Dhaka, Sept 28 (UNB) – High price of yarn affecting the garments sector will be brought down to a reasonable level within a week in consultation with stakeholders, assured the Commerce Minister Faruk Khan today.
Yarn price has sharply increased in the domestic market following rise in cotton price in the international market that put the country’s prime export industry textile under severe stress.
“We’ll call a meeting soon…I’ve already talked to BTMA president Abdul Hai Sarker in this regard. I hope we’ll be able to solve the problem within seven to ten days,” Khan said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat today after a meeting with the BKMEA leaders.
Faruk Khan said the government would request the Indian government to lift ban on cotton export to Bangladesh immediately. “I’ve already talked to Bangladesh Ambassador in New Delhi today about it.”
He said he is planning to go India within next few days where he would talk with relevant people about import of raw cotton.
Admitting price hike of yarn in the international market, Faruk Khan said they would check whether the price is hiked reasonably in the domestic market.
“We’re downloading last two months’ international yarn price status …How much the price can be increased logically, we’re looking into it,” he said.
Earlier, a three-member team of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) led by its president AKM Selim Osman met with Commerce Minister and expressed concern at exorbitant price hike of yarn badly affecting the textile sector.
Talking to UNB after the meeting Selim Osman said the government assured them of taking effective steps to reduce the price.
“We’re concerned over the matter…If it’s not tackled the number of unemployment will shoot up and export decline considerably,” he said.
Earlier, a 9-member coordination committee was formed comprising members from the BGMEA, BKMEA and BTMA to safeguard the interest of the three Associations while addressing the problems in the wake of the yarn price hike.
The coordination committee comprises three members each from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA).
The decision was taken at a joint meeting of the associations at BTMA office.
The meeting also decided that the BTMA will take necessary steps to contain the price of yarn to a rational and tolerant level. Coordination committee will take necessary measures to address the other issues.
The maximum used 30-count yarn price was hovering at $4.55 to $4.65 (30’s) till September 26, much to the sufferings of the garment producers. The yarn price last September was around $ 2.65.
------------
Signing of FTA with Malaysia, India in final stage: Commerce Minister
Dhaka, Sept 28 (UNB) – The signing of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Malaysia and India is now in final stage, Commerce Minister Faruk Khan said on Tuesday.
“Experts are now examining what benefit Bangladesh will get if the FTA is signed,” he told journalists at his Secretariat office.
Faruk Khan said the government would not sign any deal that might go against the country’s interest. “We’re considering all crucial aspects…it may take time,” he added.
If Bangladesh signs the FTA with Malaysia and India, it will be the first of its kind, as Bangladesh have no such agreement with any country yet.
END/UNB/
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tk 62,112.10 crore earned as revenue last fiscal achieving 101.82% against target
By AKM Moinuddin
Sangsad Bhaban, Sept 28 (UNB) - The government earned Tk 62,112.10 crore as revenue during the fiscal 2009-10, which shows 101.82 percent achievement against the pre-set target.
The amount collected as revenue income was Tk 9,584.85 crore more than the earnings of previous fiscal (2008-2009).
The target of revenue earning was Tk 61,000 crore in fiscal 2009-10, said a written answer that stood in the name of Finance Minister AMA Muhith in reply to a scripted question of Nasimul Alam Chowdhury (Awami League-Comilla).
Replying to another scripted question of ABM Ashrafuddin (Laxmipur-4), a written answer of Finance Minister Muhith said the government earned over Tk 62,000 crore through the Internal Resource Division in the last fiscal.
He also said the government has plans for increasing revenue from internal sources in the current fiscal (2010-11) and various steps have been taken in this regard.
The Minster in his written answer hoped that nearly Tk 600 crore would be earned through realizing five percent regulatory duty on finished goods and luxury goods.
He said the officials of National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Customs have been asked to regularly monitor revenue target and collection.
Meanwhile, a proposal regarding increasing manpower of the NBR is under consideration of the Finance Division, he said.
The minister said the country earned Tk 17,087 crore as revenue from the income tax sector during last fiscal (2009-10).
END/UNB/
Sangsad Bhaban, Sept 28 (UNB) - The government earned Tk 62,112.10 crore as revenue during the fiscal 2009-10, which shows 101.82 percent achievement against the pre-set target.
The amount collected as revenue income was Tk 9,584.85 crore more than the earnings of previous fiscal (2008-2009).
The target of revenue earning was Tk 61,000 crore in fiscal 2009-10, said a written answer that stood in the name of Finance Minister AMA Muhith in reply to a scripted question of Nasimul Alam Chowdhury (Awami League-Comilla).
Replying to another scripted question of ABM Ashrafuddin (Laxmipur-4), a written answer of Finance Minister Muhith said the government earned over Tk 62,000 crore through the Internal Resource Division in the last fiscal.
He also said the government has plans for increasing revenue from internal sources in the current fiscal (2010-11) and various steps have been taken in this regard.
The Minster in his written answer hoped that nearly Tk 600 crore would be earned through realizing five percent regulatory duty on finished goods and luxury goods.
He said the officials of National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Customs have been asked to regularly monitor revenue target and collection.
Meanwhile, a proposal regarding increasing manpower of the NBR is under consideration of the Finance Division, he said.
The minister said the country earned Tk 17,087 crore as revenue from the income tax sector during last fiscal (2009-10).
END/UNB/
Tk 922.90 crore undisclosed money invested in 3 sectors in last fiscal
Sangsad Bhaban, Sept 28 (UNB) – A total of Tk 922.90 crore of undisclosed money was invested in the last fiscal (2009-2010) in three sectors, Parliament was informed Tuesday.
The government has kept scope for the investment of undisclosed money in four sectors in the last fiscal, said a written answer that stood in the name of Finance Minister AMA Muhith, in reply to a question of M Israfil Alam (Awami League Naogaon).
The sectors were investment in setting up new industrial unit, renovation, repair and modernization of old industry, investment through buying registered company’s shares, and investment in buying flat or house.
The undisclosed money invested in the last fiscal was in the first three sectors.
END/UNB/
The government has kept scope for the investment of undisclosed money in four sectors in the last fiscal, said a written answer that stood in the name of Finance Minister AMA Muhith, in reply to a question of M Israfil Alam (Awami League Naogaon).
The sectors were investment in setting up new industrial unit, renovation, repair and modernization of old industry, investment through buying registered company’s shares, and investment in buying flat or house.
The undisclosed money invested in the last fiscal was in the first three sectors.
END/UNB/
Govt so far recommends withdrawal of 6,392 cases; allegation of partiality baseless: Sahara Khatun
By AKM Moinuddin
Sangsad Bhaban, Sept 27 (UNB) – The government has so far recommended withdrawal of 6,392 “politically motivated” cases, Home Minister Sahara Khatun told Parliament Monday.
Replying to a scripted question of M Harunur Rashid (Chandpur-4), she said the central committee of Home Ministry made the recommendations for withdrawing the cases filed for “political harassment.”
Till September 20, the committee held a total of 22 meetings where the recommendations were made.
The Home Minister informed the House that the recommendations were made impartially and two cases filed against opposition leaders have also been withdrawn along with other recommended cases.
“The cases relating to political harassment come for discussion while recommending withdrawal of cases…there is no question of partiality,” she said.
Sahara said there was no scope of filing cases against the present opposition leaders for political harassment during the BNP-Jamat alliance government’s tenure as they were in power.
She said most of the cases were filed against the then opposition leaders, activists and supporters (AL-led grand alliance), businessmen, service holders and helpless people. “The allegation of partiality in withdrawing political cases is baseless.”
The Home Minister said the government would take effective steps if any case filed against opposition leaders and activities is placed before the central committee dealing with such cases.
END/UNB/
Sangsad Bhaban, Sept 27 (UNB) – The government has so far recommended withdrawal of 6,392 “politically motivated” cases, Home Minister Sahara Khatun told Parliament Monday.
Replying to a scripted question of M Harunur Rashid (Chandpur-4), she said the central committee of Home Ministry made the recommendations for withdrawing the cases filed for “political harassment.”
Till September 20, the committee held a total of 22 meetings where the recommendations were made.
The Home Minister informed the House that the recommendations were made impartially and two cases filed against opposition leaders have also been withdrawn along with other recommended cases.
“The cases relating to political harassment come for discussion while recommending withdrawal of cases…there is no question of partiality,” she said.
Sahara said there was no scope of filing cases against the present opposition leaders for political harassment during the BNP-Jamat alliance government’s tenure as they were in power.
She said most of the cases were filed against the then opposition leaders, activists and supporters (AL-led grand alliance), businessmen, service holders and helpless people. “The allegation of partiality in withdrawing political cases is baseless.”
The Home Minister said the government would take effective steps if any case filed against opposition leaders and activities is placed before the central committee dealing with such cases.
END/UNB/
BD to set up embassy/consulate in 10 countries
Sangsad Bhaban, Sept 27 (UNB) - Bangladesh will set up full-fledged embassies/ consulates in 10 countries during the current fiscal.
Answering a scripted question from Md. Majibul Haque (Kishoreganj-3), State Minister for Forest and Environment Dr Hasan Mahmud said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has approved this in principle.
Dr Hasan Mahmud answered the question in absence of Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, now visiting New York on the occasion of the 65th UN General Assembly.
Hasan said the Prime Minister has given approval in principle to set up full-fledged embassy/consulate in Kabul in Afghanistan, Freetown in Sierra Leone, Abuja in Nigeria, Lisbon in Portugal, Port Louis in Mauritius, Beirut in Lebanon, Kunming in China, and Milan in Italy, as well as Mexico and Denmark.
Besides, approval of the Prime Minister has also been taken to re-establish missions in Brazil, Algeria, Poland and Romania, the State Minister said.
Dr Hasan said further steps have been taken to set up deputy missions in Mumbai, Chennai and Guwahati of India and in Vienna, Austria.
In his response to a supplementary question of Rashed Khan Menon (Dhaka-8), Dr Hasan Mahmud said the government, since taking office, has further strengthened the labor wings of embassies in various countries.
Fazle Rabbi Mia (Gaibandha-5) in his supplementary question wanted to know why complexities over Akama (work permit) transfer has not been removed yet, even though Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her Saudi Arabia visit in April 2009 got an assurance from the Saudi government in this regard.
In reply, Dr Hasan Mahmud said the government is working to remove prevailing complexities over work-permit for the Bangladeshi workers living in Saudi Arabia.
He also said complexities regarding family visa have already been simplified following the Prime Minister’s Saudi Arabia visit.
Dr Hasan further said a huge number of Rohingyas went to Saudi Arabia using Bangladeshi passports during the last BNP-Jamaat regime, resulting in various problems for real Bangladeshi expatriates.
END/UNB/
Answering a scripted question from Md. Majibul Haque (Kishoreganj-3), State Minister for Forest and Environment Dr Hasan Mahmud said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has approved this in principle.
Dr Hasan Mahmud answered the question in absence of Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, now visiting New York on the occasion of the 65th UN General Assembly.
Hasan said the Prime Minister has given approval in principle to set up full-fledged embassy/consulate in Kabul in Afghanistan, Freetown in Sierra Leone, Abuja in Nigeria, Lisbon in Portugal, Port Louis in Mauritius, Beirut in Lebanon, Kunming in China, and Milan in Italy, as well as Mexico and Denmark.
