Joel Ahmed

https://bangla.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2022/09/06/1662452653210 ডিসেম্বরে খুলে দেওয়া হবে খুলনা-মোংলা রেল সংযোগ মোংলা বন্দরের গতি বাড়াতে খুলনা-মোংলা রেললাইনের কাজ দ্রুতগতিতে এগিয়ে চলছে। ইতোমধ্যে এই রেললাইনের কাজ ৯৫% শেষ হয়েছে ইতোমধ্যে এই খুলনা-মোংলা রেললাইনের কাজ ৯৫% শেষ হয়েছে/ সংগৃহীত ট্রিবিউন ডেস্ক প্রকাশিত: ১২:২৪ দুপুর সেপ্টেম্বর ০৬, ২০২২ মোংলা বন্দরের গতি বাড়াতে খুলনা-মোংলা রেললাইনের কাজ দ্রুতগতিতে এগিয়ে চলছে। ইতোমধ্যে এই রেললাইনের কাজ ৯৫% শেষ হয়েছে। আগামী ডিসেম্বরে এটির উদ্বোধন হওয়ার কথা রয়েছে। মোংলা বন্দর কর্তৃপক্ষ জানিয়েছে, সড়কপথের পাশাপাশি রেল সংযোগ পণ্য আনা নেওয়ার জন্য জরুরি। মোংলা বন্দরের সঙ্গে রেল সংযোগ না থাকায় এ সুবিধা থেকে বঞ্চিত হচ্ছিলেন ব্যবসায়ীরা। তাই বন্দরের কাজকে আরও গতিশীল করতে ৩,৮০১ কোটি টাকা ব্যয়ে রেল সংযোগ স্থাপনের প্রকল্প গ্রহণ করা হয়। বন্দর কর্তৃপক্ষ আরও জানায়, এই প্রকল্পের কাজ শুরু হয় ২০১৬ সালের নভেম্বরে। কাজ শেষ হওয়ার কথা ছিল ২০২০ সালের মে মাসে। কিন্তু চলতি বছরের ডিসেম্বরে কাজ শেষ হওয়ার কথা রয়েছে। আর এই প্রকল্পের ব্যয় বেড়ে বর্তমানে ৮,২৬০ কোটি টাকা দাঁড়িয়েছে। মোংলা বন্দর রেলপথ প্রকল্পের প্রধান প্রকৌশলী ও উপ-প্রকল্প পরিচালক আহমেদ হোসেন মামুন বাংলা ট্রিবিউনকে বলেন, “প্রকল্পের ব্যয় বেড়েছে অপ্রত্যাশিত পরিবেশের কারণে। এছাড়াও প্রকল্পে কিছু পরিবর্তন আনার কারণেও ব্যয় বেড়েছে। ৬৫ কিলোমিটার রেললাইন, ছোটবড় ৩২টি ব্রিজ ও ১০৬টি কালভার্টসহ আটটি স্টেশন নির্মাণ করা হচ্ছে।” মোংলা বন্দর ব্যবহারকারী সমন্বয় কমিটির মহাসচিব অ্যাডভোকেট সাইফুল ইসলাম বলেন, “এই প্রকল্প চালু হতে যতো বিলম্ব হচ্ছে ততই ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হচ্ছেন বন্দরের ব্যবসায়ীরা। পণ্য পরিবহনের ক্ষেত্রে আরও প্রচুর জায়গা তৈরির দরকার ছিল। নৌপথের পাশাপাশি রেলপথটিকে প্রধান পথ হিসেবে আমরা বেছে নিয়েছি। এটি চালু হলে ব্যবসা ও যাতায়াতে দারুণ পরিবর্তন আসবে।” মোংলা বন্দর বার্থ অ্যান্ড শিপ অপারেটর অ্যাসোসিয়েশনের সাধারণ সম্পাদক আবুল খায়ের আব্দুল্লাহ খোকন সেরনিয়াবাত বাংলা ট্রিবিউনকে বলেন, “এই রেলপথ চালু হলে বাংলাদেশ থেকে ভুটান ও নেপালে সহজে পণ্য যেতে পারবে। এক্ষেত্রে বন্দর সংশ্লিষ্ট ব্যবসায়ীদের কাজে গতি আসবে।” মোংলা বন্দর কর্তৃপক্ষের চেয়ারম্যান রিয়ার অ্যাডমিরাল মোহাম্মদ মুসা বাংলা ট্রিবিউনকে বলেন, “রেললাইন চালু হলে বন্দরের কাজে গতি আসবে। দক্ষিণ-পশ্চিমাঞ্চলসহ দেশের অর্থনীতি সমৃদ্ধ হবে। এই অঞ্চলের অর্থনীতি, কর্মসংস্থান, আয়-বিনিয়োগের ক্ষেত্রে ইতিবাচক পরিবর্তন আনবে এই রেলপথ।”

https://bonikbarta.net/home/news_description/312571/শিগগির-উৎপাদনে-আসছে-জাপানি-অর্থনৈতিক-অঞ্চল শিগগির উৎপাদনে আসছে জাপানি অর্থনৈতিক অঞ্চল আল ফাতাহ মামুন সেপ্টেম্বর ০৬, ২০২২ https://bonikbarta.net/uploads/news_image/news_312571_1.jpg?t=1662454046 নারায়ণগঞ্জের আড়াইহাজারে এক হাজার একর জমির ওপর গড়ে উঠছে বাংলাদেশ-জাপান বিশেষ অর্থনৈতিক অঞ্চল ছবি: নিজস্ব আলোকচিত্রী রাজধানীর অদূরে নারায়ণগঞ্জের আড়াইহাজারে চলছে বাংলাদেশের মাটিতে জাপানের প্রথম বিশেষ অর্থনৈতিক অঞ্চল প্রতিষ্ঠার কাজ। জাপান বাংলাদেশের যৌথ উদ্যোগে ২০২০ সালের আগস্টে শুরু হওয়া নির্মাণযজ্ঞ চলতি বছরের শেষে সমাপ্ত হওয়ার কথা হয়েছে। সবকিছু ঠিক থাকলে আগামী বছরের মাঝামাঝি সময় উৎপাদনে আসবে অর্থনৈতিক অঞ্চলটি। এতে বিনিয়োগের বিষয়ে জাপান ছাড়াও অন্যান্য দেশের বিনিয়োগকারীদের সঙ্গে এরই মধ্যে আলোচনা শুরু হয়েছে বলে সংশ্লিষ্টরা জানিয়েছেন। জানা গিয়েছে, জাপানের সুমিতোমো করপোরেশন এক হাজার একর জমির ওপর বাংলাদেশ জাপান বিশেষ অর্থনৈতিক অঞ্চল নির্মাণ করছে। এক্ষেত্রে সহযোগিতা করছে বাংলাদেশ অর্থনৈতিক অঞ্চল কর্তৃপক্ষ (বেজা)। ২০১৩ সালে এ অর্থনৈতিক অঞ্চল প্রতিষ্ঠার প্রাথমিক আলোচনা শুরু হয়। পরের বছর জাপান সফর করেন প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনা। সে সফরে বিষয়টি চূড়ান্ত হয়। ২০১৯ সালে বেজা ও জাপানের সুমিতোমো করপোরেশনের মধ্যে অর্থনৈতিক অঞ্চল স্থাপনের চুক্তি স্বাক্ষর হয়। ভূমি উন্নয়ন ও রক্ষণাবেক্ষণের কাজ করছে সুমিতোমো করপোরেশন। বেজার তত্ত্বাবধানে জমি বরাদ্দ দেয়া হচ্ছে। বাংলাদেশ সরকার ও জাপান ইন্টারন্যাশনাল কো-অপারেশন এজেন্সি (জাইকা) যৌথভাবে প্রকল্পে অর্থায়ন করছে। সরেজমিন দেখা যায়, বিশাল এলাকাজুড়ে অবকাঠামো উন্নয়নের কর্মযজ্ঞ চলছে। মূলত প্রকল্প এলাকায় রাস্তাঘাট নির্মাণই এখন প্রধান কাজ। পাশাপাশি বিদ্যুৎ-গ্যাসসহ অন্যান্য পরিষেবার উন্নয়ন ডেভেলপ করা হবে। পরবর্তী সময়ে বিভিন্ন কোম্পানি এসে প্লট কিনে অফিস নির্মাণ করে উৎপাদনে যাবে। ঢাকার অদূরে হওয়ায় কর্মচারীদের জন্য কোনো আবাসিক প্রকল্প করা হবে না বলেও জানিয়েছেন প্রকল্পসংশ্লিষ্টরা। এখানে অটোমোবাইল অ্যাসেম্বলি, মোটরসাইকেল, সেলফোন হ্যান্ডসেটসহ বিভিন্ন ধরনের ইলেকট্রনিক পণ্য ও যন্ত্রপাতি, এগ্রো ফুড, লাইট ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং, গার্মেন্টস, ফার্মাসিউটিক্যালস ইত্যাদি প্রতিষ্ঠান স্থাপন করা হবে। জানা গিয়েছে, এখানে বিনিয়োগ করতে জাপানের টয়োটা, মিতসুবিশি, সুমিতোমো, তাওয়াকি, সুজিত লিমিটেডের মতো অন্তত ৪০টি ও অন্যান্য দেশের ১০টি কোম্পানি এরই মধ্যে আগ্রহ দেখিয়েছে। সিঙ্গার একটি প্লট কিনেছে বলেও জানা গিয়েছে। জাপানিজ অর্থনৈতিক অঞ্চলের সর্বশেষ অগ্রগতি সম্পর্কে জানতে চাইলে জাপান-বাংলাদেশ এসইজেড লিমিটেডের ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালক (এমডি) তারো কাওয়াচি বণিক বার্তাকে বলেন, আমরা দুটো ফেজে কাজ করছি। প্রথম ফেজে এখন পর্যন্ত ২০০ একর জমিতে আমরা যাবতীয় অবকাঠামো নির্মাণ করব। এরপর ক্রমান্বয়ে বাকি ভূমিও ব্যবহার উপযোগী করে তোলা হবে। তিনি বলেন, আমাদের প্রথম টার্গেট হলো বাংলাদেশেই জাপানসহ অন্যান্য দেশের বড় বড় শিল্পপ্রতিষ্ঠানের নিজস্ব কারখানা গড়ে তোলা। এশিয়াসহ বিশ্বের অনেক দেশেই সুমিতোমো করপোরেশনের নিজস্ব অফিস আছে। সে ধারাবাহিকতায় বাংলাদেশেও আমরা অফিস করার পরিকল্পনা নিই। আশা করছি, চলতি বছরের শেষ দিকে আমাদের যাবতীয় প্রস্তুতি সম্পন্ন হবে। জাপানি পণ্যের বড় গ্রাহক রয়েছে বাংলাদেশে। মূলত এ কারণেই বাংলাদেশকে বাছাই করা হয়েছে উল্লেখ করে এমডি বলেন, আমাদের টার্গেট হলো বাংলাদেশের কাস্টমারদের আরো সহজে পণ্য দেয়া। জাপানের মান নিশ্চিত করেই এখানে পণ্য উৎপাদন হবে। ফলে পণ্য আমদানির খরচ কমে যাবে। এতে কাস্টমাররা আরো কম খরচে আমাদের পণ্য কিনতে পারবে। এছাড়া বাংলাদেশে সহজে শ্রমিক পাওয়া যায়। এটাও একটা বড় কারণ। জাপান-বাংলাদেশ এসইজেড থেকে মোটরসাইকেল উৎপাদন বিষয়টি মোটামুটি নিশ্চিত হলেও গাড়ি উৎপাদনের বিষয়টি এখনো নিশ্চিত করেনি কর্তৃপক্ষ। বৈশ্বিক অর্থনৈতিক সংকটে বিনিয়োগ পাওয়া এখন চ্যালেঞ্জিং হয়ে উঠেছে। তবে সংশ্লিষ্টদের প্রত্যাশা, সংকট কেটে গেলে এখানে বিনিয়োগকারীরা আসবেন। জাপান-বাংলাদেশ স্পেশাল ইকোনমিক জোনের লোগোতে রাখা হয়েছে দুই দেশের সম্পর্কের বিষয়টি। লাল বৃত্তের চারপাশে সাদা এবং তার পাশে সবুজ গোলাকার। এটা দিয়ে বোঝানো হচ্ছে বাংলাদেশের ভেতরই এক টুকরো জাপান। অর্থাৎ জাপানের কোয়ালিটি বাংলাদেশেই নিশ্চিত হচ্ছে। জাপান-বাংলাদেশ এসইজেডের এমডি বলেন, বাংলাদেশে অনেকগুলো ইকোনমিক জোন রয়েছে। তবে সব ইকোনমিক জোন ওই দেশের নামে হয়। একমাত্র আমাদের এটিই দুই দেশের নামে নামকরণ করা হয়েছে। এটা মূলত বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতার পঞ্চাশ বছরকে স্মরণীয় করে রাখার একটি উদ্যোগ। বেজার ব্যবস্থাপক (এমআইএস ও গবেষণা) ড. শেখ জোবায়েদ হোসেন বণিক বার্তাকে বলেন, আমাদের সঙ্গে চুক্তি হয়, জাপানিজ ইকোনমিক জোন ছাড়া আর কোথাও আমরা বাংলাদেশ নামটি রাখব না। আমরা মূলত ভূমি অধিগ্রহণের কাজ করছি। বাকি কাজ ও রক্ষণাবেক্ষণ করবে সুমিতোমো করপোরেশন। আশা করছি, শিগগির বাংলাদেশ জাপান বিশেষ অর্থনৈতিক অঞ্চল উৎপাদনে আসতে পারবে।

