Joel Ahmed

https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2021/08/30/hospitality-industry-pleads-for-bailouts-as-losses-pile-up Hospitality industry pleads for bailouts as losses pile up Imtiaz Ahmed Published at 08:18 pm August 30th, 2021 In a recent letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, BIHA sought her personal intervention in bailing the industry out and also asked for two-year-long soft loans to overcome losses The government needs to bail out the hospitality industry which has incurred heavy losses amid the pandemic, President of the Bangladesh International Hotel Association (BIHA) Hakim Ali told Dhaka Tribune recently. “The hospitality and aviation sectors will continue to suffer in the next five years unless the world can eliminate this deadly disease,” added Ali, who is also the managing director of Hotel Agrabad in Chittagong. In a recent letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, BIHA sought her personal intervention in bailing the industry out and also asked for two-year-long soft loans to overcome losses. Financial institutions and banks have already invested about Tk60,000 crore in the country’s service sector, such as hotels, motels, restaurants, cottages, hospitals, travel and tourism, and aviation in recent years, the association added in the letter. It also sought the intervention of the prime minister in giving a one-year interest waiver to the sector. Industry leaders have also sought an exemption of holding taxes for residential hotels and resorts under city corporations and municipalities till FY21. Furthermore, they have asked for exemption of tax deduction from the salaries of officers and employees of residential hotels and resorts. SM Zillur Rahman, head of the World Association for SMEs who runs some restaurants in Dhaka, said the restaurant business has been dull during the last one and a half years, with several hundred employees having either lost their jobs or not been paid properly. He said that several thousand small and medium restaurants are also incurring heavy losses with no signs of improvement. According to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), more than 310,000 hotel workers and employees in Bangladesh are at risk of becoming unemployed due to the pandemic. Though reliable statistics are unavailable in Bangladesh, Covid-19 caused losses to the tune of some Tk7,000 crore to the sector last year, and if this situation continues, the loss of hotels in Bangladesh may exceed Tk20,000 crore by the end of this year, according to industry insiders. “The government should recognize the tourism and hospitality sectors as an industry that generates several million jobs and exports skilled talent overseas,” said Azeem Shah, former general manager of Renaissance Dhaka. “To become a tourism hub, we need to have good infrastructure in terms of world-class facilities like transport, roads, and tourist-oriented law and order facilities,” he added. And the tourism industry is also important in the implementation of Vision 2021 and Vision 2041 of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It also involves the country’s image, international relations and the national economy, a BIHA leader said. Recently, the parent company of The Westin Dhaka, Unique Hotel and Resorts Limited (UHRL), asked the government to bail it out as its business has been severely impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Md Noor Ali, managing director of UHRL, recently wrote to Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, seeking his intervention to help Westin survive. Revenues of UHRL declined to Tk50 crore or 61% until March of FY21 against Tk157.7 crore made in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. The Bangladesh Bank on July 15 declared a new Tk1,000 crore stimulus package for hotel, motel and theme parks suffering from the ongoing business slowdown amid the pandemic. The owners of residential hotels and theme parks are entitled to receive easy funds, primarily to be used as working capital, with only 4% interest. “The hospitality industry will not be able to bounce back from such difficulties unless airline movement returns to normal,” said Akhtaruzzman Khan Kabir, CEO of Bangladesh Tourism Board. It is unfortunate that the circular of Tk1,000 crore incentive loan is yet to reach the branches of various public and private banks, he further said. Kabir estimates that the industry has incurred a loss of Tk20,000 crore because of the pandemic. "How can this sector, battered by the ongoing pandemic, survive without incentives and soft loans?” Kabir questioned. “We will be able to reinstate the jobs of 900, 000 employees if we get some loans,” he said. A total of 2.3 million people are employed by the hospitality industry across the country, he added. “International standard hotels are still running below the breakeven point and more guests are needed,” Kabir also said. Meanwhile, highlighting the importance of the tourism industry in the country’s economy, Khaled-ur-Rahaman Sany, co-chairman of BIHA Disaster Management Committee, said that the sector’s contribution to the GDP is 4.4%. The sector has prospects of attaining double-digit growth, he added. Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) past president SN Manzur Murshed said that the way the government approached incentives for the garment sector and remittances, the same approach needs to be applied for the aviation and tourism sectors. Last year, the government announced various stimulus packages involving Tk95,619 crore, which is 3.3% of the GDP, to offset the possible adverse impact on the economy due to the nationwide shutdown declared for the coronavirus pandemic. The aviation and tourism sectors were included in the financial stimulus packages. The government also formed a 14-member tourism crisis management committee headed by the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) CEO to find the kind of incentives the tourism stakeholders need to tackle the crisis. The global tourism industry has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, with $320 billion lost in exports in the first five months of the year and more than 120 million jobs at risk, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said recently. In a policy briefing and video address on August 25, he said international tourist arrivals decreased by more than half because of the global health crisis, which has crippled the world's economies. Tourism is the third-largest export sector of the global economy, behind fuel and chemical, and it employs one in every 10 people worldwide, Guterres further said, adding that in 2019, it accounted for 7% of the global trade.