Joel Ahmed

https://www.dhakatribune.com/world/south-asia/2021/08/19/ansar-al-islam-lives-on-clinging-to-jihadism-imported-by-hujib-from-afghanistan-30-years-ago Ansar al-Islam lives on, clinging to Jihadism imported by HujiB from Afghanistan 30 years ago M Abul Kalam Azad Published at 11:20 pm August 19th, 2021 Remnants of HujiB still exist but the possibility of the group regaining its past prowess is highly unlikely; Ansar al-Islam is now the biggest threat A week after the Islamic State (IS) gunmen had stormed Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1, 2016, brutally killing 17 foreigners and several locals, two top leaders of the al-Qaeda-backed Ansar al-Islam sat for an analysis of the organizational and operational capacities of the two ferocious militant groups in Bangladesh at the time. Identifying themselves as Abdullah Al Bangladeshi and Abu Arabi Al Hind (pseudonyms or organizational names), they explained why ISIS’s shortcut strategy for establishing a caliphate would fail but al-Qaeda’s (AQ) long-term vision to mobilize Muslims around the world to form an Islamic order would be sustained. Soon an audio clip of their 40-minute discussion spread through the Tawhid Media run by Ansar al-Islam. “Unlike ISIS, AQ works silently and lets people know only when it deems necessary,” one speaker said, explaining: “Although ISIS was trying to be a competitor of AQ in Bangladesh, the new group lagged behind in terms of organizational strength. AQ will sustain in long-term warfare, not ISIS.” The other added: “AQ has the ability to carry out an ISIS-style attack at Holey Artisan Bakery, can take over any important building in the country by sending two of our militants, but it will not do that just to show its strength or prove its ability. AQ will wait for the appropriate time for such a high-profile operation.” Today, Ansar al-Islam, not ISIS, remains the bigger threat for Bangladesh. Organized under the leadership of sacked army major Syed Ziaul Haque, widely known as Major Zia, Ansar al-Islam may bare its fangs in the future, investigators predict. Ansar al-Islam holds the ideology held by Harkat ul-Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh (HujiB) — establishing Islamic rule in Bangladesh through armed struggle, a philosophy nurtured by al-Qaeda and the Taliban. After the formation of HujiB in 1992 with an objective primarily to empower Rohingyas to stand against the Myanmar army, it later shifted its focus to Bangladesh. Starting with the assassination attempt on poet Shamsur Rahman at his Shyamoli residence on January 18, 1999, HujiB has carried out many horrific attacks, including the August 21 grenade attacks on an Awami League rally in 2004. Although the law enforcement agencies every year arrest a few suspected HujiB operatives who were reportedly trying to regroup, it is widely learnt that the possibility of the group regaining its past influence is highly unlikely. However, there are some other homegrown radical groups which may carry the banner of Jihad on behalf of HujiB, Ansar al-Islam being the one that possesses such organizational ability. In the five years since the Holey Artisan attack, particularly amid the Covid pandemic, Ansar al-Islam exclusively focused on new recruits, strengthening the group and its operational capacity with combat training to strike again at a suitable time. Formation, functioning of HujiB HujiB started functioning secretly in Bangladesh about two years after al-Qaeda was founded in 1988 by Osama bin Laden and some other Arab volunteers during the Afghan-Soviet war. That year, a delegation of 10 self-proclaimed ulamas or Islamic scholars from Bangladesh had gone to Afghanistan. Shafiqur Rahman, one of the war veterans, maintained close contact with Huji leaders for a formal launching of the group’s Bangladesh chapter. However, it is learnt that Maulana Abdur Rahman Faruki, another Afghan war veteran, began clandestine HujiB operations in 1989 but died in a mine explosion in Khorasan on May 10 of the same year. HujiB formally began its journey on April 30, 1992, when some Afghan war veterans at a press conference at the National Press Club identified themselves as members of Huji Bangladesh. The formation came a week after Afghan Mujahideen had seized Kabul. The Afghan returnees present at the press briefing expressed delight over the victory. The following day, HujiB members brought out a procession from Baitul Mukarram Mosque, chanting slogans in support of Afghan Mujahideen and the Taliban. For the first four or five years, it was based in the southeastern hilly areas close to Myanmar, apparently with the objective of helping Rohingyas in their resistance to the Myanmar military. In February 1996, during the political chaos in Bangladesh around the holding of parliamentary elections, 43 HujiB leaders and activists were arrested from a training camp in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. They had come there from across the country for Afghan-style combat training. After that, HujiB spread out in the southern and northern parts of the country and shifted its objective from helping Rohingyas to Jihad. Since HujiB members were experienced in war and had expertise in handling explosives, they thought it would not be hard for them to go ahead with their new mission in Bangladesh. Beginning of terror attacks The HujiB leadership took seven years to launch terror attacks in the country. In January 1999, a group of young HujiB operatives tried to behead Poet Shamsur Rahman, an outspoken opponent against religious fundamentalism, at his Shyamoli residence. He was unharmed but his wife was injured. Neighbours caught the attackers, who identified themselves as HujiB members. Barely two months after the assassination attempt on the poet, HujiB carried out its first successful operation in Jessore, blasting powerful bombs at a cultural function of Udichi Shilpi Goshthi, killing 10 people and injuring 100 others in the process. This is how the Bangladeshis who had travelled to Afghanistan during the 1980s to fight alongside foreign Mujahideen from different countries against the Soviet army brought Jihad to Bangladesh. HujiB carried out some deadly grenade attacks after the BNP-Jamaat coalition government came to power in 2001, including the killing of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria and the attack on former British high commissioner in Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury. But the grenade attack on August 21, 2004 was the deadliest of all. Several grenades were hurled into an Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue in an attempt to assassinate then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina. She escaped with injuries but 24 others were killed.

https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/infrastructure/my-village-my-town-mega-plan-upgrade-villages-290725 Saifuddin Saif 19 August, 2021, 10:45 pm Last modified: 19 August, 2021, 10:56 pm ‘My Village My Town’ mega plan to upgrade villages As a preliminary initiative to implement the mega plan – “My Village My Town”, the government has decided to develop 15 villages across the country as model villages on a pilot basis A mega plan to develop villages to have a range of civic amenities and growth centres around the country is on the drawing board. The "My Village My Town" project will include road communication, telecommunication including Internet connectivity, health centres and sanitation and waste management among other targets, according to the work plan drafted by the Local Government Division (LGD) of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives. An initial expenditure of Tk1.5 trillion has been estimated in the work plan to be implemented by this ministry alone. As a first step towards executing this mega plan, the government has also decided to develop 15 villages as model villages on a pilot basis. Experience gathered from the pilot programme is expected to facilitate the expansion of modern civic amenities in other villages of the country. Eight of the 15 model villages will be in eight divisions of the country. The remaining seven will be in the haor, coastal, hilly, char, barind, and beel areas and one next to an economic zone. Since it is very difficult to implement development activities in these areas, the implementation of model villages there will make the implementation of the rural development master plan much easier. Apart from economic activities, social and cultural aspects will also get importance in building the model villages. According to the government's announcement, all facilities including village communication and market infrastructure, modern health services, quality education, safe drinking water, information technology facilities and high-speed Internet, improved sewerage and waste management, community space and recreation, banking, rural resources, power and energy supply, and modernisation and mechanisation of agriculture will be ensured in the model villages. Various ministries and departments of the government have already proposed 116 projects to implement the government's plan to extend modern urban facilities to every village. Besides, a number of new projects will be taken based on a survey being conducted by the local government ministry. The final estimation can be made once the surveys are complete. The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) is conducting 36 feasibility studies at a total cost of Tk28 crore to expand the civic facilities to the villages. The surveys are expected to be completed by January next year. As some 237 ongoing projects of different ministries and departments are compatible with the goal of "My Village My Town", the government has included those projects in this plan. If urban facilities are expanded to rural areas and rural youth and agro-entrepreneurs are brought under training as promised by the ruling party in its election manifesto, productive employment opportunities will be created, the government expects. Besides, the prospects of light industries are also expected to be brighter, as a result of which rural people will be less inclined towards migration to urban centres. All relevant ministries and departments of the government will work to build the model villages. However, the LGED under the Local Government Division will take the lead in setting up the model villages. LGED officials said the list of the model villages would be finalised by an inter-ministerial committee this month. The committee is headed by the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Tajul Islam. Soon after that, various agencies including the LGED, the Public Health Engineering Department, the Cooperatives Department and the Ministry of Agriculture will start the work for implementing the pilot project. Many of these organisations have already started preparatory work in this regard, they added. When asked, Minister Tajul Islam said various ministries and departments are working to implement the "My Village My Town" project and that new projects are being taken up through surveys. The inter-ministerial committee is discussing new projects and new ideas every two months, he mentioned, adding work is on to prepare a master plan for the implementation of the "My Village My Town" project. He further said the authorities have instructed all the ministries and departments concerned to formulate a realistic action plan in the light of Awami League's election manifesto for the successful execution of the "My Village My Town" plan. Local government officials said the country's population could reach 22 crore in 2041. Agricultural land in the country is currently depleting at an annual rate of 0.5%-1% and a large part of this is being converted to residential use, they mentioned, adding if this trend continues, food security will be disrupted and rural biodiversity will be destroyed. Plans will be made to build a compact township with multi-storey buildings to ensure all civic amenities in populated villages, they continued, this will significantly reduce the construction and maintenance cost of infrastructures including road communication and electricity. Villages will be easily flood-free, they further added. "If there are schools and hospitals in such model villages, education and health services could be provided easily. Agricultural land will be protected and, in the long run, the country will remain liveable." For this reason, plans have been taken to explore the feasibility of rural housing or compact housing, the officials said. Besides, an action plan has been adopted to devise development plans for all upazilas by 2030. Experts said the model village project of the government will help villagers to get city-like facilities and it will reduce pressure on the cities. Saima Haque Bidisha, research director of the South Asian Network on Economic Modelling (Sanem), stressed a holistic approach to take all civic amenities to the villages. "We have to go step by step through decentralisation. "All the facilities available in cities including employment opportunities, health and education must be ensured at the district level first. After that, these facilities will have to be taken to the upazila level. And that's how we can get closer to establishing model villages." Meanwhile, various government agencies are carrying out research work for the implementation of the "My Village My Town" programme. Various organisations including the LGED, the Department of Agricultural Extension, the Rural Electrification Board and the Rural Development Academy (RDA) Bogura are working in this regard. 15 model villages of LGED Referring to the 36 feasibility studies being conducted by the LGED for the 15 pilot model villages, Abul Monzur Md Sadeque, director of the feasibility study project, said, "Experts are conducting the surveys on all types of villages in the country. They are trying to figure out what the model village would look like, for example, in the haor areas or in the char areas. "These areas do not have any communication system except waterways. The survey report will try to find the ways to deliver all the civic amenities there," he said. The reports will also include the ways to ensure quality education, modern medical services and employment in the model villages. Monzur Sadeque said, "The 15 villages that will be developed as model villages have been initially identified. Once the survey is completed, it will be possible to start work on the pilot project in the next six months. After that, in stages, all the villages of the country will be developed as model villages." Bangabandhu Model Village of the Department of Cooperatives The Department of Cooperatives under Rural Development and Cooperatives Division has proposed to develop 10 villages as Bangabandhu Model Village as a pilot project. If the pilot project is successful, similar model villages will be set up in all the villages of the country. The department has made the proposal to celebrate the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. A proposal of Tk49.93 crore has already been sent to the Planning Commission in this regard. The project is targeted for completion in 2024. Initially, the project will provide 17 types of civic amenities including health, education, electricity and ICT etc. According to the Department of Cooperatives, apart from cooperative farming, a fish and dairy farm will be set up in each village. For this, a cooperative society of 500 members will be formed in each village. The members of the cooperative will be trained. The government will also subsidise buying two tractors and transplanters and one harvester in each village. The members of the cooperative society will pay 30% of the agricultural machinery purchase and the remaining 70% will be paid from the project fund. The department said two-cow models for hybrid cattle rearing will be introduced in each model village for which the project will provide a special loan facility. If the project is implemented, the agricultural production in the village would increase by 25%. The pilot project proposed to build a community building in each village where there will be small-scale storage for local products. The products produced by the members of the cooperative will be marketed with their own brand name. Each cooperative society will be linked with the e-commerce platform of the department of cooperatives. According to the proposal, a fund of Tk2 crore will be set up for each cooperative society from where members would be able to take interest-free loans up to a maximum of Tk50,000. However, entrepreneurs in the agriculture processing and food processing sectors would get loans up to Tk2 lakh with a 3% service charge. Instalment repayment will start six months after taking the loan. The pilot project has selected 10 villages – Patgati and Sriramkandi in Tungipara, Gopalganj; Charbhaga Miyarchar in Vedarganj, Shariatpur; Honabad in Gournadi, Barishal; Char Commissioner village of Muladi, Barishal; Charvatiani of Madarganj, Jamalpur; Pompao of Manoharganj, Cumilla; Dungria of Sunamganj; Parala of Manirampur, Jashore; and Ratia village of Mithapukur, Rangpur. The project is expected to reduce poverty in the model villages by 7%. Dr Md Harun-or-Rashid Biswas, registrar and director-general of the Department of Cooperatives said, "Poverty rate has increased in the villages due to the pandemic. So it will not be possible to reduce the poverty rate as per the target of the project. However, the project would be amended if needed." He said that other government departments would also need to come forward for the implementation of the project. Model villages in haor area by LGED The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) wants to set up model villages under the "Haor Region Infrastructure and Livelihood Development" project. The project is developing two model villages – Chandergaon of Bismambar in Sunamganj and Hamidpalli of Mithamin in Kishoreganj. The survey work in Chandergaon village has already been completed. People concerned said the project work will start soon in the selected villages. Gopal Chandra Sarker, superintending engineer (Current Charge) and project director of the Haor Infrastructure and livelihood Improvement Project, said, "Road communication is a big problem in the haor areas. We need to construct roads in such a way that people can use them all through the year. Everything will be designed according to the concept paper." "There will be various trainings to increase the employment and income of the rural people. Besides, there will be loan programmes for various sectors including dairy farms and poultry farms. No one in the model village will be unemployed," he added. Meanwhile, there is a doubt about implementing the project in the Hamidpalli village because of the time limit of the project which is only one year, said project officials. Fisheries village The fisheries village project under the Department of Fisheries has already progressed in the Dakshin Bishiura village of Netrokona Sadar, and Halisaar in Naria of Shariatpur. The project started in February 2020 on the occasion of Mujib Year. As per the project, the Department of Fisheries has started scientific fish farming in 202 ponds in South Bishiura village. In the last year, the village has produced fish worth around Tk3 crore. The department has finished all the preparation for fish farming in the Halisaar village. According to fisheries department officials, the main reason behind choosing the village of Halisaar in Naria is that the village is surrounded by the Padma River. It is a hilsa inhabited area. Most of the villagers are fishermen. There is also a big fish market here. Officials said that from next December, this village will be an ideal fishing village for the fishermen of the country.

