparently become more active in politics, devoting his
time in reorganizing party leaders and activists to face future
political challenges.
Mohiuddin Chowdhury, a three-time elected mayor of the port city,
does not want to waste time by meditating over the past and on what
happened in the last mayoral elections but wishes to continue his
task for the economic development of the port city.
The AL leader, who has been credited with many successful movements
and development works in Chittagong over the last 17 years, still
believes that Chittagong seaport is the key to country’s development.
And this is the area where he wants to lend “peaceful support” in
implementing government’s plan.
“I believe country’s overall development depends on Chittagong and at
the same time Chittagong’s development large depends on its seaport.
So, we must specially think of its (port) modernization,
infrastructure development, boosting efficiency to make it globally
competitive,” Mohiuddin said in an interview with UNB Correspondent
AKM Moinuddin at his Chashma Hill residence on Thursday.
The former mayor believes Bangladesh will turn into a business hub
with enormous potential for trade and commerce if the deep seaport
project is implemented and transit facilities to neighboring
countries are ensured.
“Chittagong can be a modern city like Singapore and tourism sector
will flourish here (Chittagong) if port’s development is ensured,” he
said.
When asked about the future leadership of Chittagong city unit Awami
League, Mohiuddin said: “I’m not a big leader. My leader is Sheikh
Hasina. I can’t say or do anything disregarding her directives.”
A faction of city unit AL is reportedly planning to keep Mohiuddin
out of party leadership in Chittagong and the rivals are taking
preparation to discuss it with party high-ups so that a new committee
can be formed without Mohiuddin. Asked about his reaction, Mohiuddin
said: “It’s up to them.”
Replying to a question, the AL leader said he did not talk to party
president Sheikh Hasina after the CCC election debacle.
“I am planning to meet her (Hasina) within next few days, hopefully
before July 9,” said Mohiuddin who will fly for Saudi Arabia on July
9 to perform umrah.
Mohiuddin declined to comment on the reasons of his unexpected defeat
in the recently held mayoral elections. He merely said: “People know
what I did for the development of Chittagong. Ask them and compare
present Chittagong with what it was previously (17 years ago).”
He even did not want to talk about new mayor M Manzur Alam Manzu.
Replying to a question, Mohiuddin, also a freedom fighter, said the
recent arrest of Jamaat trio was a right decision. The
anti-liberation forces will not dare to revive their destructive
activities if the trial of war criminals is held.
“I’ve been on streets against the war criminals; I’ll always remain
vocal against them,” he said.
Asked about his role in facing the anti-government movement launched
by the opposition, Mohiuddin said he would remain vocal against any
anti-state movement.
END/UNB/
Chittagong, Jul 2 (UNB) - After the recent electoral debacle, former
mayor and Chittagong city Awami League president ABM Mohiuddin
Chowdhury has apparently become more active in politics, devoting his
time in reorganizing party leaders and activists to face future
political challenges.
Mohiuddin Chowdhury, a three-time elected mayor of the port city,
does not want to waste time by meditating over the past and on what
happened in the last mayoral elections but wishes to continue his
task for the economic development of the port city.
The AL leader, who has been credited with many successful movements
and development works in Chittagong over the last 17 years, still
believes that Chittagong seaport is the key to country’s development.
And this is the area where he wants to lend “peaceful support” in
implementing government’s plan.
“I believe country’s overall development depends on Chittagong and at
the same time Chittagong’s development large depends on its seaport.
So, we must specially think of its (port) modernization,
infrastructure development, boosting efficiency to make it globally
competitive,” Mohiuddin said in an interview with UNB Correspondent
AKM Moinuddin at his Chashma Hill residence on Thursday.
The former mayor believes Bangladesh will turn into a business hub
with enormous potential for trade and commerce if the deep seaport
project is implemented and transit facilities to neighboring
countries are ensured.
“Chittagong can be a modern city like Singapore and tourism sector
will flourish here (Chittagong) if port’s development is ensured,” he
said.
When asked about the future leadership of Chittagong city unit Awami
League, Mohiuddin said: “I’m not a big leader. My leader is Sheikh
Hasina. I can’t say or do anything disregarding her directives.”
A faction of city unit AL is reportedly planning to keep Mohiuddin
out of party leadership in Chittagong and the rivals are taking
preparation to discuss it with party high-ups so that a new committee
can be formed without Mohiuddin. Asked about his reaction, Mohiuddin
said: “It’s up to them.”
Replying to a question, the AL leader said he did not talk to party
president Sheikh Hasina after the CCC election debacle.
“I am planning to meet her (Hasina) within next few days, hopefully
before July 9,” said Mohiuddin who will fly for Saudi Arabia on July
9 to perform umrah.
Mohiuddin declined to comment on the reasons of his unexpected defeat
in the recently held mayoral elections. He merely said: “People know
what I did for the development of Chittagong. Ask them and compare
present Chittagong with what it was previously (17 years ago).”
He even did not want to talk about new mayor M Manzur Alam Manzu.
Replying to a question, Mohiuddin, also a freedom fighter, said the
recent arrest of Jamaat trio was a right decision. The
anti-liberation forces will not dare to revive their destructive
activities if the trial of war criminals is held.
“I’ve been on streets against the war criminals; I’ll always remain
vocal against them,” he said.
Asked about his role in facing the anti-government movement launched
by the opposition, Mohiuddin said he would remain vocal against any
anti-state movement.
END/UNB/
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