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/bn/পহেলা-সেপ্টেম্বর-থেকে-পর্যটকদের-জন্য-উন্মুক্ত-হচ্ছে-সুন্দরবন-1630322074 পহেলা সেপ্টেম্বর থেকে পর্যটকদের জন্য উন্মুক্ত হচ্ছে সুন্দরবন Published: August 30, 2021 17:14:34 মহামারীতে দ্বিতীয় দফায় সাড়ে চার মাস বন্ধ থাকার পর পহেলা সেপ্টেম্বর থেকে পর্যটকদের জন্য সুন্দরবন উন্মুক্ত হচ্ছে। খুলনা অঞ্চলের বন সংরক্ষক মিহির কুমার দো জানিয়েছেন, সুন্দরবন ভ্রমণ নীতিমালা অনুসরণ করে প্রতিটি লঞ্চ-জাহাজে সর্বোচ্চ ৭৫ জন যাত্রী বহন করার কথা বলা হয়েছে। ভ্রমণে অবশ্যই সামাজিক দূরত্ব ও স্বাস্থ্যবিধি মানতে হবে। এ সময় সুন্দরবনের করমজল, কটকা, কচিখালী, হরবাড়িয়া, হিরণ পয়েন্ট, দুবলা, নীলকমলসহ সমুদ্র তীরবর্তী এবং বনাঞ্চলের বিভিন্ন স্থানে লঞ্চ, ট্যুরবোট, ট্রলারসহ বিভিন্ন নৌযানে যেতে পারবেন দর্শনার্থীরা, খবর বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকমের। মাহমারীর কারণে ২০২০ সালের ২৬ মার্চ থেকে সুন্দরবন ভ্রমণের ওপর নিষেধাজ্ঞা জারি করা হয়। পরিস্থিতি কিছুটা শিথিল হলে ২০২০ সালের ১ নভেম্বর থেকে স্বল্প পরিসরে সুন্দরবন ভ্রমণের সুযোগ দেওয়া হয়। সে সময়ে প্রতি জাহাজে ৫০ জন যাত্রী বহনের অনুমতি দেওয়া হয়েছিল। করোনা সংক্রমণ বেড়ে যাওয়ায় গত ৩ এপ্রিল আবার সুন্দরবনে দর্শনার্থী প্রবেশে নিষেধাজ্ঞা দেওয়া হয়। গত সাড়ে চার মাস ধরে সুন্দরবন ভ্রমণ বন্ধ রয়েছে। সংশ্লিষ্টরা জানান, খুলনায় প্রায় শতাধিক ট্যুর অপারেটর আছে। পর্যটনের সঙ্গে সম্পৃক্ত আছেন প্রায় ১৫০০ কর্মকর্তা ও কর্মচারী। বনে প্রবেশে নিষেধাজ্ঞা থাকায় ট্যুর অপারেটরদের বিশাল ক্ষতি হয়েছে। কিছুটা হলেও তারা এখন ক্ষতি পুষিয়ে নেওয়ার চেষ্টা করবেন।

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/bn/লকডাউনের-ক্ষতি-পোষাতে-ভ্যাট,-ট্যাক্স,-লাইসেন্স-ফি-মওকুফ-চান-বিনোদন-পার্ক-মালিকরা-1630249201 লকডাউনের ক্ষতি পোষাতে ভ্যাট, ট্যাক্স, লাইসেন্স ফি মওকুফ চান বিনোদন পার্ক মালিকরা Published: August 29, 2021 21:00:01 | Updated: August 30, 2021 16:26:05 করোনাভাইরাসের মহামারি ও লকডাউনের ক্ষতি পোষাতে কয়েক বছরের জন্য ভ্যাট, ট্যাক্সসহ সব ধরনের শুল্ক ও লাইসেন্স ফি মওকুফ চান বিনোদন পার্ক মালিকরা। সম্প্রতি বেসামরিক বিমান পরিবহন ও পর্যটন প্রতিমন্ত্রী মাহবুব আলীর সঙ্গে দেখা করে এসব দাবি উত্থাপান করেন বাংলাদেশ অ্যাসোসিয়েশন অব এমিউজম্যান্ট পার্কস অ্যান্ড অ্যাট্রাকশনস (বাপা) নেতারা এসব দাবি জানান। ১১ অগাস্ট থেকে ধীরে ধীরে বিধিনিষেধ শিথিল হওয়ার এক সপ্তাহ পর বিনোদন কেন্দ্রগুলো খুলেছে । গত ২৫ অগাস্ট নতুন স্বাভাবিকতায় বিনোদনকেন্দ্রগুলোর সার্বিক পরিস্থিতি ও স্বাস্থ্যবিধি পরিপালন সম্পর্কে মন্ত্রণালয়কে জানাতে যান অ্যাসোসিয়েশনের নেতারা, খবর বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকমের। বাপার সভাপতি শাহরিয়ার কামাল বর্তমান প্রক্ষাপটে বাংলাদেশ ট্যুরিজম বোর্ডের এসওপি ও সব স্বাস্থ্যবিধি মেনে কিভাবে পার্ক পরিচালনা করা হচ্ছে যে ব্যাপারে প্রতিমন্ত্রী মাহবুব আলীকে অবহিত করেন। এ সময় প্রতিমন্ত্রী বলেন, যেহেতু এই খাতে প্রচুর বিনিয়োগ রয়েছে এবং অনেক কর্মসংস্থান হয়েছে সেজন্য বর্তমান সরকার এই খাতটির ব্যাপারে খুবই আশাবাদী এবং যেকোনো ধরনের সহযোগিতা করবে। বাপার এক সংবাদ বিজ্ঞপ্তিতে বলা হয়, এসময় অ্যাসোসিয়েশন নেতারা প্রতিমন্ত্রীর কাছে বেশ কিছু দাবি উত্থাপন করেন। এর অন্যতম হচ্ছে- বিনোদন পার্ক/থিম পার্কগুলো পর্যটন শিল্পের অন্তর্ভুক্ত হওয়ায় এই খাতটিকে শিল্প হিসাবে ঘোষিত সুযোগ সুবিধা পাওয়ার ব্যবস্থা করা। আগামী ৩ বছরের জন্য বিনোদন পার্ক এর উপর কর্পোরেট ট্যাক্স, ভ্যাট ও সম্পূরক শুল্কসহ অন্যান্য কর মওকুপ করা যাতে অপেক্ষাকৃত কম মূল্যে পর্যটক ও দর্শনার্থীদের বিনোদন সেবা দেওয়া। বিনোদন পার্কগুলো টিকিয়ে রাখার স্বার্থে সরকার ঘোষিত বিভিন্ন প্রণোদনা প্যাকেজের আওতায় বিনোদন পার্কগুলো অন্তর্ভূক্ত করা। আগামী ৩ বছর নতুন বিনোদন পার্ক নির্মাণ ও বর্তমান স্থাপনার সংযোজনার জন্য আমদানি করা বিভিন্ন রাইডসহ অন্যান্য যন্ত্রপাতিতে মূসক ও শুল্ক কর মুক্ত আমদানির সুযোগ প্রদান। ভবিষ্যতে করোনাভাইরাস রোধে অন্যান্য অনিয়ন্ত্রিত পর্যটন স্থানের (যেমন: কক্সবাজার, কুয়াকাটা, রাঙামাটি) সাথে তুলনা করে বিনোদন পার্কগুলোকে বন্ধ না করে দেওয়ার পদক্ষেপ নেওয়া। অগ্রাধিকার ভিত্তিতে বিনোদন পার্কগুলোতে কর্মরত কর্মকর্তা-কর্মচারীদের জন্য কোভিড টিকার ব্যবস্থা করা। গত ২ বছরের ধরে বন্ধ থাকায় এই খাতের কর্মচারী-কর্মকর্তারা মানবেতর জীবন যাপন করেছে, তাই ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত শ্রমিক, কর্মচারী ও কর্মকর্তাদের আর্থিক অনুদান দেওয়া। আগামী ৩ বছরের জন্য সমস্ত লাইসেন্স ফি মওকুফ করা। গত ২ বছরের যে সময়গুলো বিনোদন পার্কগুলো বন্ধ ছিল সেসব মাসের বিদ্যুৎ বিল মওকুপ করা। প্রস্তাবনাগুলো বিবেচনা করা হবে বলে প্রতিমন্ত্রী আশ্বাস দেন বলে বিজ্ঞপ্তিতে জানানো হয়।

https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2021/08/30/maddhapara-hard-rock-mine-faces-uncertainty-as-operator-s-contract-expires-on-sept-2 Maddhapara hard rock mine faces uncertainty as operator’s contract expires on Sept 2 UNB Published at 06:07 pm August 30th, 2021 Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Ltd (MGMCL) earns a profit of Tk7.26 crore for fiscal year 2018-19 Dhaka Tribune The Belarus-based GTC has been operating and maintaining the mine since September 2013 under a deal worth $171.86 million Uncertainty looms large over continued operation of Maddhapara hard rock mine as the current contract with the mine’s operator is due to expire on September 2. According to official sources, neither a decision was made to extend the current contract of Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Ltd (MGMCL) with the existing operator Germania Trest Consortium (GTC), nor any move visible to appoint a new contractor as yet. “No new operating company has not been selected yet to take over the operation of the mine’, said a top official of the MGMCL, a subsidiary of the state-owned Petrobangla. Abu Taleb Farazi, general manager, who is responsible for operation of the MGMCL, was reluctant to talk on the issue. The Belarus-based GTC has been operating and maintaining the mine since September 2013 under a deal worth $171.86 million (equivalent to Tk 1,400 crore). After completion of its tenure, the GTC’s contract was extended by a year by the government considering the Covid-19 pandemic situation. However, as the Covid-19 is not fully over, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division of the government has been in a dilemma over inking a fresh contact with the existing operator or a new one. Official sources at MGMCL, however, said they had moved to appoint a new operator through tender process. But that tender had to be shelved due to Covid-19. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that his ministry is yet to take any decision in this regard. "We’ll take a call only after consultation with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he recently told UNB. Official sources said if no firm decision is made over the issue, the country’s lone rock mining company will be in crisis and mining of the rock will have to be suspended. They said civil construction works of a number of mega projects including Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Payra Plant, Matarbari Plant and the construction of Hazrat Shahjalal Airport’s third terminal will be in trouble as they depend on the supply of rocks from the Maddapara Granite Mining Company. Besides, if the company is closed, more than 700 workers and employees will become unemployed, said an official. Officials said the nearby Barapukuria Coal Mine in Dinajpur faced the same situation as deal with China-based CMC-XMC Consortium expired on 10 August. Two-thirds of the employees and workers at the coal mine lost their jobs. A top official said, “The efforts are continuing and this will be finalised before the deal expires. We are working to complete it within the time so the activities of the company do not be hampered.” He said international tender was floated several times to appoint a contractor for this company, but foreign companies are found to be reluctant to come to Bangladesh amid the Coronavirus situation. A mining industry source alleged the decision to appoint a contractor was being delayed due to an unscrupulous section of the officials who want to put the company into crisis. “This corrupt syndicate wants to capitalise the crisis situation to appoint a contractor of choice from their ill motive”, he added. Annual report of the company shows that after a repeated loss of previous 10 years, MGMCL has recorded a profit in the past two financial years for the first time since it began commercial operations in 2007. The company made a profit of Tk 7 crore in 2018-19 and Tk 22 crore in 2019-20 after reporting losses for 11 years, according to its latest annual report. In the previous fiscal, the company produced a whopping 1.67 million metric tonnes (MT) hard rock and sold 721,000 MT at Tk 163.14 crore. Similarly, it produced 823,000 MT and sold 863,000 MT at Tk 207.81 in 2018-19. Officials at MGMCL claimed the mine is expected to cross a benchmark of Tk 50 crore in its profit margins at the end of the current financial year. He said the company mined 1.1 trillion tonnes of rock during the time which was 20% higher than the normal time.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/bangladesh/nordic-companies-urged-to-invest-in-bangladesh-1630312367 Nordic companies urged to invest in Bangladesh ‘Bangladesh Investor Booklet 2021’ launched FE ONLINE REPORT | Published: August 30, 2021 14:32:47 | Updated: August 30, 2021 16:50:13 Stakeholders at a virtual discussion urged the Nordic investors to take advantage of an improved business climate in Bangladesh, highlighting the reforms initiated by the government in recent times. The discussion was organised to mark the launching of the “Bangladesh Investor Booklet 2021” on Sunday. The Nordic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) in Bangladesh, in cooperation with the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the Embassy of Denmark and the Embassy of Sweden organised the programme, says a press release. Describing Bangladesh as an attractive destination for Nordic investment, speakers also urged the Nordic investors to make investments in Bangladesh. Addressing chief guest, Salman F Rahman, Private Sector Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister, said, “The government realised that the country’s ranking in the Ease of Doing Business can be better. In the past year, Bangladesh has been among the 10 top reformers in the world in the Ease of Doing Business Ranking done by the Work Bank. We are targeting that by 2022, we will have substantial and significant improvement in the ranking.” He added that the ‘One Stop Service’ introduced by BIDA has been popular and more services are in the offing to attract investors. Furthermore, the private sector growth will play an instrumental part in the growth of Bangladesh and the government will work towards facilitating investment, he said. He mentioned that the government is maintaining steady exchange rate, inflation and interest rate which are important economic indicators for foreign investment. “Updating of the Company Act, Bankrupcy Act and Isurance Act, amongst others, will also positively impact FDI in the country”. Md Sirazul Islam, Executive Chairman, BIDA congratulated NCCI on the publication of the Bangladesh Investment Booklet and remarked that it “effectively highlights the attractiveness of our economy, liberal investment regime, and unique sectoral opportunities." “As the country's apex Investment promotion authority, BIDA will work closely with NCCI to attract more Nordic investments. We will also continue to ensure the smooth entry, operation, and growth of Nordic business in Bangladesh," he said. Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem, Chairman, National Board of Revenue, said “The National Board of Revenue is working tirelessly to assist all stakeholders, including foreign investors in Bangladesh. We are constantly updating and adopting digitisation to cater to the business community”. “The economy is robust and stable, which makes it an attractive destination for Nordic investments. Additionally, the government has provided various incentives to promote investment and growth in the economy.” Speaking on behalf of the Nordic Embassies in Bangladesh, the Norwegian Ambassador, Espen Rikter-Svendsen, said, “The numerous foreign investment success stories demonstrate that Bangladesh is indeed a land of business opportunities that can be seized with the right guidance.” “It is my hope that this booklet will contribute towards minimising the gap and promote Bangladesh as an attractive investment destination for Nordic companies.” NCCI President Tahrin Aman highlighted that the Nordic companies can contribute largely to the long-term sustainable growth of Bangladesh though FDI in infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, power, healthcare, telecommunication, manufacturing and finance, with a particular focus on innovation, green transition and climate sustainability. He commended the work of the government of Bangladesh to implement the “Digital Bangladesh” of the Prime Minister which will take the country forwards achieving the middle-income status by 2024. Among others, Md. Nazmul Islam, Bangladesh Ambassador to Sweden, Norway and Finland, Asif Khan, CEO, Edge Research and Consulting, Barrister Omar H Khan, Managing Partner, Legal Counsel and Snehasish Barua, Founding Partner, Snehasish Mahmud & Co, took part in the discussion.