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/all-economic-zones-will-have-cetps-beza-290668#.YR5uJJWFWbE.facebook TBS Report 19 August, 2021, 08:35 pm Last modified: 19 August, 2021, 08:40 pm All economic zones will have CETPs: Beza Bangabandhu Shilpa Nagar factories will have to have their own ETPs over and above the CETP All economic zones in Bangladesh will have central effluent treatment plants (CETPs) as the government is concerned about environmental pollution, a top public official said. Shaikh Yusuf Harun, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza), said, "The CETP project for Bangabandhu Shilpa Nagar in Chattogram has already been approved. The government is also installing other ETPs [effluent treatment plants] as waste treatment measures in economic zones to curb industrial pollution." At a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing programme with HSBC Bank Bangladesh at the Beza office in Dhaka in Thursday, Yusuf Harun said projects to the tune of Tk4,000 crore, including a water supply network and a CETP have been taken up for Bangabandhu Shilpa Nagar. "The World Bank is investing in the "Bangladesh Private Investment & Digital Entrepreneurship" project. The tender will be floated soon," he added. Apart from the central waste treatment plant, the Beza executive chairman said factories in Bangabandhu Shilpa Nagar will have to have their own ETPs as well. Bangabandhu Shilpa Nagar – the largest economic zone of Bangladesh – is going up in Chattogram's Mirsharai, Sitakunda, and Feni's Sonagazi. As many as 120 industries have already signed deals with Beza to set up production units there. Of them, 13 industries are expected to begin commercial production by the end of this year or in mid-2022. Under the MoU, HSBC Bank Bangladesh will plant 40,000 mangrove trees and maintain them in the industrial city as part of the bank's corporate social responsibility efforts. Mohammad Hassan Arif, general manager of Beza, and Md Mahabubur Rahman, chief executive officer of HSBC Bank Ltd, signed the MoU. Md Mahabubur Rahman said ecological balance is being considered seriously all over the world and HSBC Bank is proud to take part in the tree plantation programme. Beza Executive Member Mohammad Irfan Sharif, Abdul Azim Chowdhury, Ali Ahsan, and HSBC Bangladesh Country Head of wholesale banking, Kevin Green, were also present at the programme.

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/city-hi-tech-park-demra-draw-tk5000cr-investment-create-15000-jobs-290596#.YR5SGWb_Ifo.facebook Abbas Uddin Noyon 19 August, 2021, 06:35 pm Last modified: 19 August, 2021, 10:44 pm City Group to invest Tk5,000cr to build hi-tech park Work on setting up the hi-tech park in Demra will begin in two years and is expected to create 15,000 jobs Consumer goods giant City Group is set to enter the booming IT sector with an initial investment of Tk5,000 crore in setting up a hi-tech park. Biswajit Saha, executive director of City Group, said the government's Hi-Tech Park Authority on Thursday approved the conglomerate as a park developer, after conducting a feasibility study. Work on setting up the hi-tech park on a 115-acre land in Demra, Dhaka will begin within the next two years, he said, adding that the investment target has been set at Tk5,000 crore to build the world's most modern IT park. He said the establishment is expected to create employment opportunities for some 15,000 people. Biswajit Saha said there will be a technology university, training institute, convention centre, 5-star hotel, playground, and infrastructures for the production of and research on electronics in the industrial park. "Global tech giants, including Apple and Samsung, will be invited here. At the same time, City Group will establish its own ICT company." On 31 May this year, the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority declared City Hi-Tech Park as a private hi-tech park, City Group officials said. As a result, investors in the park will get 14 incentives, including a 10-year tax holiday, through a one-stop service, they added. Biswajit Saha said City Group has already completed the preparation of a master plan, feasibility study and environmental survey. After being recognised as a developer, the industrial group will now get the opportunity to do all types of work, including developing all off-site and on-site facilities, landfilling, electricity, gas and water supply, construction of standard buildings, wide roads inside the park, lakes, high-quality food courts, STPs and parks, he added. Md Hasan, director of City Group and chairman of City Hi-tech Park Ltd, said, "We will manufacture electronics and technology products that no one could even think of making in Bangladesh. "We will encourage investments to set up units for making microprocessor, chip designing, circuit designing, manufacturing/assembling of mobile phones, laptops, televisions and fridges, software development, digital and technology consultancy firms, network, data centres, cybersecurity, programming, project management and training institutes for human resource development, etc. Dormitories and science parks will also be set up." He also said construction work on the IT park has been initially targeted to be completed in 5-7 years. Speaking on approving City Group for developing the hi-tech park, NM Ziaul Alam, senior secretary of the ICT Division, said City Group is a popular name in the country as well as abroad. Other companies in the country will also be encouraged to invest in the sector by seeing a big company like City Group coming forward to set up a hi-tech park, he observed. City Group is a major conglomerate in the country's consumer goods production. At present, the business group caters to one-third of the total demand for consumer goods in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi businessman Fazlur Rahman founded City Group. Its activities started on 6 February 1972 with the production of mustard oil. The leading business conglomerate in the country now has an investment in more than 25 large industries including food products, steel, printing and packaging, shipping, power and energy, financial institutions, insurance, stock market, hospitals and media. The Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority is establishing hi-tech parks, software technology parks and IT training and incubation centres throughout the country to attract local and foreign investors for the development of Hi-Tech/ IT/ITES industries, which are creating huge employment opportunities and producing skilled human resources. Hi-tech parks offer opportunities to invest in the hi-tech industry and promote businesses that are knowledge- and capital-based. Information technology, software technology, biotechnology, renewable energy, green technology, IT hardware, IT-enabled services and research and development, etc are major areas of investment in the hi-tech industry in Bangladesh. Currently, eight hi-tech parks are being set up by the government, which include Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City, Kaliakoir – the first and largest technological park of Bangladesh established on an area of 355 acres. The government is also setting up 12 IT/hi-tech parks at the district level. Apart from this, the government has recognised two factories of electronics giant Walton as hi-tech parks. Samsung's Narsangdi and Minister Group's Gazipur factories are also getting the same facility. These factories are enjoying the zero-tariff facility on imports of all kinds of equipment, apart from enjoying tax-holiday for 10 years.

https://www.tbsnews.net/dropped/aviation/bangladesh-seeks-russian-investment-ishwardi-airport-290698 UNB 19 August, 2021, 09:25 pm Last modified: 19 August, 2021, 09:34 pm Bangladesh seeks Russian investment in Ishwardi Airport Bangladesh is firmly committed to taking bilateral relations with Russia to a higher level, the state minister said Bangladesh has invited Russia to invest in Ishwardi Airport to make it functional. State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam discussed the issue when newly appointed Ambassador of Russia to Bangladesh Alexander Vikentyevich Mantytskiy met with him at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thursday. Bangladesh is firmly committed to taking bilateral relations with Russia to a higher level, the state minister said. Also, he recalled the contributions of Russia during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh. The Russian ambassador said his country wants to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations with Bangladesh. He also shared his country's commitment to expanding relations between the two countries. The state minister mentioned that Bangladesh and Russia share the same view in various regional and international forums including in the UN to ensure global peace and security. During the Second World War, the British government set up the Ishwardi Airport and in 1962 PIA operated the first passenger flight, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB). After the independence of Bangladesh, Biman Bangladesh Airlines ran regular flights to and from Dhaka till 1989. In 2013 United airways resumed their flights to Dhaka, but flights to the airport were suspended in 2014, CAAB says.