Besides, approval of the Prime Minister has also been taken to re-establish missions in Brazil, Algeria, Poland and Romania, the State Minister said.
Dr Hasan said further steps have been taken to set up deputy missions in Mumbai, Chennai and Guwahati of India and in Vienna, Austria.
In his response to a supplementary question of Rashed Khan Menon (Dhaka-8), Dr Hasan Mahmud said the government, since taking office, has further strengthened the labor wings of embassies in various countries.
Fazle Rabbi Mia (Gaibandha-5) in his supplementary question wanted to know why complexities over Akama (work permit) transfer has not been removed yet, even though Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her Saudi Arabia visit in April 2009 got an assurance from the Saudi government in this regard.
In reply, Dr Hasan Mahmud said the government is working to remove prevailing complexities over work-permit for the Bangladeshi workers living in Saudi Arabia.
He also said complexities regarding family visa have already been simplified following the Prime Minister’s Saudi Arabia visit.
Dr Hasan further said a huge number of Rohingyas went to Saudi Arabia using Bangladeshi passports during the last BNP-Jamaat regime, resulting in various problems for real Bangladeshi expatriates.
END/UNB/
Govt offloads shares of 2 BSEC companies in capital market by 6 months; it actively considering setting up coal-based power plants in Ctg, Khulna
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Sept 27 (UNB) – The government has planned to offload shares of at least two companies under Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC) into capital market within next six months in a bid to boost industrial sector’s growth.
“Our Ministry has already taken necessary steps in this regard, ”Industries Minister Dilip Barua said at a meeting with US Ambassador James F Moriarty at his office Monday.
He informed the US envoy that the government is working for building a strong private sector to help boosting the industrial sector’s growth.
“The government would provide necessary logistic supports and infrastructural facilities for the flourishment of private sector,” he said.
Issues related to friendly work environment, coal-based power generation, investment in specialized industrial zones and setting up Hi-Tech industrial park dominated in the discussion.
The US envoy appreciated the government’s Industrial Policy-2010 and hoped that industrialization would get momentum if steps are taken in the light of the new industrial policy.
He emphasized on friendly relationship between workers and owners and suggested a tri-party communications and discussion among government, workers and owners to ensure better environment in country’s industrial units.
“Bangladesh can set up Hi-Tech industrial park for the development of industrial sector,” Moriarty said.
In response, Minister Barua said the government is actively considering the issue of setting up coal-based power plants in Chittagong and Khulna to address prevailing power crisis in industrial belts.
He informed that the government would ensure equal opportunities for domestic and foreign investors apart from expatriate Bangladeshis in investing specialized industrial zones.
Industries Ministry Secretary KH Masud Siddiqui and high official of the US Embassy in Dhaka were present in the meeting.
END/UNB/
Dhaka, Sept 27 (UNB) – The government has planned to offload shares of at least two companies under Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC) into capital market within next six months in a bid to boost industrial sector’s growth.
“Our Ministry has already taken necessary steps in this regard, ”Industries Minister Dilip Barua said at a meeting with US Ambassador James F Moriarty at his office Monday.
He informed the US envoy that the government is working for building a strong private sector to help boosting the industrial sector’s growth.
“The government would provide necessary logistic supports and infrastructural facilities for the flourishment of private sector,” he said.
Issues related to friendly work environment, coal-based power generation, investment in specialized industrial zones and setting up Hi-Tech industrial park dominated in the discussion.
The US envoy appreciated the government’s Industrial Policy-2010 and hoped that industrialization would get momentum if steps are taken in the light of the new industrial policy.
He emphasized on friendly relationship between workers and owners and suggested a tri-party communications and discussion among government, workers and owners to ensure better environment in country’s industrial units.
“Bangladesh can set up Hi-Tech industrial park for the development of industrial sector,” Moriarty said.
In response, Minister Barua said the government is actively considering the issue of setting up coal-based power plants in Chittagong and Khulna to address prevailing power crisis in industrial belts.
He informed that the government would ensure equal opportunities for domestic and foreign investors apart from expatriate Bangladeshis in investing specialized industrial zones.
Industries Ministry Secretary KH Masud Siddiqui and high official of the US Embassy in Dhaka were present in the meeting.
END/UNB/
Commerce Minister invites Korean entrepreneurs to invest ; FBCCI-KOIMA sign MoU to boost trade
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Sept 29 (UNB) – Commerce Minister Faruk Khan has extended invitation to Korean entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh in a big way to strengthen the existing trade relations between the two nations.
The existing trade balance is now heavily in favor of Korea as Bangladesh’s export in the last fiscal was US$ 140.28 million as against the import of US$ 837.01 million.
“Bangladesh is a suitable place for investment…It has skilled manpower and you can avail of the opportunities,” he told Korean entrepreneurs while speaking at a seminar.
The seminar on “Trade between Bangladesh and Republic of Korea” was held at Hotel Sonargaon in the city today.
Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and Ministry of Commerce jointly hosted the seminar. Korean Ambassador in Dhaka Taiyoung Cho attended as special guest.
Faruk Khan said Bangladesh wants to utilize Korean experience and technological skills for rapid industrialization. “Two nations can come closer to each other by utilizing modern communication system and can be friends of each other both in good and bad days,” he said.
Later, Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for strengthening trade and economic development of both parties. FBCCI acting president M Jashim Uddin and KOIMA Chairman Dr Ju-Tae Lee signed the MoU.
EPB Vice Chairman Jalal Ahmed, FBCCI acting president M Jashim Uddin, KOIMA Chairman Dr Ju-Tae Lee, Korea-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KBCCI) president SM kamal Uddin and joint secretary (export) Monoj Kumar Roy also spoke at the seminar.
END/UNB/
Dhaka, Sept 29 (UNB) – Commerce Minister Faruk Khan has extended invitation to Korean entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh in a big way to strengthen the existing trade relations between the two nations.
The existing trade balance is now heavily in favor of Korea as Bangladesh’s export in the last fiscal was US$ 140.28 million as against the import of US$ 837.01 million.
“Bangladesh is a suitable place for investment…It has skilled manpower and you can avail of the opportunities,” he told Korean entrepreneurs while speaking at a seminar.
The seminar on “Trade between Bangladesh and Republic of Korea” was held at Hotel Sonargaon in the city today.
Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and Ministry of Commerce jointly hosted the seminar. Korean Ambassador in Dhaka Taiyoung Cho attended as special guest.
Faruk Khan said Bangladesh wants to utilize Korean experience and technological skills for rapid industrialization. “Two nations can come closer to each other by utilizing modern communication system and can be friends of each other both in good and bad days,” he said.
Later, Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for strengthening trade and economic development of both parties. FBCCI acting president M Jashim Uddin and KOIMA Chairman Dr Ju-Tae Lee signed the MoU.
EPB Vice Chairman Jalal Ahmed, FBCCI acting president M Jashim Uddin, KOIMA Chairman Dr Ju-Tae Lee, Korea-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KBCCI) president SM kamal Uddin and joint secretary (export) Monoj Kumar Roy also spoke at the seminar.
END/UNB/
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Govt to start construction of Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory soon; 1750 MT daily production planned
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Sept 25 (UNB) - The government has made lot of progress in setting up the country’s first China-funded Urea fertilizer factory in Sylhet district amid growing demand of the major agricultural input, which is expected to cut dependence on fertilizer import to a large extent.
Bangladesh usually imports fertilizer from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and China to address domestic demand.
State-owned Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) has seven fertilizer factories across the country, apart from the multinational Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Ltd (KAFCO). However, some of the BCIC units remain inoperative due to gas crisis.
As on September 1, 2010, the government's stock of urea stood at 480,618 metric tons. The BCIC imported around 196,117 tons of urea last year while local production was around 87,014 tons, according to sources at the Industries Ministry.
Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory is one of three new fertilizer factories, which the government plans to set up with total annual production capacity of 577,500 metric tons. The other two factories are North West Fertilizer Factory Limited and Bhola Fertilizer Factory Limited.
North-West Fertilizer Factory will be set up in Sirajganj. The Chinese government has also expressed its eagerness to finance the setting up the factory.
The under-construction Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory, with daily production capacity of 1750 metric tons of urea, is likely to go into operation by 2013, officials said.
The Tk 5319 crore project will be implemented by utilizing the infrastructure of the country's first Natural Gas Fertilizer Factory (NGFF) at Fenchugnaj, which remained inoperative for long.
“We’ll soon start the construction process of the factory after the signing of commercial contract with China…we hope it will go into production within the tenure of the present government,” Industries Minister Dilip Barua said.
He said the Chinese government has already agreed to provide soft loan for the project with 2 percent interest, which is the lowest rate offered by China to Bangladesh.
“You won’t get loan below 10 percent interest. China is our friend…they offered the soft loan as a good gesture,” Barua said.
Bangladesh signed a Framework Agreement with China for the construction of Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory during the Prime Minister’s visit to China in March this year. Industries Minister Dilip Barua signed the framework agreement on behalf of Bangladesh government.
Industry Ministry sources said the government of China is providing US$382 million as soft loan while US$325 million as preferential buyer’s credit.
END/UNB/
Dhaka, Sept 25 (UNB) - The government has made lot of progress in setting up the country’s first China-funded Urea fertilizer factory in Sylhet district amid growing demand of the major agricultural input, which is expected to cut dependence on fertilizer import to a large extent.
Bangladesh usually imports fertilizer from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and China to address domestic demand.
State-owned Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) has seven fertilizer factories across the country, apart from the multinational Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Ltd (KAFCO). However, some of the BCIC units remain inoperative due to gas crisis.
As on September 1, 2010, the government's stock of urea stood at 480,618 metric tons. The BCIC imported around 196,117 tons of urea last year while local production was around 87,014 tons, according to sources at the Industries Ministry.
Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory is one of three new fertilizer factories, which the government plans to set up with total annual production capacity of 577,500 metric tons. The other two factories are North West Fertilizer Factory Limited and Bhola Fertilizer Factory Limited.
North-West Fertilizer Factory will be set up in Sirajganj. The Chinese government has also expressed its eagerness to finance the setting up the factory.
The under-construction Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory, with daily production capacity of 1750 metric tons of urea, is likely to go into operation by 2013, officials said.
The Tk 5319 crore project will be implemented by utilizing the infrastructure of the country's first Natural Gas Fertilizer Factory (NGFF) at Fenchugnaj, which remained inoperative for long.
“We’ll soon start the construction process of the factory after the signing of commercial contract with China…we hope it will go into production within the tenure of the present government,” Industries Minister Dilip Barua said.
He said the Chinese government has already agreed to provide soft loan for the project with 2 percent interest, which is the lowest rate offered by China to Bangladesh.
“You won’t get loan below 10 percent interest. China is our friend…they offered the soft loan as a good gesture,” Barua said.
Bangladesh signed a Framework Agreement with China for the construction of Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory during the Prime Minister’s visit to China in March this year. Industries Minister Dilip Barua signed the framework agreement on behalf of Bangladesh government.
Industry Ministry sources said the government of China is providing US$382 million as soft loan while US$325 million as preferential buyer’s credit.