https://www.tbsnews.net/features/habitat/natural-paramount-agro-shop-when-architecture-reflects-ethos-company-490906 Nafisa Sadia Sultana 06 September, 2022, 11:15 am Last modified: 06 September, 2022, 12:10 pm Natural Paramount Agro Shop: When architecture reflects the ethos of a company Natural Paramount Agro Shop embraces the regenerative approach of architectural design by using feasible and relocatable materials. It was designed to spread awareness about the production and consumption of organic products The exterior facade of the outlet is composed of a brown wooden texture to resemble a natural look. PHOTOS: Studio Dhaka Ltd In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city stands a tree-house like structure, with a wooden exterior, embracing a banyan tree in its vicinity. It sticks out like an oasis surrounded by the city's concrete. The structure - Paramount Agro Ltd at Kamal Ataturk Avenue - promotes nature-based and regenerative architectural design. The fountain, pond, and green patches on the exterior facade of the Natural Paramount Agro Shop is driven by that nature-based concept. Upon entering the place, one notices the hut-shaped wooden structure in the middle of the outlet displaying dry organic products. The small greeneries hanging from the ceiling further add to the theme of the setting - of being enveloped in nature. Studio Dhaka Ltd designed Natural Paramount Agro Shop, an outlet of Paramount Agro, in 2017. It was designed by architect Muhammad Moniruzzaman, Principal Architect of the firm. The design was done using feasible and relocatable materials to spread awareness about the production and consumption of organic products. "We wanted to portray an organic and nature-based theme in the design of the city display and sales centre of the Paramount Agro Ltd, according to our client's needs," architect Moniruzzaman explained. Paramount Agro produces organic agro and dairy products. It is a sister concern of Paramount Group, which specialises in textiles, insurance, chemicals, real estate, and construction. Alongside raising awareness of organic products, the structure of the display and sales centre also intends to encourage others to adopt organic farming in Bangladesh. "Our brand name is O'Natural. As our products are all healthy and organic, our concept was to display our products within nature in a spacious area," said Md. Robiul Islam, the company secretary of Paramount Agro Ltd. "From that point of view, we wanted to have such a nature-friendly design, which was also well appreciated by our long-term, trusted customers." Paramount Agro and Architect Moniruzzaman collaborated in earlier projects of the company as well. The exterior The exterior facade of the outlet is composed of a brown wooden texture to resemble a natural look. The glass walls used in the design seamlessly connect the interior to the surrounding environment and create a spacious facade. The fountain and waterbody on the exterior facade leaves a soothing impact on the minds of the passers-by. To ensure maximum natural light in the space, glass walls and wooden louvre doors have been used. The wooden louvre doors can be folded to let more daylight in whenever necessary. On the exterior, a fountain and waterbody have been installed to replicate the beauty of nature. The waterfall-like fountain and small greeneries were added not only to soothe the minds of the workers and consumers, but also the pedestrians. "The fountain and little pond leaves a soothing impact on the minds of the passers-by," added Moniruzzaman. The sound of water, emerging from behind a foliage, interrupts the sounds of the busy roads. Amid the high-rises in Banani, the nature-based one-storey outlet of Paramount Agro reflects the need to incorporate nature into our urban environment. Cost-effective materials for the composition of the outlet were chosen with the aim to ensure reusability of the materials in the long run. "We used wood, boards, and glass instead of bricks for the composition so that it can be relocated if necessary. It was designed with a vision of long-term cost-effective sustainability," explained the principal architect. A challenge in designing the display and sales centre of Paramount Agro was incorporating the existing banyan tree on the site into the design of the outlet. "Instead of cutting down the tree, we focused on how we can incorporate it into our project design", added architect Moniruzzaman. The colour and texture of the building exterior was kept as close as possible to the banyan tree, which gives the entire space a sense of uniform cohesion. The interior "Since we chose a dark wooden texture for the exterior facade, soft and subtle colours like white and grey were chosen for the interior's colour scheme," elaborated architect Moniruzzaman. The contrast of the interior colour scheme from the exterior aligns with the structure's theme. The hues of white and pastel green are soothing to the eyes and brighten up the space. Floors, shelves, and baskets for the display of the organic products have a light wooden texture and the shelves themselves are made of wood and metal frames. To ensure maximum natural light in the space, glass walls and wooden louvre doors have been used. Photo: Studio Dhaka To add to the soothing effect, warm ambient lights have been used throughout the display and sales centre. The climate controlled interior helps maintain a relaxed atmosphere for customers and also doubles as a way to keep the products fresh. However, the outlet does not have a sitting area. Customers will have to walk around the store and purchase the organic products. The city display and sales centre of the Paramount Agro is designed on a 334.5 sq metres plot. The main structure is designed on 95 sq metres with a green area of approximately 120 sq metres. "The challenge in designing the outlet of the Paramount Agro was the small area. We had to keep enough space behind the main structure for processing of the products," explained architect Moniruzzaman. The design was done using feasible and relocatable materials to spread awareness about the production and consumption of organic products. Time was another constraint for Studio Dhaka Ltd in designing the outlet. "We completed the design and construction of the outlet within three months as per our client's requirement," said Moniruzzaman. The overall project cost was around Tk56 lakhs. "Apart from designing and constructing the outlet, we laid the foundation and constructed a drainage system for the infrastructure," added Moniruzzaman. The cost-effective and nature-based Natural Paramount Agro Shop makes a bold statement about using regenerative ethos in architectural design.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/education/govt-aims-to-increase-enrolment-in-technical-education-to-30pc-by-2030-1662444948 Govt aims to increase enrolment in technical education to 30pc by 2030 FE ONLINE DESK | Published: September 06, 2022 12:15:48 The government plans to increase the number of students in technical education to 30 per cent by 2030, from the existing 17 per cent. The government has taken the move as one of its principal aims to create skilled human resources in information technology compatible with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. To that end, the government is laying emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) based education and training, according to an official document. To meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution the government is giving importance to teaching appropriate technology-based subjects in the classroom and is allocating a budget to the National Curriculum and Textbook Board, or NCTB, for bringing necessary changes in the curriculum. In addition, the government has undertaken several important training programmes aimed at creating a skilled IT workforce. For example, the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority has set a target to train more than sixty thousand young people by 2025 and one lakh by 2030 to fulfil the demand of the IT sector. More than 36,000 people have already been trained under various projects and programmes. The project implemented by the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) has provided training on Information and Communication Technology to about 2.34 lakh people and most of them are doing jobs in various ICT companies/organisations at home and abroad. To adapt to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including augmented reality and virtual reality, the document said, specialised labs will be set up at every university of the country and work is underway to set up 57 such specialised labs. Work on establishment of Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centres in 64 districts and 10 Digital Village is in progress to provide proper training for young people. Besides this, the training programmes on emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, block-chain, robotics, big data, cloud computing etc. are in progress. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently in the first meeting of the Governing Board of the National Skill Development Authority (NSDA) held at her office (PMO) directed the officials to take necessary steps for realising the demographic dividend. She mentioned that each year some 2.2 million individuals enter the job market. If this huge manpower could be trained up properly with appropriate training it would bring enormous benefits for the country. She also asked the officials to pay attention to technology-based training programmes for grabbing the opportunities in the coming Fourth Industrial Revolution. According to the official document, the enrolment rate in technical education, which was less than 1.0 per cent 12 years ago, is now 17.25 per cent. The technical education enrolment rate is the percentage of secondary students enrolled in technical / vocational education programmes, including teacher training programmes. In the 2022 academic year, 26,846 students have been enrolled in pre- vocational courses from 6th to 8th grade and 20,613 students from the 9th grade of 134 technical schools and colleges have been enrolled up to January 2022.

https://bonikbarta.net/home/news_description/312453/কূপ-খননে-গ্যাজপ্রমের-অর্ধেক-বিনিয়োগে-বেশি-সফল-বাপেক্স কূপ খননে গ্যাজপ্রমের অর্ধেক বিনিয়োগে বেশি সফল বাপেক্স আন্তর্জাতিক দরপত্র ছাড়াই একের পর এক কূপ খননের কাজ পাচ্ছে গ্যাজপ্রম আবু তাহের সেপ্টেম্বর ০৫, ২০২ https://bonikbarta.net/uploads/news_image/news_312453_1.jpg?t=1662452789 দেশের স্থলভাগে গ্যাসকূপ খননে কাজ করছে রাষ্ট্রায়ত্ত তেল-গ্যাস অনুসন্ধানকারী প্রতিষ্ঠান বাংলাদেশ এক্সপ্লোরেশন অ্যান্ড প্রডাকশন কোম্পানি (বাপেক্স)। একই সঙ্গে রাশিয়ার জ্বালানি খাতের রাষ্ট্রায়ত্ত প্রতিষ্ঠান গ্যাজপ্রমও কাজ করছে। তবে দুই দেশের রাষ্ট্র খাতের এ দুই কোম্পানির মধ্যে কূপ খনন ব্যয়ে বড় ধরনের অসামঞ্জস্য নিয়ে বরাবরই বিতর্ক রয়েছে। বিশেষ করে নিজেদের সক্ষমতা থাকার পরও গ্যাজপ্রমকে বেশি দরে কাজ দেয়ায় নানা সময়ে সমালোচনার মুখে পড়তে হয়েছে জ্বালানি বিভাগকে। প্রতিষ্ঠান দুটির সঙ্গে চুক্তির বিভিন্ন তথ্য বিশ্লেষণ করে দেখা গিয়েছে, বাপেক্স একটি কূপ খননে যেখানে গড়ে ৭০-৮০ কোটি টাকা নিয়েছে, সেখানে একই কাজ করে গ্যাজপ্রম পেয়েছে গড়ে ১৫০ কোটি টাকা। অথচ বৈশ্বিক জ্বালানি খাতের অনুসন্ধান-উৎপাদনে বিদেশী কোম্পানিটি উল্লেখযোগ্য কাজ করলেও বাংলাদেশে বলার মতো অগ্রগতি নেই। গ্যাজপ্রমকে দ্বিগুণ অর্থ পরিশোধের বিষয়ে কখনই সদুত্তর পাওয়া যায়নি জ্বালানি বিভাগের পক্ষ থেকে। বরং বেশি দরে কাজ দেয়ার পেছনে বরাবরই সামনে আনা হয়েছে গভীর কূপ খননে বহুজাতিক কোম্পানিটির সক্ষমতা ও দক্ষতার বিষয়টি। এ বিষয়ে পেট্রোবাংলার চেয়ারম্যান নাজমুল আহসান বণিক বার্তাকে বলেন, বাংলাদেশে গ্যাসকূপ খনন ও সংস্কারে বাপেক্স বড় আকারে কাজ শুরু করেছে। তবে গভীর কূপ খননে এখনো তাদের সক্ষমতার ঘাটতি রয়েছে। আর যেসব জায়গায় বাপেক্সের কাজ করার সক্ষমতা নেই, সেখানেই কেবল গ্যাজপ্রম কাজ করছে। আবার বাপেক্স ও গ্যাজপ্রম যৌথভাবেও কাজ করছে। এভাবে কাজ করলে আমাদের রাষ্ট্রায়ত্ত প্রতিষ্ঠানটির অভিজ্ঞতা বাড়বে। সংশ্লিষ্টরা অবশ্য বলছেন, গ্যাসকূপ খননে বাপেক্স বড় সফলতা পেলেও বরাবরই আলোচনায় থেকেছে রুশ প্রতিষ্ঠান গ্যাজপ্রম। অথচ গত ১০ বছরে দুই কোম্পানির পরিসংখ্যান বিশ্লেষণ করলে বাপেক্সকেই এগিয়ে রাখতে হবে। বাপেক্সের মাসিক এমআইএস (ম্যানেজমেন্ট ইনফরমেশন সিস্টেম) প্রতিবেদন থেকে জানা গিয়েছে, ২০১২-২২ সাল পর্যন্ত ১০ বছরে দেশে বাপেক্স ২১টি কূপ খনন ও সংস্কারকাজ করেছে। প্রতিটি কূপ খননে সংস্থাটির গড় ব্যয় হয়েছে ৭০-৮০ কোটি টাকা। এসব কূপের ১০টিরও অধিক উৎপাদনে রয়েছে। আবিষ্কার করা হয়েছে চারটি নতুন কূপ। বাকি কূপগুলো অবশ্য বাণিজ্যিকভাবে অলাভজনক। অন্যদিকে রুশ প্রতিষ্ঠান গ্যাজপ্রম ২০২১ সালের ডিসেম্বর পর্যন্ত দেশে মোট ১৭টি কূপ খনন করেছে। এর মধ্যে ২০১২ সালে খনন করা ১০টি কূপের মধ্যে পাঁচটিই বন্ধ হয়ে যায়। যদিও পরে তা বাপেক্স সংস্কার করে গ্যাস উৎপাদনে নিয়ে আসে। এরপর ২০১৬ সালে আরো পাঁচটি গ্যাসফিল্ড এবং ২০১৭ সালে ভোলার শাহবাজপুর ইস্ট-১ ও ভোলা নর্থ-১ আরো দুটি উন্নয়ন কূপ খনন করে। অর্থাৎ ২০১৩-১৮ সাল পর্যন্ত বহুজাতিক সংস্থাটি মোট ১৭টি কূপ খনন করলেও সেগুলো থেকে উল্লেখযোগ্য কোনো গ্যাস জাতীয় গ্রিডে যুক্ত হয়নি বলে জানা গিয়েছে। গ্যাজপ্রম যদিও তাদের ওয়েবসাইটে বাংলাদেশে তাদের কার্যক্রম নিয়ে এক বর্ণনায় দাবি করছে, ২০১৩-১৮ সাল পর্যন্ত তারা মোট ৫০ হাজার মিটার গ্যাসকূপ খনন করেছে। তাতে ওই সময়ে দেশের জাতীয় গ্রিডে মোট গ্যাস সরবরাহ ১০ শতাংশ বাড়ে। বাপেক্স সূত্রে জানা গিয়েছে, বাংলাদেশে কূপ খননে আবারো নতুন করে কাজ শুরু করেছে গ্যাজপ্রম। গত ১৯ আগস্ট ভোলার শাহবাজপুর গ্যাসক্ষেত্রের টবগী-১ কূপের খননকাজ শুরু করে কোম্পানিটি। সেখানে ইলিশা-১ ও ভোলা নর্থ-২ নামে আরো দুটি কূপ খনন করবে রুশ জ্বালানি খাতের প্রতিষ্ঠানটি। পেট্রোবাংলার সঙ্গে চুক্তি অনুযায়ী, এসব কূপ খনন করতে তারা গড়ে ২৩১ কোটি ৫৪ লাখ টাকা পাচ্ছে। প্রকল্পের মোট ব্যয় ধরা হয়েছে ৬৯৪ কোটি ৬৩ লাখ টাকা। এদিকে স্থানীয় গ্যাস কোম্পানি বাপেক্সকে বসিয়ে রেখে গ্যাজপ্রমকে কাজ দেয়ার অভিযোগ বেশ পুরনো। নিজস্ব সংস্থায় বিনিয়োগ না করে দেশের জ্বালানি খাতে বহুজাতিক কোম্পানিটির বিচরণকে ব্যবসায়িক ও রাজনৈতিক স্বার্থ হাসিল হিসেবে দেখছেন অনেকে। এ বিষয়ে জ্বালানি বিভাগের নাম অপ্রকাশিত রাখার শর্তে এক ঊর্ধ্বতন কর্মকর্তা বণিক বার্তাকে বলেন, গ্যাস খাতে রুশ কোম্পানির বিচরণ একটি অদৃশ্য শক্তির কারণে। কোম্পানিটি গ্যাস অনুসন্ধান ও উত্তোলনকারী প্রতিষ্ঠান হিসেবে নাম লেখালেও আদতে তারা এ দেশে ঠিকাদারি প্রতিষ্ঠান হিসেবে কাজ করছে। বাংলাদেশের জ্বালানি খাতে বহুজাতিক কোম্পানিটির আগমন বিশ্লেষণ করে তার প্রমাণও পাওয়া যায়। খোঁজ নিয়ে জানা গিয়েছে, বিদ্যুৎ, জ্বালানির দ্রুত সরবরাহ আইন, ২০১০-এর আওতায় গ্যাজপ্রম কোনো রকম দরপত্র ছাড়াই দেশের গ্যাস খাতে কাজ করার সুযোগ পায়। বাপেক্স-সংশ্লিষ্ট একটি সূত্র জানায়, গ্যাজপ্রম প্রথমে বাপেক্সের পাঁচটি অনুসন্ধান কূপ খননে সাড়ে ৯ কোটি ডলার দর নির্ধারণ করে। প্রতিটি কূপের জন্য গড়ে সে সময় খনন ব্যয় ধরা হয় ১ কোটি ৯০ লাখ ডলার। পেট্রোবাংলার অন্য দুটি কোম্পানি বাংলাদেশ গ্যাসফিল্ড লিমিটেড (বিজিএফসিএল) ও সিলেট গ্যাসফিল্ড লিমিটেডের (এসজিএফসিএল) পাঁচটি কূপের উন্নয়নে ব্যয় ধরা হয় ১০ কোটি ২৪ লাখ ডলার। প্রতিটি কূপ খননের গড় দর ২ কোটি ডলারের কিছু বেশি। এ দর নিয়ে সে সময় বিদ্যুৎ, জ্বালানি ও খনিজ সম্পদ মন্ত্রণালয়ের পক্ষ থেকে আপত্তি জানালেও খুব বেশি লাভ হয়নি। সবচেয়ে বড় বিষয় হলো দরপত্র ছাড়াই কাজ পাওয়ায় বাংলাদেশে কাজ করার ক্ষেত্রে গ্যাজপ্রমের নিজস্ব কোনো বিনিয়োগ ছিল না, এখনো নেই। তাছাড়া কূপ খননের আগে ও পরে কোনো দুর্ঘটনা ঘটলে তার দায়দায়িত্ব কে নেবে এমন কোনো চুক্তিও ছিল না শুরুতে। জ্বালানি বিশেষজ্ঞ ও ভূতত্ত্ববিদ অধ্যাপক বদরূল ইমাম বণিক বার্তাকে বলেন, বাংলাদেশে গ্যাজপ্রমের সাফল্য বলার মতো কিছু না। তারা নানা ধরনের আশ্রয়-প্রশ্রয়ে এ দেশের গ্যাস খনির কাজ বাগিয়ে নেয়। তাদের ক্ষেত্রে বরাবরই দুটি বিষয় সামনে আসে, প্রথমটি তারা বাংলাদেশে গ্যাস খাতে কাজ করলেও অনুসন্ধান কূপে কাজ করতে কখনই আগ্রহী নয়। দ্বিতীয়ত, তারা কূপ খননে বাপেক্সের চেয়ে দ্বিগুণ অর্থ নেয়। তাদের মাধ্যমে কূপ খনন করে পেট্রোবাংলার বড় অংকের অর্থ অপচয় হয়েছে।