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/rmg/rmg-may-lose-uk-trade-benefits-post-ldc-290257 Abul Kashem 18 August, 2021, 10:55 pm Last modified: 19 August, 2021, 02:12 pm RMG may lose UK trade benefits post-LDC Bangladesh will enjoy duty-free access to the British market for all of its products except for arms and ammunition under the scheme’s Least Developed Country Framework until 2026 Bangladesh's apparel products may lose duty-free access to the United Kingdom after it graduates to a developing country as regular tariffs will be applicable to any product when its import exceeds a set limit under the UK's new Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP). Commerce ministry officials believe that such a provision in the UK GSP scheme's public document sent to the ministry could be detrimental to Bangladesh's duty-free export facilities to the country. The UK has started formulating its own GSP scheme after Brexit. Bangladesh will enjoy duty-free access to the British market for all of its products except for arms and ammunition under the scheme's Least Developed Country Framework until 2026. The UK GSP scheme's provision on product or goods graduation states that for textiles, apparel and clothing goods, graduation applies when the import ratio referred to exceeds 47.2%, according to the document. The general threshold of 57% applies to all other goods. For live plants and floricultural goods, vegetable goods, animal or vegetable oils, fats and waxes and mineral goods, graduation applies when the import ratio referred to exceeds 17.5%. The UK will review the list of graduated goods every three years. Goods graduation is the suspension of preferential rates of customs duty on certain imports following a goods graduation assessment. These imports are deemed highly competitive and no longer need preferences to compete in the UK market. These imports cannot benefit from preferential rates and the UK Global Tariff will apply instead. Suspensions can be applied to goods from countries in the General Framework, according to the document. The proposed Enhanced Framework is similar to the EU's GSP Plus to provide GSP benefits to low-income and lower middle income countries, which are classified as economically vulnerable and have satisfied requirements relating to the 27 international conventions. Under this, two-thirds of product lines will get duty-free facility. Under the General Framework and the Enhanced Framework, the UK market still includes Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which are exporters of readymade garments. Of them, Vietnam will not get the GSP benefit as it has a trade agreement with the UK. Therefore, the export rate of Bangladesh's major garment items under the GSP facility is likely to go over 47% after its graduation to a developing country status. To get GSP benefits under the enhanced framework, Bangladesh will have to comply with 26 international conventions. In this context, the UK said the aim is to encourage compliance with human and labour rights, good governance and sustainability. The Enhanced Framework asks countries to ratify, accede to or otherwise consent to be bound by 27 international conventions and their reporting requirements. Under the UK GSP scheme's General Framework, low-income and lower middle income countries, as classified by the World Bank, will enjoy reduced tariffs on two-thirds of product lines. UK's GSP is going to have a provision to cancel or suspend such facility for a country for various reasons, including violations of human and labour rights, violation of international conventions on anti-terrorism and money laundering, violation of UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the failure to prevent illicit trade. The least developed countries will request the UK to relax the conditions as it will be very difficult for them to comply with them, the commerce ministry officials said. The United States has suspended Bangladesh's GSP facility in its market since June 2013 for alleged labour rights violations. The European Union has sought a nine-point roadmap from Bangladesh to protect labour and human rights to remain eligible for the GSP benefit in its market. According to the Export Promotion Bureau, the UK is the third largest export market for Bangladesh. In the last fiscal year, Bangladesh's exports to the country amounted to $3.7 billion, which was 9.68% of the country's total exports. Exports of woven garments raked in $1.33 billion, knitwear $2.11 billion and home textiles $96 million from the country in FY21. Officials in Dhaka Bangladesh are still not sure whether Bangladesh will continue to enjoy market access preference in the United Kingdom for an extra three years till 2029 after moving out of the LDC status in 2026. However, London has verbally promised Dhaka of maintaining the GSP facility for three more years after the LDC graduation. The UK High Commissioner in Dhaka has also confirmed it. The United Kingdom has already sent a questionnaire on its new GSP scheme and asked for position papers from various countries, including Bangladesh, by 12 September. The commerce ministry held a stakeholder meeting on Monday with Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh in the chair. The commerce ministry's WTO Cell director general Md Hafizur Rahman told The Business Standard that Bangladesh will send a position letter within the stipulated time. They will ask for some relaxation of the conditions in the GSP. Commerce ministry officials said Bangladesh hopes to get GSP benefits in the UK under the Enhanced Framework after graduating to a developing country status. Bangladesh will try to get an unconditional GSP facility for the export of readymade garments to the country. That is why Bangladesh will request the UK to relax the condition of "product graduation" in the position paper. Commerce ministry officials say the duty-free export of frozen fish to one of the country's leading export destinations will suffer owing to unregulated fishing at sea after it comes out of the LDC status. They said there is a mention of regulated and controlled fishing for duty-free marine fish exports to the UK. But there is no system in Bangladesh to regulate fishing vessels at sea. Therefore, they will request to relax this condition too. Dr Khandaker Golam Moazzem, research director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, told TBS that the post-Brexit UK would prioritise bilateral trade agreements. The UK will make free trade agreements with different countries, which may reduce the importance of the unilateral scheme. If Bangladesh's competitors are among those who will sign an FTA with the UK, the country's exports will suffer, he added. Bangladesh should give importance to ensuring the existing GSP facility for an extra three years even after its graduation. At the same time, the country will have to continue its efforts to waive tariffs considering its competitiveness in the countries with which the UK will sign FTA, Dr Moazzem said.

https://futurestartup.com/2021/06/01/6-bangladeshi-digital-trucking-startups/?utm_content=bufferc9d8e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer 6 Fast-growing Digital Trucking Startups Look to Transform Trucking Industry in Bangladesh By Tithi Chowdhury | Jun 1, 2021 A new generation of Trucking Startups look to transform trucking in Bangladesh using the power of technology Whether it's for personal purposes or the logistics of a company, trucks are essential to transport goods in bulk from one place to another. For companies, ensuring the efficiency of logistics is a must to keep the business running smoothly. Goods moving smoothly from one place to another depends a lot on trucking and logistics. To that end, logistics is critical for a country. But when it comes to hiring a truck, we all know how challenging an experience it is for most people, especially when one does not have any or little idea about truck renting. This however is changing slowly. As the internet penetration in Bangladesh grows and a growing number of consumers get used to digital services, we are seeing a new generation of digital trucking startups looking to make the trucking service more accessible by digitizing the whole truck hiring process. Take Truck Lagbe, one of the leaders in the digital trunking vertical, anyone can hire a truck from anyplace any time through using the Truck Lagbe app or calling their customer service number. Digitization of trucking service has also made it easier for the truck owners and drivers to get trips and improves efficiency for everyone involved.,. Truck Lagbe is one of the companies in the vertical. We have seen an influx of new companies in the digital trucking space in the past few years. These are some of the companies we have been following in the space. 1. Truck Lagbe Founder: Anayet Rashid and Mir Hossain Ekram Founded in: 2017 Headquarter: Dhaka Investment raised so far: Undisclosed Team size: 100+ (LinkedIn) Truck Lagbe, founded by Anayet Rashid and Mir Hossain Ekram, is a Dhaka-based startup that aims to make the truck hiring service in Bangladesh more convenient by connecting the truck owners and shippers through their app. Even before launching officially, the startup won the first prize in the 'Startup Challenge 2017' competition. In an interview with Future Startup, Anayet Rashid said, the idea of Truck Lagbe came from a personal experience when he saw that hiring a truck for transporting goods costs more than transporting via one's trucks. Hence he decided to build a platform that will connect the truck owners and the shippers that will help improve the efficiency for both parties. The company has since evolved and launched multiple iterations of its platform. Today, Truck Lagbe has a fast-growing marketplace business where it predominantly works with B2C customers and SMEs and a brokerage business where it works with large enterprises. Truck Lagbe launched a new version of its app in November last year and introduced a series of interesting features such as fixed pricing, uber-like truck matching — the company says, it takes only 3 seconds to match a truck and improved discovery and navigation for users. The company has also introduced fixed prices where customers can hire trucks for a fixed price without the hassle of price bargaining. It also offers spot pricing to corporates and B2B businesses. Over the past years, Truck Lagbe has built excellent liquidity of vehicles on its platform. The company now aims to bring other products and services related to trucking such as tier, oil, GPS tracker, etc to its platform. Read our coverage of Truck Lagbe to understand more about Truck Lagbe. 2. Shohoz Truck Founder: Maliha M Quadir Founded in: 2014 Headquarter: Dhaka Investment raised so far: Undisclosed Team size: 300 Shohoz Truck, which started its journey in 2019, is an online platform for hiring trucks and is working to digitize the truck hiring service of Bangladesh making it easier for anyone to avail trucking service from anywhere and anytime. Individuals, as well as companies, can hire trucks via this platform. According to The Daily Star, Shohoz Truck has partnered with more than 2000 truck agencies of Bangladesh and more than 30k vehicles are available under this platform. Recently, Shohoz Truck has partnered up with Paperfly to provide them with logistics solutions. 3. Truck Kothay Founder: Monico Technologies Ltd. Founded in: 2017 Headquarter: Dhaka Investment raised so far: Undisclosed Team size: Unknown Another platform for hiring trucks in Bangladesh is Truck Kothay. It is a service of Monico Technologies Ltd. At present, approximately 5000 trucks are connected via this platform and their service is available throughout the country. One of the services provided by Truck Kothay is the 'Online Bidding' feature for truck owners, where a truck owner can submit his fare by bidding for order and getting a trip. The customer care service of Truck Kothay is available 24/7. The customers can hire trucks anytime via the website or app or phone on this platform. 4. Loop Freight Founder: Christopher Li, Fahim Salam, Rajib Das, Wasim Zaman Founded in: 2018 Headquarter: Dhaka Investment raised so far: Undisclosed Team size: 50 (LinkedIn) Loop Freight, launched in 2018, is an online trucking startup that aims to provide hassle-free logistics support systems for its customers. According to The Business Standard, the platform not only just provides efficient transportation service, but also ease of accessibility by transporting goods according to the shippers' preferred schedule with a short lead time and real-time shipment tracking facility. Loop Freight works with truck owners and keeps track of the fleets. They have two pricing methods: contractual and market-price. The app of Loop can estimate the price in accordance with the customer's preference. A TBS report says the company grew 125% during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the demand for trucking service rose during this period. 5. Goods In Motion Founder: Alamgir Alvi Founded in: 2018 Headquarter: Dhaka Investment raised so far: Undisclosed Team size: Unknown Goods in motion (GIM) is one of the fast-growing digital trucking startups in Dhaka. The company calls itself a truck rental app that connects shippers and carriers through a digital platform. Founded by Alamgir Alvi, GIM is Part of Jogajog Limited. Officially launched in April 2018, the company has seen excellent growth and claims to have over 14,000 vehicles on its platform and has served more than 3000 customers including large enterprises such as PRAN, Lafarge-Holcim Bangladesh Limited, ACI Limited, Shah Cement, Abul Khair, BEOL, ACI, BSRM, KSRM, Aziz Group, etc. 6. Sheba.xyz Founder: Adnan Imtiaz Halim, Ilmul Haque Sajib and Abu Naser Md. Shoaib Founded in: 2015 Headquarter: Dhaka Investment raised so far: Undisclosed Team size: 200+ Besides its other services, trucking service is also available on Sheba's platform. Anyone can hire trucks and get an estimated price for this service via the Sheba platform. For small trips, the estimated price is given over the phone and in case of large shipment, the platform provides an 'Estimated Cost of Services. Sheba provides the complete solution for shipping goods, from loading the goods to unloading the goods upon reaching the destination. Like its other services, payment through EMI is also available for its trucking service. Founder: Alamgir Alvi Founded in: 2018 Headquarter: Dhaka Investment raised so far: Undisclosed Team size: Unknown Goods in motion (GIM) is one of the fast-growing digital trucking startups in Dhaka. The company calls itself a truck rental app that connects shippers and carriers through a digital platform. Founded by Alamgir Alvi, GIM is Part of Jogajog Limited. Officially launched in April 2018, the company has seen excellent growth and claims to have over 14,000 vehicles on its platform and has served more than 3000 customers including large enterprises such as PRAN, Lafarge-Holcim Bangladesh Limited, ACI Limited, Shah Cement, Abul Khair, BEOL, ACI, BSRM, KSRM, Aziz Group, etc. 6. Sheba.xyz Founder: Adnan Imtiaz Halim, Ilmul Haque Sajib and Abu Naser Md. Shoaib Founded in: 2015 Headquarter: Dhaka Investment raised so far: Undisclosed Team size: 200+ Besides its other services, trucking service is also available on Sheba's platform. Anyone can hire trucks and get an estimated price for this service via the Sheba platform. For small trips, the estimated price is given over the phone and in case of large shipment, the platform provides an 'Estimated Cost of Services. Sheba provides the complete solution for shipping goods, from loading the goods to unloading the goods upon reaching the destination. Like its other services, payment through EMI is also available for its trucking service.