END/UNB/
Friday, September 24, 2010
Shanghai World Expo to project Bangladesh’s cultural tradition, natural beauty to world community: Faruk Khan
By AKM Moinuddin
Shanghai (China), Sept 23 (UNB) - Shanghai World Expo-2010, now being held in Shanghai, would play a role in projecting Bangladesh’s cultural tradition, natural beauty and history of liberation war to the world community, Commerce Minister Faruk Khan said Wednesday.
He made the remarks while visiting the Bangladesh pavilion – “Spirit and Growth of Golden Bengal” - at the fair.
Bangladesh Commissioner General M Nazrul Islam MP, Vice Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Jalal Ahmed, joint secretary of Commerce Ministry Monoj Kumar Roy, joint secretary of Information Ministry Farhad Hossain and wife of Commerce Minister Nilufar F Khan were present during the visit.
The Commerce Minister earlier visited the pavilions of Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, India and USA.
Mentioning Bangladesh’s friendly relation with China, Faruk Khan said Bangladesh would take lesson from China in technological advancement and Bangladesh would also work jointly for the development of world economy.
“We want to transform Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021. And for this we need modern technology,” he said.
Nearly 20,000 people from different countries are visiting the fair every day. The six-month fair that began on May 1 will continue till October 31.
A total of 246 pavilions from 192 countries and organizations have been set up in the fair.
END/UNB/
Shanghai (China), Sept 23 (UNB) - Shanghai World Expo-2010, now being held in Shanghai, would play a role in projecting Bangladesh’s cultural tradition, natural beauty and history of liberation war to the world community, Commerce Minister Faruk Khan said Wednesday.
He made the remarks while visiting the Bangladesh pavilion – “Spirit and Growth of Golden Bengal” - at the fair.
Bangladesh Commissioner General M Nazrul Islam MP, Vice Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Jalal Ahmed, joint secretary of Commerce Ministry Monoj Kumar Roy, joint secretary of Information Ministry Farhad Hossain and wife of Commerce Minister Nilufar F Khan were present during the visit.
The Commerce Minister earlier visited the pavilions of Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, India and USA.
Mentioning Bangladesh’s friendly relation with China, Faruk Khan said Bangladesh would take lesson from China in technological advancement and Bangladesh would also work jointly for the development of world economy.
“We want to transform Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021. And for this we need modern technology,” he said.
Nearly 20,000 people from different countries are visiting the fair every day. The six-month fair that began on May 1 will continue till October 31.
A total of 246 pavilions from 192 countries and organizations have been set up in the fair.
END/UNB/
FBCCI seeks joint efforts with Myanmar to explore opportunities in tourism, agriculture, fisheries sectors
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Sept 23 (UNB) – Country’s apex trade body FBCCI on Thursday suggested joint efforts to explore the opportunities specially in tourism, agriculture and fisheries sectors for expanding bilateral trade and investment with Myanmar, the largest country of Southeast Asia.
“The trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar is very poor… opportunities are there to expand bilateral trade and investment through joint efforts,” acting FBCCI President M Jashim Uddin told a meeting with a visiting Myanmar business delegation at its conference room.
Vice Chairman of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) U Tun Aung led the 13-member business delegation from Myanmar.
Jashim Uddin said Bangladesh has bright prospect of exporting cement, MS Rod, fertilizer, pharmaceuticals, ceramic tableware, light engineering products and toiletries to Myanmar.
He sought cooperation from the Myanmar business delegation to full tap this potential for increasing the bilateral trade.
Bangladesh’s export to Myanmar was only US$ 10.03 million whereas its import from Myanmar totaled US$ 69.64 million in 2009-10 fiscal.
The FBCCI acting president invited Myanmar business leaders to invest jointly in the prospective areas like agriculture, fisheries and tourism apart from setting up exclusive fishing zones as both countries hold longest edge of the Bay of Bengal having abundance of fish resources.
He said: “Bangladesh with tourist attractions like sandy beaches and large mangrove forest of the Sundarbans, and Myanmar with springs, waterfalls and streams within its huge mountain ranges along with ancient places and golden temples, could draw a huge number of tourists from rest of the world through introducing joint package programmes.”
He hoped that the 4th Bangladesh-Myanmar Joint Trade Commission meeting held Wednesday would lead to resolving the outstanding problems and paving the way for further enhancement of trade between the two friendly countries.
Earlier, U Tun Aung in his speech said there are immense opportunities for developing trade and investment in diversified sectors in his country and invited Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to enhance business relationship with their private sector for mutual benefit.
“You know, Myanmar is a developing country rich in vast resources of land and water. Most of our country’s natural resources haven’t been exploited even to a sustainable level to this day…immense opportunities are there for investment in the private sector which contributes 85 percent of the GDP,” he said.
Aung said the strategic location of Myanmar can serve as a favorable hub for trade with Bangladesh and neighboring ASEAN countries. “There has to be frequent exchange of trade promotion visits and trade information to achieve this objective.”
He added: “I sincerely believe that such visits will not only open a new chapter in the bilateral trade and investment relationship but will also contribute to consolidating the friendly relations between the two countries.”
Aung termed Bangladesh-Myanmar relationship as warm, cordial and friendly, and said there has been a very close trade and cultural ties between the people of Chittagong and Yakhine State in particular.
FBCCI directors SM Nurul Haque, Abdul Haque and business leaders from both sides also took part in the discussion conducted by FBCCI secretary general Mir Shahabuddin Mohammad.
END/UNB/
Dhaka, Sept 23 (UNB) – Country’s apex trade body FBCCI on Thursday suggested joint efforts to explore the opportunities specially in tourism, agriculture and fisheries sectors for expanding bilateral trade and investment with Myanmar, the largest country of Southeast Asia.
“The trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar is very poor… opportunities are there to expand bilateral trade and investment through joint efforts,” acting FBCCI President M Jashim Uddin told a meeting with a visiting Myanmar business delegation at its conference room.
Vice Chairman of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) U Tun Aung led the 13-member business delegation from Myanmar.
Jashim Uddin said Bangladesh has bright prospect of exporting cement, MS Rod, fertilizer, pharmaceuticals, ceramic tableware, light engineering products and toiletries to Myanmar.
He sought cooperation from the Myanmar business delegation to full tap this potential for increasing the bilateral trade.
Bangladesh’s export to Myanmar was only US$ 10.03 million whereas its import from Myanmar totaled US$ 69.64 million in 2009-10 fiscal.
The FBCCI acting president invited Myanmar business leaders to invest jointly in the prospective areas like agriculture, fisheries and tourism apart from setting up exclusive fishing zones as both countries hold longest edge of the Bay of Bengal having abundance of fish resources.
He said: “Bangladesh with tourist attractions like sandy beaches and large mangrove forest of the Sundarbans, and Myanmar with springs, waterfalls and streams within its huge mountain ranges along with ancient places and golden temples, could draw a huge number of tourists from rest of the world through introducing joint package programmes.”
He hoped that the 4th Bangladesh-Myanmar Joint Trade Commission meeting held Wednesday would lead to resolving the outstanding problems and paving the way for further enhancement of trade between the two friendly countries.
Earlier, U Tun Aung in his speech said there are immense opportunities for developing trade and investment in diversified sectors in his country and invited Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to enhance business relationship with their private sector for mutual benefit.
“You know, Myanmar is a developing country rich in vast resources of land and water. Most of our country’s natural resources haven’t been exploited even to a sustainable level to this day…immense opportunities are there for investment in the private sector which contributes 85 percent of the GDP,” he said.
Aung said the strategic location of Myanmar can serve as a favorable hub for trade with Bangladesh and neighboring ASEAN countries. “There has to be frequent exchange of trade promotion visits and trade information to achieve this objective.”
He added: “I sincerely believe that such visits will not only open a new chapter in the bilateral trade and investment relationship but will also contribute to consolidating the friendly relations between the two countries.”
Aung termed Bangladesh-Myanmar relationship as warm, cordial and friendly, and said there has been a very close trade and cultural ties between the people of Chittagong and Yakhine State in particular.
FBCCI directors SM Nurul Haque, Abdul Haque and business leaders from both sides also took part in the discussion conducted by FBCCI secretary general Mir Shahabuddin Mohammad.
END/UNB/
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Ashraful urges critics not make derogatory remarks against MPs, parliament
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Sept 21 (UNB) - LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam on Tuesday urged all to be cautious in making any adverse comments against parliament and parliament members (MPs) that might lead to contempt of parliament and undermine its members.
The LGRD minister made the remark replying to a supplementary question from Sagufta Yasmin (Awami League-Munshiganj) in parliament.
“We’re observing a tendency of undermining MPs and parliament by some people…they should refrain from making such comments,” Ashraful told the House.
He said: “It’s true…those who are making such comments don’t have the idea about the activities of parliament. It’s simply to undermine MPs and parliament.”
Ashraful said democracy is taking its root gradually in the country and if parliament is in place democracy and basic rights of the people would be ensured.
Speaker Abdul Hamid supported Ashraful’s remarks. The Speaker said the MPs have right to prepare project costing up to Tk 15 crore… it doesn’t mean that they’re pocketing the money…it’s a misconception.”
Earlier, Sagufta Yasmin in her supplementary mentioned that over 54 countries across the world have introduced block allocations for MPs.
Pointing her finger at a section of intellectuals, she said they are making indecent comments against the MPs and the parliament.
END/UNB/
Dhaka, Sept 21 (UNB) - LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam on Tuesday urged all to be cautious in making any adverse comments against parliament and parliament members (MPs) that might lead to contempt of parliament and undermine its members.
The LGRD minister made the remark replying to a supplementary question from Sagufta Yasmin (Awami League-Munshiganj) in parliament.
“We’re observing a tendency of undermining MPs and parliament by some people…they should refrain from making such comments,” Ashraful told the House.
He said: “It’s true…those who are making such comments don’t have the idea about the activities of parliament. It’s simply to undermine MPs and parliament.”
Ashraful said democracy is taking its root gradually in the country and if parliament is in place democracy and basic rights of the people would be ensured.
Speaker Abdul Hamid supported Ashraful’s remarks. The Speaker said the MPs have right to prepare project costing up to Tk 15 crore… it doesn’t mean that they’re pocketing the money…it’s a misconception.”
Earlier, Sagufta Yasmin in her supplementary mentioned that over 54 countries across the world have introduced block allocations for MPs.
Pointing her finger at a section of intellectuals, she said they are making indecent comments against the MPs and the parliament.
END/UNB/
Daily Prothom Alo comes under fire in Parliament for “fabricated” reports against MPs
By AKM Moinuddin and Rashed Ahmed Mithul
Sangsad Bhaban, Sep 21 (UNB) - The Speaker, Ministers and MPs in Parliament Tuesday came down heavily on a mass-circulated Bangla daily for publishing series of reports over the last few days against the MPs, fearing it might pave the way to grab power by undemocratic forces trampling democracy in the country.
Speaking on a point of order after the Magreb prayer break, Jatiya Party member Mojibul Huq Chunnu drew the attention of the Speaker about the series of reports against MPs published recently in daily Prothom Alo including car imports by the MPs along with insulting cartoons.
He said it has been done not only to undermine the lawmakers but also in a planned way as part of a blueprint like that of the conspiracy before the 1/11 changeover in the country.