https://bangla.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/08/30/38901 গুনবীর স্বীকারোক্তি: আমার বক্তব্যে যুব সমাজ উগ্র হয়ে উঠতে পারে ট্রিবিউন ডেস্ক প্রকাশিত ০৬:০২ সন্ধ্যা আগস্ট ৩০, ২০২১ মুফতি মাহমুদুল হাসান গুনবী সংগৃহীত ওয়াজ মাহফিলে অংশ নিয়ে ধর্মীয় বক্তব্যের আড়ালে জঙ্গিবাদের প্রচারণা এবং জঙ্গিদের রিক্রুট করতেন মুফতি মাহমুদুল হাসান গুনবী মানুষকে বিভ্রান্তিকর তথ্য দিয়ে জঙ্গিবাদে মোটিভেট করার উদ্দেশ্যে মুফতি মাহমুদুল হাসান গুনবীকে এ বছরের ১৫ জুলাই গ্রেপ্তার করেছিল র্যাব। তিনি বিভিন্ন ওয়াজ মাহফিলে অংশ নিয়ে ধর্মীয় বক্তব্যের আড়ালে জঙ্গিবাদের প্রচারণা করতেন বলে জানিয়েছেন র্যাব কর্মকর্তারা। নিজের দেওয়া এসব বক্তব্যে মানুষ বিভ্রান্ত হতে পারে বলে তিনি স্বীকার করেছেন। গত ২৪ জুলাই মেট্রোপলিটন ম্যাজিস্ট্রেট আতিকুল ইসলামের আদালতে স্বীকারোক্তিমূলক জবানবন্দিতে গুনবী বলেন, “না বুঝেই তিনি এসব করেছেন। তার এসব বক্তব্যে যুব সমাজ উগ্র হতে পারে।” জবানবন্দিতে গুনবী জানান, তিনি দাওয়াতুল ইসলাম নামের একটি সংঘটনের সাথে যুক্ত। এই সংঘটনের মাধ্যমে তিনি ইসলামের দাওয়াত দিতেন। এছাড়া ওয়াজ মাহফিলে পরিস্থিতি আলোকে উসকানিমূলক বক্তব্য দিয়েছেন। তিনি বলেন, “আমি বিভিন্ন ওয়াজ মাহফিলে ধর্মনিরপেক্ষতা নিয়ে কথা বলেছি। যারা ধর্মনিরপেক্ষ তারা কুফরি করছে। যারা ইসলামের বিরোধিতা করে তাদের হত্যার পক্ষে বলেছি। আমি সাহাবীদের জিহাদের বিষয়ে বলেছি। তাদের অস্ত্র রাখার ব্যাপারে কথা বলেছি। আমি বলেছি ইসলাম শুধু শান্তির ধর্ম নয়। এতে যুদ্ধ বিগ্রহ আছে। সবার কাছে অস্ত্র রাখতে হবে। সেই অস্ত্র দিয়ে কাফেরকে হত্যা করতে হবে। কেও যদি আমাদের জঙ্গি বলে বলুক, তাতে কিছু যায় আসে না।” আইনশৃঙ্খলা বাহিনীর কর্মকর্তারা বলছেন, মুফতি মাহমুদুল হাসান গুনবী বিভিন্ন ওয়াজে উসকানিমূলক বক্তব্য দিয়ে আসছিলেন। তার এসব বক্তব্য সামাজিক যোগাযোগ মাধ্যমে সারা বিশ্বের বাংলা ভাষাভাষী মানুষের কাছে ছড়িয়ে পড়েছে। তার বক্তব্য শুনে অনেকেই উগ্রপন্থায় পা বাড়িয়েছে।

I know that dear.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/export-import-through-benapole-land-port-suspended-1630319841 Export-Import through Benapole land port suspended Published: August 30, 2021 16:37:21 Export-import activities between Bangladesh and India through Benapole land port remained suspended since Monday morning due to Janmashtami holiday in India. However, the passengers with passports are allowed to cross the border, reports UNB. Kartik Chakraborty, general secretary of Petrapole C&F Agents Staff Welfare Association, India, said “The trade activities through Petrapole land port remained suspended due to holiday in India. The trade activities will resume on Tuesday.” Deputy Commissioner of Benapole Customs House, Belal Hossain, said “The trade activities between the two countries remained suspended on Monday but the cargo unit of the port remained open for allowing empty truck to leave the port.”

https://bangla.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/08/30/38871 রাজবাড়ীর পদ্মায় জেলের জালে ১৬ কেজি বোয়াল ট্রিবিউন ডেস্ক প্রকাশিত ১১:৪৭ সকাল আগস্ট ৩০, ২০২১ রাজবাড়ীর পদ্মায় জেলের জালে ১৬কেজি বোয়াল ঢাকা ট্রিবিউন পদ্মার মাছ এমনিতেই সুস্বাদু। তারপর যদি তা আকারে বড় হয় তাহলে তো কথাই নেই রাজবাড়ীর গোয়ালন্দ উপজেলার দৌলতদিয়ার পদ্মা নদীর মোহনায় পলাশ হলদার নামের এক জেলের জালে ধরা পড়েছে ১৬ কেজি ওজনের এক বিশাল বোয়াল মাছ। সোমবার (৩০ আগস্ট) ভোর ৬টার দিকে এই বোয়াল মাছটি জালে ধরা পড়ে। পরে মাছটি দৌলতদিয়া ঘাটের শাজাহান শেখের মৎস্য আড়তে আনা হলে তিনি ২,২০০ টাকা কেজি দরে সেটি কিনে নেন। মাছ ব্যবসায়ী শাজাহান শেখ বলেন, “পদ্মার মাছ এমনিতেই সুস্বাদু। তারপর যদি তা আকারে বড় হয় তাহলে তো কথাই নেই। সবসময় পদ্মার মাছের চাহিদা থাকে। বড় বড় ব্যবসায়ী ও শিল্পপতিরা আগে থেকেই বলে রাখেন। এজন্য বড় মাছ ধরা পড়লেই তাদের সঙ্গে যোগাযোগ করা হয়।” তিনি আরও জানান, ২,৩০০ টাকা কেজি দরে ৩৬ হাজার ৮০০ টাকায় ফরিদপুরের মধুখালীর এক ব্যবসায়ীর নিকট বেয়াল মাছটি বিক্রি করেছেন। প্রসঙ্গে গোয়ালন্দ উপজেলা মৎস্য কর্মকর্তা মো. রেজাউল শরীফ জানান, এখন পদ্মা নদীতে ইলিশ মাছের আকাল থাকলেও বড় বড় বাগাইড়, চিতল, বোয়াল, কাতল, রুই, পাঙ্গাস সহ নানান মাছ পাওয়া যাবে। তবে মিঠা পানির সুস্বাদু এত বড় মাছ নদীতে এখন খুব একটা দেখা যায় না। এ ধরনের মাছ সাধারণত ফ্যাসন, দশন, কৌনা, কচাল ও চাকা ওয়ালা ঘাইলা ব্যার জালে ধরা পড়ে।

Single Point Mooring (SPM) in oil transportation; The annual profit will be 800 crore Taka. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHoB9sWjlNM

https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/transport/wider-roads-clean-air-make-residents-happy-after-years-metro-rail-work-295069 Foisal Ahmed 30 August, 2021, 09:20 am Last modified: 30 August, 2021, 10:29 am Wider roads, clean air make residents happy after years of metro rail work Local businesspeople are happy about the changed look of the roads and expect more customers in shops and restaurants now than before The country's first overhead metro train on a performance test run from Uttara's Diabari to Pallabi on Sunday. Photo: Saad Abdullah Rashida Akter had avoided the Mirpur 10-Agargaon road for more than two years for dust, traffic congestion and noise due to the construction work of the metro rail overhead. Two weeks ago, she was taken by surprise while driving past the area for urgent work. "The streets have widened with carpeting done. The shroud of dust seems to have gone. And beautification work is going on on the road divider under the metro rail track, which I feel will transform the look of the area completely," said Rashida, a resident of Sheorapara of Mirpur. Many people left the area having to spend hours in traffic jam in everyday commute, she said, adding that the bumpy rides because of potholes and air pollution had made things even worse. People showed a lack of interest in renting out houses by the metro rail project. Now the comparatively clean air and smooth road are giving a sense of relief to the residents. Meanwhile, the first performance test of the country's first overhead metro train in the capital was carried out successfully from Uttara depot on Sunday. The train, consisting of six coaches, stopped at four stations on a route of more than six kilometers from Uttara North to Pallabi. The authorities want to begin the operation of the metro rail by December next year. Soil has been prepared in the road dividers from Mirpur-10 to Kazipara for tree plantation while plantation work is going on from Agargaon to the Planning Commission at Sher-E-Bangla Nagar. Beautification work from Pallabi to Mirpur DOHS has been completed. "We have begun beautification work where work on metro rail is completed. The roads have also been widened and repaired. I hope within a few months the roads from Mirpur-12 to Agargaon will also be adored with flowering trees," said MAN Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited. Local businesspeople are happy about the changed look of the roads and expect more customers in shops and restaurants now than before. "I expect that more people will now visit the area and that will boost our sales," said Ahsan Ullah, owner of Arch Fashion at Mirpur-10. Abrar Hossen, owner of Eatery Restaurant, said sales of around 50 restaurants in the area had fallen sharply since the start of the metro rail construction work. "I now hope for better days to come." Buses and other vehicles can glide on the widened roads from Agargaon through to Mirpur-12. "Driving through such a smooth road is joyful," said Md Habib, driver of Mirpur 12-bound Bihanga Paribahan from Sadarghat. It used to take at least one hour to reach Agargaon from Mirpur 10 due to heavy traffic on narrow roads, but now the journey can be made in half that time, he said. Residents, however, are skeptical about the maintenance of the trees planted in the middle of the roads. "We have seen that decorative work remains beautiful for sometime then withers away eventually," said a local resident, Ashraf Uddin.