https://www.tbsnews.net/dropped/industry/no-end-sight-cattle-farmers-woes-290272#.YR30cMRTiek.facebook Shawkat Ali 19 August, 2021, 12:00 pm Last modified: 19 August, 2021, 01:15 pm No end in sight to cattle farmers’ woes Many are struggling because of unsold livestock, high costs of cattle feed, saturation of local market from frozen meat imports, and bank loan repayments The sale of sacrificial animals during Eid-ul-Adha saw a significant dip this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, burdening cattle farmers from across the country with 29 lakh unsold livestock. But these farmers' woes are far from over as they are facing significant difficulties in selling their livestock to butchers – who are generally uninterested in buying larger and more expensive cows bred specifically for ritual sacrifice, insiders have said. Moreover, frozen meat imports amounted to 2,500 tonnes this July, an increase from Bangladesh's monthly average volume of 1,000-1,500 tonnes, according to Chattogram port sources. As frozen meat is relatively cheaper, many hotels and restaurants prefer it to local cattle meat. According to the Department of Livestock, Bangladesh had 1.19 crore cattle – cows, goats, sheep and buffaloes – ready for sacrifice this year. But only around 90 lakh animals were sacrificed at the last Eid. Many cattle farmers are now financially struggling because of unsold livestock worth Tk29,000 crore, high costs of cattle feed, saturation of the local market with frozen meat imports, and bank loan repayments, the Bangladesh Dairy Farmers' Association (BDFA) has said. The BDFA also claimed that cattle farmers are facing additional pressure after the smuggling of cows from India and Myanmar to Bangladesh resumed following the Eid celebrations. The influx of smuggled cows is making it difficult for local farmers to sell their cattle to butchers. BDFA President Imran Hossain told The Business Standard, "If farmers cannot sell their cattle, worth around 29,000 crore, they will not get back their investment. This in turn will prevent them from reinvesting the money into their businesses. "The whole situation has left cattle farmers financially vulnerable, and many are planning to shut down their farms." He continued, "We are advising farm owners to sell their cattle to butchers. But if the butchers become uninterested in buying the cattle, the farmers will have nowhere to turn to. "We are facing a double dilemma. Hotels and restaurants prefer imported frozen meat because those are relatively cheaper, and the import volume has gone up after the Eid. Meanwhile, the illegal influx of cattle through the border has made it a challenge to sell livestock to butchers." Echoing similar views, Omar Faruk, owner of Babu Cattle Agro in Manikganj, said, "I took 60 cows to Dhaka for sale during the Eid, but had to return with 50. Butchers are not interested in buying large cows, and offer much lower prices. "I am trying to sell my livestock despite these hurdles because I am financially struggling to bear the high cost of cattle feed. The bank is also pressuring me to pay back the loans I took out from it." Cattle farmers are worried about becoming penniless if the influx of cattle from India and Myanmar does not stop, and imports of frozen meat are not halted. They say that such issues are preventing them from selling their livestock to butchers. To this end, the BFDA has already sent letters to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), and various ministries and departments concerned, including the Department of Livestock, requesting the authorities concerned to take effective steps to halt frozen meat imports and smuggling of cattle in the border regions. The BFDA also sought support from the government in selling off the livestock of the financially struggling farmers as soon as possible. When his attention was drawn to the issue, Dr Ahsan H Mansur, Executive Director, Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh and economist, said, "It is true that the sale of sacrificial animals dipped in the last Eid-al-Adha. "But the demand for meat will exist throughout the year. So, cattle farmers can sell to the butchers to resolve their problems." Dr Mansur, however, emphasised the need for curbing the smuggling of cows at the border, otherwise the local cattle farmers could face losses. According to the Department of Livestock, Bangladesh currently has 6.98 lakh dairy farms across the country.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/sreda-launches-help-desk-to-provide-one-stop-service-on-rooftop-solar-1629377612 SREDA launches help desk to provide one-stop service on rooftop solar UNB | Published: August 19, 2021 18:53:32 Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) on Thursday formally launched a national solar help desk (NSHD) at its office to meet the requirements of consumers and investors in renewable energy sector. "The NHSD will serve as a common platform to support the implementation of rooftop solar projects under net metering. Any interested person can access pertinent information on eligibility criteria, the application process, financing options, and implementation process, and technical specifications of rooftop solar system, among others", said a press release of the SREDA. All the information will be available in a structured manner in the NSHD web portal -shd.sreda.gov.bd., it said, adding, there will also be options for obtaining service through virtual meetings or a physical visit at the Help Desk at the SREDA office, located in IEB Building, Ramna. State Minister of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid attended the event virtually as the chief guest while Power Secretary Md. Habibur Rahman, Secretary, Chairman of Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council (BEPRC) Satyajit Karmaker, Head of Development Cooperation of German Embassy Caren Blume were also present at the inauguration ceremony as special guests. The help desk has been established in cooperation with GIZ Bangladesh. SREDA is committed to its efforts to achieve the national target of renewable energy development. To realise this goal, SREDA has taken a number of initiatives including issuing a guideline for the development of rooftop solar under net metering. The Net Metering guidelines enacted in 2018 has laid the foundation for implementing rooftop solar projects at industrial, commercial and residential facilities with 3 phase connection and thereby, allowing consumers to transport surplus electricity, after self-consumption, to the national grid.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/light-engineering-lights-up-bangladeshs-export-hope-1629338958 Light engineering lights up Bangladesh's export hope FHM HUMAYAN KABIR | Published: August 19, 2021 08:09:18 | Updated: August 19, 2021 18:03:54 Bangladesh's light-engineering sector (LES) lights up trade hopes as it achieved nearly 81-per cent growth in shipments to overseas markets in the last fiscal year (FY), analysts say, as the country strives to enlarge its slim export basket. They said light-engineering, a hub for nearly 800,000 jobs, after meeting some 30 per cent of local demands, earned about half a billion US dollars in foreign exchange on average per annum. According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the Bangladeshi small and medium scale manufacturers exported US$529 million worth of engineering goods in the FY 2020-2021, posting an 80.60 per cent growth year on year. In the previous FY2020, the export of engineering products fetched $292.92 million, EPB data showed. Bangladesh has attained a very small pie of the global big export cake as its international market size is of a hefty $7 trillion, the analysts said Wednesday. Bangladesh mainly exports bicycle, electrical equipment, construction-related equipment and machinery, stone and brick crushers, spare parts for paper and cement mills, bicycle light fittings, cast-iron articles, carbon rods and automobile spares, train-and-rail-support equipment, marine spare parts and the like. A recent International Finance Corporation IFC study showed Bangladesh's LES has in its employment 600,000 people involved in 50,000 micro-enterprises and 10,000 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). President of Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association (BEIOA) Abdur Razzak told the FE that the export glory ricocheted in the FY2021 from three years of falling shipments. "We were hopeful about getting a boost in the coming days as the SMEs and micro-industries are trying hard to improve their enterprises into a modern one and produce quality products for the shipments," he added. An FE analysis has found the country's export of the engineering products in FY2017 was highest within a decade as Bangladesh earned a record amount of $688.84 million. But the shipments had faced a steep fall since the subsequent fiscal year with $355.97 million earned in FY2018, $341.3 million in FY2019 and $292.92 million in FY2020. But it again went on a rebound in FY2021 with its 80.60-per cent growth to $529 million, the EPB data show. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in January 2020 announced light engineering as the "product of the year" in an attempt to bring special attention onto the sector so that it increases the country's foreign-exchange reserves through the export of various goods. Afterwards, the industries ministry decided to set up light-engineering industrial parks in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Jashore, Bogura and Narsingdi to reach the growing domestic sector to its full potential. The micro enterprises and SMEs in the sector are now providing support to the country's industrial, agricultural and construction sectors through manufacturing a wide range of spare parts, castings, moulds and dices, oil-and gas-pipeline fittings and light machinery, BEIOA President Mr Razzaque said. Various electrical products such as sockets, cables and electrical fans are manufactured in the light-engineering sector with domestic suppliers accounting for 48 to 52 per cent of the country's demand, which previously used to be met with imports. The Business Promotion Council operating under the commerce ministry estimates that local light-engineering industries produce 3,815 types of machinery, spares and accessories. The BEIOA President said they were struggling with fund-and skilled-manpower shortages to upgrade the country's light-engineering sector, resulting in a lower export growth than a huge potential. "We want to modernize our enterprises. But we have lack of funds and manpower. Besides, we need the industrial park for flourishing as an international- standard industry in order to compete on the overseas market," he added. Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Research Director Dr Khandker Golam Moazzem also sees a huge untapped potential in Bangladesh for engineering- product shipments. "But its main obstacles are the absence of international-standard certification, skilled manpower, infrastructure and branding. When these problems will be overcome, the country's engineering products will emerge as another forex-earner, reducing dependency on RMG," he told the FE. Bangladesh should invite some international-standard enterprises like Korean Hyundai for investment aimed at transferring technical know-how, developing skilled manpower and building the country's image, the economist suggests. When asked, Director-General of Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Centre (BITAC) Anwar Hossain Chowdhury told the FE that they had a lack of high-skilled and international-standard trainers at their place. "We are supplying lot of skilled manpower for the local light-engineering sectors. But we could not develop manpower up to the international standards due to the trainer shortage," he added. They have recently set up Tools and Technology Institute at BITAC which is helping the local SMEs to standardize their products. Gradually they plan to turn the institute into an international-standard body for certification and developing high-skilled manpower. Analysts said neighbouring India and Pakistan have already set up many industrial parks for light-engineering sector and earning billions of dollars every year. Since global market size of the light-engineering products is about $7 trillion and European and American markets had a duty-free access for Bangladesh, there are huge potentials for boosting its shipments through producing international-standard products, they observed.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/bn/ঢাকা-মাওয়া-এক্সপ্রেসওয়েতে-স্বয়ংক্রিয়-টোল-আদায়ে-কোরীয়-কোম্পানি-1629370419 ঢাকা-মাওয়া এক্সপ্রেসওয়েতে স্বয়ংক্রিয় টোল আদায়ে কোরীয় কোম্পানি Published: August 19, 2021 16:53:39 | Updated: August 19, 2021 16:56:36 দেশের প্রথম এক্সপ্রেসওয়ে ঢাকা-মাওয়া মহাসড়কে স্বয়ংক্রিয়ভাবে টোল আদায়ের জন্য একটি কোরীয় কোম্পানিকে কাজ দিচ্ছে সরকার। খবর বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকম-এর। বৃহস্পতিবার সরকারি ক্রয় সংক্রান্ত ও অর্থনৈতিক বিষয় সংক্রান্ত মন্ত্রিসভা কমিটির সভায় কোরিয়া এক্সপ্রেসওয়ে করপোরেশনকে এ কাজ দেওয়ার প্রস্তাব অনুমোদন পায়। খবর বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকম-এর। মন্ত্রিপরিষদ বিভাগের অতিরিক্ত সচিব সামসুল আরেফিন বৈঠক শেষে বলেন, “স্বয়ংক্রিয় পদ্ধতিতে এই টোল আদায় করা হবে। গাড়ির সামনের যে উইন্ড স্ক্রিন সেখানে একটা স্টিকার থাকবে। “গাড়িটি যখন যাবে তখন স্ক্যান করে গাড়ির অ্যাকাউন্ট থেকে অটোমেটিক টোল আদায় হয়ে যাবে। ঢাকা-মাওয়া মহাসড়কে ভাঙা পর্যন্ত তিনটি ব্রিজ রয়েছে। সমুদয় টোল একটা সমন্বিত সিস্টেমের মাধ্যমে আদায় হবে।” তিনি জানান, কোরিয়ান ইন্টারন্যাশনাল এজেন্সির অর্থায়নে এই টোল আদায় কার্যক্রম চলবে। দক্ষিণ কোরিয়ায় ৪ হাজার ১১২ কিলোমিটার এক্সপ্রেসওয়ে ও ১ হাজার ৩৩২ কিলোমিটার দীর্ঘ সেতু ব্যবস্থাপনার অভিজ্ঞতা রয়েছে তাদের। রাস্তায় কী পরিমাণ যানবাহন রয়েছে, কোন পথে দিয়ে গেলে সুবিধা হবে এসব তথ্যও তারা দেখাবে। প্রথমে ৫ বছরের জন্য তাদের নিয়োগ দেওয়া হবে, পরে চুক্তির মেয়াদ আরও বাড়ানো হতে পারে। এদিন সরকারি ক্রয় সংক্রান্ত মন্ত্রিসভা কমিটির সভায় পার্বত্য চট্টগ্রামের প্রত্যন্ত এলাকায় সোলার প্যানেল স্থাপনের মাধ্যমে বিদ্যুৎ সরবরাহের (দ্বিতীয় পর্যায়) জন্য কেনাকাটার একটি প্রস্তাব পাস হয়। পার্বত্য চট্টগ্রাম বিষয়ক মন্ত্রণালয়ের অধীন পার্বত্য চট্টগ্রাম উন্নয়ন বোর্ড বাংলাদেশ মেশিন টুলস ফ্যাক্টরি লিমিটেডের কাছ থেকে ২০৪ কোটি ৩৩ লাখ ২৫ হাজার টাকায় এই প্রকল্পের সরঞ্জাম কিনবে। প্রকল্পের আওতায় (তিন পার্বত্য জেলার জন্য) ১০০ ওয়াট পিক ক্ষমতাসম্পন্ন ৪০ হাজার সোলার হোম সিস্টেম ও ৩২০ ওয়াট পিক ক্ষমতাসম্পন্ন ২ হাজার ৫০০ সোলার কমিউনিটি সিস্টেম স্থাপন করা হবে। অতিরিক্ত সচিব সামসুল আরেফিন বলেন, “রাঙামাটি, খাগড়াছড়ি ও বান্দরবান এই তিনটি জেলার দুর্গম এলাকায় সোলার সিস্টেমগুলো দেওয়া হবে। স্থানীয়রা উপকৃত হবে। এটা গ্রাহকদের বিনামূল্যেই দেওয়া হবে।” ক্রয় সংক্রান্ত কমিটির বৈঠকে সৌদি বেসিক ইন্ডাস্ট্রিজ (সাবিক) এর কাছ থেকে দ্বিতীয় লটে ১১৯ কোটি ৮২ লাখ ২ হাজার ৭৬০ টাকায় ৩০ হাজার টন ইউরিয়া সার আমদানির প্রস্তাবও এদিন অনুমোদন দেওয়া হয়। প্রতি টন সারের দাম পড়েছে ৪৭০ দশমিক ১৬ ডলার। এছাড়া কর্ণফুলী ফার্টিলাইজার কোম্পানি লিমিটেড (কাফকো) এর কাছ থেকে তৃতীয় লটে ৩০ হাজার টন ব্যাগড গ্র্যানুলার ইউরিয়া সার কেনার প্রস্তাবে সায় দিয়েছে কমিটি। ১১১ কোটি ১১ লাখ ৪৬ হাজার টাকায় এই সার কিনছে বাংলাদেশ কেমিক্যাল ইন্ডাস্ট্রিজ কর্পোরেশন (বিসিআইসি)। প্রতি টনের মূল্য পড়ছে ৪৩১ ডলার।