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/pm-approves-metro-rail-fare-policy-1662436899 PM approves metro rail fare policy MUNIMA SULTANA | Published: September 06, 2022 10:01:39 | Updated: September 06, 2022 11:26:29 Metro-rail fare has been set at Tk 5.0 per kilometre per ride, more than double the bus fare and less than half the fare declared for auto-rickshaws. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the fare policy for Mass Rapid Transit Line-06 (MRT-06) on August 29 after its summary was placed for her review, according to official sources. They said the PM did not make any change in the fares mooted by the MRT fare-fixing committee following the guideline of the affordability of commuters on the Uttara-Motijheel corridor. However, some commuters reacted to the 'high' rates, but MRT project insiders said the rate is much lower than the costs estimated for operation over Tk 50-million running costs per day. They argue that the fare will have to increase the government's rate of subsidy. As per the approved fares, the MRT-06 ride from Uttara to Agargaon which is expected forinauguration by December will be Tk 60. The entire 20.1 kilometre one way ride from Uttara to Motijheel will be Tk 100. The minimum fare for riding the first-ever metro in the city is fixed at Tk 20 which is also exactly double than the minimum bus fare. The BRTA recently fixed the bus fare at Tk 2.15 kilometre per person with minimum Tk 10. The auto-rickshaw fare is Tk 12 per kilometre with minimum fare Tk 20 for first two kilometres. Sources said the Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD) will send the signed summary of the premier to the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) as per the MRT Act. However, official sources said the committee would focus more on fixing other fares and concession. "Although there is no such discount on MRT rides, the prime minister approved free ride by freedom fighters," said a source. It is also learnt that the MRT pass-holders may also get 10-per cent discount which the DTCA committee will work further. RTHD secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, however, said the DTCA would work on the MRT-approved fares and take action according to the law. The MRT Act stipulates that the DTCA posts the fare chart on its website and publishes in national dailies to make people aware of the rates. It will also take measures to ensure the chart be displayed at all MRT stations. The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), formed under the DTCA, has been implementing the MRT-06 project to develop the first metro rail in the city's north and south corridor which will be extended up to Kamalapur station from Motijheel. As the Tk 334.71-billion MRT project is progressing fast, the DTCA formed the seven-member fare-fixing committee in September 2020 to propose the rates. [email protected]

https://www.tbsnews.net/thoughts/why-offshore-tax-amnesty-unlikely-work-490510 Tahreen Tahrima Chowdhury 05 September, 2022, 01:25 pm Last modified: 05 September, 2022, 01:33 pm Why the offshore tax amnesty is unlikely to work Bangladesh's recent offshore tax amnesty is unlikely to improve the depleted foreign exchange reserve, reverse capital outflow, or decrease corruption and money laundering Tahreen Tahrima Chowdhury. Sketch: TBS The Bangladesh Bank has offered tax amnesty against the return of offshore assets by paying a 7% tax. On 18 July, a Bangladesh Bank circular stated that "any form of undisclosed offshore assets can be brought into the country legally through the banking channel between 1 July and 30 June 2023 by paying a 7% tax." Furthermore, it was reported that the source of funds to be remitted need not be declared. A plausible intention behind the Central Bank's initiative may be to combat the turmoil in the foreign exchange markets arising from scarcity of foreign exchange. However, the initiative is open to the criticism that it may permit legitimising illicit funds and eventually act as a disincentive for honest taxpayers. On the other hand, the initiative can also be viewed as a mechanism for encouraging emigrants to bring back their financial assets and savings through legal channels. Nevertheless, this may not be effective since the income earnings through legal channels by Bangladeshi nationals in foreign countries can already be transferred to Bangladesh in the form of tax-exempt remittance. Therefore, Bangladeshis who have earnings and assets abroad may not find this 7% tax amnesty to be a lucrative incentive. Considering the sudden decline in foreign exchange reserves, it is imperative to stabilise the foreign exchange market as soon as possible, but the options available to the policy makers are limited. In light of this, the tax amnesty provided by the government can still be viewed as a well-intentioned initiative. This is a crucial concern at present and it is essential to assess its likely effectiveness, since it is by no means certain, ex-ante, that money launderers will be inclined to send back their illicit financial resources from abroad. Prior to the offshore tax amnesty, the government provided a tax amnesty to undeclared domestic earnings several times since independence, but tax revenues through such programs have not increased significantly. The percentage of income tax collected from domestic sources as a result of the amnesty compared to the overall collection was not satisfactory: 6.81% in 2007-08 which then fell to less than 1% in FY 2008-09 and FY 2009-10 (0.72% and 0.70% respectively) (Ahmed 2020). Given the dismal outcome of the tax amnesty on domestic revenues, it is unlikely that the outcome of tax amnesty initiatives on offshore resources will be effective. Let us consider some facts and issues to assess this concern. It is well known that illicit transfers through illegal channels take place in large amounts. It should be obvious that only individuals and firms with high incomes can avail themselves of such opportunities (cf. Alstadseter et al, 2018). The Global Financial Integrity Report (GFI, 2021) states that funds are illicitly transferred across international borders "to evade taxes and/or customs duties, launder the proceeds of criminal activity, circumvent currency controls, and hide profits in offshore bank accounts." If such transfers are indeed meant to evade taxes and trade duties to begin with, the likelihood of reversing capital outflow by means of the offshore tax amnesty seems low. It is difficult to estimate the magnitude of illicit financial flows due to its covert nature. GFI carried out this task by examining the latest international trade data, officially reported by governments to the United Nations, by estimating the magnitude of trade misinvoicing. GFI calculated the "value gaps" occurring in the global commercial trading system by identifying the "mismatches between what any two countries had reported regarding their trade with each other." The annual average total value gap identified in Bangladesh's trade is about $8.3 billion between 2009 to 2018, and amounts to approximately 17% of total trade of Bangladesh (GFI 2021 Report), which also reveals the magnitude of capital flight every year. Trade misinvoicing and balance of payment leakages are two channels for illicit financial flows in the developing world. Illicit financial outflows through trade misinvoicing and balance of payment leakages account for 12-17% of Bangladesh's total trade from 2005 to 2015, of which trade misinvoicing is around 7-12% of Bangladesh's total trade (GFI, 2017). Hence, trade misinvoicing is the largest component of illicit financial flows in Bangladesh. Against this backdrop, even if the central bank's ambitious approach of tax amnesty functions as intended, and if there is substantial inflow of foreign currencies resulting in significant augmentation of foreign exchange reserve, the shortage of the reserve will be addressed to some extent in the short-run but there is unlikely to be a significant effect in the long-run. The currency depreciation has been large and in a short span of about six months it has increased the incentive to resend funds which were transferred since early this year. However, the present scenario is somewhat different from the previous years. For example, if the funds were transferred when the exchange rate was Tk87 to the US dollar, it could be brought to Tk95 in a short span of time — a high rate of return. And, if the benefit of the tax amnesty is included, the return would be even higher. Individuals may be induced to utilise the high return of this short-term capital inflow in significant part to make long-term investments in unproductive real estate assets in the absence of well-structured investment opportunities. A thriving "hundi" or curb market makes Bangladesh's capital account more open than the policy regime suggests. This implies that foreign exchange traders can drive up the value of the Taka via curb market activity, and at a certain stage drive it back down again, depreciating it. While such behaviour would normally be expected in an open capital account with a floating exchange rate and market competition, the ups and downs would not disrupt the market given strong monetary and fiscal policies and regulation. However, with weak policies and regulation, it can cause turbulence and yield windfall gains of the sort observed recently. It is high time the government resolutely strengthened regulatory control as well as executed stern actions against the unscrupulous "money changers." Otherwise, the ability of a relatively small group of traders to cause large swings in the exchange rate can cause greater disruption in the future. The stock market crashes of 1996 and 2012 should serve as reminders. References Ahmed, Sams Uddin. "Tax amnesty schemes in Bangladesh: Some observations." The Cost and Management 48, no. 3 (2020): 35-40. Alstadsæter, Annette, Niels Johannesen, and Gabriel Zucman. "Tax evasion and inequality." American Economic Review 109, no. 6 (2019): 2073-2103. Integrity, Global Financial. "Illicit financial flows to and from developing countries: 2005-2014." Washington, DC (2017). Integrity, Global Financial. "Trade-related illicit financial flows in 134 developing countries 2009-2018." Global Financial Integrity,(2021). Tahreen Tahrima Chowdhury is a Research Fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS)

https://bangla.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news-390111 বঙ্গমাতা সেতু: ৮ ঘণ্টায় টোল আদায় ১১ হাজার টাকা নিজস্ব সংবাদদাতা, পিরোজপুর সোমবার, সেপ্টেম্বর ৫, ২০২২ ০১:২২ অপরাহ্ন বঙ্গমাতা বেগম ফজিলাতুন নেছা মুজিব সেতু। ছবি: স্টার বঙ্গমাতা বেগম ফজিলাতুন নেছা মুজিব অষ্টম বাংলাদেশ-চীন মৈত্রী সেতু খুলে দেওয়া হয়েছে আজ সোমবার ভোররাত ১২টা ১ মিনিটে। খুলে দেওয়ার ৮ ঘণ্টায় সেতু থেকে টোল আদায় হয়েছে ১১ হাজার ৮০ টাকা। পিরোজপুর সড়ক ও জনপথ বিভাগের কার্য সহকারী মো. রফিকুল ইসলাম এ তথ্য জানান। কঁচা নদীর ওপর নির্মিত সেতুটি খুলে দেওয়ার পর সর্বপ্রথম মৎস্য ও প্রাণিসম্পদ মন্ত্রী শ ম রেজাউল করিম টোল দিয়ে সেতুটি পার হন। এরপর থেকেই নিরবিচ্ছিন্নভাবে সেতু দিয়ে যান চলাচল করছে। সেতুটি ব্যবহারের জন্য সর্বোচ্চ ৩১৫ টাকা এবং সর্বনিম্ন ৫ টাকা টোল নির্ধারণ করা হয়েছে। ১ হাজার ৪৯৩ মিটার দীর্ঘ সেতুটি চীন সরকারের আর্থিক ও কারিগরি সহযোগিতায় ৮৯৪ কোটি টাকা ব্যয়ে নির্মিত হয়েছে। গতকাল সকালে প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনা ভিডিও কনফারেন্সের মাধ্যমে সেতুটি উদ্বোধন করেন।

https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/energy/focus-more-generating-electricity-renewable-sources-nasrul-hamid-490254 UNB 04 September, 2022, 09:50 pm Last modified: 04 September, 2022, 10:03 pm Focus more on generating electricity renewable sources: Nasrul Hamid File Photo: State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has urged officials to pay more attention to generate electricity from renewable sources. "You have to work with broader mindset to generate more electricity from the renewable sources," he said, while virtually addressing a contract signing ceremony at Bidyut Bhaban on Sunday for setting up a 55MW wind power plant in Mongla. He said the wind project is the part of the government's target to generate 10% of electricity from renewable energy by 2030 and 40% by 2040. A Chinese-Bangladeshi consortium signed the deal with Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) to set up the plant on a build-own-operate basis at Mongla in Bagerhat. The Consortium of Envision Energy, (Jiangsu) Co Ltd, China, SQ Trading and Engineering, Bangladesh and Envision Renewable Energy Ltd, Hong Kong will develop the plant under a new special project vehicle (SPV) company Mongla Green Power Ltd. The project cost is expected to be around $96.597m. At Sunday's function, BPDB director Golam Rabbani and Mongla Green Energy's managing director Xu Wentao signed the contract on behalf of their respective sides. As per the deal, the state-owned BPDB will purchase electricity from the plant at a levelised tariff of 13.20 Cents, equivalent to Tk13 per kilowatt hour (each unit). The BPDB will purchase electricity from the independent power producer (IPP) plant over a period of 20 years spending a total of more than Tk2,000 crore. This has been the second deal for wind power for which the BPDB signed contract with the private sector sponsor. Earlier, the BPDB signed the first deal with US-DK Green Energy (BD), a private firm, for setting up a 60MW wind power plant at Cox's Bazar. Nasrul Hamid inaugurated the ground breaking of the Cox's Bazar plant in March this year.