The Jatiya Party lawmaker demanded a ruling from the Speaker against the daily as well as adoption of a censure motion in parliament against Prothom Alo.
Responding to Mojibul Huq, Speaker Abdul Hamid wondered about the motive behind such reports. “If MPs are made unpopular across the country, there won’t be any existence of parliament and democracy. Who will then come to power?” he said.
“Who are being encouraged by undermining the MPs? It will have to be considered,” he told the excited House.
Speaker Abdul Hamid said such reports are unfortunate. “Basically, to undermine the MPs - people’s representatives - tantamount to undermining the people.”
He hoped that the journalists would be careful and more responsible in publishing reports in future.
The Speaker said it is not right to make baseless reports which undermine the Speaker, MPs, and as a whole the parliament as well.
He described the process of buying duty-free imported cars by the MPs with set value, model and size.
The Speaker mentioned some reports centering him by daily Samokal and daily Amader Samoy.
He said Amader Samoy had reported that the Speaker gave ‘Chhabok’ (sermon) to MPs. The word `chhabok’ is discourteous and its use had dishonoured the institution of Speaker as well as parliament.
Hamid also spoke of a news item published in daily Samokal that MPs are making luxurious foreign tours.
Refuting the report, he said his two tours with funds from parliament related to attending the Speakers conference in India and another conference.
The Speaker said he did not spend all the money (700 dollars besides air fare and hotel rent) for one trip allocated to him. He spent about 300 dollars and returned the rest of the money. Similarly, he also returned the excess amount after the second tour.
The Speaker further said the MPs visit abroad to attend various conferences.
Textile and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqi, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Suranjit Sengupta, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Moinuddin Khan Badal also took part in the unscheduled debate.
Sheikh Fazlul Kairm Selim said a fresh conspiracy is being hatched by the vested quarter who had conspired for 1/11 changeover.
He said that following the 1/11 changeover, conspiracies were made against politicians. Failing to implement their agenda, now that group is again hatching conspiracy against the Members of Parliament to bring an undemocratic force to power, he alleged.
Latif Siddiqi said: “It has been heard that this particular daily is published funded by a particular agency… their aim is to undermine the government in a planned way with ill motive.”
He demanded legal action against Matiur Rahman and wanted the Speaker to summon him to ask about the reports.
Shahjahan Khan came down heavily on Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman describing the daily’s role prior to 1/11.
He alleged that Matiur Rahman had involvement in the August 21 grenade attack and he should be brought to book under the laws of the land.
Senior treasury bench member Suranjit Sengupta said the journalists should not be hostile in their attitude though they might criticize.
He said if the word `Chhabok’ had been used against the High Court there would be proceedings of contempt of court.
Speaker Abdul Hamid, however, did not give any ruling or decision as demanded by the angry lawmakers.
END/UNB/
Sangsad Bhaban, Sep 21 (UNB) - The Speaker, Ministers and MPs in Parliament Tuesday came down heavily on a mass-circulated Bangla daily for publishing series of reports over the last few days against the MPs, fearing it might pave the way to grab power by undemocratic forces trampling democracy in the country.
Speaking on a point of order after the Magreb prayer break, Jatiya Party member Mojibul Huq Chunnu drew the attention of the Speaker about the series of reports against MPs published recently in daily Prothom Alo including car imports by the MPs along with insulting cartoons.
He said it has been done not only to undermine the lawmakers but also in a planned way as part of a blueprint like that of the conspiracy before the 1/11 changeover in the country.
The Jatiya Party lawmaker demanded a ruling from the Speaker against the daily as well as adoption of a censure motion in parliament against Prothom Alo.
Responding to Mojibul Huq, Speaker Abdul Hamid wondered about the motive behind such reports. “If MPs are made unpopular across the country, there won’t be any existence of parliament and democracy. Who will then come to power?” he said.
“Who are being encouraged by undermining the MPs? It will have to be considered,” he told the excited House.
Speaker Abdul Hamid said such reports are unfortunate. “Basically, to undermine the MPs - people’s representatives - tantamount to undermining the people.”
He hoped that the journalists would be careful and more responsible in publishing reports in future.
The Speaker said it is not right to make baseless reports which undermine the Speaker, MPs, and as a whole the parliament as well.
He described the process of buying duty-free imported cars by the MPs with set value, model and size.
The Speaker mentioned some reports centering him by daily Samokal and daily Amader Samoy.
He said Amader Samoy had reported that the Speaker gave ‘Chhabok’ (sermon) to MPs. The word `chhabok’ is discourteous and its use had dishonoured the institution of Speaker as well as parliament.
Hamid also spoke of a news item published in daily Samokal that MPs are making luxurious foreign tours.
Refuting the report, he said his two tours with funds from parliament related to attending the Speakers conference in India and another conference.
The Speaker said he did not spend all the money (700 dollars besides air fare and hotel rent) for one trip allocated to him. He spent about 300 dollars and returned the rest of the money. Similarly, he also returned the excess amount after the second tour.
The Speaker further said the MPs visit abroad to attend various conferences.
Textile and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqi, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Suranjit Sengupta, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Moinuddin Khan Badal also took part in the unscheduled debate.
Sheikh Fazlul Kairm Selim said a fresh conspiracy is being hatched by the vested quarter who had conspired for 1/11 changeover.
He said that following the 1/11 changeover, conspiracies were made against politicians. Failing to implement their agenda, now that group is again hatching conspiracy against the Members of Parliament to bring an undemocratic force to power, he alleged.
Latif Siddiqi said: “It has been heard that this particular daily is published funded by a particular agency… their aim is to undermine the government in a planned way with ill motive.”
He demanded legal action against Matiur Rahman and wanted the Speaker to summon him to ask about the reports.
Shahjahan Khan came down heavily on Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman describing the daily’s role prior to 1/11.
He alleged that Matiur Rahman had involvement in the August 21 grenade attack and he should be brought to book under the laws of the land.
Senior treasury bench member Suranjit Sengupta said the journalists should not be hostile in their attitude though they might criticize.
He said if the word `Chhabok’ had been used against the High Court there would be proceedings of contempt of court.
Speaker Abdul Hamid, however, did not give any ruling or decision as demanded by the angry lawmakers.
END/UNB/
Monday, September 20, 2010
Consultants, economists, NGOs main beneficiaries of foreign aid: Anu Muhammad; Foreign aid still has role in eradicating poverty: Dr Mirza Aziz
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Sept 20 (UNB) – Foreign aid is still playing significant role in eradicating poverty though joint initiative with special emphasize on NGOs’ transparency and accountability is essential to boost aid effectiveness, renowned economist Dr Mirza Azizul Islam said Monday.
“Our macro-economic indicators – investment, GDP and foreign exchange earning - show reduced importance of foreign aid but it is still essential for some areas… development funding is one of them. Foreign aid contributes over 40 percent of our ADP funding,” he said.
The former finance adviser of caretaker government made the remarks while talking to journalists on the sidelines of a multi-stakeholders’ consultation program titled `Joint Cooperation Strategy: Context of Aid Development Effectiveness’ held at CIRDAP auditorium.
Aid Accountability Group and Reality of Aid jointly arranged the discussion with Palli-Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) chairman Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad in the chair.
Referring to the tough conditions of the development partners, Mirza Aziz said: “If I know what I want exactly, and if I can argue effectively in favor of my need, conditionality (for aid) can be reduced, relaxed.”
Replying to a question, he supported foreign aid but emphasized on its proper utilization. “If we can stay transparent in our own position, aid effectiveness might increase… if you don’t want aid, none will force you to take aid.”
Mirza Aziz informed that the country had received US$48 billion in foreign aid since 1972.
Replying to another question, he said remittance from the expatriates is not a substitute for aid. “The government doesn’t have access to such remittance.”
Economist Prof Anu Muhammad was, however, against foreign aid and said that foreign aid is directly involved with the anarchy that is prevailing now.
“A particular group comprising consultants, economists and some NGOs are mostly the beneficiaries of foreign aid… we’ve to come out from this,” he said.
Anu Muhammad said foreign aid agencies give “milk for developing the entire country but a group of middlemen and thieves alone drink that milk” instead of country’s development.
He said: “They (development partners) dominate over us… on government widely by providing only US$1 billion in aid and the government cares much about them. But the workers who remit US$10 billion remain neglected; it doesn’t look good.”
Earlier, Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad in his speech said country needs home-grown process and policy for real development.
“If we receive foreign aid, it will have to be taken in the interest of the country. Misuse of aid needs to be checked,” he said.
Former Finance Secretary Siddiqur Rahman Chowdhury, ERD joint secretary Bijan Kumar Baishya, Khushi Kabir, and representatives of DFID, EU and Reality of Aid also took part in the discussion.
The participants discussed the challenges of aid effectiveness that include preparing, implementing and monitoring aid programs and improving government capacity to manage them, improving coordination between government and development partners, follow up and improve alignment with government system and procedures, and improve mutual accountability and predictability of aid flow from development partners.
They emphasized on sharing responsibility through joint cooperation strategy for making aid more effective and how to work more effectively together to deliver real development outcomes.
END/UNB/
Dhaka, Sept 20 (UNB) – Foreign aid is still playing significant role in eradicating poverty though joint initiative with special emphasize on NGOs’ transparency and accountability is essential to boost aid effectiveness, renowned economist Dr Mirza Azizul Islam said Monday.
“Our macro-economic indicators – investment, GDP and foreign exchange earning - show reduced importance of foreign aid but it is still essential for some areas… development funding is one of them. Foreign aid contributes over 40 percent of our ADP funding,” he said.
The former finance adviser of caretaker government made the remarks while talking to journalists on the sidelines of a multi-stakeholders’ consultation program titled `Joint Cooperation Strategy: Context of Aid Development Effectiveness’ held at CIRDAP auditorium.
Aid Accountability Group and Reality of Aid jointly arranged the discussion with Palli-Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) chairman Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad in the chair.
Referring to the tough conditions of the development partners, Mirza Aziz said: “If I know what I want exactly, and if I can argue effectively in favor of my need, conditionality (for aid) can be reduced, relaxed.”
Replying to a question, he supported foreign aid but emphasized on its proper utilization. “If we can stay transparent in our own position, aid effectiveness might increase… if you don’t want aid, none will force you to take aid.”
Mirza Aziz informed that the country had received US$48 billion in foreign aid since 1972.
Replying to another question, he said remittance from the expatriates is not a substitute for aid. “The government doesn’t have access to such remittance.”
Economist Prof Anu Muhammad was, however, against foreign aid and said that foreign aid is directly involved with the anarchy that is prevailing now.
“A particular group comprising consultants, economists and some NGOs are mostly the beneficiaries of foreign aid… we’ve to come out from this,” he said.
Anu Muhammad said foreign aid agencies give “milk for developing the entire country but a group of middlemen and thieves alone drink that milk” instead of country’s development.
He said: “They (development partners) dominate over us… on government widely by providing only US$1 billion in aid and the government cares much about them. But the workers who remit US$10 billion remain neglected; it doesn’t look good.”
Earlier, Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad in his speech said country needs home-grown process and policy for real development.
“If we receive foreign aid, it will have to be taken in the interest of the country. Misuse of aid needs to be checked,” he said.