Japan's professionalism is incomparable. No doubt about it.

https://www.tbsnews.net/thoughts/full-transition-clean-energy-still-tall-order-290299#.YR3bK-j0EXQ.facebook Shafiqul Alam 19 August, 2021, 10:10 am Last modified: 19 August, 2021, 10:16 am Full transition to clean energy is still a tall order While there is much discussion on the theoretical possibility of transitioning to the clean electricity grids, 100% share of renewables to most of the grids across the globe will not happen anytime soon Momentum continues to grow across the globe for energy transition to attain net zero emission goal by 2050. Hopes are high, though many countries are not on track, as we prepare for the crucial climate talk to take place in less than 100 days in Glasgow. The reasons for optimism, most advocates of the energy transition see, are the ever-increasing competitiveness of renewable energies and other potentials such as job creation that renewable energies may unleash. In tandem, countries may realise the untapped benefits of energy efficiency, which is termed as the first fuel by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The desired energy transition, to build a cleaner future and to reach net zero emissions, however, is hard to come by. Delving deeper into the situation, on the basis of the progress made by different countries in the last several decades, we can find some paradoxes that impede the energy transition we all aspire to. The "intermittency" paradox In spite of the economic calculus that evidently favours solar and wind energies over all forms of fossil fuels, there is still a lack of pace in the clean energy transition. The paradox is that both solar and wind are of intermittent nature, causing other forms of electricity generation to be kept in place, or in the storage system, to be used to ensure electricity supply remains uninterrupted. 100% electricity from renewable energies, therefore, requires storage facilities to deliver electricity to the consumers, end when we do not have solar energy at night and/or enough wind speed. The other option is to buoy on hybrid mechanism – harnessing solar during the day and generating wind power at night – to make the contribution of renewable energies to the grid as close as possible to 100%. Well, a storage system can solve the intermittency paradox but renewable energy with grid scale storage facilities is still very expensive. Designing a solar-wind hybrid may not be feasible in all countries. Additionally, the solar-wind hybrid may still require fossil fuel-based power generation to meet our 24/7 electricity demand. The utility-demand side management paradox Demand side management is essential for enhancing energy efficiency and conservation. In fact, demand side management programmes not only promote efficient appliances but also help induce behavioral changes among the energy consumers, leading to significant reduction in energy consumption. The result is highly expedient to energy consumers, i.e. the demand side, and policymakers. Energy consumers are happy when they can minimise their utility bills. Policymakers also feel good due to varying reasons, be it the possibility of reducing energy import or the likelihood of delaying investment in new power plants. Utilities all over the world are, however, designed to generate electricity, irrespective of energy sources, and/or sell electricity as much as possible to the energy consumers and thereby, making profits. As such, conflict arises when the utility's main business is to sell electricity and a utility is also entrusted to pursue demand side management programmes. Utilities further have obligations to absorb shocks in the event of crisis – for example, the dip in energy demand attributable to Covid-19. In view of these, a significant decrease in energy consumption from demand side management programmes supported by utilities is extremely difficult to achieve. The Jevons paradox This is the phenomenon under which the purchase of energy efficient appliances/equipment in different applications cannot deliver energy savings. It rather increases the total energy consumption due to soaring demand. Economist William Stanley Jevons first observed this in UK industries that adopted efficient steam engines only to see their overall coal consumption overshoot. Jevons Paradox is a popular term in environmental economics and is known as rebound effect, which shows that technological development and policy measures may not necessarily reduce energy and/or other resource demand as efficiency gain. As benefits of energy efficiency are being felt by consumers through reduced energy bills, consumers in many cases overuse the efficient appliance. Examples include the overuse of an energy efficient car or installing efficient lights, say LEDs, of higher wattage or more in number than what deems necessary. The policy paradox The broader energy, climate and related fiscal policies help to shape the energy mix of the power generation in a country. On the other hand, energy pricing also influences the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency. The policy paradox here appears at least from two channels – first, renewable energies may be cheaper but may not be prioritised in energy and climate policies and secondly, energy pricing may include a subsidy component, which rather favours fossil fuels. Under such circumstances, the likelihood of increasing the contribution of renewable energy to a country's energy mix is slim. Moreover, price distortion, resulting from subsidies, provides a perverse incentive to the consumers to not think too much about saving energy – either by taking conservation measures or by installing energy efficient appliances. Perhaps, nobody thought that the path of clean energy transition would be this bumpy when few countries embarked on it. Nevertheless, as time ticks away and the impacts of climate change are becoming diabolical, we must fix the challenges. The possible way-out to make energy storage cost competitive is to use policy instruments, which, for example, helped to bring the cost of solar and wind energies down during the last decade. Policies are, furthermore, necessary to address the presence of energy price distortion or anomaly to support renewable energy and energy efficiency. Energy service companies (ESCOs), backed by the utilities, can potentially solve the problems associated with demand side management. And there is no alternative to awareness raising on energy efficiency and conservation. While there is much discussion on the theoretical possibility of transitioning to clean electricity grids, 100% share of renewables to most of the grids across the globe will not happen anytime soon. The value of existing fossil fuel-based power generating units diminishing within a few years is also unlikely. Experiences from different countries illustrate that policies, rules and regulations will be crucial to consider the realities on the ground in operating clean energy grids reliably, effectively and efficiently. The longstanding challenge still prevails as to whether all countries have sufficient capacity to move ahead with the clean energy transition that is necessary to avert our existential crisis. In the COP26, different countries will have the opportunities to share their plans for clean energy transition.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/education/overwork-culture-1629310957 Overwork culture Sirajum Munira Tuli | Published: August 19, 2021 00:22:37 "Focus on your skill development now," "increase your efficiency; it's for your own good," "You have the potential to be the 'Performer of the Month.' Just stick to it" -- these are some common offerings to the new entrants in the corporate-work culture. And there are few who can differ. "It's like a scheme of capitalism. It will say you are the best and no one else can do this without you (making you more responsible for it)," shared Sajib Sakhawat, a fourth-year student of Physics at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST). Although May Day established the eight-hour workday long ago, Sajib reasons, office makes it easily 10/12 hours a day with those sweet traps. The writer asked some private employees to share their experiences regarding the corporate world. For obvious reasons, many did not feel it right to speak up, while some shared their experiences with an anonymous identity. "When I joined the job as a copywriter, the group had a few more members apart from me. At the end of the day, everyone's quantity of work was noted. From the day when the 'Performer of the Month' was introduced, they all started working even during the break," Mehedi Hasan (pseudonym), content creator of a private company, shared. "As a result, my performance dropped compared to them. If I didn't have lunch on time, that was physical torture. And if I had, there was a team leader's comment on my efficiency, which was breaking my confidence." Can an employee's productivity really be determined by the number of tasks? When there are many types of people working in a team, some provide quantity, some provide quality, some provide creativity. How reasonable is it to calculate the efficiency of all with similar criteria? "One of the most commonly used metaphors for the basics of business strategy is 'If there is a hole, fill it. If there is no hole, then make a hole and fill it.' The assurance of skill development of the corporate houses reflects the same," Shuvro Chowdhury, a junior software engineer at a reputed local IT firm, shared. The bottom line is that when the office does not have enough scope to provide employees with skills development, in most cases, they create illusions. "Suppose you have various social media apps known and used for communication. But without using those, they will introduce you to a random app. Over time, you will comfort yourself by thinking that you learnt something new." "When the percentage of work decreases, the team leader often says- 'The evaluation of promotion will be from here.' I know about the state of my eye-sight in the last few months by doing my own good (!)," Nishat Majumder, a senior copywriter of a private advertising agency, was speaking. "If I can do eight hours equivalent work in just two hours, the office will not let me sit idle for the remaining six hours, even if I'm sick. So why would I do so much work together? When they announce 'Worker of the Year,' they will evaluate who worked overtime and who took less leave than others." she added. In this case, to hear the story of the other side of the coin, the writer talked to some senior officials who had different perspectives to share. "If the effort to bring out the best from the employees is called overwork culture, then who would be responsible for increasing the efficiency of an incompetent immature worker?" asked Fariha Nowshin, expansion sales lead at Staff Asia Limited. "Everyone has some potential inside them that they are not using just because of laziness or apathy. If some members in a team are not working sensibly, someone, who can pull off 10 tasks within a time period is doing only five-- then there is no point to deal with company loss to protect their individuality." If efficiency and productivity can be increased by a little inspiration and co-operation, thinks Fariha, the real success of a team-lead or HR lies there. According to Fariha, an employee will feel pressure only when s/he is not enjoying the job. In that case, everyone should explore what s/he likes to do. She shared how difficult it was for her to catch the target of writing 12 copies a day. But when she finally made it there, her team leaders treated it rather lightlly, mentioning that he used to write 15 copies during his time in that position. She was not disappointed by those words. Rather, she doubled her enthusiasm and improved her skills so much that she even wrote up to 33 copies a day. "The road from five to 33 was never stressful to me because I loved my job. And if I didn't take that as inspiration, I would never know about my capacity too," she smiled. "Whether it's an IT firm or any other corporate house, regular overtime working is never a good practice. It's painful to the employees and degrades the quality of work," remarked Bipon Biswas, senior UX designer at Pridesys It Limited. "But I find it very unprofessional to neglect the responsibilities by calling them 'overwork' when it comes to dealing with a deadline." While recruiting employees, he recalls mentioning during the interview about such occasional overtime work. Since everyone's responsibilities in a company are shared separately, according to him, remembering the responsibilities in special circumstances, the employees should cooperate with the company to face the deadline. There will be competition in the job market, there will be hard work and fatigue; in between, there will be success, happiness and self-development. The key is to decide what attracts one the most.