https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/indian-ongc-seeks-contract-redemption-1662222877 High cost quotes hinder offshore gas hunt Indian ONGC seeks contract redemption M AZIZUR RAHMAN | September 04, 2022 00:00:00 India's hydrocarbon-exploration company ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) has sought extension of its contract tenure again having failed to appoint a drilling contractor due to high cost quotes, sources say, while Bangladesh reels from energy shortages. If extended, it would be a third-time extension of the tenure of production-sharing contract (PSC) between the OVL and state-run Petrobangla. Petrobangla earlier had extended the tenure of the PSC with the OVL by two more years until February 2023 to rachet up offshore exploration for gas and oil the shortages of which have squeezed Bangladesh's power production with cascading effects on daily life and the economy. The deal with the Indian firm expired in February 2021 after an initial two-year extension. Petrobangla had signed two PSCs with OVL, the operator of shallow- water offshore blocks SS-04 and SS-09, on February 17 in 2014, which expired in February 2019. The company is contractually pledge- bound to complete the drilling of two more wells- Titly in block SS-04 and Moitree in block SS-09, both in shallow waters-within next six months if the deal gets extended life further, a senior Petrobangla official told the FE Saturday. "The Indian firm floated tenders twice to engage a drilling contractor to carry out the drilling of Titly and Moitree wells but got exorbitant price quotes worth around US$11 million, almost double its budget," he added. The company has a budget to complete drilling both the wells at a cost of US$ 65 million. "The Indian firm is yet to engage any drilling contractor as the latter is seeking higher- than- expected drilling costs," the official said. It sought extension of the PSC tenure with the hope that the contractors will demand less drilling costs after several months with the easing of current global energy- market turmoil, he added. A couple of months back, the firm 'failed' to discover any presence of hydrocarbons in Kanchan gas well in Bangladesh's shallow-water gas- block SS-04. It plugged and abandoned the well subsequently, stating that there was no find. The ONGC had drilled beyond its targeted depth of around 4,228 metres beneath the surface in search of a commercially viable gas deposit at Kanchan of Moheshkhali island in the Bay of Bengal. Plugging and abandoning the well means the well does not have prospect of hydrocarbon reserves. Instead, the Indian firm could find only huge deposits of clay and shell-stone sequence during the drilling in absence of sandstone, meaning there is no gas-reserve prospect there. The drilling of the Kanchan well was the first offshore drilling in the country's maritime territory in five years, gas exploration appeared to have lost gear. Australian oil-and-gas-exploration-company Santos along with state-run Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (BAPEX) earlier in February 2017 drilled offshore Magnama-2 well under Block 16. But it was also found dry, after drilling into a depth of around 3,200 metres. This fruitless drilling cost BAPEX around US$29 million. There are also no producing offshore gas wells in the country and the entire natural gas output comes from onshore gasfields as well as import of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The OVL, the operator of blocks SS-04 and SS-09, has participating interests of 45 per cent, Oil India Limited (OIL) holds 45 per cent participating interests and the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited or BAPEX holds the remaining 10 per cent. The Block SS-04 covers an area of 7,269sqkm while the Block SS-09 stretches over an area of 7,026sqkm. Water depth of both the blocks ranges between 20 and 200 metres. As per the PSC, the OVL is committed to conducting 2,700 line-kilometre 2D seismic data-acquisition and-processing and one exploratory well in Block SS-04 and 2,700 line-kilometre 2D seismic data-acquisition and-processing and two exploratory wells in Block SS-09. The firm will be allowed to operate and sell oil and gas for 20 years from an oilfield and 25 years from a gasfield. It has already completed around 3,100 line-kilometre 2D seismic surveys for both the blocks. [email protected]

https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/dhaka-delhi-likely-sign-7-mous-during-pm-hasinas-visit-momen-490006 TBS Report 04 September, 2022, 04:40 pm Last modified: 04 September, 2022, 04:44 pm Bangladesh, India likely to sign 7 MoUs during PM Hasina’s visit: Momen Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said Bangladesh and India are likely to sign as many as seven Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on water management, railway, science and technology, and broadcasting during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to the neighbouring country. The two sides will also hold talks on fuel oil, the minister said while briefing the media Sunday (4 August). The prime minister leaves for New Delhi on Monday on a four-day state visit at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Issues related to security cooperation, investment, enhanced trade relations, power and energy sector cooperation, water sharing of common rivers, water resources management, border management, and combating drug smuggling and human trafficking are likely to get priority during the talks. The prime minister will lead a high-level delegation which includes several ministers, advisers, state ministers, secretaries and senior officials. Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Railways Minister Md. Nurul Islam Sujan, PM's economic affairs adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman, PM's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid and State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque are among the delegation members. Representatives from business bodies of Bangladesh will also accompany PM Hasina. Hasina is also scheduled to attend a business event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries. The prime minister will be formally received by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while a ceremonial guard of honour will be accorded to her. She will pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

https://bangla.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news-389826 বঙ্গমাতা সেতু: কোন গাড়ির টোল কত স্টার অনলাইন রিপোর্ট রোববার, সেপ্টেম্বর ৪, ২০২২ ০৪:৪২ অপরাহ্ন বঙ্গমাতা বেগম ফজিলাতুন নেছা মুজিব সেতু। ছবি: স্টার পিরোজপুর জেলার বরিশাল-খুলনা আঞ্চলিক মহাসড়কের বেকুটিয়ায় কঁচা নদীর ওপর নির্মিত 'বঙ্গমাতা বেগম ফজিলাতুন নেছা মুজিব ৮ম বাংলাদেশ চীন-মৈত্রী সেতু'তে যান চলাচল শুরু হয়েছে। আজ রোববার সকালে প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনা ভিডিও কনফারেন্সের মাধ্যমে নবনির্মিত এই সেতুটি উদ্বোধন করেন। উদ্বোধন শেষে সেতুটি যান চলাচলের জন্য খুলে দেওয়ার পর পিরোজপুরের সড়ক ও জনপথ বিভাগ এখান থেকে টোল আদায় শুরু করেছে বলে জানিয়েছে সড়ক পরিবহন ও মহাসড়ক বিভাগের একটি সূত্র। সেতুতে চলাচলের জন্য আগেই নির্ধারণ করা টোলহার চলতি বছরের শুরুতে অনুমোদন দেওয়া হয়। সেতুতে বিভিন্ন শ্রেণির যানবাহনের জন্য নির্ধারিত টোল। সূত্র: সড়ক পরিবহন ও মহাসড়ক বিভাগ ওই তালিকা অনুসারে এই সেতুর জন্য মোটরসাইকেল, বাইসাইকেল, রিকশা ও ঠেলাগাড়ির জন্য নির্ধারিত টোলহার ৫ টাকা করে। টেম্পো, সিএনজি ও ব্যাটারিচালিত অটোরিকশার ক্ষেত্রে টোল ধরা হয়েছে ১৫ টাকা করে। প্রাইভেট কারে করে সেতু পার হতে দিতে হবে ৩০ টাকা। এ ছাড়া পিকআপ ভ্যান, জিপ ও মাইক্রোবাসের জন্য নির্ধারিত টোল ৫০ টাকা। পাশাপাশি মিনিবাস ৬৫ টাকা, পাওয়ার টিলার-ট্রাক্টর ৭৫ টাকা, ছোট ট্রাক (৩ টন পর্যন্ত) ৯৫ টাকা, বড় বাস (৩১ অথবা তার বেশি আসনবিশিষ্ট) ১১৫ টাকা, মাঝারি ট্রাক এবং বাণিজ্যিক কাজে ব্যবহৃত ট্রাক্টর ও ট্রেইলার ১২৫ টাকা, ভারি ট্রাক ২৫০ টাকা এবং কনটেইনার, ভারি যন্ত্রপাতি, ভারি মালামাল ও সরঞ্জাম পরিবহনে সক্ষম ট্রেইলারের ৩১৫ টাকা টোল ধরা হয়েছে।

https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2022/09/04/kepz-to-get-6m-investment-to-set-up-rmg-bag-manufacturing-plant KEPZ to get $6m investment to set up RMG, bag manufacturing plant The company will produce annually 3.08 million pieces of jackets, bags, shirt, pants, shorts, trousers, cap/hat, skirt, vest and shocks Tribune Desk September 4, 2022 12:31 PM HZ Outdoor International Co Ltd, a company with origins from China and Taiwan, is going to set up a readymade garment and bag manufacturing industry at Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) with an investment of $6.03 million. The company will produce annually 3.08 million pieces of jackets, bags, shirt, pants, shorts, trousers, cap/hat, skirt, vest and shocks, said a press release. An estimated 2,202 Bangladeshis will get employment opportunity in this factory. An agreement was signed between Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) and HZ Outdoor International at Bepza Complex in the capital on Sunday. Ali Reza Mazid, member (investment promotion) of Bepza and Roberto Haryono Go, general manager of HZ Outdoor, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations. Executive Chairman of Bepza Maj Gen Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman was also present at the signing ceremony. Among others, member (engineering) Mohammad Faruque Alam, member (finance) Nafisa Banu, executive director (administration) Md Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, executive director (public relations) Nazma Binte Alamgir, executive director (enterprise services) Md Khorshid Alam and additional executive director (investment promotion) Md Fazlul Haque Mazumder also attended the ceremony. HZ Outdoor already has another factory set up at Chittagong EPZ.

https://www.tbsnews.net/features/panorama/countrys-first-mobile-game-developer-company-took-root-programming-book-bought Ariful Islam Mithu 04 September, 2022, 09:00 am Last modified: 04 September, 2022, 08:57 am The country’s first mobile game developer company took root from a programming book bought from Nilkhet Tanveer Ahmed’s Free Pixel Games Ltd is the first mobile game development studio in Bangladesh born out of a love for computers and a failed outsourcing venture Tanveer Ahmed posed for a photo at his Banani office with the company's flagship mobile game Dragon Village recently. Photo: Noor-A-Alam It was 1998. Tanveer Ahmed was a second-year student at Notre Dame College. The college had just introduced a new subject - Computer Science, besides Statistics and Biology, as an optional subject. He did not have much idea about the new subject, but decided to go with it anyway. A month later he heard that a computer fair would be held in the city. "I decided that I would participate in the fair with a project by any means. But I neither had programming skills nor a personal computer," said Tanveer Ahmed, managing director of Free Pixel Games Ltd, the country's first mobile game developer company, sitting at his Banani office. The company creates mobile games that are played in the US, Australia and Europe. A thought crossed his mind. One of his uncles owned a second-hand computer hardware store - Well-done Computers - in Kamlapur. He borrowed a computer for a month from his uncle. However, he did not have coding skills so he went to Nilkhet looking for a book on coding. "I bought a book on programming- Visual Java++, from a footpath shop and studied it for a whole month. That helped me develop a dynamic website," said the 40-year-old Tanveer who set up Free Pixel Games Ltd in 2009, a time when only a handful of people in Bangladesh used smartphones. "My only target was to participate in the fair." Tanveer, along with others, participated and exhibited his project in the fair. To his surprise, his website project won a prize. Six months later his father bought him his first personal computer. He soon became familiar with softwares and then entered into the outsourcing industry. The creation of Free Pixel Games Ltd "My liking for software grew with time. Nonetheless, I never wanted to be a software engineer, but a software businessman," said Tanveer. He made a profile on E-lance in 2001, a freelancing website. He started outsourcing work to other freelancers through his profile. By that time he had already enrolled with the prestigious business school, IBA, under Dhaka University. Through outsourcing, he began earning in dollars. "After my graduation in 2004, my father wanted me to look after our family business in the textile industry. It was a local venture but my dream was to venture into the international market," said Tanveer. He took up an internship at a textile mill as well, but that did not settle well with him. A year later, he set up an office for outsourcing, ITIW with a small team and only eight computers. The new company saw booming business. Within three years, the number of employees rose to 45 from 8. In 2008, as the whole world fell into an economic recession, the company's profit began shrinking. Providing salaries to 45 employees was exhausting the company's savings. Many employees were also quitting for better options. Photo: Noor-A-Alam "Clients were hesitant to give us work as they were suffering from the recession as well," said Tanveer. That spurred Tanveer to come up with their own product, instead of taking part in the work processes of others. "We started searching for emerging sectors on E-lance again," he added. He noticed that the mobile operating system iOS had recently begun and was booming. His company developed its first mobile app for iOS in 2009 for an overseas company. People were dependent on website-dependent softwares until iOS came into view. They decided to work on mobile phone applications from that point onward. The game theory In the same year, Tanveer moved from developing mobile applications to mobile games. Only a handful of people were using smartphones in Bangladesh and Apple's App Store began to gain popularity. They began looking for a programming language with which to make mobile games and found that they needed a game engine for that. They discovered a game engine called Cocos2d. "Games are easier to understand and have a universal appeal. On the other hand, apps are a utility," said Tanveer, who is also fond of playing games. "Super Mario is being played in Bangladesh, USA and Japan. It does not need any customisation. But applications do, based on the country it is used in," said Tanveer. "A utility app in Japan will not be the same in the USA." Tanveer bought Cocos2d from its developer who lived in Germany for $50. "We developed some games using the engine and released some games in 2009," said Tanveer. "In just two to three months, we noticed that we were earning more than we could with E-lancer! So we moved our focus on game development completely." Free Pixel Games is still using Cocos2d to develop a few of their games. In 2010, his passion for software/game development took him to Apple's developer conference, Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), in San Francisco where Steve Jobs was presenting. He was the only Bangladeshi among the around 2,000 people who attended the conference. Till date Free Pixel Games Ltd has developed and launched 15 international standard games in Google Play and Apple Store like Dragon Valley [their most popular mobile game], Halloween World and Dino Village Tycoon, etc. The export-oriented mobile developer company mainly develops role-play and racing games. "It takes us between 6 months to 12 years to develop a single game," Tanveer said. "And there are around 100 prototypes behind a single successful game," he added. The company now employs around 80 employees with a salary between Tk25,000 to Tk1.5 lakh. The average salary is Tk60,000. Photo: Noor-A-Alam Games are categorised on their complexity and playtime. Categories include hyper-casual, causal, Mid-Core and Hard-Core games. The company is developing games which fall between Casual and Mid-core categories. However, Mid-core games require courage to develop, according to Tanveer. Most of the revenue the company generates is from the USA, EU, Australia and New Zealand and Southeast Asia. The mobile game developing industry in Bangladesh is in its initial stage, Tanveer said. "The game development industry is a high-risk and high-return industry around the world," said Tanveer Ahmed. However, Tanveer's future plan is to set up a video editing and animation studio, develop an e-learning platform and scale up the mobile game business further.