Former Finance Secretary Siddiqur Rahman Chowdhury, ERD joint secretary Bijan Kumar Baishya, Khushi Kabir, and representatives of DFID, EU and Reality of Aid also took part in the discussion.
The participants discussed the challenges of aid effectiveness that include preparing, implementing and monitoring aid programs and improving government capacity to manage them, improving coordination between government and development partners, follow up and improve alignment with government system and procedures, and improve mutual accountability and predictability of aid flow from development partners.
They emphasized on sharing responsibility through joint cooperation strategy for making aid more effective and how to work more effectively together to deliver real development outcomes.
END/UNB/
Bangladesh on track to meet MDG1 hunger target, but pockets of poverty still remain: ActionAid
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Sept 19 (UNB) - Bangladesh is on track to meet the MDG1 hunger target, ranking sixth in this year’s ‘HungerFREE Scorecard’ brought out by ActionAid as part of its annual report.
But the joint impact of the food and financial crises may see Bangladesh knocked off track and failing to meet the target, according to the same report released on Sunday.
ActionAid, an international anti-poverty agency working in over 40 countries, says Bangladesh’s high ranking in the HungerFREE Scorecard reflects the progress it has made in reducing hunger amongst its population, which has come down to 26 percent of the population , from 36 percent in 1990.
The report was released to coincide with world leaders preparing to meet at the UN Headquarters in New York to discuss progress on the Millennium Development Goals.
DR Congo, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Pakistan and Lesotho bring up the rear of the HungerFREE scorecard. But surprisingly, it is not only poor, war-torn or disaster-struck countries that rank low.
Despite a radical and rapid increase in economic growth, drastic cuts in agriculture and support to small farms means nearly half the children in India are malnourished, and one in five of the population goes hungry.
Although Bangladesh has taken progressive strides in achieving its millennium development targets, pockets of poverty still remain, says the report titled “Who’s Really Fighting Hunger-2010.”
Negative developments were particularly prevalent in the Monga-prone northern part of the country, where ActionAid Bangladesh conducted a study titled “The Monga Panel Survey 1” with its strategic partners.
There, it was found that the number of families who take food less than twice a day during the Monga season has gone up sharply from 24 percent during the benchmark survey (conducted end 2007 – spring 2008) to 47 percent in the panel survey (conducted end 2009 – spring 2010).
The income earning opportunities are limited to 7 months, with 53 percent of the workforce being seasonally employed, and less than 2 percent who can be termed as employed full-time.
The average income for a family of four during those seven months is Tk 2542, and during the rest of the year it is Tk 1230, with individual daily disposable income of the family being Tk 20 and Tk 9.7 respectively.
Therefore, given the Millennium Development Goal-1 target is to halve the proportion of the population earning less than $1 a day (Purchasing Power Parity), then in the monga region if the PPP value is set at Tk 18.5, average daily income per person is $1.08 Dollar during the seasonal seven months of employment, and falls to just 53 cents during the rest of the year in the Monga region.
Bangladesh’s impressive reduction in hunger levels is however relative – the country started from very high rates of hunger and malnutrition.
Today, overall around 65.3 million Bangladeshis still do not have sufficient food to eat. This is around half of all Bangladeshis. In addition to this, the child underweight rate is the highest in South Asia, and one of the highest in the world.
Although Bangladesh has almost attained self-sufficiency in food production, rice production in Bangladesh is expected to fall by about 3.9 percent each year due to climate change.
Land is a critical issue in Bangladesh, with almost 60 percent of farmers being functionally landless, and farm sizes too small to support a family.
One percent of arable land is being lost each year due to climate change and urbanization, the report states. Women’s rights to land are particularly constrained.
The report therefore advocates wide-scale introduction of sustainable agriculture, alongside urgent land reform.
The government responded to the food crisis with a large stimulus package for agriculture, and a large scaling up of its social safety net programme, which accounted for 12.6 percent of the national budget for 2009/10.
Employment generation programmes will now need to be significantly expanded as part of the government’s forthcoming Food Security Investment Plan.
Global Scenario:
As far as the global scenario is concerned, the new report says hunger is costing poor nations $450 billion a year, more than ten times the amount needed to halve hunger by 2015 and meet Millennium Development Goal-1.
The report reveals that 20 out of 28 poor nations are off track to halving hunger by 2015, with 12 of them going backwards, despite UN claims that the world is on track to meeting the Millennium Development Goals.
If China, the most successful growing economy is removed from the scoring, the percentage of hungry people in the world is the same as when the goals were set two decades ago, the report says.
ActionAid’s CEO Joanna Kerr said, “Fighting hunger now will be ten times cheaper than ignoring it. Every year reduced worker productivity, poor health and lost education costs poor countries billions.
“And the cost is not just financial. If governments don’t act now, over a million more children could die by 2015 and half of Africa won’t have enough food in ten years,” she said, adding that recent food riots are a sharp reminder that poor countries cannot rely on unstable global food markets.
She also said investing in local farms where the world’s hungry live is the best way to avert another food crisis.
ActionAid says the hunger goal is going backwards globally, largely because of a lack of aid to agriculture and rural development, few legal rights to food in poor nations and little or no support services to help farming communities when harvests fail.
Brazil, China, Ghana, Malawi and Vietnam, who top ActionAid’s scorecard slashed hunger by dramatically scaling-up investment in small farms and introducing social protection schemes such as public works employment, cash transfers, food rations, and free school meals.
Malawi has reduced the number of people living on food handouts from 1.5 million to 150,000 in just five years. Brazil has halved the number of underweight children in less than 10 years. China will meet its hunger goal five years early.
Rich nations also scored. Luxembourg, France, Spain, Sweden and Canada who pledged agricultural aid to help fight the 2009 food crisis scored top as donor nations.
Portugal, Korea, Greece, New Zealand and Austria ranked bottom. G8 nations pledged $22 billion in 2009 to fight hunger, yet ActionAid estimates $14 billion of this is in fact old aid promises repackaged in new forms, and it is still unclear when or how the money will be spent.
ActionAid’s Africa HungerFREE Coordinator Henry Malumo said: “Times are hard and budgets are tight, so now more than ever it’s important for governments to invest in the right places. Rich countries must stop pulling statistical tricks and show us how and when the money they have promised will reach the people who need it most.”
Malawi and Ghana are shining examples of how supporting small scale farmers are keys to halving hunger. With only five years left and a billion people hungry, it’s critical the world follow their example, he added.
END/UNB/
Dhaka, Sept 19 (UNB) - Bangladesh is on track to meet the MDG1 hunger target, ranking sixth in this year’s ‘HungerFREE Scorecard’ brought out by ActionAid as part of its annual report.
But the joint impact of the food and financial crises may see Bangladesh knocked off track and failing to meet the target, according to the same report released on Sunday.
ActionAid, an international anti-poverty agency working in over 40 countries, says Bangladesh’s high ranking in the HungerFREE Scorecard reflects the progress it has made in reducing hunger amongst its population, which has come down to 26 percent of the population , from 36 percent in 1990.
The report was released to coincide with world leaders preparing to meet at the UN Headquarters in New York to discuss progress on the Millennium Development Goals.
DR Congo, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Pakistan and Lesotho bring up the rear of the HungerFREE scorecard. But surprisingly, it is not only poor, war-torn or disaster-struck countries that rank low.
Despite a radical and rapid increase in economic growth, drastic cuts in agriculture and support to small farms means nearly half the children in India are malnourished, and one in five of the population goes hungry.
Although Bangladesh has taken progressive strides in achieving its millennium development targets, pockets of poverty still remain, says the report titled “Who’s Really Fighting Hunger-2010.”
Negative developments were particularly prevalent in the Monga-prone northern part of the country, where ActionAid Bangladesh conducted a study titled “The Monga Panel Survey 1” with its strategic partners.
There, it was found that the number of families who take food less than twice a day during the Monga season has gone up sharply from 24 percent during the benchmark survey (conducted end 2007 – spring 2008) to 47 percent in the panel survey (conducted end 2009 – spring 2010).
The income earning opportunities are limited to 7 months, with 53 percent of the workforce being seasonally employed, and less than 2 percent who can be termed as employed full-time.
The average income for a family of four during those seven months is Tk 2542, and during the rest of the year it is Tk 1230, with individual daily disposable income of the family being Tk 20 and Tk 9.7 respectively.
Therefore, given the Millennium Development Goal-1 target is to halve the proportion of the population earning less than $1 a day (Purchasing Power Parity), then in the monga region if the PPP value is set at Tk 18.5, average daily income per person is $1.08 Dollar during the seasonal seven months of employment, and falls to just 53 cents during the rest of the year in the Monga region.
Bangladesh’s impressive reduction in hunger levels is however relative – the country started from very high rates of hunger and malnutrition.
Today, overall around 65.3 million Bangladeshis still do not have sufficient food to eat. This is around half of all Bangladeshis. In addition to this, the child underweight rate is the highest in South Asia, and one of the highest in the world.
Although Bangladesh has almost attained self-sufficiency in food production, rice production in Bangladesh is expected to fall by about 3.9 percent each year due to climate change.
Land is a critical issue in Bangladesh, with almost 60 percent of farmers being functionally landless, and farm sizes too small to support a family.
One percent of arable land is being lost each year due to climate change and urbanization, the report states. Women’s rights to land are particularly constrained.
The report therefore advocates wide-scale introduction of sustainable agriculture, alongside urgent land reform.
The government responded to the food crisis with a large stimulus package for agriculture, and a large scaling up of its social safety net programme, which accounted for 12.6 percent of the national budget for 2009/10.
Employment generation programmes will now need to be significantly expanded as part of the government’s forthcoming Food Security Investment Plan.
Global Scenario:
As far as the global scenario is concerned, the new report says hunger is costing poor nations $450 billion a year, more than ten times the amount needed to halve hunger by 2015 and meet Millennium Development Goal-1.
The report reveals that 20 out of 28 poor nations are off track to halving hunger by 2015, with 12 of them going backwards, despite UN claims that the world is on track to meeting the Millennium Development Goals.
If China, the most successful growing economy is removed from the scoring, the percentage of hungry people in the world is the same as when the goals were set two decades ago, the report says.
ActionAid’s CEO Joanna Kerr said, “Fighting hunger now will be ten times cheaper than ignoring it. Every year reduced worker productivity, poor health and lost education costs poor countries billions.
“And the cost is not just financial. If governments don’t act now, over a million more children could die by 2015 and half of Africa won’t have enough food in ten years,” she said, adding that recent food riots are a sharp reminder that poor countries cannot rely on unstable global food markets.
She also said investing in local farms where the world’s hungry live is the best way to avert another food crisis.
ActionAid says the hunger goal is going backwards globally, largely because of a lack of aid to agriculture and rural development, few legal rights to food in poor nations and little or no support services to help farming communities when harvests fail.
Brazil, China, Ghana, Malawi and Vietnam, who top ActionAid’s scorecard slashed hunger by dramatically scaling-up investment in small farms and introducing social protection schemes such as public works employment, cash transfers, food rations, and free school meals.
Malawi has reduced the number of people living on food handouts from 1.5 million to 150,000 in just five years. Brazil has halved the number of underweight children in less than 10 years. China will meet its hunger goal five years early.