https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/infrastructure/kulaura-shahbazpur-rail-projects-almost-stalls-290281#.YR3cbDLrAOM.facebook Ripon Dey 19 August, 2021, 10:20 am Last modified: 19 August, 2021, 10:15 am Kulaura-Shahbazpur rail projects almost stalls As works are progressing at a snail’s pace, it has raised concerns about whether or not the contractor, India’s Kalindee Rail Nirman (Engineers) Ltd, will be able to complete the work in time More than 70% work of the Kulaura-Shahbazpur Railway Reconstruction Project in Moulvibazar is still to be done even after several extensions of the deadline since it started on 10 August 2018. The project was supposed to be completed by May 2020 but only 17% of work was completed until then. Later, the deadline was extended till December when 30% was completed. Lastly, it was aimed to finish the project by 2022. Unfortunately, there has been little progress in the last six months this year. As works are progressing at a snail's pace, it has raised concerns about whether or not the contractor, India's Kalindee Rail Nirman (Engineers) Ltd, will be able to complete the work in time. According to the Planning Commission, this rail project will connect Bangladesh with India, the regional railway network and the trans-Asian railway network, which will expand regional trade and tourism. Five trains will run from Kulaura to Shahbazpur. In addition to local trains, intercity trains will also run. Railway sources said the Kulaura-Shahbazpur railway was inaugurated on 4 December 1896 during British rule. It was connected with the Indian state of Assam. A train called Latur used to run between Kulaura and Shahbazpur. However, for lack of budget and regular maintenance, the railway became unusable. The 106-year-old railway line was closed on 7 July 2002, showing frequent train accidents and its dilapidated condition as reasons. After the closure, all the activities of six railway stations – Baralekha, Muraul, Juri, Dakshinbhag, Kanthaltali and Shahbazpur – have stopped. Consequently, transportation cost has increased as bus fares are higher. People started various movements demanding the resumption of trains through rallies, processions, human chains, sit-ins, etc under the banner of various organisations. After 2010, India and Bangladesh took the initiative to reopen the closed line to increase freight transport and regional trade. The project was approved at the meeting of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on 26 May 2015. The approved project worth Tk678 was later revised to Tk544 crore. The works include 52.54 kilometres of the railway line – 44.77 kilometres of mainline and 7.77 kilometres of loop line – from Kulaura Railway Station to Shahbazpur Zero Point, and the construction of six stations and 59 bridge culverts. The Government of Bangladesh bears 25% of the project cost and borrows 75% from Exim Bank of India. Balaji Railroad Systems Ltd of India is working as a consultant for the project. Reconstruction will be done on dual gauge single line by new rail and PC sleepers. Six station buildings (four B-class and two D-class) and platforms will be constructed or reconstructed. Of the 59 railway bridges, 17 major bridges and 42 minor bridges will be constructed and rebuilt. A non-interlocked colour light signalling system will be installed too. The total cumulative expenditure of the project till June 2020 was Tk112.42 crore. Of this, Tk12.65 crore was spent from government funds and Tk99.78 crore from loans. In 2020-21, Tk61 crore was allocated for this project in the Annual Development Programme, as per a meeting of the project steering committee on 13 September last year. A visit to the Kulaura-Shahbazpur Railway Rehabilitation Project site reveals that the work is completely stopped. Seeking anonymity, an officer said the work had slowed down due to Covid-19 and works are stuck for the last few months. However, some works, including removing old railway lines and elevating the railway line land by putting soils, have been done. Railway authorities are evicting the illegal structures in the Juri part. All installations including old buildings and platforms of Shahbazpur, Baralekha, Muraul, Dakshinbhag stations have been demolished. However, work on new buildings, platforms and installations have not yet begun, he added. The field-level officials of Kalindee Railway did not want to comment on the progress of the project. They said the project director and others concerned can speak well about the overall issues including the progress of the work. Deputy Assistant Engineer Jewel Hossain, who is in charge of overseeing the project, said, "The first wave of Covid-19 had stopped work for several months. Currently, the pace of work has slowed down again in the second wave of the virus. I hope the work will be completed within the deadline, December 2022. He added that project cost has not increased and it may not increase in the future if nothing new is added.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/bangladesh/authorities-find-ways-to-pay-75pc-of-foreigners-salaries-in-home-countries-1629345446 Authorities find ways to pay 75pc of foreigners' salaries in home countries DOULOT AKTER MALA | Published: August 19, 2021 09:57:27 The authorities concerned met virtually on Wednesday, devising ways for the foreign nationals working in the mega projects here so that they can receive 75 per cent of the pay and perks in their home countries. Taking part in the meeting, representatives from the respective authorities suggested that the BIDA will have to relax first its condition in this regard before Bangladesh Bank (BB) amending its guidelines. The representative from Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) told the meeting that they would soon seek approval from the Prime Minister's Office, National Board of Revenue (NBR), and BB in this regard, meeting sources said. The meeting was told that the BIDA will have to revisit its condition on project office expenditures that are being met from the inward remittances. The Bangladesh Bank (BB) representative made it clear that there is no barrier to remove the legal limitation through amending the Guidelines of Foreign Exchange Transaction (GFET) so that the foreigners can send home 75 per cent of their pay and perks. But, the BIDA needed to revisit its condition before amending the GFET, he added. The meeting was told that the projects are being implemented through suppliers' or buyers' credit and the loan proceeds do not enter Bangladesh. The project offices in Bangladesh get payment from their principal or head office. As per the BIDA conditions, the remittance comes to the account of the project office to meet the local expenses. The BIDA gives permission to the project office on the condition of meeting all the expenses of the Bangladesh office from the head office. If this condition exists, salary and perks of the foreign nationals would come from the head office of the project as usual. The BIDA, however, agreed in principle to review the condition soon subject to approval by the 'high-ups'. The BIDA rules would require changes for allowing the foreign nationals to receive 75 per cent of payments in their respective home countries. A senior official of the BB said that they would consider amending the policy upon proposal by the BIDA whether they want the facility for some specific projects or all projects. He said the BB can allow the facility by issuing circular if BIDA wants to facilitate foreign employees of one or two projects. However, offering such a facility for all foreign nationals would require amendments to the GFET. A BIDA official said they would send letters seeking opinions from the Prime Minister's Office, National Board of Revenue (NBR) and BB in this regard. The NBR representative has also given no objection as foreign project officials are already exempted from payment of taxes. They need to submit returns annually to the tax authority only. The BB officials said the government would not be deprived of its due revenue, which is the main concern, if they allow the facility. Sources said those projects are implemented with foreign loans and 90 per cent of the fund remains in their country. The demand for receiving salaries and perks in the home country of foreign employees came from two mega projects -- Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and Dhaka Airport Third Terminal project. Employers of those projects are basically contractors of those projects which raised the issue for branch office