https://www.prothomalo.com/business/twjmdu714e বাংলাদেশের আসবাবশিল্পে হাতিলের বর্তমান ও ভবিষ্যৎ বিজ্ঞাপন বার্তা প্রকাশ: ৩১ আগস্ট ২০২২, ১৭: ০০ বাংলাদেশের বেশির ভাগ আসবাব–ব্র্যান্ড স্বাধীনতার পর থেকে বিকাশ লাভ শুরু করে। গার্মেন্টসশিল্পের মতো আসবাবশিল্পও বাংলাদেশের অর্থনীতিতে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ অবদান রাখছে বৈদেশিক মুদ্রা অর্জন ও কর্মসংস্থান তৈরির মাধ্যমে। এক্সপোর্ট প্রমোশন ব্যুরোর তথ্য অনুযায়ী, ২০১২-১৩ অর্থবছরের তুলনায় বাংলাদেশে এখন রপ্তানি বেড়েছে ২৫১ শতাংশ, যার পরিমাণ প্রায় ৩১ দশমিক ৪১ মিলিয়ন ডলার। ২৫ লাখের বেশি মানুষ এই শিল্পের সঙ্গে প্রত্যক্ষ ও পরোক্ষভাবে জড়িত। বিশ্বের সব জায়গায়ই আবাসনের চাহিদা পূরণের পরই যে চাহিদার সৃষ্টি হয়, তা হলো আসবাব। বর্তমানে একক পরিবারের সংখ্যা বৃদ্ধি পাচ্ছে। ফ্ল্যাটের আকারও ছোট হয়ে আসছে। তথ্যপ্রযুক্তির ব্যাপক প্রসারের কারণে আধুনিক বিশ্বের নিত্যনতুন ট্রেন্ডগুলো মানুষ গ্রহণ করছে খুব সহজেই। ক্রেতার চাহিদা ও রুচির পরিবর্তন হচ্ছে প্রতিনিয়ত, খুব দ্রুত। মানুষ এখন স্লিম ও সিম্পল ডিজাইনের ফার্নিচার পছন্দ করছে। মাল্টিফাংশনাল আসবাবগুলোও এখন ক্রেতাদের পছন্দের তালিকার শীর্ষে থাকছে। দ্রুত পরিবর্তনশীল এই রুচি আর চাহিদার সঙ্গে তাল মেলাতে হাতিলও নিত্যনতুন আর উদ্ভাবনী ডিজাইনের আসবাব তৈরির জন্য রিসার্চ এবং ডেভেলপমেন্টের ওপর আগের থেকে বেশি জোর দিচ্ছে। তারই ধারাবাহিকতায় আধুনিক, স্লিম ও রুচিসম্মত ডিজাইনের আসবাব নিয়ে আসছে হাতিল। তিন দশক ধরে ক্রেতাদের আসবাবের চাহিদা ও রুচির দিকে বিশেষ গুরুত্ব দিচ্ছে হাতিল। ফলে আসবাবজগতে হাতিল একটি সুপরিচিত ও বিশ্বস্ত ব্র্যান্ড হিসেবে পরিচিতি পায় দেশীয় ও আন্তর্জাতিক বাজারে পণ্যের গুণগত মান নিশ্চিত ও রুচিশীল ডিজাইনের মাধ্যমে। বর্তমানে দেশব্যাপী হাতিলের ৭২টির বেশি বিক্রয়কেন্দ্র রয়েছে। বাংলাদেশে ভালো একটি অবস্থান তৈরির পাশাপাশি এই ব্র্যান্ডটি আন্তর্জাতিক আসবাব–বাজারেও সুনামের সঙ্গে ব্যবসা পরিচালনা করছে। অতিসম্প্রতি হাতিল ভারতে তাদের ২৬তম বিক্রয়কেন্দ্র উদ্বোধন করেছে। ভুটানেও রয়েছে হাতিলের দুটি বিক্রয়কেন্দ্র। এ ছাড়া যুক্তরাষ্ট্র, অস্ট্রেলিয়া, কানাডা, থাইল্যান্ড, মিসর, রাশিয়া, সৌদি আরব, কুয়েত এবং সংযুক্ত আরব আমিরাতেও রপ্তানি হচ্ছে হাতিলের আসবাব। হাতিল তার নিজস্বতা ধরে রেখে দেশীয় বাজারের জন্য যে আসবাব তৈরি করছে, বিদেশেও একই আসবাব রপ্তানি করছে নিজস্ব ব্র্যান্ডিংয়ে। জিডিপিতে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ অবদান রাখার জন্য সরকার এই শিল্পকে ‘থ্রাস্ট সেক্টর’ হিসেবে ঘোষণা দিয়েছে। দেশীয় বাজারে আন্তর্জাতিক মানের আসবাব তৈরি হওয়ায় আসবাব আমদানির পরিমাণও হ্রাস পাচ্ছে প্রতিবছর। এ কারণেই হাতিল ‘বেস্ট ইন ইমপোর্ট সাবস্টিটিউশন’ ক্যাটাগরিতে অর্জন করেছে ‘সেকেন্ড এইচএসবিসি বিজনেস এক্সিলেন্স অ্যাওয়ার্ড’। দেশীয় ও আন্তর্জাতিক বাজারের চাহিদা জোগানের জন্য হাতিলের আসবাব তৈরি হয় হাতিলের নিজস্ব কারখানায়। সাভারের জিরানীতে অবস্থিত কারখানাটিতে প্রায় তিন হাজার শ্রমিক প্রতিদিন কাজ করেন। হাতিলের কারখানাটি দক্ষিণ এশিয়ার অন্যতম বৃহৎ আসবাব তৈরির কারখানা, যেখানে আসবাব তৈরিতে সর্বাধুনিক ইউরোপিয়ান প্রযুক্তির মেশিনারিজের পাশাপাশি রোবটেরও ব্যবহার হয়ে থাকে। ই-কমার্স প্ল্যাটফর্ম ও ভার্চ্যুয়াল রিয়েলিটির মতো অত্যাধুনিক সুবিধা প্রদানের মাধ্যমে ক্রেতার আসবাব ক্রয়কে আরও সহজতর করেছে হাতিল। হাতিল বাংলাদেশের একটি ISO 9001: 2015 সার্টিফায়েড প্রতিষ্ঠান এবং এই সার্টিফিকেট কোয়ালিটি ম্যানেজমেন্ট সিস্টেমের জন্য আন্তর্জাতিকভাবে স্বীকৃত মান। পাশাপাশি পরিবেশের ভারসাম্য রক্ষায় হাতিল ‘এফএসসি সার্টিফায়েড’ বন থেকে কাঠ সংরক্ষণ করে থাকে, যাতে গাছ কাটার ফলে পরিবেশে বিরূপ প্রভাব না পড়ে। তা ছাড়া আসবাব তৈরিতে কাঠের অব্যবহৃত অংশ আধুনিক প্রযুক্তির রিসাইক্লিং–ব্যবস্থার মাধ্যমে জ্বালানি হিসেবে ব্যবহার করে থাকে ব্র্যান্ডটি। যেসব প্রতিষ্ঠান ব্যবসায়িক অনুশীলনে পরিবেশবান্ধব এবং পরিবেশগতভাবে দায়িত্বশীল প্রক্রিয়া বা প্রযুক্তি গ্রহণ করে ব্যবসা পরিচালনা করে, সেগুলোর মধ্যে হাতিলও রয়েছে। গ্রিন অপারেশনের জন্য ২০১৩ সালে ‘এইচএসবিসি–দ্য ডেইলি স্টার ক্লাইমেট অ্যাওয়ার্ড’ পায় হাতিল। গ্রিন অপারেশনের অংশ হিসেবে হাতিল ‘গ্রিন অ্যানার্জি প্রজেক্ট’ তৈরির উদ্যোগ নিয়েছে। এই প্রজেক্টের মাধ্যমে পরিবেশবান্ধব বিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদনের জন্য হাতিলের কারখানার ছাদে সোলার প্যানেল স্থাপন করা হবে, যা জাতীয় গ্রিডের বিদ্যুতের ওপরও চাপ কমাবে।

03 September, 2022, 09:10 am Last modified: 03 September, 2022, 09:14 am Tripura’s trade volume with Bangladesh grew 158% in 3yrs: Indian official Tripura's trade with Bangladesh used to be Rs390.68 crore, the figure now stands at Rs1,008.4 crore (Tk1.19 = Rs1) TBS Report Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on September 6 to discuss trade relations between the two countries. According to Indian officials, Tripura's trade volume with Bangladesh increased by 158% in the last three years. However, the bilateral trade relation is still uneven as only 30% of the trade volume involves export to Bangladesh and 70% of the trade comes from goods imported from the country. The matter is expected to be discussed by Narendra Modi with Sheikh Hasina on 6 September, reports Indian news outlet The Indian Express. Speaking to reporters at the state secretariat, India's Special Secretary for Industries and Commerce Abhishek Chandra said while the trade volume with Bangladesh used to be Rs390.68 crore, the figures now stand at Rs1,008.4 crore (Tk1.19 = Rs1). However, he said some problems still exist in some sectors and those would be taken up by Modi with Sheikh Hasina during her visit to New Delhi. "There are still problems in some areas. Two Border Haats with Bangladesh were stopped during Covid and weren't restarted. We have requested to allow movement of goods and services in these but it's still awaiting approval. "There is also some objection about an Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Muhurighat in South Tripura. Prime Minister Modi has agreed to take up these issues with the Bangladesh premier on 6 September," the official added. Speaking on the trade deficit on the Indian side, the official said the state government has identified 26 products where the trade volume could increase but only 16 of them were permitted for export by Bangladesh. These include rubber and tea, two of the most important cash crops of Tripura, which has the potential of significantly boosting the state's trade prospects. "Rubber goes to Bangladesh from Petrapole-Benapole in West Bengal (WB). If we could send it from here, it could alone boost the prospects. Our tea can be exported there with 80 % duty, which makes it uncompetitive in Bangladesh. That's why our trade balance is skewed. The PM would take up different issues from northeast India with the Bangladesh premier, including issues pertaining to Tripura." In terms of volume, Indo-Bangla trade through six Land Customs Stations (LCS) and Integrated Check Posts in Tripura increased by Rs14.65 crore in 2018-19, by Rs30.34 crore in 2019-20 and Rs16.39 crore in 2020-21. The industries and commerce special secretary also said as a part of the sectoral development, the Indo-Bangla friendship bridge on River Feni would be inaugurated on 9 September.