Rich nations also scored. Luxembourg, France, Spain, Sweden and Canada who pledged agricultural aid to help fight the 2009 food crisis scored top as donor nations.
Portugal, Korea, Greece, New Zealand and Austria ranked bottom. G8 nations pledged $22 billion in 2009 to fight hunger, yet ActionAid estimates $14 billion of this is in fact old aid promises repackaged in new forms, and it is still unclear when or how the money will be spent.
ActionAid’s Africa HungerFREE Coordinator Henry Malumo said: “Times are hard and budgets are tight, so now more than ever it’s important for governments to invest in the right places. Rich countries must stop pulling statistical tricks and show us how and when the money they have promised will reach the people who need it most.”
Malawi and Ghana are shining examples of how supporting small scale farmers are keys to halving hunger. With only five years left and a billion people hungry, it’s critical the world follow their example, he added.
END/UNB/
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Govt to set up industrial town in Mirsarai, industrial park at Sirajganj; over 1 lakh people to get job opportunity
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Sept 18 (UNB) – The government in a bid to generate employment and provide infrastructural support to private entrepreneurs in small and cottage industry sector has planned to set up an industrial town in Mirsarai upazila of Chittagong district.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has recently approved the project titled `Mirsharai Shilpanagari, Chittagong,’ sources at the Industries Ministry said.
“The project site has already been selected…it’s just close to Mirsarai railway station,” Industries Minister Dilip Barua said.
The project will be implemented on 25 acres of land by 2012 at a cost of Tk 22.96 crore, he informed.
According to the project profile, the industrial town will have a total of 186 industrial plots where 125 small and medium industries would be set up.
Industries Minister Dilip Barua hoped that some 6,000 people would be directly employed once the project is implemented, apart from indirect involvement of many people.
Besides, the government has also decided to set up an industrial park - ‘BSIC Industrial Park’ - in Sirajganj with a view to reviving rural economy through industrialization.
The project, which will be implemented on 400 acres of land at Saidabad and Kalia Haripur in Sirajganj Sadar Upazia, has also got approval from the ECNEC, the Minister said.
The project is expected to be implemented by June 2014 at a cost of Tk 384 crore and it will have 801 industrial plots.
A total of 570 export-oriented, import-substitute and domestic mills and factories will be set up on the industrial park, officials said.
Some 100,000 people will get job opportunity if the project is implemented timely and it will help boost domestic and foreign investment.
END/UNB/
Dhaka, Sept 18 (UNB) – The government in a bid to generate employment and provide infrastructural support to private entrepreneurs in small and cottage industry sector has planned to set up an industrial town in Mirsarai upazila of Chittagong district.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has recently approved the project titled `Mirsharai Shilpanagari, Chittagong,’ sources at the Industries Ministry said.
“The project site has already been selected…it’s just close to Mirsarai railway station,” Industries Minister Dilip Barua said.
The project will be implemented on 25 acres of land by 2012 at a cost of Tk 22.96 crore, he informed.
According to the project profile, the industrial town will have a total of 186 industrial plots where 125 small and medium industries would be set up.
Industries Minister Dilip Barua hoped that some 6,000 people would be directly employed once the project is implemented, apart from indirect involvement of many people.
Besides, the government has also decided to set up an industrial park - ‘BSIC Industrial Park’ - in Sirajganj with a view to reviving rural economy through industrialization.
The project, which will be implemented on 400 acres of land at Saidabad and Kalia Haripur in Sirajganj Sadar Upazia, has also got approval from the ECNEC, the Minister said.
The project is expected to be implemented by June 2014 at a cost of Tk 384 crore and it will have 801 industrial plots.
A total of 570 export-oriented, import-substitute and domestic mills and factories will be set up on the industrial park, officials said.
Some 100,000 people will get job opportunity if the project is implemented timely and it will help boost domestic and foreign investment.
END/UNB/
Corruption, social discrimination major challenges to achieving MDGs; Joint efforts needed for ‘middle life-standard’ Bangladesh: Qazi Kholiquzzaman
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Sept 17 (UNB) – Small-scale corruption in each and every sphere of society and unabated social discrimination have virtually stalled the country’s desired progress in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), economist Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said on Friday.
“We’ve progressed much in different sectors but the expected progress of the country apparently got stuck due to social discrimination and corruption,” he said at a press conference at the National Press Club.
Qazi Kholiquzzaman, chairman of Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), called upon all to work together for transforming Bangladesh into a ‘middle life-standard’ country instead of middle-income country by removing social discrimination and ensuring proper utilization of internal resources.
People’s Forum on MDGs-Bangladesh and UNMC jointly arranged the press conference to inform the people about the private-level recommendations and demands that will be placed at the Conference on MDGs to be held September 20-22 in New York.
People’s Forum on MDGs-Bangladesh co-convener Dr Nilufar Banu read out a written paper based on their recommendations for achieving MDGs and outlining the challenges.
Replying to a question, Qazi Kholiquzzaman said the government has the proper programmes and policies which are essential for achieving the MDGs. “But we don’t see proper implementation of government programmes and policies…we need to remind the government of this.”
He said the government should give more attention in agricultural sector and employment generation to come out from the acute poverty situation.
Emphasizing on education, the PKSF chairman said the prevailing discrimination in the education sector would have to be removed so that the people could be prepared for realizing their basic rights.
Earlier, Nilufar Banu placed a number of recommendations on achieving the MDGs that include mobilizing resources for agriculture sector including adequate financial support and ensuring fair wages of agricultural labours; establishing education as constitutional right; reducing school dropout rate of girls, proper measures to improve maternal health, and joint collaboration of government and other development partners to ensure environment sustainability.
Member of People’s Forum on MDGs-Bangladesh Abdul Awal also addressed the press conference.
END/UNB/
Dhaka, Sept 17 (UNB) – Small-scale corruption in each and every sphere of society and unabated social discrimination have virtually stalled the country’s desired progress in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), economist Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said on Friday.
“We’ve progressed much in different sectors but the expected progress of the country apparently got stuck due to social discrimination and corruption,” he said at a press conference at the National Press Club.
Qazi Kholiquzzaman, chairman of Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), called upon all to work together for transforming Bangladesh into a ‘middle life-standard’ country instead of middle-income country by removing social discrimination and ensuring proper utilization of internal resources.
People’s Forum on MDGs-Bangladesh and UNMC jointly arranged the press conference to inform the people about the private-level recommendations and demands that will be placed at the Conference on MDGs to be held September 20-22 in New York.
People’s Forum on MDGs-Bangladesh co-convener Dr Nilufar Banu read out a written paper based on their recommendations for achieving MDGs and outlining the challenges.
Replying to a question, Qazi Kholiquzzaman said the government has the proper programmes and policies which are essential for achieving the MDGs. “But we don’t see proper implementation of government programmes and policies…we need to remind the government of this.”
He said the government should give more attention in agricultural sector and employment generation to come out from the acute poverty situation.
Emphasizing on education, the PKSF chairman said the prevailing discrimination in the education sector would have to be removed so that the people could be prepared for realizing their basic rights.
Earlier, Nilufar Banu placed a number of recommendations on achieving the MDGs that include mobilizing resources for agriculture sector including adequate financial support and ensuring fair wages of agricultural labours; establishing education as constitutional right; reducing school dropout rate of girls, proper measures to improve maternal health, and joint collaboration of government and other development partners to ensure environment sustainability.
Member of People’s Forum on MDGs-Bangladesh Abdul Awal also addressed the press conference.
END/UNB/
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Minister Barua plays down fears of fertilizer crisis; Approval of new Industrial Policy big achievement for his ministry; he says
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Sept 16 (UNB) – Farmers will not face any fertilizer crisis in the coming peak season, despite some fertilizer producing units remaining inoperative due to persisting gas crisis, Industries Minister Dilip Barua said on Thursday.
“We’ve taken precautionary measures to avert any fertilizer crisis, as the fertilizer producing units remained inoperative due to gas crisis,” Barua told journalists at a press conference at the conference room of the Industries Ministry today.
The press conference was arranged to inform countrymen about the development activities of the ministry over the last 20 months.
Minister Barua firmly said that there would be no shortage of Urea, a fertilizer, in the coming Boro season, and Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company (KAFCO), a multinational fertilizer producing company, has for the first time agreed to sell all its fertilizer to Bangladesh in the peak season.
The government, however, set a demand target of fertilizer at 28.31 lakh metric tons for the current year, showing a sharp drop in targeted demand compared to the previous year’s target, when it was 29.51 lakh metric tons.
Asked about the causes behind the reduced demand target, Minister Barua said: “The use of Urea fertilizer has decreased as the farmers have started using diammonium phosphates (DAP) fertilizer widely…it’s being produced in two units in Chittagong, and we’ll import if necessary.”
He claimed that the farmers haven’t faced any fertilizer crisis during the tenure of the present government, and nobody has had to sacrifice their lives for fertilizer, as happened before.
“We will build sufficient stock of fertilizers to address the demand….currently we have a stock of 4 lakh metric tons of fertilizer, in addition there are stocks of fertilizer at the dealer-level,” he said.
On the other hand, Qatar has agreed to supply 400,000 metric tons of urea including an additional 100,000 metric tons to Bangladesh in the current fiscal, under a deal agreed between the two governments.
Qatar Fertilizer Company Limited (QFCL) will supply the fertilizer, as stipulated by the agreement, which was signed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Qatar in October 2009, Barua said.
He said the government is also giving priority to importing fertilizers from alternative countries apart from the Middle East and China through ‘state-to-state’ deals.
Replying to a question, Barua said the government would set up three new fertilizer factories, having an annual production capacity of nearly 5.77 lakh metric tons of fertilizer. “Of the three would-be factories, Shahjalal Fertilizer Project might go into production during the tenure of the government.”
Emphasizing people’s participation, Minister Barua said the government would gradually offload the shares of profitable SoEs in the capital market.
He, however, neither disclosed any names of the SoEs which might go to the capital market, nor the timeframe of offloading shares.
Talking about the new industrial policy that got cabinet nod, he said: “It’s a big achievement for the ministry of industries… it’ll play a vital role in fulfilling the government target of 40 per cent contribution of industrial sector in the national income and increase employment generation by around 25 per cent by 2021.”
“We want a strong private sector to expedite economic development,” Barua added.
BCIC Chairman and acting Industries Secretary KH Masud Siddiqi and Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) Chairman Ranjit Kumar Biswas were also present at the press conference.
END/UNB/
Dhaka, Sept 16 (UNB) – Farmers will not face any fertilizer crisis in the coming peak season, despite some fertilizer producing units remaining inoperative due to persisting gas crisis, Industries Minister Dilip Barua said on Thursday.
“We’ve taken precautionary measures to avert any fertilizer crisis, as the fertilizer producing units remained inoperative due to gas crisis,” Barua told journalists at a press conference at the conference room of the Industries Ministry today.
The press conference was arranged to inform countrymen about the development activities of the ministry over the last 20 months.
Minister Barua firmly said that there would be no shortage of Urea, a fertilizer, in the coming Boro season, and Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company (KAFCO), a multinational fertilizer producing company, has for the first time agreed to sell all its fertilizer to Bangladesh in the peak season.
The government, however, set a demand target of fertilizer at 28.31 lakh metric tons for the current year, showing a sharp drop in targeted demand compared to the previous year’s target, when it was 29.51 lakh metric tons.