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/views/superannuation-fund-a-smart-plan-for-private-employees-1629298645 Superannuation fund-- a smart plan for private employees Md Shamsul Arefin | Published: August 18, 2021 20:57:25 The Sustainable Development Goal 8 is committed to "decent work and economic growth", meant to ensure fair wages and social protections for the working-class people by 2030. The Eighth Five-Year Plan (July 2020-June 2025) of Bangladesh provides for the extension of existing intensive social-security plan for the people at large while eliminating poverty and narrowing inequality. The superannuation plan can be a good option for materialising the commitment enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goal 8 and the Eighth Five-Year Plan (July 2020-June 2025). Decent work and economic growth under goal 8 include workers' financial security, access to financial services such as pension, gratuity, provident fund, group insurance and other social-safety-net plans. We have most of the financial-security plans for government workers and employees such as pension and gratuity. But the private sectors, NGOs, and informal sectors have been facing huge challenges to provide financial security for their workers. Thus, the private sector remains vulnerable during pandemic or any kind of economic shocks or recession. Countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada introduced superannuation plan for all employees, including private-sector employees and workers, for protecting their financial benefits after retirement. Most employers provide various retirement benefits to their employees to retain their trained employees for a longer period and making them resilient to economic shocks or recession due to pandemic or any other reasons. Superannuation benefit is one which is used as a retirement benefit offered to employees by their employers. This is different from pension or gratuity or provident-fund provision or any social-security plan of the government. Pension or gratuity is a compensation package of the government that needs government's treasury support. Provident fund needs contribution from the employees themselves, thus sometimes less attractive to them. But superannuation is a plan where industry contributes for their labour. Actually, industries do not contribute, they calculate total gross salary of the employees, then at least 10 per cent of the basic pay is deducted as superannuation charge and invested on behalf of the employees in an insurance company to grow their capital. In fact, many employees may not even know that they have been provided with superannuation as the contribution to the superannuation does not go from their pocket. The industry has been protecting their future under a framework where none is losing, rather everyone is winning. Intention of the industry is to protect their employees from any future unnatural financial shock such as economic recessions and/or pandemic. Australia introduced superannuation as a fund that people pay while they are working, so that they receive future payment when they stop working or become old. Superannuation funds refer to the retirement benefit offered in the form of monthly old-age payments. Superannuation is compulsory for all people who work in Australia. Australian Federal law dictates minimum amounts that employers must contribute to the superannuation fund for their employees, on top of standard wages or salaries. Employer shall pay contributions in accordance with the superannuation act on behalf of each eligible employee to an approved Superannuation Fund or Scheme. It is an organisational pension programme created by a company for the benefit of its employees. In other words, it is referred to as a company pension plan. Today, most companies of developed and developing countries offer superannuation scheme to support their workers in the private sector. Usually, companies take superannuation plans from any of the approved insurance companies who arrange a strong pension plan for their employees. At the time of retirement or resignation, employees have the option of buying a superannuation-linked pension from any other insurance company. If an employee resigns from a company and moves to another company, he can transfer his superannuation funds to the new company. Interest from a superannuation fund is tax-free as superannuation plan is a monetary compensation plan to benefit employees. An employee can make use of the funds at times of incapability to continue work or any disaster period. While the burden of pension and other social-safety-net programmes create huge load on government's budgetary obligations, superannuation has asserted itself as a viable policy alternative to help retired workers in the private sector. Superannuation plan benefits private employees, workers by encouraging them to save for their retirement through superannuation contributions. At the same time, superannuation plays a stabilising role in the economy that reduces reliance on the government's pension scheme which spends from the national budget. Once we had seen a move in 2015 to introduce a universal pension scheme for retiring people, including private-sector employees. But it did not get momentum, maybe, due to huge pressure on public exchequer. Without involving any contribution from public exchequer, superannuation is the best option to introduce old-age payments for the retired employees or workers of the private sector. The informal private-sector employees such as transport workers, factory workers, shop or mall workers, industry workers, restaurant workers, garment, leather, pharmaceuticals, jute, ship-breaking, cold storage, plastic, chemical, fertiliser, construction workers, cleaners, security personnel, rickshaw-van pullers etc employ 86.2 per cent of the workforce in Bangladesh. But the provision for any old-age-payment plan or scheme like pension of government employees after retirement is absent for them. In order to achieve the targets enshrined in SDG goal 8 by 2030 and to implement the workforce poverty issues under the Eight Five-Year Plan, superannuation plan for private-sector workers should get due priority. The Bangladesh Labour Welfare Foundation Act 2006 under the Ministry of Labour and Employment or a separate Act in this regard may find options for the superannuation plan by taking example of the best practices of the world for the protection of old-age financial benefits of the millions of workers in the private and the informal sectors of the economy.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2021/08/18/district-level-monitoring-to-stop-individual-tax-vat-evasion District-level monitoring to stop individual tax, VAT evasion Meraj Mavis Published at 09:13 pm August 18th, 2021 NBR to collaborate with attorney general's office for speedy disposal of tax evasion cases The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has decided to bolster monitoring at the district-level and Dhaka’s commissionerate offices to speed up collection of individual income taxes and VAT during Covid-19. Moreover, these inspections are going to be carried out by the NBR chairman and members of the revenue board. Additionally, NBR officials will meet with the attorney general and his colleagues every three months to speed up the disposal of income tax, VAT and customs cases in the High Court. The decisions were taken at a recent meeting of the Internal Resources Division (IRD) of the Ministry of Finance. The government has fixed Tk389,000 crore as the revenue target for the 2021-22 fiscal year, of which Tk104,952 crore is expected to be collected from income tax alone. But according to NBR’s latest data, out of 5.6 million taxpayers who registered in the last fiscal year, 56.6% did not file tax returns. AB Mirza Azizul Islam, economist and financial adviser to a caretaker government, said the initiative of the the chairman and members of the NBR monitoring operations at the district-level is good move. “It is well known that many are evading taxes and VAT. If we want to stop this, we have to increase monitoring. But just making a good decision is not enough, it needs proper implementation,” he added. He further said revenue collection has been good during the Covid-19 period. “However, Bangladesh has one of the lowest tax-to-GDP ratios in the world, this must increase,” he said. It would be good for the economy if the deficit in the budget could be kept below 6.3% through this initiative, he also said, adding that in the current situation, both the expenditure and revenue of the government will have to be increased. Regarding the pending cases, he said the government should go for alternative to dispute resolution (ADR) to collect the tax revenues it is owed. At the meeting, NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem also instructed the authorities to play the proper role in collecting income taxes as per the target by preventing fraud, according to sources present at the meeting. Apart from this, he also directed the agency to further strengthen the activities of this sector by discussing income tax policy issues with various trade bodies and chambers.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/bn/পপুলার-গ্রুপের-দুটো-প্রতিষ্ঠান-থেকে-৬.৩৬-কোটি-টাকা-ভ্যাট-আদায়-1629305473 পপুলার গ্রুপের দুটো প্রতিষ্ঠান থেকে ৬.৩৬ কোটি টাকা ভ্যাট আদায় এফই অনলাইন ডেস্ক | Published: August 18, 2021 22:51:13 | Updated: August 18, 2021 22:55:43 ভ্যাট গোয়েন্দা অধিদপ্তর পপুলার গ্রুপের দুটো সেবা প্রদানকারী প্রতিষ্ঠান তদন্ত করে প্রায় ৬ কোটি ৩৬ লক্ষ টাকার ভ্যাট ফাঁকি উদঘাটন করেছে। ভ্যাট গোয়েন্দার দাবি মেনে নিয়ে পপুলার গ্রুপ ৬ কোটি ৩৬ লক্ষ টাকা ভ্যাট জমা দিয়েছে। প্রতিষ্ঠান দুটো হলো পপুলার ডায়াগনস্টিক সেন্টার লিঃ, হাউজ নং-১৬, রোড নং-০২, ধানমন্ডি, ঢাকা এবং পপুলার মেডিকেল কলেজ এন্ড হাসপাতাল লিঃ, হাউজ নং-২৫, রোড নং-০২, ধানমন্ডি, ঢাকা । তদন্তকালে প্রতিষ্ঠানের সি.এ. ফার্ম কর্তৃক প্রত্যায়িত বার্ষিক প্রতিবেদন ও ভ্যাট বিষয়ক অন্যান্য তথ্য-উপাত্তের আড়াআড়ি যাচাই করে এই ফাঁকি উদঘাটন করা হয়। ভ্যাট গোয়েন্দার উপ-পরিচালক নাজমুন নাহার কায়সার এর নেতৃত্বে একটি দল পপুলার ডায়গনস্টিক সেন্টার লিঃ এর জুলাই/২০১৫ হতে জুন/২০২০ পর্যন্ত সময়কালের কার্যক্রম তদন্ত করে।তদন্ত মেয়াদে বিভিন্ন সেবার বিপরীতে উৎসে ভ্যাট ফাঁকিবাবদ ২,৪২,৮৯,৭৭০ পাওয়া যায়।এই অপরিশোধিত ভ্যাটের উপর ভ্যাট আইন অনুসারে ২% হারে ১,১২,৭৮,৮৫৬ টাকা সুদ প্রযোজ্য। অপরদিকে, ভ্যাট গোয়েন্দার উপ-পরিচালক ফেরদৌসী মাহবুব এর নেতৃত্বে একটি দল পপুলার মেডিকেল কলেজ এন্ড হাসপাতাল লিঃ প্রতিষ্ঠানটির জুলাই/২০১৫ হতে জুন/২০২০ পর্যন্ত সময়কালের কার্যক্রম তদন্ত করে।তদন্ত মেয়াদে বিভিন্ন সেবার বিপরীতে উৎসে অপরিশোধিত ভ্যাট বাবদ ১,৮৪,২০,৪৫৬ টাকা বের হয়।এই অপরিশোধিত ভ্যাটের উপর ভ্যাট আইন অনুসারে ২% হারে ৯৬,২৬,৬০৩ টাকা সুদ প্রযোজ্য। প্রতিষ্ঠান কর্তৃপক্ষ তদন্ত মেয়াদে অপরিশোধিত মূসক ও সুদ বাবদ উদঘাটিত সমুদয় রাজস্ব স্বপ্রণোদিত হয়ে ও স্বেচ্ছায় সরকারি কোষাগারে জমা প্রদান করেছে।

Construction of 12 lane Amin Bazar Bridge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCY6n0FUg1M

https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/stock/2021/08/18/ambee-pharmaceuticals-q3-earnings-plunges Ambee Pharmaceuticals’ Q3 earnings plunges Tribune Desk Published at 04:59 pm August 18th, 2021 The closing price for each of its shares was Tk454.1 during Wednesday’s trade The third quarterly (January-March) earnings of Ambee Pharmaceuticals Ltd plunged by 60%. In a filing with Dhaka Stock Exchange on Wednesday, the company said that its earnings per share (EPS) was Tk0.30 for the Q3 of 2021 as against Tk0.75 for the same period of the previous financial year. Meanwhile, its net asset value (NAV) per share was Tk23.25 as of March 31, 2021, and Tk24.10 as of June 30, 2020. Back in the year 2020, Ambee Pharmaceuticals offered a 15% cash dividend to its shareholders. The closing price for each of its shares was Tk454.1 during Wednesday’s trade.

https://www.tbsnews.net/world/south-asia/wanted-man-held-while-sneaking-india-bangladesh-289777 TBS Report 18 August, 2021, 09:00 am Last modified: 18 August, 2021, 09:06 am Wanted man held while sneaking into India from Bangladesh Accused Sultan Deep Singh crossed over into Bangladesh in March end and worked as a driver in Dhaka for a few months India's Border Security Force (BSF) nabbed a man, who is wanted in Punjab in connection to criminal charges, while crossing the Bangladesh-India border to enter into West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district. Accused Sultan Deep Singh, a resident of Ludhiana in Punjab, was arrested on 16 August while returning to India, Outlook reported citing a statement issued by BSF. Sultan Deep Singh, who is wanted for his alleged involvement in theft and other criminal cases in Punjab, said that he had illegally crossed over into Bangladesh in March end and worked as a driver in Dhaka for a few months. He had earlier worked as a truck driver in Petrapole along the international border in January.