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/exports-grow-38-yoy-august-riding-rmg-home-textiles-489618 Reyad Hossain 03 September, 2022, 09:55 pm Last modified: 03 September, 2022, 10:50 pm Exports grow 38% YoY in August riding on RMG, home textiles Exports grew by around 38% to $4.67 billion in August compared with the same month last year driven by a number of products including readymade garments, home textiles, leather and jute goods, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). With the year-on-year export growth of more than 25% in the last two months, industry insiders say, the increased price of raw materials, increase in freight cost as well as shifting of some orders from China to Bangladesh are the main reasons behind the export growth. Garment entrepreneurs say exports were relatively low in August of the last fiscal year 2021-22 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, they pointed out that this growth is likely to drop from November and December as the current flow of orders are low. "In August last year there were some Covid-induced restrictions, due to which exports were low. As a result, the year-on-year export growth is high. But if we calculate month on month growth for ready-made garments, we will see that the export amount has decreased compared to July," Md Shahidullah Azim, vice president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and exporters Association (BGMEA) told The Business Standard. "Orders have started to decline and the clear impact of this will be seen in November and December," he added. After the transition from the pandemic, the demand in Bangladesh's main export destination countries increased, and orders started to pour in. But after the Ukraine-Russia war started to drag on, they cut back on purchases, resulting in lower orders, which will be reflected in the next two to three months. More than 80% of Bangladesh's exports come from the garment sector. A section of apparel sector entrepreneurs and economists say that since Bangladesh produces more basic items of clothing and some buyers from China are coming to Bangladesh for various reasons, there may not be a major negative impact to orders in the coming days. Shams Mahmud, an RMG exporter and former president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) told The Business Standard that several buyers, for example who used to purchase one lakh pieces of clothing earlier, are now making inquiries for two lakh pieces. "If such orders are confirmed, there may not be any major negative reaction to the order in the coming months," he said. Bangladesh's emerging exports include home textiles after the ready-made garments and home textiles entrepreneurs are not seeing any negative impact on orders yet. M Shahadat Hossain Sohel, managing director of Towel Tex Limited and president at Bangladesh Terry Towel and Linen Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BTTLMEA) told The Business Standard, "We have a lot of export orders. Several orders are coming to Bangladesh from Pakistan. There is a possibility of more orders due to fresh flooding there." However, despite the orders, the fuel price hike and daily load shedding is eating away their profits, he said. "Due to load shedding, I'm having to use Tk92,000 worth of diesels every day. If this problem is not solved, the orders will come but there will be no profits," he added. Professor Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) considers the current pace of Bangladesh's exports to be satisfactory. "Orders from China are coming to Bangladesh. This is hopeful news. But our rate of value addition is very low. Attention should be paid to this," he said. "Besides, we need to increase our focus on the non-RMG sector. Then good growth can be expected from those sectors," added Mustafizur Rahman. AHM Ahsan, vice chairman of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), however, thinks that Bangladesh would hold this export momentum for next two to three months also. In the fiscal year 2021-22, Bangladesh's exports amounted to $52 billion, and the growth was more than 34%. In the current fiscal year, as part of some caution, the growth rate has been reduced to 11% and the target of exports of goods has been fixed at $58 billion. According to EPB calculations, exports in the first two months of the fiscal year were more than $8.5 billion. According to statistics, among the major export items, export of woven garments has seen a better growth than knitwear (34%), although the revenue from knitwear is higher. Besides, Bangladesh has seen good growth in exports of home textiles, specialised textiles, leather and leather products, plastic products, jute and jute goods and engineering products. At the same time, exports of frozen and live fish and agricultural products decreased.

https://bangla.dhakatribune.com/economy/2022/09/03/16622178322533 অর্থনীতির তিন সূচকে বাংলাদেশে আশার আলো বৈশ্বিক সংকট সত্বেও পোশাক রপ্তানিতে ঘুরে দাঁড়াচ্ছে বাংলাদেশ ইউএনবি প্রকাশিত: ০৭:১০ বিকাল সেপ্টেম্বর ০৩, ২০২২ বৈশ্বিক আর্থিক সংকটের মধ্যে অর্থনীতির তিনটি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ সূচকে আশার আলো দেখাচ্ছে বাংলাদেশ। ইউরোপীয় পরিসংখ্যান সংস্থা ইউরোস্ট্যাটের বিভিন্ন অর্থনৈতিক সূচকের সর্বশেষ তথ্যে এ কথা জানানো হয়েছে। এতে বলা হয়, বৈশ্বিক সংকট সত্বেও পোশাক রপ্তানিতে ঘুরে দাঁড়াচ্ছে বাংলাদেশ। বছরের প্রথম পাঁচ মাসে ইউরোপীয় ইউনিয়নে বাংলাদেশের পোশাক রপ্তানি ৪৫% বেড়েছে। এছাড়া চলতি বছরের জানুয়ারি থেকে জুন পর্যন্ত যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের বাজারে পোশাক পণ্যের রপ্তানি বেড়েছে ৬০.৩০%। শুধু ইউরোপ-যুক্তরাষ্ট্র নয়, আগের অর্থবছরের একই সময়ের তুলনায় চলতি অর্থবছরের প্রথম মাসে জুলাই মাসে বাংলাদেশ থেকে সামগ্রিক রপ্তানি ১৪.৭২% বৃদ্ধি পেয়েছে। আর জুনে রপ্তানি প্রবৃদ্ধি ছিল ৩৭.১৯%। শুধু রপ্তানিই নয়, রেমিট্যান্স ও বেসরকারি ঋণের প্রবৃদ্ধিও সাম্প্রতিক সময়ে ইতিবাচক অগ্রগতি দেখা গেছে। এফওয়াই ২৩ এর প্রথম মাসে ৩.৯৮ বিলিয়ন ডলার মূল্যের পণ্য রপ্তানি করা হয়েছে। রপ্তানি উন্নয়ন ব্যুরোর (ইপিবি) তথ্য অনুযায়ী, গত অর্থবছরে প্রথমবারের মতো ৫২ বিলিয়ন ডলারের রপ্তানি করে দেশটি ৫০ বিলিয়ন ডলারের মাইলফলক অতিক্রম করেছে। প্রতিবেদনে বলা হয়, যথারীতি প্রবৃদ্ধিতে সবচেয়ে বেশি অবদান রেখেছে তৈরি পোশাক। গত মাসে এই খাতে রপ্তানি হয়েছে ৩.৩৬ বিলিয়ন ডলারের। এই হিসাবে, মোট রপ্তানির ৮৪.৪৯% পোশাক পণ্য। আর গত অর্থবছরের জুলাইয়ের তুলনায় এ পণ্যের রপ্তানি বেড়েছে ১৬ দশমিক ৬১ শতাংশ। এদিকে ইউরোস্ট্যাটের তথ্য অনুযায়ী, চলতি বছরের জানুয়ারি থেকে মে পর্যন্ত বাংলাদেশ থেকে পোশাক পণ্যের আমদানি বেড়েছে ৪৪.৯৫ শতাংশ। প্রতিবেদনে বলা হয়, এই সময় পর্যন্ত মোট ৯.৫৮ বিলিয়ন মূল্যের পোশাক পণ্য আমদানি করা হয়েছে। বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের তথ্যে দেখা যায়, জুলাই মাসে বেসরকারি ঋণের প্রবৃদ্ধি ১৩.৯৬ শতাংশ বেড়ে দাঁড়ায় ১৩ লাখ ৫২ হাজার কোটি টাকা। ব্যাংক কর্মকর্তারা বলছেন, অনেকেই নতুন প্রকল্প হাতে নিয়েছেন। আবার অনেকে উৎপাদনশীলতা বাড়াচ্ছেন। কম সুদের হারের কারণে এ বছর আবাসন, গাড়ি ও ব্যক্তিগত ঋণও বেড়েছে। এছাড়া গত চার মাসে ডলারের দাম ২০ শতাংশের বেশি বেড়েছে। যদিও ঘোষিত মুদ্রানীতিতে চলতি বছরের ডিসেম্বর পর্যন্ত বেসরকারি খাতে ঋণের প্রবৃদ্ধির লক্ষ্যমাত্রা ধরা হয়েছে ১৩.৬%। ফলে ঋণের প্রবৃদ্ধির মুদ্রানীতির লক্ষ্যমাত্রা আগেই ছাড়িয়ে গেছে। অনেক মূল্যস্ফীতি সত্ত্বেও ভোক্তারা বেশি ঋণ নিচ্ছেন। কারণ ঋণের সুদের হার এখনও ৯ শতাংশের কাছাকাছি। বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের সর্বশেষ তথ্য অনুযায়ী, আগস্ট মাসে দেশটি ২.০৩ বিলিয়ন ডলার মূল্যের অভ্যন্তরীণ রেমিট্যান্স পেয়েছে যা রেমিট্যান্সের এই ঊর্ধ্বমুখী প্রবণতার মাধ্যমে বৈদেশিক মুদ্রার সংকট কমানোর আশা দেখাচ্ছে। জুলাই মাসে, এফওয়াই২৩ এর প্রথম মাসে প্রবাসীরা ২.০৯ বিলিয়ন ডলার রেমিট্যান্স পাঠিয়েছে, যা গত ১৪ মাসের মধ্যে সর্বোচ্চ। জুলাই মাসে অভ্যন্তরীণ রেমিট্যান্স প্রবাহ ছিল ১.৮৭ বিলিয়ন ডলার ও এফওয়াই২২-এ আগস্টে ১.৮১ বিলিয়ন ডলার। বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের নির্বাহী পরিচালক ও মুখপাত্র মো. সিরাজুল ইসলাম ইউএনবিকে বলেন, ব্যাংকিং চ্যানেলে আরও রেমিট্যান্স আকৃষ্ট করতে কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংক বিভিন্ন প্রক্রিয়া সহজ করেছে। সরকার রেমিট্যান্স প্রণোদনার পাশাপাশি নীতিগত সহায়তা প্রদান করছে। এখন ডলারের দাম বেশি হচ্ছে বলে জানান তিনি। খাতের অভ্যন্তরীণ ব্যক্তিরা বলছেন, বৈদেশিক চাকরির বাজারে মহামারী-পরবর্তী প্রত্যাবর্তনের কারণে গত অর্থবছরে জনশক্তি রপ্তানি নতুন উচ্চতায় পৌঁছেছে বলে বাংলাদেশের অভ্যন্তরীণ রেমিট্যান্স প্রবাহ আরও বাড়বে। ব্যুরোর অফ ম্যানপাওয়ার এমপ্লয়মেন্ট অ্যান্ড ট্রেনিং (বিএমইটি) এর তথ্যে দেখা যায়, ৯ লাখ ৮৮ হাজার কর্মী ২২ অর্থবছরে বিদেশ গেছে যেখানে এই সংখ্যাটি ২১ অর্থবছরে ২ লাখ ৭১ হাজার ছিল। গত সাত বছরে এটাই সর্বোচ্চ সংখ্যক বার্ষিক বিদেশে চাকরি। কর্মকর্তারা আশা করছেন, চলতি অর্থবছরে শ্রমিকদের বহিঃপ্রবাহ বাড়বে কারণ মালয়েশিয়া একটি আলোচনা সাপেক্ষে দেশ থেকে জনশক্তি নিয়োগ পুনরায় শুরু করতে যাচ্ছে।

