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Refitted ahead of schedule by India’s state-owned Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL), the Indian Navy will soon transfer Kilo-class submarine INS Sindhuvir to Myanmar. The Russian-built attack submarine will be the Myanmar Navy’s first amidst long running plans by the force to develop an underwater arm. HSL, which received the submarine for the refit in 2017, delivered the submarine back to the Indian Navy two days ago — ahead of time, says the shipyard. The overhauled submarine was undocked last July, shortly after India had cleared diplomatic paperwork for the transfer, which takes place under the line of credit that India has extended to Myanmar for areas of military modernisation. The transfer of the Sindhuvir to Myanmar, expected to take place quietly in by the end of March, couldn’t have come easy. The Indian Navy is already having to make do with a wafer thin submarine force for the kinds of responsibilities imposed on the underwater arm. It is clear that preempting a Chinese submarine foothold in Myanmar was deemed more important than holding onto an old submarine in force levels indubitably stretched very thin. There could be some good medium-term news for the submarine arm though, as Livefist recently reported. INS Sindhuvir is one of ten Kilo-class boats the Indian Navy commissioned between 1986 and 2000. With the loss of INS Sindhurakshak in a dockyard explosion of ordnance in 2013, the navy will be left with eight after Sindhuvir sails off to Myanmar. INS Sindhukesari returned to India last year after a 27-month refit at Russia’s Zvezdochka shipyard. INS Sindhuraj also completed a refit at Russia’s Sevmash shipyard last year and is back in service. Two more boats of the class are part of the refit program. The Indian Navy also operates four Type 209 submarines and the first two of six Kalvari-class (Scorpene) boats. The Sindhuvir transfer, to be sure, is not the first transfer that will be watched closely in the region. In 2006-07, the Indian Navy supplied a pair of BN-2 Islander tactical maritime surveillance aircraft to Myanmar’s then Than Shwe dispensation to the consternation of the U.K. The submarine transfer is a far more significant act, though, and comes amidst China’s ongoing efforts to push some of its older submarines into the services of countries like Myanmar and Bangladesh. The latter has already commissioned two old Ming-class submarines and is receiving help from China to build a submarine base. The supply of Sindhuvir to Myanmar seeks to build on an ongoing military support effort and to also preclude China from getting a foothold in an area — submarine access in the Indian Ocean — where there has already been concern. The refitted Sindhuvir has also been fitted with certain Indian systems — activity cleared by Russia before paperwork was completed last year. The India-Myanmar military support partnership has deepened in the last 15 years. In 2006, Myanmar sent its corvette Anawrahta to the Milan 2006 naval multilateral exercise at Port Blair in India’s Andaman & Nicobar islands. The act was seen as Myanmar finally opening up to the region after years in political isolation. The country has since had ship designers trained in India following requests for help in raising a shipbuilding force. Earlier this month, Indian Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh visited Myanmar where he visited Yangon’s 1st fleet and met with crews of Myanmar’s indigenously designed Kyan Sittha-class frigate UMS Sin Phyushin (which has an Indian-made BEL sonar) and the country’s new South Korean Makassar-class landing platform dock UMS Moattama. He also visited Myanmar’s shipbuilding facilities in Thilawa, a site that has a significant infusion of Indian knowhow. Russia has mounted an aggressive campaign for the Indian Navy’s P75I submarine build program, pitching its Amur 1650 as a logical next step from the very well-regarded Kilos. Livefist visited the Admiralty Shipyard last year for this detailed report on Moscow’s pitch. For HSL, the earlier delivery of the refitted Sindhuvir is a confidence boost, both for itself as well as the Indian Navy. The shipyard has struggled to return to relevance, and isn’t yet regarded on par with other MoD-controlled shipyards, including Mazagon Docks Ltd and Goa Shipyard Ltd. With the prospect of having to sit out the P75I submarine build program, the shipyard will be looking to acquire as much refit and overhaul work as possible from the Indian Navy. https://www.livefistdefence.com/2020/02/indian-navys-sindhuvir-submarine-refit-complete-handover-to-myanmar-shortly.html?fbclid=IwAR2GICxx-Bu-3Vj7NHxQ3H4MvmzOnrZBVigEEUk1O2phdXqZIBZA6szOSSE

‘Japan Street’ inaugurated in Bashundhara Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Naoki Ito inaugurated the street named in honour of Japanese investors The authorities of Bashundhara residential area have named one of their streets as "Japan Street" to honour the Japanese investors in Bangladesh. Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh Naoki Ito inaugurated the street amid on Tuesday. The inauguration ceremony was organised by JCX Developments Ltd. Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, the chairman of Bashundhara Group and JDL Managing Director Md Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury, among others, were present at the event. Expressing his joy over the naming of the street, the Japanese ambassador said, "This is the first time that a street has been named after Japan, though the country has been a development partner of Bangladesh for a long time. I am very delighted." And it will increase Japanese investment in newer sectors including real estate, he added. Thanking the authorities for naming the street, Naoki Ito also said Japan is a tested friend and a big partner of economic development of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, 309 Japanese companies have invested so far and are implementing some of the megaprojects, Ambassador Ito added. Ahmed Akbar Sobhan said Japan is "our old friend" and "we are delighted" to name the street after Japan. "The present government is business-friendly. We are happy that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has created an option of a 20-year-long loan facility with 5 percent interest rate, creating a window of investment in the real estate sector," Akbar Sobhan said. Md Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury said he has built the JCX business tower in partnership with Japan.