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/anwar-galvanizing-expand-business-investing-tk27cr-289780#.YRykil0mPL4.facebook Rafiqul Islam 18 August, 2021, 12:00 pm Last modified: 18 August, 2021, 12:10 pm Anwar Galvanizing to expand business investing Tk27cr The company is planning to expand its market share of galvanised iron-pipe fittings (GI Fittings) from existing 25% to 52%. Anwar Galvanizing Ltd, a sister concern of Anwar Group, has decided to double its production by investing Tk27.37 crore. The company is planning to increase production to expand its market share of galvanised iron-pipe fittings (GI Fittings) from existing 25% to 52%. "The demand for the GI fittings has been increasing gradually in the recent years due to the infrastructure development in both public and private sectors," said Tauhidul Islam, company secretary of Anwar Galvanizing Ltd. "Besides, the import of GI products from China had decreased significantly during the pandemic. As a result, the company is going to make new investments to grab the market," he added. GI fittings are an important part of the construction and housing sector. The bulk of the local demand for these products is met by imports from China. But, the novel coronavirus pandemic that led to a halt in export-import activities for several months has paved the way for the local manufacturers of these products to increase sales, said the people involved in this industry. The investment plan of Anwar Galvanizing Anwar Galvanizing Limited went into operation in the mid-1980s with the production of galvanised corrugated sheets. The company was the country's first and leading manufacturer of GI Fittings and brake drums. To meet the growing GI fittings demand, the company had halted producing brake drums in 2019. Now the company is going to increase its production capacity by 2,417 metric tonnes per annum, according to the disclosure published on both stock exchanges on Tuesday. After the implementation of the new plan, its total production capacity will be 4,725 metric tonnes per annum. The additional 2,417 metric tonnes of GI fittings shall directly replace the products that are currently being imported to the country, said the company. "After doubling the production, the company's market share will increase, which will impact its financials and revenue," said Tauhidul Islam. The new expansion project shall be financed from a mix of own resources and borrowed finance. The new investment plan is expected to be in operation by the fourth quarter of 2022. The company said they have received a sanction letter on 23 May from the Dhaka Electric Supply Company Ltd (Desco) for an additional power supply of 1 MW that will support the expansion. "The demand of our products increased gradually before the pandemic. After the pandemic started, the demand has grown significantly. We have been in a monopoly position in the in GI fittings products market for quite some time. In the recent times some companies came into the business but they were significant," said Tauhidul Islam. Significant growth in revenue and profit amid pandemic As product demand increased amid the pandemic, its revenue and profit rose significantly. In July 2020 to March 2021, its sales rose by 11% and profit by 49% compared to the same time of the previous year. In this period, its sales reached Tk43.77 crore and profit Tk3.24 crore, which was Tk39.43 crore and Tk2.17 crore respectively. Earlier, in FY20 its sales grew by 23% to Tk53.42 crore and its profit jumped by 35% to Tk2.95 crore. Its sales amounted to Tk43.34 crore and profit Tk2.19 crore in FY19. Based on its financials, the company had paid a 10% cash and 5% stock dividends for its shareholders for FY20. Anwar Galvanizing got listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange in 1996. Its paid-up capital is Tk14.52 crore. Of the company's total shares, sponsors and directors hold 35.32%, institutional investors hold 23.51% and general investors hold 41.17%. Its share price rose by Tk9.8 or 2.94% on Tuesday, closed at Tk343 each on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/how-worried-should-bangladesh-be-about-taliban-seizure-of-afghanistan-1629265732 How worried should Bangladesh be about Taliban seizure of Afghanistan? Published: August 18, 2021 11:48:53 Militancy in Bangladesh has stemmed from the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, but the police do not think a resurgence of the hardline Islamist group will pose much of a threat now. Reports of some Bangladeshis travelling to Afghanistan to join the Taliban ranks have caused concerns among security analysts, but Md Asaduzzaman, chief of the police’s Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime or CTTC, is not perturbed. For now, he is happy to take the Taliban promise of not letting anyone use Afghanistan for terrorism in other countries at face value. He also says reports of Bangladeshis joining the group are not confirmed. Asaduzzaman, however, admits that supporters of the Taliban could well exist in Bangladesh. “But I don’t think they'll be able to carry out acts of violence. We're alert and ready to tackle any challenge.” Bangladeshis who had travelled to Afghanistan in the 70s and 80s to fight for the Afghans against the then Soviet Union later formed militant groups, such as Harkat-ul Jihad al-Islami or HuJIB and Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh or JMB, reports bdnews24.com. The Taliban captured power in 1996 amid a civil war after the Soviets left Afghanistan. The militant group was ousted by the US-led campaign in 2001. The US started the war after the Twin Tower attack, which was blamed on al-Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden who were harboured by the Taliban. Now the Taliban are back after the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan. After the rise of the radical group Islamic State in the Middle East, Syria and Iraq became the destination for Bangladeshi extremists. Following the fall of ISIS, reports are emerging that Bangladeshi hardline Islamists were travelling to Afghanistan again. Shafiqul Islam, commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, recently said “some” Bangladeshis were trying to travel to Afghanistan and some of them have been arrested in India. CTTC chief Asaduzzaman doubts whether the Bangladeshis could reach Afghanistan. “They've gone missing. There's no confirmation that they reached their destination. But they inspired their associates.” Asaduzzaman claimed no foreigners, including Bangladeshis, fought for the Taliban. “One or two may have tried, but they could not reach Afghanistan.” “And the Taliban have made it clear that they don’t have overseas units and links to foreign organisations.” Former army officer M Shakhawat Hossain also believes the Taliban do not invite foreigners. “It needs to be clear that the Taliban are a group of pure Pashtu-speaking Afghans. Some from their borders with Pakistan may have joined the group, but they speak Pashtu.” “The Bangladeshis and other foreigners who travelled to Afghanistan during the anti-Soviet war in the 80s were led by Osama bin Laden. Osama and the Taliban are not the same.” The reports of Bangladeshis travelling to Afghanistan are still “alarming”, said Shakhawat. “It can be said that the foreign jihadists are going to Afghanistan to join IS or other groups, not the Taliban.” Shafqat Munir, head of Bangladesh Centre for Terrorism Research and a research fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, says the Taliban assurance of not allowing foreign fighters in Afghanistan needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. “Other militant groups, such as ISIS Khorasan, exist in Afghanistan. And there's a possibility of an al-Qaeda resurgence. Although there's not much data available on this, we can say by analysing the sequence of events that young people can go there to join other militant groups in Afghanistan, especially those affiliated with al-Qaeda,” he explained. DMP chief Shafiqul also appeared to be concerned over the resurgence of the Taliban because this development can inspire the radicals in Bangladesh. “This wave will reach all the countries of the sub-continent.” CTTC chief Asaduzzaman did acknowledge that some Bangladeshis were celebrating the Taliban’s seizure of Afghanistan on social media. “But it doesn’t mean they have the capacity to do something.” “And the call to travel to Afghanistan is drawing little response because the people of Bangladesh never like militancy.” “We're also aware of the issue. We've cyber-patrols who can identify them (who are supporting the Taliban on social media). Those who have uploaded such posts are kept under watch round the clock.”

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/health/bangavax-animal-trials-begin-1629254283 Bangavax animal trials begin JUBAIR HASAN | Published: August 18, 2021 08:38:04 | Updated: August 18, 2021 11:49:52 After months of uncertainty, Globe Biotech Limited (GBL) restarted preclinical or animal trials of its homegrown Covid vaccine, Bangavax, in a breakthrough. This time, it is being trialed on monkeys to meet the condition set by Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC), the authority that gives approval for clinical or human trials of any antidote here. The company, GBL, earlier in October last year, had announced that its mRNA vaccine showed promise in animal trials on mice. Based on the successful trials, company officials said, the local drug firm had approached the BMRC for ethical clearance before the human trials. But the council approved clinical trials of Bangavax under the condition that "before starting any human trial, the vaccine producer requires to conduct an animal trial on monkeys or chimpanzees. "We started animal trials of Bangavax on monkeys on August 1st in line with BMRC's condition," senior manager (quality and regulatory operations) of Globe Biotech Limited Dr Mohammad Mohiuddin said. Citing revised plan of the GBL, he said the pre-clinical trials are expected to be completed within next month and the company planned to conduct human trials from November. Responding to a question, he said they tried to conduct trials on monkeys overseas. India asked them to move ahead with the G2G (government to government) mechanism but did not get expected response from the department concerned even after repeated approach. He said Bangavax is a new-generation mRNA vaccine like the Pfizer and Moderna ones. Developed countries say monkey trials of mRNA-type vaccines are not necessary but BMRC makes it mandatory. "So, we are forced to conduct the monkey trials after getting permission from the forest department maintaining international standards," he added. Talking to the FE, BMRC director Prof Dr Ruhul Amin said they would provide all kinds of corporation to the Bangavax authority once the monkey trials are done. "I know conducting animal trials again will take time, but we have nothing to do. This is a major requirement that needs to be fulfilled," he added. The lone coronavirus-vaccine candidate of the country sought ethical approval from the BMRC for human trials of the antidotes on January 17 last. The BMRC on February 09 asked for some documents and the company delivered those on February 17. After four months of silence, the BMRC in June last gave the conditional approval. Expressing dissatisfaction over the dilemmas, healthcare experts feared that Bangavax might face the same fate as the rapid-test kit developed by Gonoshasthaya Kendra. "I don't understand why the BMRC did not notify the GBL about the money factor when the vaccine developer first approached them. Why is it delayed needs to be cleared," BMA secretary-general Dr Md. Ehteshamul Huq Choudhury said.