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/dhaka-to-back-ldcs-enhanced-facilities-under-uk-gsp-scheme-1630291028 Dhaka to back LDCs' enhanced facilities under UK GSP scheme SYFUL ISLAM | Published: August 30, 2021 08:37:08 As the United Kingdom (UK) is introducing a new Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme next year, Bangladesh will advocate enhanced facilities for the least developed countries (LDCs), being a member of the group. The UK has launched an eight-week public consultation on the country's future tariff and policies in relation to simplification of its draft GSP document. Governments of the beneficiary countries and their private sectors, general public, civil society groups, consumers and other interested stakeholders are eligible to provide opinions on the draft document. The consultation aims at simplifying rules of origin requirements for the LDCs, and incorporating a potential series of amendments to reduce tariffs for low income and lower-middle income countries. It also targets potential amendments to the approach to goods graduation, which suspends preferential rates on particular goods from certain countries on the basis of their competitiveness. The consultation further aims to find out potential amendments to the conditions and reporting requirements that enable a low income or lower-middle income country to benefit from the generous provisioning through the values-based incentivised arrangement. According to officials, the new UK GSP scheme is keeping three criterions for the countries, which are - LDC Framework, General Framework, and Enhanced Framework. The LDC Framework is for 47 countries that are classified by the United Nations as LDCs, and they will pay zero tariff on all products excluding arms and ammunition. The low income and lower-middle income countries, as classified by the World Bank, are eligible to enjoy reduced tariffs on two thirds of their product lines under the General Framework. Under the Enhanced Framework, low income and lower-middle income countries, which are classified as economically vulnerable and have satisfied requirements relating to the 27 international conventions, will see tariffs removed on two-thirds of their product lines. Officials said the UK government is considering providing greater tariff reductions for the goods that are covered by the enhanced and general frameworks, but are not subject to a full tariff reduction. Top officials of the Ministry of Commerce sat for a meeting on Sunday to devise strategy for Bangladesh's position on the UK's new GSP scheme. Sources said in the meeting they discussed that Bangladesh would graduate from the LDC group in 2026, and the UK already assured that the country would continue to enjoy all the present facilities until 2029. "So, in the consultations we will advocate for enhanced facilities for the LDC nations in the UK's new GSP scheme," a senior official told the FE.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/gff-to-invest-10m-in-rmg-factories-1630207846 GFF to invest $10m in RMG factories FE REPORT | Published: August 29, 2021 09:30:47 | Updated: August 29, 2021 09:57:06 Global Fashion Fund (GFF) will initially invest US$10 million to finance local readymade garment (RMG) factories, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to ensure sustainable production. To this effect, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and GFF on August 25 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aiming to support and strengthen the development and uptake of innovative sustainability solutions and particularly to improve environmental and social sustainability of the local factories, according to a statement. BGMEA president Faruque Hassan and GFF Fund Director Bob Assenberg signed the MoU at a virtual ceremony on behalf of their respective organisations. GFF will provide a long-term loan in addition to technical, environmental and social assistances to the manufacturers to ensure sustainable production, it added. Launched by Laudes Foundation and Fashion for Good in 2019, Good Fashion Fund (www.goodfashionfund.com) is managed by Fund Manger FOUNT. Through the joint efforts, GFF aims to invest US$ 10 million in readymade garment manufacturing companies in Bangladesh in the next two years out of its total targeted fund worth US$25 million. The collaboration aims at giving the manufacturers an access to finance and help them in building a restorative and regenerative apparel supply chain that include the use of recyclable and safe materials, clean and less energy, closed-loop manufacturing and the creation of fair jobs and growth. Talking at the event, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said energy efficiency, renewable energy, carbon and water footprint reduction and circular economy have been the core areas of concern for BGMEA as long as sustainability and resilience are concerned. So SMEs will have to invest in eco-friendly technologies, he added. Expressing gratitude, he said the collaboration of the two organisations can be prolific to enhance the sustainability standard of the SMEs. Mr Bob Assenberg said, "We are very excited about partnering with BGMEA and our joint support to apparel manufacturers in Bangladesh will become more sustainable." They are committed to driving a positive change and good fashion practice in the apparel sector in Bangladesh and look forward to working with forward-looking SMEs in the country, he noted. Explaining GFF vision, he said it aimed to invest in innovations that deliver both economic growth and good fashion practice for manufactures.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/para-tariff-barriers-blight-trade-benefits-from-safta-deal-1630292071 Para-tariff barriers blight trade benefits from SAFTA deal FE REPORT | Published: August 30, 2021 08:54:31 Traders cannot reap full benefit of concessionary duty under SAFTA for para-tariff barriers in the form of other taxes that also impede trade expansion, according to views coming from a review of Bangladesh-India business ambiance. During the reappraisal of tariff and trade and trade connectivity at a meet in Dhaka Sunday, the impugned matter of anti-dumping duty that affects Bangladesh jute export to India came up, and the top Indian diplomat here clarified that it is "company-specific", not "country-specific". Under the SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Agreement) rules, SAARC countries can enjoy a lower -- zero to five per cent -- customs-duty rates on import products between them. However, in many cases, Bangladesh government imposed Regulatory Duty, Supplementary Duty, Advance Income Tax or other types of taxes on import products, making SAFTA benefit less effective, an Indian High Commission official told a seminar. Pramyesh Basall, second secretary (commercial) of the Indian high commission in Dhaka, pointed out the barriers, along with some other issues, in a seminar on Financial and Business issues between the countries, held Sunday on the mission premises. Indian High Comm-issioner Vikram Dorais-wami, Railway adviser Anita Barik, Priyanshu Tiwari, resident representative of Exim Bank India, shared different aspects of bilateral trade between the two countries. The Indian high commissioner underscored the need for addressing infrastructure deficit between the countries to boost bilateral trade through land ports and import-export of electricity. He applauded the agreement on accessing two seaports of Bangladesh -- Chattogram and Mongla -- as 'a game changer' in regional trade. He said the use of the seaports has to be cost-effective to make those as regional hubs of connectivity. Responding to a question on implications of a new Indian customs act for trade, the diplomat said the SAFTA Rules of Origin (RoO) can supersede other rules. So far, new customs rules of India have not created any complexities on import from Bangladesh during the last one year, he told his audience. On anti-dumping duty (ADD) on export of jute from Bangladesh, he claimed the jute products enjoy 8.0 to 12 percent subsidy of the Bangladesh government which may keep its prices competitive in the USA and the EU or other countries in respect of transportation and other issues. However, it is difficult for the competitors in a neighbouring country, he added. Still, the Indian counterpart requested providing data to Bangladeshi exporters to investigate the matter of fair price but they did not get it, he said. "ADD is a company-specific measure, not country-specific," the diplomat told the function.