Asked about the causes behind the reduced demand target, Minister Barua said: “The use of Urea fertilizer has decreased as the farmers have started using diammonium phosphates (DAP) fertilizer widely…it’s being produced in two units in Chittagong, and we’ll import if necessary.”
He claimed that the farmers haven’t faced any fertilizer crisis during the tenure of the present government, and nobody has had to sacrifice their lives for fertilizer, as happened before.
“We will build sufficient stock of fertilizers to address the demand….currently we have a stock of 4 lakh metric tons of fertilizer, in addition there are stocks of fertilizer at the dealer-level,” he said.
On the other hand, Qatar has agreed to supply 400,000 metric tons of urea including an additional 100,000 metric tons to Bangladesh in the current fiscal, under a deal agreed between the two governments.
Qatar Fertilizer Company Limited (QFCL) will supply the fertilizer, as stipulated by the agreement, which was signed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Qatar in October 2009, Barua said.
He said the government is also giving priority to importing fertilizers from alternative countries apart from the Middle East and China through ‘state-to-state’ deals.
Replying to a question, Barua said the government would set up three new fertilizer factories, having an annual production capacity of nearly 5.77 lakh metric tons of fertilizer. “Of the three would-be factories, Shahjalal Fertilizer Project might go into production during the tenure of the government.”
Emphasizing people’s participation, Minister Barua said the government would gradually offload the shares of profitable SoEs in the capital market.
He, however, neither disclosed any names of the SoEs which might go to the capital market, nor the timeframe of offloading shares.
Talking about the new industrial policy that got cabinet nod, he said: “It’s a big achievement for the ministry of industries… it’ll play a vital role in fulfilling the government target of 40 per cent contribution of industrial sector in the national income and increase employment generation by around 25 per cent by 2021.”
“We want a strong private sector to expedite economic development,” Barua added.
BCIC Chairman and acting Industries Secretary KH Masud Siddiqi and Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) Chairman Ranjit Kumar Biswas were also present at the press conference.
END/UNB/
Too many home-goers, too few transports
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Sept 7 (UNB) - Exodus of momentary residents and fortune-makers from the capital city has started today, just three days ahead of the biggest festival of the Muslim, changing the chaotic look of the city thoroughfares to some extent.
Most of the city's inter-district coach terminals, railway station and launch terminal were found overcrowded. Empty and the cargo-laden trucks were also seen carrying homebound passengers who could not procure train or bus tickets.
Over 60 lakh people out of nearly 1.5 crore people living in the capital are expected to go home ahead of the Eid. According to an unofficial estimate, around 20 lakh people, on an average, quit the city every day and the trend continues even in the intensified form till the Eid day.
The presence of officials and employees at different public offices and enterprises dropped significantly on Monday though today (Tuesday) is public holiday. A good number of public and private employees sought casual leaves against the working day before the Eid vacation.
Many public and private commercial banks here in the port city had to suffer from liquidity crisis for meeting the cash demands of the clients on Monday, officials said.
UNB roaming correspondent Rafiqul Islam said thousands of homebound people thronged launch, rail and bus terminals in the capital, and most of them found their attempt difficult to avail the transport.
Many along with family members were desperate for CNG-run auto-rickshaws or taxicabs in city streets. Those, who managed to find one, had to pay an exorbitant fare to reach destinations.
Meanwhile, people were seen standing in long queue at Kamalapur Railway Station to buy train tickets. But most tickets were sold in advance.
Field-level visit reveals that the bus operators are charging excess fare in short-distance routes like Dhaka-Kishoreganj, Dhaka-Comilla and Dhaka-Narsingdi.
However, the long-distance bus fare like Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Moulobibazar, Dhaka-Habiganj, Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar, Dhaka-Feni and Dhaka-Noakhali remained unchanged.
“We didn’t increase the fare …we’re charging usual fare like Tk 300 for Dhaka to Chittagong,” said Sohag Raihan of Shymoli Paribahan at Syedabad.
Sources said both public and private operators have doubled the number of transports of various modes to carry over seven million homebound passengers from the capital ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
Bus operators said they have increased daily trips which will continue until Eid. Number of launches has also increased. Some 100 launches will operate on different river-routes to ferry passengers.
The railway authority has so far sold 70,000 advance rail tickets on different routes which will exceed 1 lakh before Eid, Dhaka Divisional Railway Manager M Habibur Rahman told UNB Correspondent AKM Moinuddin over phone on Tuesday.
“We’ve added extra coaches with the existing trains to carry passengers,” he said. Special, intercity, commuter, mail and local trains are running at full capacity from Kamalapur, Joydebpur, Dhaka Cantonment and Airport railway stations.
Nearly one million people are expected to leave the capital city for homes by launches from the Sadarghat Launch Terminal to enjoy Eid holiday from Thursday with their dear ones.
Capital's three major bus terminals -- Gabtoli, Sayedabad and Mohakhali - were also seen overcrowded on Tuesday.
People of wealthier section of the society are availing airways on Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Jessore and Sylhet routes from the capital to go home ahead of Eid.
Security measures by RAB, Police and APB (Armed Police Battalion) including plan-clothed personnel have been tightened in and around the bus and launch terminals and railway stations.
END/UNB/
Dhaka, Sept 7 (UNB) - Exodus of momentary residents and fortune-makers from the capital city has started today, just three days ahead of the biggest festival of the Muslim, changing the chaotic look of the city thoroughfares to some extent.
Most of the city's inter-district coach terminals, railway station and launch terminal were found overcrowded. Empty and the cargo-laden trucks were also seen carrying homebound passengers who could not procure train or bus tickets.
Over 60 lakh people out of nearly 1.5 crore people living in the capital are expected to go home ahead of the Eid. According to an unofficial estimate, around 20 lakh people, on an average, quit the city every day and the trend continues even in the intensified form till the Eid day.
The presence of officials and employees at different public offices and enterprises dropped significantly on Monday though today (Tuesday) is public holiday. A good number of public and private employees sought casual leaves against the working day before the Eid vacation.
Many public and private commercial banks here in the port city had to suffer from liquidity crisis for meeting the cash demands of the clients on Monday, officials said.
UNB roaming correspondent Rafiqul Islam said thousands of homebound people thronged launch, rail and bus terminals in the capital, and most of them found their attempt difficult to avail the transport.
Many along with family members were desperate for CNG-run auto-rickshaws or taxicabs in city streets. Those, who managed to find one, had to pay an exorbitant fare to reach destinations.
Meanwhile, people were seen standing in long queue at Kamalapur Railway Station to buy train tickets. But most tickets were sold in advance.
Field-level visit reveals that the bus operators are charging excess fare in short-distance routes like Dhaka-Kishoreganj, Dhaka-Comilla and Dhaka-Narsingdi.
However, the long-distance bus fare like Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Moulobibazar, Dhaka-Habiganj, Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar, Dhaka-Feni and Dhaka-Noakhali remained unchanged.
“We didn’t increase the fare …we’re charging usual fare like Tk 300 for Dhaka to Chittagong,” said Sohag Raihan of Shymoli Paribahan at Syedabad.
Sources said both public and private operators have doubled the number of transports of various modes to carry over seven million homebound passengers from the capital ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
Bus operators said they have increased daily trips which will continue until Eid. Number of launches has also increased. Some 100 launches will operate on different river-routes to ferry passengers.
The railway authority has so far sold 70,000 advance rail tickets on different routes which will exceed 1 lakh before Eid, Dhaka Divisional Railway Manager M Habibur Rahman told UNB Correspondent AKM Moinuddin over phone on Tuesday.
“We’ve added extra coaches with the existing trains to carry passengers,” he said. Special, intercity, commuter, mail and local trains are running at full capacity from Kamalapur, Joydebpur, Dhaka Cantonment and Airport railway stations.
Nearly one million people are expected to leave the capital city for homes by launches from the Sadarghat Launch Terminal to enjoy Eid holiday from Thursday with their dear ones.
Capital's three major bus terminals -- Gabtoli, Sayedabad and Mohakhali - were also seen overcrowded on Tuesday.
People of wealthier section of the society are availing airways on Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Jessore and Sylhet routes from the capital to go home ahead of Eid.
Security measures by RAB, Police and APB (Armed Police Battalion) including plan-clothed personnel have been tightened in and around the bus and launch terminals and railway stations.
END/UNB/
MDG Progress Report 2009 released; malnutrition, resource shortfall major problems in achieving MDGs
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Sept 15 (UNB) – Bangladesh has made significant progress in certain areas towards achieving MDGs (millennium development goals) by 2015 that include reducing child mortality, primary schooling, and gender parity in primary and secondary level education.
Bangladesh, as the country most vulnerable to the global menace of climate change, needs to get urgent support pledged by the world leaders at the Copenhagen Climate Summit and it expects to receive a 15 percent share of the fund to address the additional challenges that climate change poses to Bangladesh’s MDG gains.
Bangladesh Progress Report 2009 on MDGs shows that the country has also achieved remarkable progress in reducing the incidence of communicable diseases and in improving indicators on environmental changes.
However, overall education sector faces significant challenges in achieving the targets which include reaching the marginal populations, ensuring survival rate to grade V, improving quality of primary education and increasing share of education in government budget.
The Progress Report, 4th of its kind, was released at a function at Sonargaon Hotel in the city on Wednesday afternoon. General Economic Division and Planning Commission jointly arranged the report launching ceremony. The report will be placed in the 2010 MDG review meeting in New York.
General Economic Division and Planning Commission of the government, the UN system in Bangladesh and five Thematic Working Groups prepared the report titled `Millennium Development Goals: Bangladesh Progress Report 2009’.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandker, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Economic Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Mashiur Rahman and member of General Economic Division Prof Dr Shamsul Alam, among others, spoke on the occasion.
The progress report shows that Bangladesh is on its way to achieve targeted prevalence of poverty by 2015; however, the hunger target might not be achieved due to the challenges of food security in the country.
“The key challenges to future poverty reduction include lack of programme coordination and harmonization, structural constraints, lack of diversity in food crop, chronic under nutrition in children and weakness in proper targeting and efficiency,” the report says.
Notable progress through a range of initiatives has also been made in the field of democratic governance and human rights, it says.
Meanwhile, maternal mortality rate (MMR) declined by 40 percent during the 1990-2005 period but remained stable in the following four years that has become a matter of concern for Bangladesh.
Addressing the function, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said that though Bangladesh has progressed much in some areas, malnutrition remains a real problem of Bangladesh.
“I think Bangladesh is on the right track in achieving MDGs though there are some areas where problems need to be addressed,” he said.
Planning Minister AK Khandker said Bangladesh has achieved certain targets and efforts are on to achieve the remaining targets within the next five years. He emphasized enhancement of global support in this regard.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said: “It’s quite inspiring to know that in most of the sectors we’ve done reasonably well. In our mixed achievement, during the last two decades, we’ve achieved good progress in the areas of net enrolment in primary education, in gender parity, infant and child mortality, immunization coverage, supply of drinking water, and sanitation.”
She, however, said there is need to work more in other areas like employment generation, reduction in the dropout rate in primary education, increasing adult literacy rate, creation of more employment for women, reduction of maternal mortality, increasing the forest coverage and spreading ICT knowledge.