2nd perspective plan 2021-2041: Extreme poverty to be 0.68%, GDP 9.9% By 2031, it aims to bring down the extreme poverty rate to 2.55%, and increase the GDP growth to 9% The government has set targets to bring down the extreme poverty rate to 0.68%, and increase the gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 9.9% by 2041. By 2031, it aims to bring down the extreme poverty rate to 2.55%, and increase the GDP growth to 9%. The projections incorporated in “Bangladesh’s 2nd Perspective Plan 2021-2041,” was approved on Tuesday. The plan envisages the target to become a developed country by 2041. Chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the National Economic Council (NEC) approved the country’s second perspective plan to turn Bangladesh as a higher middle-income country by 2031 and a higher income and developed country by 2041. For graduating the country to higher income status, the government has put emphasis on sustainable electricity and energy, while for rapid and continued growth it also stresses development of roads and transport and infrastructure. After the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan briefed the media on the document for the next 20 years, a pathway to become a developed country. The document is based on four pillars — governance, democratization, decentralization and capacity building. “The document is framed and approved to alleviate poverty, strengthen good governance further and transform Bangladesh into a modern and world-standard digital country,” said Mannan. As per the Bangladesh’s 2nd Perspective Plan 2021-2041, the extreme poverty rate in the country was expected to reduce to 2.55% in 2031 from 9.38% in 2020 (base year), while it was expected to come down further to 0.68% in 2041, the minister said. On the other hand, Mannan said the government set target to attain 9% GDP growth by 2031 while it would further expect to grow at 9.9% in 2041. The base year is 2020. In the last fiscal year, Bangladesh attained 8.15%, while in the current budget for fiscal year 2019-20, the government set target to attain 8.20% GDP. According to the second perspective plan, the country’s per capita income on current price would stand at $12,500 by 2041. In addition, moderate poverty rate is projected to come down to 7% in 2031 and to 3% in 2041. The plan also set target to reduce the income inequality to 2.80%, 2.75% and 2.70% by 2025, 2031 and 2041 respectively. To take the advantage of demographic dividend and develop human resource through quality education, the government in the plan set target to provide free education for all aged up to 12 years, 100% literacy, low cost health insurance and treatment facility for all. Meanwhile, to cope up with the global changes in the information technology, the meeting focused Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and ICT, skills development, while attention has been given to agriculture, rural poverty eradication, education and researches, and tourism infrastructures. General Economics Division (GED) member of the Planning Commission Dr Shamsul Alam said the Perspective Plan was a historic and dream document for the country as it gave a guideline about what would be the socio-economic position of the country over the next 20 years. As per the 2nd Perspective Plan, the inflation rate will come down to 4.51% by 2031 and 3.96% by 2041, while the country’s export earnings to increase to $150 billion by 2031 and $300 billion by 2041. https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2020/02/25/2nd-perspective-plan-2021-2041-extreme-poverty-to-be-0-68-gdp-9-9

I must say the plan is too ambitious. Specially the per capita income part.

I am sorry folks but I cannot stand such two-faced hypocrisy. This muppet voted against MLK day: https://thehill.com/homenews/229844-lawmakers-reflect-on-no-votes-on-mlk-day He refused to denounce Trump's racist comment against sitting Congresswomen: https://apnews.com/a10c3e3c0d4f42bda21426047755fa2c Yet he has the gall to lecture us on tolerance? He should learn a thing or two from his fellow Senator Sanders:

A Republiturd complaining about religious persecution is very rich. His own party is the proponent of the Southern Strategy and champions of minority voter suppression and jerrymandering.

1. The comments might have been motivated by information received from Bangladeshis living in US who might have connections to the BNP. 2. The Bangladesh embassy did well to quickly discredit the US senator's comments by pointing out the facts. 3. This is not really about Bangladesh being secular or democratic because the US works with KSA, UAE, Israel and co so there is hardly any effect in reality about democracy or human rights unless you happen to be America's enemy. 4. Once Bangladesh and Boeing for example sign the attack helicopter deal there will be a great deal of support coming in from the very senate because companies such as Boeing are very keen to increase their market footprint around the world including establish new frontier markets in places like Bangladesh and Thailand. Do not worry, we are solid.