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/bangladesh/sri-lanka-set-to-get-another-100m-from-bangladesh-under-swap-arrangement-1630290778 Sri Lanka set to get another $100m from Bangladesh under swap arrangement SIDDIQUE ISLAM | Published: August 30, 2021 08:32:59 Bangladesh is set to send US$100 million more to Sri Lanka today (Monday) to help the island nation in minimising foreign-exchange crunch on their economy, officials said. The fund from Bangladesh has been provided under the currency-swap agreement signed by the Bangladesh Bank (BB) and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) on August 03. Earlier on August 18, the BB transferred $50 million to the CBSL in the first installment under the currency-swap deal initiated in March this calendar year. As per the agreement, the central bank of Bangladesh will transfer $50 million more shortly to its counterpart of Sri Lanka if the CBSL sends a request to the BB within five working days after receiving the second tranche of the aid, according to the officials. "We're hopeful that the CBSL would send a request within the stipulated timeframe seeking a third instalment of the agreement," a BB senior official told the FE Sunday. Under the deal, the central bank of Bangladesh will provide a total of $200 million to help prop up the island nation's fast-depleting foreign reserves and ease pressure on its exchange rate. The decision on the currency swap was set in motion during Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit to Bangladesh in March 2021. As per the agreement, the CBSL will have to deposit an equivalent amount of its currency with the BB's account which has already been opened in the SAARC-member country. "We're providing the funds under currency swap-agreement aiming to help a friendly SAARC-member country which is in trouble," another BB official told the FE. He also said it is the first currency swap outside the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) mechanism. The ACU is an arrangement involving Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, through which intraregional transactions among the participating central banks are settled on a multilateral basis. The central bank of Bangladesh has given the first tranche for all the instalments for three months, according to the central banker. If the CBSL fails to repay the loan by the deadline, it will get three more months to repay. If it fails to pay back again, it will be given three more months. The CBSL will return the amount in three months at the interest rate of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 2.0 per cent. If it can't honour the deadline, the interest rate will not change. But if the tenure goes up to six months, the interest rate will be LIBOR plus 2.5 per cent. LIBOR is a benchmark interest rate at which major global banks lend to one another on the international inter-bank market for short-term loans. Striking a balance between supporting the economy amid Covid-19 and ensuring fiscal sustainability remains a key challenge for Sri Lanka, according to the World Bank. "Public and publicly guaranteed debt is estimated to have increased to 109.7 per cent of GDP. Reserves declined to an 11-year low in February 2021, and the exchange rate depreciated by 6.5 per cent from January through March 17, 2021," the World Bank said in a statement on April 09.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/govt-focuses-on-investment-to-fast-track-economic-growth-official-document-1630241964 Govt focuses on investment to fast-track economic growth: official document Published: August 29, 2021 18:59:25 The government is focusing on bigger investment, both local and foreign, to generate jobs and fast-track development to help the economy offset the adverse impact of Covid-19 pandemic. "The government will take effective steps to build infrastructures and provide other policy supports to improve the investment-friendly environment,” according to an official document. To increase investment and generate employment, it said, steps have been taken to establish 100 Economic Zones across the country, which will provide employment opportunity. Approval has already been issued for the establishment of 97 Economic Zones. It said that production has already been begun in 9 Economic Zones and the development work in 28 Economic Zones is in progress, which can offer employment to around 40,000 employment seekers. “In addition, employment opportunities for another 0.8 million people will be created,” the document added. Till date, investment proposal worth US$ 27.07 billion from a total of 210 investors has been received in these Economic Zones. “Of the total amount about US$ 1.60 billion is foreign investment.” The largest Economic Zone in the public sector 'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Industrial City' is being developed in Mirsarai, Sonagazi and Sitakunda Upazilas on 30,000 acres of land as a planned and modern industrial zone. Seminars-workshops, road-shows and trade shows are being organised and sponsored at home and abroad to attract investment. Through these arrangements, as per the document, Bangladesh can identify new investors, which will help augment investment. On the other hand, the government is laying special emphasis on the implementation of projects under Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to attract investment required for the implementation of the government's development plans. At present, as many as 76 projects are scheduled to be implemented under the PPP, against which the investment worth US$ 27.76 billion has been mobilised. One project under PPP has already been implemented and 6 more projects are under implementation, reports UNB. The process of bringing Customs Bond Management under automation is underway so that the manufacturing activities of export-oriented industries like the readymade garments industry also come under the Customs Bonded System. As per the official paper, the tender process for procurement of relevant solutions and software for automation has been completed. “It is expected that this will bring dynamism in the production and exports of all types of export-oriented industries.” Meanwhile, the government has taken massive reforms programmes to improve its position in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index. According to the latest World Bank annual ratings, Bangladesh rose to a rank of 168th among 190 economies in the global ease of doing business index in 2020 from 176th in 2019. As per the World Bank Report, reduced registration fees, improvement in case of getting new electricity connection and improved access to credit information helped the country to level up by 8 notches. The World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index is used to indicate how well the business environment of a country performs. “Bangladesh's position in that index has improved from 176th to 168th in 2019 and it has been included in the top 20 countries that have undertaken massive reform activities to improve the Ease of Doing Business Index,” the document mentioned. The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) is working to improve further Bangladesh's position in the index within double digits, i.e. below 100. To this end, BIDA has set up a specialised team to accelerate implementation of various reform activities, the document added. The One Stop Service (OSS) portal system has been in place since 2019 to provide all investment related services from a single platform. Services of various companies related to investment are being added to the portal in phases. A total of 42 services of 12 companies are being provided online in the current financial year with the target of providing 154 investment services of 35 companies through One Stop Service (OSS) portal. The remaining services will be added to the portal in the next financial year. It is expected that Bangladesh's position will improve significantly, the document expressed its hope.