Dipu Moni said: “We’ve a challenging task ahead. The most significant challenge is to sustain the achievements we’ve achieved so far… only five years are left to reach the 2015 deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. It’s time for us to look into these matters with due determination to redouble our efforts.”
PM’s Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman said resource shortfall is the major problem that the country has been facing in achieving the MDGs.
END/UNB/
Dhaka, Sept 15 (UNB) – Bangladesh has made significant progress in certain areas towards achieving MDGs (millennium development goals) by 2015 that include reducing child mortality, primary schooling, and gender parity in primary and secondary level education.
Bangladesh, as the country most vulnerable to the global menace of climate change, needs to get urgent support pledged by the world leaders at the Copenhagen Climate Summit and it expects to receive a 15 percent share of the fund to address the additional challenges that climate change poses to Bangladesh’s MDG gains.
Bangladesh Progress Report 2009 on MDGs shows that the country has also achieved remarkable progress in reducing the incidence of communicable diseases and in improving indicators on environmental changes.
However, overall education sector faces significant challenges in achieving the targets which include reaching the marginal populations, ensuring survival rate to grade V, improving quality of primary education and increasing share of education in government budget.
The Progress Report, 4th of its kind, was released at a function at Sonargaon Hotel in the city on Wednesday afternoon. General Economic Division and Planning Commission jointly arranged the report launching ceremony. The report will be placed in the 2010 MDG review meeting in New York.
General Economic Division and Planning Commission of the government, the UN system in Bangladesh and five Thematic Working Groups prepared the report titled `Millennium Development Goals: Bangladesh Progress Report 2009’.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandker, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Economic Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Mashiur Rahman and member of General Economic Division Prof Dr Shamsul Alam, among others, spoke on the occasion.
The progress report shows that Bangladesh is on its way to achieve targeted prevalence of poverty by 2015; however, the hunger target might not be achieved due to the challenges of food security in the country.
“The key challenges to future poverty reduction include lack of programme coordination and harmonization, structural constraints, lack of diversity in food crop, chronic under nutrition in children and weakness in proper targeting and efficiency,” the report says.
Notable progress through a range of initiatives has also been made in the field of democratic governance and human rights, it says.
Meanwhile, maternal mortality rate (MMR) declined by 40 percent during the 1990-2005 period but remained stable in the following four years that has become a matter of concern for Bangladesh.
Addressing the function, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said that though Bangladesh has progressed much in some areas, malnutrition remains a real problem of Bangladesh.
“I think Bangladesh is on the right track in achieving MDGs though there are some areas where problems need to be addressed,” he said.
Planning Minister AK Khandker said Bangladesh has achieved certain targets and efforts are on to achieve the remaining targets within the next five years. He emphasized enhancement of global support in this regard.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said: “It’s quite inspiring to know that in most of the sectors we’ve done reasonably well. In our mixed achievement, during the last two decades, we’ve achieved good progress in the areas of net enrolment in primary education, in gender parity, infant and child mortality, immunization coverage, supply of drinking water, and sanitation.”
She, however, said there is need to work more in other areas like employment generation, reduction in the dropout rate in primary education, increasing adult literacy rate, creation of more employment for women, reduction of maternal mortality, increasing the forest coverage and spreading ICT knowledge.
Dipu Moni said: “We’ve a challenging task ahead. The most significant challenge is to sustain the achievements we’ve achieved so far… only five years are left to reach the 2015 deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. It’s time for us to look into these matters with due determination to redouble our efforts.”
PM’s Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman said resource shortfall is the major problem that the country has been facing in achieving the MDGs.
END/UNB/
Saturday, September 4, 2010
New Industrial Policy likely to get cabinet nod on Monday; GDP growth to exceed 7% if policy directives implemented properly: Industries Minister
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Sept 4 (UNB) – The much-expected new Industrial Policy of the country is likely get approval from the Cabinet on Monday, said officials.
The government hopes further boost in GDP growth that means more output, employment and income and, in consequence, more wellbeing for the people.
“The new industrial policy will help achieve higher economic growth…I hope GDP growth will exceed 7 percent if the directives mentioned in the policy are properly implemented,” Industries Minister Dilip Barua told UNB.
The government set a 6.7 percent GDP growth target for fiscal 2010-11, which the government thinks as an imperative for the country to become a middle income country by 2015.
Asked about the possibility of getting the formal approval of the Cabinet on Monday’s weekly meeting, Barua said: “I’m hopeful…it’ll get approval without any major changes.”
He expected the industrial policy to play vital role in fulfilling the government target of 40 per cent contribution of industrial sector in the national income and increase employment generation by around 25 per cent within 2021.
Industries Ministry sources said the new industrial policy would play a vital role in both industrial development and economic growth, and it will have specific guidelines on industrialization in the country with a vision till 2021.
The policy will also back government’s decision not to privatize any profitable units in future and not to handover any state-owned enterprises (SoEs) to private ownership without first creating alternative employment opportunities for those who might get laid-off.
The SME sector will receive priority in the coming industrial policy as the government believes this sector will help keep the wheels of the country’s economy running.
Earlier, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs at a meeting on August 3 cleared draft Industrial Policy and sent it to the cabinet for approval.
A three-member committee headed by Board of Investment (BoI) executive chairman SA Samad scrutinized the draft industrial policy.
After necessary scrutiny, the draft policy with some minor changes was placed before the cabinet committee on Economic Affairs for its consideration.
The draft of the new industrial policy was first placed in the meeting of the cabinet committee on economic affairs for its perusal in January this year.
The new industrial policy gives priority to special economic zones and enhanced foreign direct investment.
END/UNB/AKM/
Dhaka, Sept 4 (UNB) – The much-expected new Industrial Policy of the country is likely get approval from the Cabinet on Monday, said officials.
The government hopes further boost in GDP growth that means more output, employment and income and, in consequence, more wellbeing for the people.
“The new industrial policy will help achieve higher economic growth…I hope GDP growth will exceed 7 percent if the directives mentioned in the policy are properly implemented,” Industries Minister Dilip Barua told UNB.
The government set a 6.7 percent GDP growth target for fiscal 2010-11, which the government thinks as an imperative for the country to become a middle income country by 2015.
Asked about the possibility of getting the formal approval of the Cabinet on Monday’s weekly meeting, Barua said: “I’m hopeful…it’ll get approval without any major changes.”
He expected the industrial policy to play vital role in fulfilling the government target of 40 per cent contribution of industrial sector in the national income and increase employment generation by around 25 per cent within 2021.
Industries Ministry sources said the new industrial policy would play a vital role in both industrial development and economic growth, and it will have specific guidelines on industrialization in the country with a vision till 2021.
The policy will also back government’s decision not to privatize any profitable units in future and not to handover any state-owned enterprises (SoEs) to private ownership without first creating alternative employment opportunities for those who might get laid-off.
The SME sector will receive priority in the coming industrial policy as the government believes this sector will help keep the wheels of the country’s economy running.
Earlier, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs at a meeting on August 3 cleared draft Industrial Policy and sent it to the cabinet for approval.
A three-member committee headed by Board of Investment (BoI) executive chairman SA Samad scrutinized the draft industrial policy.
After necessary scrutiny, the draft policy with some minor changes was placed before the cabinet committee on Economic Affairs for its consideration.
The draft of the new industrial policy was first placed in the meeting of the cabinet committee on economic affairs for its perusal in January this year.
The new industrial policy gives priority to special economic zones and enhanced foreign direct investment.
END/UNB/AKM/
2-day inter-governmental meeting of SAARC members begins in city; 80% work on finalizing draft of SAARC Charter of Democracy done: FS
By AKM Moinuddin
Dhaka, Sept 4 (UNB) – Representatives of the SAARC member states in a two-day inter-governmental meeting that began here Saturday have almost finalized the draft of ‘SAARC Charter of Democracy’, said Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes.
Emerging from the ongoing meeting at Hotel Sheraton in the city, Quayes said at a brief press briefing in the evening that they would come up with the complete outcome on the draft tomorrow (Sunday).
“We’ve progressed much…we can say nearly 80 percent work is done. We hope we’ll be able to come up with the final outcome tomorrow,” he said.
Asked about the contents of the draft, Quayes declined to divulge anything. He said: “We’ve the responsibility of preparing a draft…it’ll go through two more processes once the draft is done. We’re working on it and all the members of the SAARC countries are very sincere about the issue.”
Earlier, the two-day meeting tasked with finalizing the draft of the `SAARC Charter of Democracy’ began at Hotel Sheraton in the morning.
Representatives including parliamentarians, High Commissioners, high officials from the eight member countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Maldives - are attending the meeting.
Leaders of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) at the 16th Summit in Thimpu, appreciating that all member states had evolved into multiparty democracies, underlined the challenges faced by them in ensuring effective, efficient, transparent and accountable government.
In this regard, they emphasized on regional cooperation to strengthen good governance.
As per a decision of the Summit, Bangladesh circulated the Concept Paper on Charter of Democracy and convened the inter-governmental meeting in Dhaka.
Recognizing the inherent link between democracy and development, the member states expressed their commitment to have a SAARC Charter of Democracy which will strengthen democratic institutions and process, promote practice of democracy at all levels of government and society, and promote rule of law.
The ongoing meeting is examining the broad principles on democracy for inclusion in a regionally agreed document and also how the SAARC member states, people’s representatives and civil society can work towards strengthening democracy and democratic practices in South Asia.
END/UNB/AKM/
Dhaka, Sept 4 (UNB) – Representatives of the SAARC member states in a two-day inter-governmental meeting that began here Saturday have almost finalized the draft of ‘SAARC Charter of Democracy’, said Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes.
Emerging from the ongoing meeting at Hotel Sheraton in the city, Quayes said at a brief press briefing in the evening that they would come up with the complete outcome on the draft tomorrow (Sunday).
“We’ve progressed much…we can say nearly 80 percent work is done. We hope we’ll be able to come up with the final outcome tomorrow,” he said.
Asked about the contents of the draft, Quayes declined to divulge anything. He said: “We’ve the responsibility of preparing a draft…it’ll go through two more processes once the draft is done. We’re working on it and all the members of the SAARC countries are very sincere about the issue.”
Earlier, the two-day meeting tasked with finalizing the draft of the `SAARC Charter of Democracy’ began at Hotel Sheraton in the morning.
Representatives including parliamentarians, High Commissioners, high officials from the eight member countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Maldives - are attending the meeting.
Leaders of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) at the 16th Summit in Thimpu, appreciating that all member states had evolved into multiparty democracies, underlined the challenges faced by them in ensuring effective, efficient, transparent and accountable government.
In this regard, they emphasized on regional cooperation to strengthen good governance.
As per a decision of the Summit, Bangladesh circulated the Concept Paper on Charter of Democracy and convened the inter-governmental meeting in Dhaka.
Recognizing the inherent link between democracy and development, the member states expressed their commitment to have a SAARC Charter of Democracy which will strengthen democratic institutions and process, promote practice of democracy at all levels of government and society, and promote rule of law.
The ongoing meeting is examining the broad principles on democracy for inclusion in a regionally agreed document and also how the SAARC member states, people’s representatives and civil society can work towards strengthening democracy and democratic practices in South Asia.
END/UNB/AKM/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