https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2022/09/03/us-startup-looking-to-tap-into-bangladeshs-remittance-market US startup looking to tap into Bangladesh’s remittance market The money transfer app is catering to the remittance market- allowing users to send money home instantly with no additional fee Zisan Bin Liaquat September 3, 2022 6:12 PM Taptap Send, a US-based expat-focused fintech company that provides a no-fee international money transfer service for expats, has apparently been working to expand its services in Bangladesh. According to a post on the talent recruiting software company Lever's website, Taptap is currently looking for a candidate to fill the position of Growth Launcher for the US -Bangladesh market. Based on a three-month contract, the company is hiring to play the role of leading the launch of Taptap Send in the remittance market from the US to Bangladesh. “Your role will be to lead the launch of Taptap Send in the remittance market from the US to Bangladesh. You’ll quickly understand the customer and community, build an initial strategy, execute on growth tactics, track and report on their success, and iterate over time to ensure that we hit our growth targets,” the job description reads. Founded in 2019 by Michael Faye, the startup looks to take advantage of the growing trend of mobile money services and other distribution networks to offer cost-effective and faster money transfer services. A development economist, Michael’s previous two startups prior to Taptap: GiveDirectly and Segovia were also in the fintech space. Taptap is a money transfer app with which users can send money internationally, catering to the remittance market- allowing users to send money home instantly with no additional fee as well as saving money in the process. As per the company, it does not want to charge users and instead has developed a business model where it generates revenue by making a cut on foreign exchange instead of charging commission or any other fees for transfers. The company’s mission statement is to “Reduce inequity by helping immigrants move money home by becoming the leading cross-border fintech for immigrants.” It currently operates in the UK, EU, US, and Canada, and supports payments into Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Ghana, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Zambia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, DR Congo, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Rep. Congo, Pakistan, Nepal, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Mozambique, Cambodia, Haiti, Tunisia, Uganda, and Lebanon with more countries on the pipeline, according to Taptap’s website. The fintech startup has been providing services in Bangladesh since July 2022, and according to media reports, the company apparently sees further growth opportunities in the country. It has partnered with bKash and almost all banks in the country. Bangladeshi immigrants from the EU, UK, US, and Canada can now send money using Taptap Send to bKash mobile and bank transfers to any bank in Bangladesh. Industry insiders said remittance is a huge market globally and immigrants from across countries face a myriad of challenges when it comes to sending money home. Mobile financial services such as bKash have played an excellent role in making it easier to send and receive money over the years, with the country’s first unicorn entering the remittance market a few years back and is currently one of the major players for Bangladeshi immigrants across the Middle East and Malaysia. Remittance remains one of the major sources of foreign currency for Bangladesh with some estimates suggesting over 10 million Bangladeshis currently living and working abroad. However, sending remittances remains expensive to the extent that the UN has set a goal for remittance pricing and commissions to be no higher for any company than 3% of the total sent. And to that end, Bangladesh is a perfect market for Taptap. According to TechCrunch, Taptap has built its whole tech stack from the ground up and it passes on lower exchange rates to its customers, typically lower than others that might be serving the same markets. The company believes having better rates will drive more users, which in turn might not mean better margins but a higher volume of transacting and more returns overall. According to the hiring post, the company will initially focus on the US to Bangladesh remittance market — the US as a sender/originator country and Bangladesh as a receiver country. However, it can gradually expand to other major immigrant markets for Bangladesh such as the Middle East and Malaysia.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/contract-on-sunday-to-set-up-55mw-wind-power-plant-at-mongla-1662202433 Contract on Sunday to set up 55MW wind power plant at Mongla Published: September 03, 2022 16:53:54 A Chinese-Bangladeshi consortium will sign an agreement on Sunday with Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) to set up a 55MW wind power plant on build-own-operate basis at Mongla in Bagerhat. As per the proposed deal, state-owned BPDB will purchase electricity from the independent power producer (IPP) plant over the period of 20 years, reports UNB. Earlier, in December 2020, Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved the proposal of a Chinese-Bangladeshi consortium to set up the power plant on build-own-operate basis. As per the proposal of the Consortium of Envision Energy, (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., China, SQ Trading and Engineering, Bangladesh and Envision Renewable Energy Limited, Hong Kong will develop the plant under a new special project vehicle (SPV) company Mongla Green Power Ltd. The project cost is expected to be around $96.597 million. State-owned BPDB will purchase electricity from the plant at a tariff of 13.20 cents, equivalent to Tk 13 per kilowatt hour (each unit). According to BPDB officials, the government will pay a total of more than Tk 20.35 billion for the entire contract period against its purchase of electricity from the maiden private wind power project. The Chinese-Bangladeshi consortium was the lone bidder to participate in the tender process invited for the project, said a BPDB official. According to the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda), only three small wind energy plants, having a total capacity of 2.9MW, have been installed by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) so far against its target of setting up wind power projects having total capacity of 1152MW by 2020. Earlier, BPDB signed a contract in March, 2015 to award a 60MW wind power project to US-DK Green Energy (BD), a joint venture between Taylor Engineering Group of USA, ph-consulting group of Denmark and Multiplex Green Energy of Bangladesh, to set up the plant at Kurushkul, southeast of Moheshkhali River in Cox's Bazar. But the sponsor failed to implement the project in the last five years. The Mongla 55MW wind power project is one of the three similar projects undertaken by the BPDB in recent years. The other two projects were planned for Chandpur and Inani beach in Cox's Bazar. But its move failed to attract participation of wide-range bidders. "Only a single bidder - Chinese firm Envision Energy - participated in the tender process for two locations and finally emerged qualified for only one location, Mongla. Again, the government re-tendered for the remaining two locations - Inani beach and Chandpur, ''said a BPDB official. The bid submission timeline was extended to December 31, said Md Zahir Ahmed, a senior official of the Bangladesh Power Development Board, which floated the tender. Earlier BPDB invited bids for a 100MW offshore wind power project but could not find takers. Officials at Sreda and BPDB said a number of studies were conducted in collaboration with international donor agencies to assess the wind energy potentials across the country. The latest one was conducted by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), with financial support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which identified nine locations, having wind energy potentials across the country. The locations, having average wind speed between 5-6 metre per second at a height of over 60-80 metre, are Lalpur of Natore in Rajshahi, Chandpur, Sitakundu and Parkay Beach in Chittagong, Gouripur in Mymensingh, Madhupur Tea Estate in Habigonj, Dacop in Khulna near Mongla port, Inani Beach in Cox's Bazar and Badarganj in Rangpur. The NREL, in its report submitted to the Power Division, also mentioned that the country has a potential of 30,000MW of wind energy as there are 20,000 square kilometres of areas where wind speed is 5.75-7.75 metre per second. Experts in the renewable energy industry blamed the implementing agency's failure to present location-specific data and information on wind energy in a credible way before potential investors.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/exports-to-india-see-robust-rise-1661655857 Exports to India see robust rise Goods worth $1.99b shipped in FY '22: EPB data MONIRA MUNNI | Published: August 28, 2022 09:04:18 | Updated: August 29, 2022 10:07:09 The country's overall exports to India reached US$1.99 billion in the last fiscal year (FY '22) marking a robust 55 per cent year-on-year growth. Bangladesh shipped goods worth US$1.27 billion to the neighbouring country in the fiscal year 2020-21 or FY '21, according to an Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data. The FY '22 export earnings surpassed the pre-pandemic level income which was US$1.24 billion in FY '19, the EPB data showed. However, the country's trade cap with India continued to widen in the period. Imports from India increased considerably over the years triggering a huge trade gap between the two neighbours, mostly in favour of India. Bangladesh imported goods worth US $8.59 billion in the FY '21, according to data available with the central bank. Readymade garment or RMG is the major local good (about 35 per cent) shipped to India followed by other products - raw hides, leather goods, jute goods, fish and crustaceans, inorganic and organic chemicals, sources said. Out of the US $1.99 billion exports in FY '22, RMG (both woven and knit) items fetched $715.41 million, 69 per cent higher than the previous fiscal year's earnings of $ 421.86 million, according to the EPB. Exporters, especially those shipping apparels, attributed the increase in exports to a growth in demand of these items among India's rising middle-class people. They opined that India is among one of the Asian potential markets, not only for RMG but also for non-RMG products. Western retailers, having outlets in India, and Indian local brands also found sourcing their goods from Bangladesh competitive while RMG enjoys duty benefit, they mentioned. Talking to the FE, Fazlul Hoque, former president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), said the growing middle-class in India is pushing up the demand for the Bangladesh-made garment items there. During the last six months, apparel retailing in India increased by 18 per cent, he said, adding the local RMG exports may witness a fall in traditional markets while it will grow in Asian markets, especially in Indian market. Besides the rising demands, Indian buyers' confidence in Bangladesh-produced quality goods have notably grown, he said, adding exporters are now getting huge queries from Indian buyers. Not only India but also China and Japan are big and potential Asian markets for local RMG items. "We should now focus on Asian markets to sustain the growth at a time when the traditional markets including EU and US economy are poised to face economic recession," he noted. He emphasised on taking measures by trade bodies, EPB, entrepreneurs and also at individual level to raise exports there. Contacted, Md Shahidullah Azim, vice-president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), echoed the BKMEA leader. He said they are now focusing on the Asian markets with the view to sustaining the growth as work orders from traditional markets declined recently for multiple global factors, including inflation there and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Exporters are also taking moves individually to develop markets beyond the traditional ones, he noted. The duty-free access to India has also encouraged Western buyers who have outlets there to source from Bangladesh through Indian market. "Indian local clothing brands are also gaining confidence in our quality products," he said terming India a big and potential market for Bangladesh. He stressed the need for developing full functional land ports like Bhomra and Sonamasjid to facilitate trade activities. Local jute exporters, however, said their shipments to India are facing difficulties due to imposition of anti-dumping duty on jute goods by that country. Abdul Barik Khan, secretary general of the Bangladesh Jute Mills Association (BJMA), said that jute exports to India fell significantly due to the anti-dumping duty on jute goods. Sources, however, said that India may soon remove anti-dumping duty on Bangladeshi jute-goods exports, dropping a hint that the announcement may come during the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to Delhi in the first week of next month.

https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/govt-readies-strategy-recover-laundered-money-489102 Abul Kashem 02 September, 2022, 11:05 pm Last modified: 02 September, 2022, 11:08 pm Govt readies strategy to recover laundered money The government is working on a strategy to freeze or confiscate unreported offshore assets soon after their detection, according to a draft guideline awaiting approval of the finance ministry. The next course of action will be an investigation jointly with countries to where the money has been syphoned off and initiatives for repatriation. In case of a delay in getting court order to seize the assets, the government via the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit will send a letter of rogatory – a formal request from a court to a foreign court for judicial assistance – to the countries concerned so the laundered money cannot be transferred to another country, according to the guideline on legal framework and strategic process for laundered asset recovery. The government thinks such plans of action will weaken a money launderer financially, psychologically and socially, and will also limit their ability to influence investigation, which will lead to a prompt and proper investigation. In the FY23 budget, the government had offered Bangladeshis a scope for legalising their unreported movable assets abroad if repatriated to Bangladesh, subject to paying a 7% tax. But no one has availed this offshore tax amnesty yet. And, as part of the government's coordinated and effective initiatives to bring back the laundered money, six agencies engaged with checking money laundering such as the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, the Criminal Investigation Department, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, and the Department of Narcotics Control have jointly prepared the draft guidelines. The working committee – constituted for formulating and implementing policies on prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing – has already given its go-ahead to the guidelines, which was forwarded to the finance ministry on 11 August for its seal of approval as well. Later, the draft strategies will be submitted to the national coordination committee on preventing money laundering and combating financing of terrorism, headed by the finance minister, for its consent. The government has no data on how much money is laundered abroad every year. But according to the US-based think-tank Global Financial Integrity, Bangladesh lost a whopping $49.65 billion or around Tk4,71,675 crore on an average between 2009 and 2015 (except the year 2014), mainly to trade misinvoicing and under-invoicing. On an average, around Tk84,475 crore was syphoned off the country each year during the period. Bank accounts of many launderers were seized and cases were filed against them under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, but there had been only two instances of bringing the money back since independence. One was the Tk21 crore, laundered by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's youngest son Arafat Rahman Koko, brought back from Singapore. Besides, of the $81 million stolen from the Bangladesh Bank's reserve, $150,000 from the Philippines and $20 million from Sri Lanka were retrieved as well. Ghulam Rahman, who was the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission when Koko's laundered money was recovered from Singapore, told The Business Standard that the Singapore government and its court had helped Bangladesh a lot in retrieving the money. Mentioning that Bangladesh's money is mainly laundered to Dubai, Canada, the United States, Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore, he said, "We have to make a bilateral agreement with those countries to repatriate our smuggled money." When contacted, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan said, "Switzerland does not provide us with any information on Bangladesh citizens' funds in Swiss bank accounts as there is no bilateral agreement with the country." Ghulam Rahman said, "We will be able to bring back laundered money following the draft strategies if we ensure an inter-agency coordination." But it will be difficult to bring back the undisclosed money kept in tax haven countries that will not cooperate much in this matter, he also said. In the assessment of the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering, Bangladesh's legal and institutional framework is of international standards, but it has not been successful in recovering money laundered abroad. Bangladesh has made many requests for legal assistance to some countries to retrieve the unreported offshore money, but legal processes of those cases now hang in the balance owing to no response for a long time, according to the draft guidelines. However, according to the ACC's annual reports for 2020 and 2021, the shares of two companies in Dubai and five bank accounts in Malaysia were seized in connection with money laundering following court orders in 2019. Besides, in2021, the ACC froze 21 bank accounts in Canada, 24 in Australia and five in Singapore. In its annual reports, the ACC said, "The commission is also chasing holders of illegal assets abroad. It is fulfilling its legal responsibility to ensure that no one enjoys money earned beyond known sources of income." Seizure of assets before conviction The government will go for non-conviction based confiscation, meaning that it will confiscate laundered assets even before criminal charges are proven in court as the prosecution takes a lot of time, money and effort. Many countries are following this approach. If it follows a typical method – first, proving laundering charges in court, then confiscating assets and finally repatriating those, there will be many more complications in the process but a low success rate. Bangladesh will also form a joint investigation team or taskforce, comprising all relevant agencies or competent persons, to bring back money or assets smuggled abroad. Considering the nature and sensitivity of each case, the investigation team will conduct a joint investigation with foreign authorities if necessary. The guidelines also state that financial intelligence officers and financial sector experts should be involved at all stages of a money laundering investigation for coordination among the parties concerned from the beginning of a case. According to the draft guidelines, it is not possible to bring back the money without the maximum cooperation of the countries where the money has been laundered to. In this regard, the government will take assistance from the International Centre for Asset Recovery, the Star Protection Agency and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Besides, the government will give priority to getting mutual legal assistance in countries, such as Switzerland, where access to informal information is limited. Getting foreign government assistance in recovering laundered money depends largely on the capability of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the guidelines also noted. In the case of the accused is absconding and no charge of criminal offence can be framed against them or if the accused dies before conviction, their assets will be confiscated before they are convicted. The same asset forfeiture approach will be applicable if the accused is so powerful that it is impractical to frame a criminal charge against them or if assets are transferred to a third party who is not interested in participating in the hearing against the confiscation of the assets or if it is not possible to collect evidence to prove the offence in a criminal court. Former ACC chairman Ghulam Rahman said, "We have to maintain international standards during trial proceedings to repatriate laundered money." The tracking should be completed fast, otherwise, launderers will move their assets to another country, he added. Syphoning legally earned money or assets out of the country is a crime according to the law of Bangladesh, but not in laws of many countries, the guidelines said. Besides, some countries, while sending back laundered money, make it a condition that part of it be spent on anti-corruption or other public welfare activities.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2022/09/01/bida-anchorless-bangladesh-sign-on-to-attract-fdis BIDA, Anchorless Bangladesh sign on to attract FDIs In FY22, net FDI inflow also increased by 61% to $2.17 billion against $1.35 billion in FY21, according to Bangladesh Bank data Zisan Bin Liaquat September 1, 2022 5:28 PM The country’s primary investment promotion agency Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has signed with US-based venture capital firm Anchorless Bangladesh to target global investments for Bangladesh. BIDA Executive Member Mohsina Yasmin and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Anchorless Bangladesh Rahat Ahmed signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations in presence of the BIDA Executive Chairman Sirazul Islam. The MoU includes provisions for attraction and facilitation of targeted global investments, joint promotion of investment opportunities in Bangladesh and abroad, attraction of high-value technology and high-impact investments in key priority sectors, and support and advisory relating to FDI and equity investment. "Bida is strongly focused on building strategic partnerships that will allow us to access investor communities in our target markets for foreign direct investment and equity investment," said Md Sirazul Islam. “Both institutions will work together to design investment outreach that is targeted, customized and therefore more effective," he further said, assuring full cooperation of BIDA to Anchorless Bangladesh. Based in New York, and founded in 2019, the venture capital firm works to unlock business opportunities across Bangladesh by bringing in the global capital and so far has invested over $8 million in Bangladeshi startups across multiple verticals, including fintech, agriculture, education and logistics. The Anchorless Bangladesh team has experience in emerging markets public and private equity, venture capital and emerging technology startups. Anchorless Bangladesh CEO Rahat Ahmed started investing in Bangladesh in 2004. His investors at Anchorless Bangladesh are primarily American and European. "We at Anchorless strongly believe that Bangladesh is one of the best investment opportunities in the world with an incredible story to be told—and we look forward to working with Bida to do so," said Rahat Ahmed, founding partner and CEO of Anchorless Bangladesh. Referring to Bangladesh as a safe destination for investments, Rahat expressed hope that Bangladesh will reach the status of a higher middle-income country in the next ten years with the continuous desire from the private and public sectors in working towards a common goal of increasing international investment in a thriving Bangladeshi economy to further strengthen the country's global positioning. “So, one of our goals is to bring international capital into the market. One of the things we've learned is that for a lot of funds out there - say in Singapore, Hong Kong or New York - we went to talk to a lot of them and what they want is to feel more comfortable about the market, as most of these companies don't have offices on the ground,” he added. Bangladesh has been attracting an abundance of FDI and an increase in inbound merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions and activities prior to the pandemic. Between the years 2018 and 2019, Bangladesh experienced some of the largest FDIs in the country's history. The $1.47 billion acquisition of Dhaka Tobacco by Japan Tobacco Inc (JTI) was at the forefront of notable M&A activities. In 2021, Bangladesh got $2.9 billion FDI, registering 13% growth year-on-year and recovering from the drop to $2.56 billion the previous year caused by the pandemic, according to the report released at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on June 9. However FDI in the country rose by 39% to $4.7 billion in the fiscal year 2021-22 compared with that $3.38 billion in the previous fiscal. In FY22, net FDI inflow also increased by 61% to $2.17 billion against $1.35 billion in FY21, according to Bangladesh Bank data. But according to insiders, the FDI inflow can be much more if the government offers multiple benefits for the startup and ecosystem players such as ease of access to debt finance, reducing the cost of doing business, ease of doing business, fiscal policy support - VAT/tax exemptions and rebates for attracting foreign investment in the startup ecosystem. Over the last decade, Bangladeshi startups have raised over $800 million in investments, spearheading the economy and creating 1.5 million direct and indirect employment opportunities while positively impacting the citizens’ day-to-day lives. Startups in Bangladesh are gaining increasing global traction, as $412 million out of a total of $415 million investments raised in the past decade came from global sources with Bangladeshi startups raising over $90 million just in the first half of 2022. According to industry insiders, the Bangladeshi startup industry boasts more than 1200 startups. More than 200 new startups are emerging each year and insiders said, the impact made by startups makes the sector an economic powerhouse that needs more attention and support. Insiders earlier also expressed the need for the government to ensure an investment-friendly environment in Bangladesh and reduce entry barriers, introduce tax benefits and ease the repatriation of profits of foreign investors to attract foreign investments by streamlining business processes, policies and regulations that are more comfortable to start and operate startups/SMEs. Booming digitization catalyzed by the Covid-19 pandemic, changing population demographics with increasing consumer demands, as well as increased public and private attention to supporting the startup landscape has cemented Bangladesh’s position as a maturing startup hotspot, even drawing international attention. However, according to industry insiders, as the startup ecosystem in the country matures, the support for startups needs to evolve to enable Bangladesh’s economic growth further. In that regard, insiders and experts think a strengthened startup policy to facilitate ease of starting and operating startups, with streamlined regulations and requirements, as well as encouraging investments towards startups through better incentives for investors is crucial.