https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/china-help-bangladesh-develop-its-infrastructure-envoy-294760#.YStKsI5z5uY.facebook UNB 29 August, 2021, 02:50 pm Last modified: 29 August, 2021, 02:51 pm China to help Bangladesh develop its infrastructure: Envoy Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming on Sundaysaid China will continue supporting Bangladesh's infrastructure development, promoting cooperation to a higher level, and helping Bangladesh materialize its development dream. China has the rich experience in infrastructure development and its construction efficiency and quality are among the best in the world, he said. "I believe that under BRI, the prospects for cooperation between the two countries in the field of transportation infrastructure are very promising," said the Ambassador while delivering a pre-recorded speech at the second part of a function marking the formal inauguration of construction work of Cox's Bazar Airport's runway extension into Sea. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually inaugurated it. The Chinese Ambassador said the project is the key step that will promote Cox's Bazar to become an international metropolis. On completion of the project, he said, all the giant aircraft will be able to take off and land on the coastal runway, and this will boost the development of the Cox's Bazar and neighbouring regions. The Ambassador appreciated the project contractor - China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and Changjiang Yichang Waterway Engineering Bureau (CYWEB), and said in the past 40 years, both companies have been engaged in a large number of construction projects around the world. "With its sound technical capacity and extensive experiences, I believe CCECC and CYWEB will fulfill its mission and deliver a satisfactory result to the Bangladeshi government and people by completing the project on time and with high quality," said Ambassador Jiming. At the same time, he said, CCECC and CYWEB will surely contribute to the local people's livelihood by granting employment opportunities to the local workforces. As one of the ENR-listed top 100 global contractors with a global business network in 105 countries and regions, CCECC dabbled into Bangladesh in the early 2000s. CCECC is recently engaged in ADB-funded construction of new Dual Gauge Single Railway Line from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar via Ramu LOT-2 and is pursuing Joydevpur to Ishurdi Double Line Railway Project on G-G basis under the Bangladesh Railway. CCECC officials said they are optimistic about opportunities ahead offered by the post-pandemic economic rebound in Bangladesh. CCECC is to set up its South Asia Regional Office in Bangladesh and continue to contribute its international engineering and financing services to Bangladesh for contributing to the materialization of the Golden Bangla Dream, said the officials. The Ambassador described Cox's Bazar as an attractive coastal city which he visited a couple of times. "It has long natural coastal lines and very beautiful scenery, it has the potential to become a world famous vacation resort to attract tourists from all over the world." "Today is indeed a joyous day as the successful launching of this project marks a new level of cooperation in the transport infrastructure development sector between China and Bangladesh," he said, adding that it marks a milestone for Cox's Bazar Airport on its way to becoming an international airport. Ambassador Jiming said Bangladesh is the first country in South Asia to join the Belt and Road Initiative, known as "BRI", next to the decisive leadership and extraordinary vision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, two countries have carried out comprehensive and successful cooperation under the BRI, particularly the field of infrastructure development. As one of the key areas of China-Bangladesh cooperation, the Ambassador said, infrastructure connectivity lays a solid foundation for the in-depth development of Bangladesh-China bilateral relations. "This project will for sure advance China-Bangladesh cooperation with regards to infrastructure development," he said. Apparently inspired by Hong Kong International Airport, the government of Bangladesh has taken the runway expansion project at the Cox's Bazar Airport by reclaiming land from the sea. Once completed, all types of large aircraft will be able to take off and land on the maritime runway, officials said. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) signed a deal with the CYWEB and CCECC on 9 February 2021 to implement the gigantic project. The deadline to complete the construction of the project is 10 May 2024 but there will be efforts to do it faster than the stipulated time.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/emphasis-on-service-sectors-involvement-to-attract-british-investment-1630242648 Emphasis on service sector’s involvement to attract British investment FE ONLINE REPORT | Published: August 29, 2021 19:10:48 | Updated: August 29, 2021 22:28:39 The service sector in Bangladesh can be an emerging area for attracting British investment, viewed speakers at a webinar on Sunday. Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) organised the virtual dialogue titled `Bangladesh-UK trade and investment cooperation: service sector perspective’. British High Commissioner in Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson participated in the dialogue as the chief guest. DCCI President Rizwan Rahman, in his opening remarks, said the UK is a large trading partner of Bangladesh. Bilateral trade is around $4.2 billion, said Mr Rizwan. Bangladesh exported to the UK $3.751 billion of products in FY21 which is 8.63 per cent more than it was in FY20, informed Rahman. “Our total FDI inflow was $2.370 billion in FY20 where service sector contributes 6.5 per cent”, said he. He also requested the British government to ensure a liberal tariff and trading ecosystem to support investment in wide-ranging service sector in the new normal era. Moreover, Rizwan Rahman requested UK Government to retain GSP facility for export growth in post-Brexit time until both countries agree for FTA to deepen economic fraternity. British High Commissioner in Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson said the commercial relation between Bangladesh and UK is very good. UK is the second largest investor in Bangladesh, Dickson said. The Bangladeshi IT market would be an interesting market for UK, he said adding service sectors like finance, healthcare, education and technology would be some emerging sectors where the future lies. Mr Dickson further suggested addressing the issues to improve in the ease of doing business index to attract more FDI. Concerted efforts both from the government and private sector will boost bilateral trade opportunities, he mentioned. The British High Commission will facilitate British venture capitalists looking at financial opportunities for the startups in Bangladesh. Syed Almas Kabir, President, BASIS said the domestic market of IT/ITES is around $1.4 billion. 13 per cent of IT/ITES products from Bangladesh go to the UK, he informed. Mr Kabir also said worldwide there is a big demand for IT graduates. At present more than 40 offshore development centres have started working in Bangladesh, he mentioned. Bikarna Kumar Ghosh, Managing Director, Bangladesh High-Tech Park Authority said that eight high-tech parks are ready to accommodate investors. Bangladesh’s annual demand for new handsets is 35 million out of which local factories are supplying over 7.5 million. 160 companies have already invested in the high-tech parks creating employment opportunities for 21,079 people. By the year 2025 around Tk 40 billion will be invested in high-tech parks. Sonia Bashir Kabir, Founder and Managing Director, SBK Tech Ventures said venture capitals can look into Bangladesh where India raised 20 billion venture capital funding. Bangladeshi startups are very good and need investors. DCCI Senior Vice President NKA Mobin, FCS, FCA gave the vote of thanks.

https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/corruption/corruption-makes-doing-business-difficult-bangladesh-uk-envoy-294946#.YSulken39ck.facebook TBS Report 29 August, 2021, 09:10 pm Last modified: 29 August, 2021, 09:19 pm Corruption makes doing business difficult in Bangladesh: UK envoy British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson however lauded Bangladesh’s many success stories such as Pathao and Food Panda, despite the difficulties Bangladesh ranked poorly in the latest iterations of Ease of Doing Business and Corruption Perception indices, indicating that the country possesses a difficult environment for foreign private investors, said British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Chatterton Dickson. But despite the difficulties, Bangladesh has many success stories such as Pathao and Food Panda – which began through private investments in the IT sector, he added while speaking at a webinar organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) on Sunday. Addressing the event titled "Bangladesh-UK Trade and Investment Cooperation: Service Sector Perspective" as chief guest, Dickson continued, "Foreign investors have fantastic opportunities in this country, if it improves in the ease of doing business and corruption indices. "The British High Commission will facilitate British venture capitalists looking at financial opportunities for the startups in Bangladesh." In the most recent iteration of World Bank's Ease of Doing Business index, Bangladesh ranked near the bottom – 168th out of 190 nations. Meanwhile, the country ranked 146th among 180 nations in the latest Corruption Perception Index, published by the Transparency International. Moderating the programme, DCCI President Rizwan Rahman said, "Bangladesh has had a bilateral business relationship with the UK since our independence. At the end of FY21, bilateral trade value between the two countries stood at $4.2 billion. "During that period, Bangladesh's export value was $3.75 billion, which was 8.36% higher than the previous year. Foreign direct investment inflow from the UK was $2.75 billion in FY20, while the service sector received 6.5% of total investment from that country." He added that Bangladesh's service sector, such as IT-based businesses, have a huge potential as the government launched several facility and infrastructure projects across the country. "UK-based investors may invest in this sector to grab the opportunity." President of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) Syed Almas Kabir said, "The IT sector is enjoying 100% tax exemption and receiving 10% incentive for exporting goods. "The sector also gets one stop service from the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA). Bangladesh also has 29 Hi-Tech Parks, which are export-oriented. Foreign investors have no obstacles for investing here in the form of joint ventures with other local entities or by forming a company. He continued, "In the last five years, exports of IT related products and services have jumped by 86% to $1.3 billion. At present, 400 companies are exporting their products to 80 countries, where the major destinations are the markets in the USA, Japan and Europe. "Thirteen percent of the IT products from Bangladesh are exported to the UK." Managing Director of the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority Bikarna Kumar Ghosh said, "Within 2025, consumer electronics market growth will be 6.35% in the country. The government is working on this target. "Conglomerates such as Samsung, Nokia, Oppo, and Walton have already invested in this sector." Adding that the government made IT Parks across the country to facilitate private investment, Ghosh said, "The government has already invested Tk1,000 crore and 160 companies invested Tk560 crore. The proposal for an additional Tk460 crore investment is currently in the pipeline." At the event, Genex Infosys Managing Director Adnan Imam, SBK Tech Venture's founder Sonia Bashir Kabir and others detailed their success stories.