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/ditched-local-banks-saad-musa-group-reboots-foreign-loans-488506 Rafiqul Islam 01 September, 2022, 10:50 pm Last modified: 01 September, 2022, 10:54 pm Ditched by local banks, Saad Musa Group reboots on foreign loans The conglomerate is receiving $325m in loans from banks in China, Belgium, and Germany to buy machinery for its new textile mill It was an ambitious expansion plan built on promises of over Tk1,000 crore loan by state lenders. But the Chattogram-based business conglomerate could not make it happen in 2016 as the approved loans were abruptly cancelled. It was a disaster for Saad Musa Group as it had already invested its own resources and bank money for spacious factory floors. That unfinished dream now looks set to come true with loans from foreign banks. This is the story of a desperate turnaround bid of one of the port city's textile industry forerunners. Starting off in the 1980s with export-import trade, Chattogram-based Saad Musa Group tasted success when it entered into manufacturing textile products in the 1990s. With time, the group had gone from strength to strength through expansion of its businesses in different segments of textiles. Its business was going ok until 2010 – when the company went for an aggressive investment in a new project that hit a roadblock for failing to secure utility connections. To ride out the bad times and get back to the growth trajectory with diversified businesses, the industrial group is now going ahead with massive investment plans as it mulls gaining footholds in new sectors, such as power, steel, cement, agro, hospitality, and real estate alongside increasing investment in its existing textile business. The business group is set to invest about $334 million, a major portion of it will come as external loans, in setting up Sultana Habiba Fabrics Mills that will comprise eight units – cotton yarn spinning, blended yarn spinning, weaving, circular knitting, RMG dyeing, printing and finishing, home textile dyeing, printing and finishing, and yarn dyeing, said company officials. Besides, it is going to invest another $90 million in Saad Musa Denim and Saad Musa Terry Towels. The Group has several companies, including 100% export-oriented ones, in the textile sector, and yet it is building another large plant i.e., Sultana Habiba Fabrics Mills, buoyed by an increasing demand for readymade garments and household textiles. The new plant is planned to go into operation by next year. The group has already completed partial construction of the mill with an investment of Tk700 crore arranged from domestic sources, and now it plans to purchase necessary machinery with foreign loans. Muhammad Mohsin, managing director of Saad Musa Group, told The Business Standard that some banks in China, Belgium, and Germany have agreed to provide the company with about $325 million in loans at 3% interest. "We have applied to the Bangladesh Bank and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority for their permission regarding the loans," he said. Even though this group is more focused on the textile sector, especially home textiles, it has already expanded and is planning expansion of its business in various other sectors keeping its focus on future market and business potential. Saad Musa Group plans to diversify its business into power plants, auto bricks, agro projects, cement, and steel industry by 2025 and real estate sector by 2030. Muhammad Mohsin said, "With the group expanding in some new sectors by 2025, we will employ more than 30,000. At present, about 12,000 people are employed in 27 industrial units of the conglomerate." As part of its expansion plan, Saad Musa Group will invest $30 million in manufacturing dalda, vegetable oil, and other oils, $175 million in an HFO (heavy fuel oil) power plant with 200MW power generation capacity, $20 million in manufacturing eco-friendly auto bricks, and $5 million in agro projects. It also mulls investing in the cement industry that is expected to grow 10% every year. To this end, it has purchased 20 acres of land in Chattogram's Shikalbaha. The group plans to set up a steel factory in Chattogram's Anwara by 2025 with an aim of producing 1,000 tonnes of steel daily, for which it has purchased 20 acres of land. The cost of this project also will depend on the time of implementation, said officials. Saad Musa Group is also planning to invest in a seven-star resort and in the real estate sector in Cox's Bazar. Foreign loans in pipeline Saad Musa Group took up the initiative to build Sultana Habiba Fabrics Mills in 2016. At that time, the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) decided to invest in the mill. The corporation approved a loan of Tk485 crore through debentures for Sultan Habiba Fabrics Mills. It was also a lead arranger of another Tk890 crore in loans from four state-owned banks for the company. In total, Saad Musa Group received a loan approval of Tk1,375 crore from the ICB. But, the Tk485 crore ICB loan was later cancelled as the investment was outside the capital market. Loans approved by the state banks also got cancelled. Muhammad Mohsin told TBS that buoyed by the fact that Tk1,375 crore in loans were in the pipeline, Saad Musa Group started construction of the a 12lakh sqft mill by investing Tk700 crore arranged from banks and the group's own resources. But it is not possible to bring in required machinery, he added. Denied by local banks, Saad Musa Group approached foreign lenders to finance its new textile mill. And it has received approval for a total of $325 million in loans from several banks based in China, Germany, and Belgium for the import of machinery. Among the lenders, the Agricultural Bank of China alone will give $78.33 million or about Tk800 crore, Mohsin told TBS, adding that German Landesbank Baden-Württemberg will give $25 million and Oldenburgische Landesbank AG with provide another $25 million, while the Bank of Belgium will give $15 million. Application to Bida for approval Saad Musa Group on 4 August this year wrote to the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority seeking approval of the loan from the Agricultural Bank of China to buy machinery for Sultana Habiba Fabrics Mills. In its letter Sultana Habiba Fabrics Mills says, "The Agricultural Bank of China, Qingdao branch intends to finance 85% of the contract amount $78.33 million as per acceptance of China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation without any local bank guarantee only on the basis of our corporate guarantor." How it fell into bad times In 2010, the business conglomerate started to witness the flip-side of success - it developed Saad Musa Industrial Park with 24 factories of different products but could not start operation in the absence of gas and electricity connections, causing it to incur a massive loss. In 2015, some units of the industrial were commissioned, but there is still a shortage of gas and electricity. All factories in the park have not yet been able to go into production as losses mount. Saad Musa Group's owner also got into legal trouble in the US while buying a warehouse there, resulting in a big loss. Besides, the group went through problems after renting state-owned Karnafuli Jute Mills. In 2008, it took over the loss-making mill and started its operation. But four years later in 2012, Saad Musa Group had to return the mills to the government for some unknown reasons. For this, the group suffered a loss of Tk300 crore that it had already spent in the form of a new investment and paying for outstanding electricity and gas bills after having taken over the mills. Saad Musa Group's bank liabilities Saad Musa Group owes about Tk3,000 crore to about a dozen banks, including state-owned ones. A portion of the loans have fallen in default following the fire incident in one of its factories in 2005, the loan cancellation by the ICB in 2016, and Covid-induced business slowdown in the past couple of years. Some of the loans have been rescheduled after payment of instalments and some are still in default. When asked about this, Muhammad Mohsin said, "I have been doing business since 1982. During this period there was no problem in repayment of loans. But, due to some incidents, there have been problems. We are trying to resolve them." The rise of Saad Musa Group Muhammad Mohsin stepped into the world of business in 1982 after completing his higher secondary education by borrowing money from one of his childhood friends, even though his father Abu Saad Chowdhury wanted him to become a service holder. He started with an import-export business in the trading sector. But the capital he arranged from his friend was lost as he incurred huge losses in the business. The initial setback, however, could not dampen the spirit of the entrepreneurial young man as he managed to take out a loan from a bank and opened a department store. After a few years, he started in the ship building sector. And as his new venture saw success, he started business in the textile sector. The first industrial venture of Mohsin was Chittagong Fibre Boards Mills, which used to manufacture and supply leather fibre sheets and silver cans. In 1994, he formed Saad Musa Group – named after his father and uncle – and started expanding business in various sectors. Ever since then, he never looked back as Saad Musa Group has now turned into a large conglomerate consisting of more than two dozen sister concerns and subsidiaries in various sectors. It is building the Saad Musa Industrial Park on 100 acres of land in Chattogram's Anwara. There will be an education park, which will have all kinds of education facilities, on a 100-bigha plot of land, a hospital on a 40-bigha plot, planned villages for living, textile mills to meet textile demand, and agro projects for food production in the industrial park.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2022/09/01/foreign-yarn-and-fabric-producers-want-more-business-with-the-rmg-sector Foreign yarn and fabric producers want more business with the RMG sector Talking to Dhaka Tribune on the sideline of the ongoing 21st Textech Bangladesh International Expo 2022, the manufacturers of the supply chain expressed their desire to increase business here Saddam Hossain September 1, 2022 6:20 PM The international suppliers of yarn, fabric, dye chemicals and machinery are eying to grab the growing apparel sector of Bangladesh by increasing their supplies. Talking to Dhaka Tribune on the sideline of the ongoing 21st Textech Bangladesh International Expo 2022, the manufacturers of the supply chain expressed their desire to increase business here. Cedaar Textiles Pvt Limited, a Bengaluru-based company, produces around $30 million worth of man-made fibers (MMF) and its fabrics annually, and exports 60% of them to Bangladesh. Talking to Dhaka Tribune, Gobinda Ghosh, marketing manager of Cedaar Textiles, said that they were doing business with Bangladesh since 2002, and now its apparel manufacturers are expanding their business to non-cotton-based goods. “Although we have more than 50 customers here, we want to make more,” he added. Hebei Linen Home Textile Ltd is a Chinese home textile fabrics manufacturer based in the Shijiazhuang City of Hebei Province. They produce fabrics in their 280 sets wide rapier loom, mainly grey fabric for pure hemp and cotton linen and Tencel linen grey fabric. Tina Ma, manager of sales of the company said that they participated in this fair for the first time. “Bangladesh is doing well in exporting home textiles. We want to further expand our market here,” she said, adding that Bangladesh is also the second largest apparel exporter and therefore, the market is undeniable. Tom Tang, CEO of Shaxing Shuiyi Textile Co Ltd, a Zhenjiang-based Chinese manufacturer, also echoed Tina and said that they are getting a good response. “But due to it being day one, the presence of people seems a little lower. I hope we will be experiencing a crowd on Friday and Saturday,” he added. Dodhia Synthetics Ltd, a Mumbai-based company, produces petropoly – dyed, fancy, and recycled yarns – from PET bottles. Gururaj Chawan, coordinator of export sales of the company, told Dhaka Tribune that the apparel sector is moving towards sustainability and circularity. “So, we produce petropoly, a planet-friendly yarn that reduces dependency on non-renewable natural resources and helps the environment by keeping bottles and plastic out of landfills,” he added. Santosh Sahewal of Viru Textiles, an Ahmedabad-based company, said that they are eying to increase their export to Bangladesh. MYD Group Corp, a Bursa-based Turkish textile chemical manufacturer produces pre-treatment, dyeing, finishing, printing auxiliaries and optical brighteners. Ugur Keles, the representative of overseas sales, said that they are getting good responses. “We want to increase the export of all kinds of chemicals here. We produce chemicals for textile and leather sectors and Bangladesh is a good market for both of the items,” he added. Emir Nutku of another Turkish dye chemical manufacturer Ron Kimya also echoed the same. Textile Colour and Chemical Export, an Ahmedabad-based manufacturer that produces optical whitening agent dyes and dyes intermediates, is a regular participant in these types of Bangladeshi expos. Farhan Chhipa, representative of the company said that they are always focusing on Bangladesh as its RMG sector is growing fast. “Now Bangladesh is the second largest exporter. We always have eyes on this big market,” he added. Students from the Textile Engineering department of some universities also participated in the event. An official of Akij Group said that he is here to observe the supply chain products like yarn, fabric, dye chemicals and machinery. “This type of expos gives us an opportunity to choose the perfect product,” he added. Muksedul Mumin Rabbi, a final year student from the Daffodil International University, said that his team participated in the event to connect with the people in the industry. “We are preparing ourselves perfectly for the RMG sector, the highest export earner of the country. In the current context, practical knowledge is more needed than theoretical one,” he added. Four-day long 21st edition of the Textech Bangladesh International Expo 2022 began on Wednesday at ICCB of Dhaka, which will continue till September 3. The expo is going on along with two concurrent exhibitions titled the “18th Dhaka International Yarn & Fabric Show 2022-Summer Edition” and “40th Dye+Chem Bangladesh 2022 International Expo.” The expo is being participated by 260 companies with over 500 booths from 12 countries.