The Bangladesh government has taken up an ambitious project to extend the runway at Cox’s Bazar airport by 1,700ft, effectively turning it into an international airport. The project is aimed to be finished by May 2024. https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune/videos/578308753167857/

Based on my understanding DGFI has 2 executive sub-branches: (1) Counter Terrorism and Intelligence Bureau (CTIB) (2) National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC)

https://bangla.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/08/29/38830/পুকুর-থেকে-পাওয়া-গেলো-৩০০-গ্রাম-ইলিশ নোয়াখালীর পুকুরে মিলল ইলিশ ট্রিবিউন ডেস্ক প্রকাশিত ০৬:৩৮ সন্ধ্যা আগস্ট ২৯, ২০২১ নোয়াখালীর হাতিয়ার পুকুরে পাওয়া ইলিশ সংগৃহীত গত মে মাসে ঘূর্ণিঝড় 'ইয়াসের' সময় পুকুরে জোয়ারের লবণাক্ত পানির সঙ্গে ইলিশের পোনা ঢুকে থাকতে পারে বলে ধারণা করা হচ্ছে নোয়াখালীর দ্বীপ উপজেলা হাতিয়ায় একটি পুকুর থেকে ৩০০ গ্রাম ওজনের একটি ইলিশ মাছ পাওয়া গেছে। যে পুকুরে মাছটি পাওয়া যায়, সেটির মালিক উপজেলার হরনী ইউনিয়নের শরীয়তপুর সমাজের বাসিন্দা মো. বেলাল। রবিবার (২৯ আগস্ট) ভোরে মাছটি পাওয়া যায় বলে গণমাধ্যমকে নিশ্চিত করেছেন স্থানীয় হরনী ইউনিয়নের ভারপ্রাপ্ত প্রশাসক মাওলানা আবু সাইদ। পুকুরের মালিক বেলাল জানান, ভোরে পুকুরের পানি সেচ দেওয়ার পর অন্যান্য মাছের সঙ্গে ৩০০ গ্রাম ওজেনের ইলিশ মাছটি ধরা পড়ে। পরবর্তীতে তিনি স্থানীয় মাইনুদ্দীন বাজারে ইলিশটি বিক্রি করেন। কয়েক মাস আগে বিভিন্ন পুকুরে জোয়ারের লবণাক্ত পানি ঢুকে পড়ে। তার ধরাণা, হয়ত তখনই পুকুরে ইলিশ মাছের পোনা ঢুকতে পারে। একই মন্তব্য হরনী ইউনিয়নের ভারপ্রাপ্ত প্রশাসক মাওলানা আবু সাইদেরও। তিনি জানান, গত মে মাসে ঘূর্ণিঝড় "ইয়াসের" সময় হরনী ইউনিয়নের দেড় হাজার পুকুরে জোয়ারের লবণাক্ত পানির সাথে ইলিশের পোনা ঢুকে থাকতে পারে। এ বিষয়ে নোয়াখালী বিজ্ঞান ও প্রযুক্তি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের (নোবিপ্রবি) সমুদ্রবিজ্ঞান বিভাগের সহকারী অধ্যাপক ড. মোহাম্মদ আব্দুল মমিন সিদ্দিক বলেন, ইলিশ মাছ লবণাক্ত ও মিষ্টি পানির সাথে খাপ খাইয়ে চলতে পারে। এই মাছ দৈনিক ৭২ কিলোমিটার পর্যন্ত পথ পাড়ি দিতে পারে। সাধারণত ইলিশ লবণাক্ত পানিতে বাস করে এবং মিঠা পানিতে ডিম ছাড়ে। জোয়ারের পানি পুকুরে প্রবেশ করার সময় নোনা পানির সঙ্গে ইলিশের পোনাও প্রবেশ করতে পারে। এছাড়া, পুকুরে ইলিশের চাষ নিয়েও গবেষণা চলছে বলে জানান তিনি।

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/govt-to-provide-training-to-10000-top-it-executives-within-next-five-years-1630228030 Govt to provide training to 10,000 top IT executives within next five years Published: August 29, 2021 15:07:11 | Updated: August 29, 2021 17:23:01 The government is going to provide training to 10,000 top executives, including Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) known as CXOs, and mid-level managers of IT companies under Advanced Certification for Management Professionals (ACMP) 4.0 training programme within next five years, officials said. “Backed by the success of the similar ACMP 4.0 training programme held previously the government is going to organize training for the CXOs and mid-level managers of IT companies to build their capacity to flourish their respective companies,” said senior secretary of ICT Division N M Zeaul Alam. He said the government will continue to provide support to such training to boost the country’s IT sector and help achieve its $5 billion target of ICT export by 2025, reports UNB. The experts of Institute of Business Administration (IBA) will provide 120 hours of training to the CEOs and managers who played a vital role in making healthy growth of IT companies, he added. The ACMP 4.0 programme was introduced at Institute of Business Administration (IBA) of Dhaka University in 2017 in collaboration with LICT Project to boost the country’s IT sector. A total of 950 CXOs and managers have so far been given training under the ACMP 4.0 training programme. LICT Project Director Tarique M Barkatullah said keeping the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution in mind, the government has been providing support to IBA to continue ACMP 4.O course for enhancing efficiency of the CXOs and managers for increasing business and earning of their companies. He said the training programme will provide a pragmatic approach towards transformational leadership in a dynamic, rapidly changing, interconnected and complex business environment influenced by digital disruptions and opportunities. IT-ITES Policy Adviser of LICT Project Sami Ahmed said upon completion of the programme, the participants are expected to be better equipped to lead crafting and implementing strategies for growth acceleration of their businesses in the age of digital transformation. “Without enhancing managerial skills, a company could not flourish,” he added. This extensive training programme consists of exclusive modules including communication 4.0, technology 4.0, supply chain 4.0, business analytics, marketing 4.0, Human Resource Management 4.0. The trainees will also get training on crafting and executing strategies, innovation, business model and entrepreneurial journey, scale up and growth acceleration strategy for IT/ITeS SMEs, strategy masterclass.