N- power plant: Dhaka to sign deal with Moscow

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/10/25/news0640.htm

N- power plant: Dhaka to sign deal with Moscow

Shamim Jahangir

The government will agree to sign final deals with Russia for installation of 600MW to 1,000MW electricity generating nuclear power plant within four to five years at Rooppur as a part of peaceful nuclear deal.

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Yafez Osman yesterday told The New Nation after returning from Russia on Friday after a visit to Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant in Russia, about 200 kilometers north-west of Moscow.

Russia installed two separate power plants having capacity of 1,000MW of Power each at Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant.

The high powered team led by the state minister included Power Division Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad and ICT Secretary AKM Abdul Awal Majumder.

“We have convinced the Russian initiative to generate electricity from nuclear plant,” he said, adding, “After talking with the Russian counterpart, we have proceeded another step to set up the nuclear power plant in Rooppur here.”

Terming his visit in Russia as ‘a great progress’, Yafez Osman said that Russia will form a technical team to visit the Rooppur site immediately.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two countries in this regard on Thursday last in Russia.

Earlier the government has signed a bilateral agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on installation of the nuclear power plant between Bangladesh and Russia on May last.

Russian government is now scrutinizing the deals to sign the final agreement with Bangladesh, an official who also visited Russia told The New Nation yesterday.

“They will inform us about their interest immediately,” he said.

About the financial terms to install the plant, he said it would be settled after negotiation between the high-level policy makers of the two countries.

The first initiative to install nuclear power plant in Bangladesh in Rooppur, Pabna was taken by Prime Minister’s husband late nuclear scientist Dr Wazed Miah in 1961.

Currently 439 nuclear power plants are producing 16 percent of the total electricity around the world.

Pran goes into Tk 2.60b expansion to ramp up beverage production

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/10/25/82470.html

Pran goes into Tk 2.60b expansion to ramp up beverage production

FHM Humayan Kabir

Leading conglomerate Pran-RFL Group is investing Tk 2.60 billion in new beverage and packaging facilities to raise its stake in the country’s fast growing soft drinks and juice market, its deputy chief said Saturday.

Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, the deputy managing director of the fast expanding group, said the new investment is the largest by the company and it would make Pran-RFL the country’s leading player in beverage, liquid glucose and mineral water.

“It would be a separate subsidiary of the company called Mymensingh Agro Limited once its goes into production from late 2010,” Chowdhury told the FE.

“We are investing Tk 2.60 billion in the new venture. The money is being spent on setting up new beverage plant, liquid glucose, mineral water and a new packaging material plants,” he said.

Chowdhury said the company has already started construction work of the new plants on four acres of land at Kaliganj in Mymensingh.

Pran-RFL Group is one of the country’s most diversified conglomerates with interests ranging from agro-processing, food, beverages, plastics, spices, tube-wells and pumps.

The company takes pride in as the country’s pioneering agro-processed food exporter, shipping in soft-drinks, mango juice, spices and aromatic rice to 70 countries including India, the Middle East, Northern and Eastern Africa and some ethnic Bangladeshi markets in the West.

Chowdhury, the group’s young second-in-command, said the new venture is being fast-tracked as the company has been swamped by increased demand for a range of products including soft-drinks, juices and mineral water.

“Demand for our products has been growing double digit every year. Pran brands are now available in every nook and cranny of the country. And the consumers have accepted them,” he said.

“We are also getting increased export orders for our beverage products,” he said.

The new plants would produce 14 million bottles of juice, 15 million bottles of soft-drinks, 17 million kilogram of liquid glucose, 3.5 million kgs of flexible packaging materials and 0.2 million square metre of cartons, the company’s marketing director Kamruzzaman Kamal said.

The Pran-FFL Group had an annual turnover of nearly Tk 7.5 billion last year. It exported processed food worth Tk 1.50 billion during the same period.

The company has three other plants in Ghorasal in Brahmanbaria, Palash in Narshingdi and Natore where it processes food, spices, and rice and produces dairy items, juice and beverages.

The group was born in 1980 and now has 10 subsidiaries, employing more than 15,000 workers. It has emerged as the largest processors of fruits and vegetables in Bangladesh.

Govt plans to create MTU for medium taxpayers

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/10/25/82530.html

Govt plans to create MTU for medium taxpayers

Doulot Akter Mala

The government plans to create a Medium Taxpayers Unit (MTU) to have greater focus on the medium level taxpayers for boosting income tax collection.

The new unit will work under the Large Taxpayers Unit (LTU), which will give attention to increase tax collection.

“The proposal to set up the MTU came under the TACT (tax administration, capacity and taxpayers services) project,” said a senior income tax official.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will implement the TACT project by this fiscal with the financial support of Department for International Development (DFID), he said.

The aim of the TACT project is to increase the number of income taxpayers to 5.0 million by next five years, he added.

It is necessary to give focus on some medium potential sectors to boost tax collection, he said.

Ship breaking and Pharmaceuticals can be monitored closely as fast growing sectors, he said.

“Income tax collection will be doubled if the government brings 2500 large and medium taxpayers under those units,” he added.

Currently, LTU is dealing with only 987 individual and corporate taxpayers. The country’s all commercial banks, and insurance and leasing companies are paying income tax under the LTU.

Taxmen can easily monitor the medium taxpayers and conduct one-to-one discussion, the official said.

“We have prepared a work plan for setting up the new unit in line with the model of other developed countries that achieved significant success in income tax collection,” he said.

The proposal came as a part of revenue board’s move to expand the LTU in other cities to increase revenue collection, he said.

There is a plan to expand LTU in Chittagong to monitor a number of large and medium taxpayers in the port city, he added.

LTU is the brain-child of International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has suggested the government to expand the unit across the country to enhance tax collection.

Tax collection of the LTU almost doubled in the last two years. The LTU collected Tk 22.50 billion in 2005-06 fiscal. It stood at Tk 40.42 billion in 2007-08.

Of LTUs collection, corporate taxpayers contribute 72 per cent while individuals pay 28 per cent.

“More than 100 corporate taxpayers have been enjoying tax exemption or tax holidays,” said a senior official of LTU.

“It is necessary to bring more corporate houses and individuals under the jurisdiction of LTU to reduce risk-factor in achieving revenue collection target,” the official said.

The government is considering inclusion of fast growing and profit-making sectors in the MTU, he said.

Cox’s Bazar airport set for expansion

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=111153

Cox’s Bazar airport set for expansion
Sohel Parvez and Sayeda Akhter

The government has moved to expand the runway of Cox’s Bazar airport, aiming to upgrade it to international standards and offer foreign holidaymakers a hassle-free trip to the world’s longest unbroken sea beach.

“We have taken steps to expand the runway at Cox’s Bazar airport and develop other facilities,” GM Quader, the civil aviation and tourism minister, told The Daily Star recently.

Airliners and tour operators welcomed the move but said the government should also develop other tourism-related infrastructure and recreation facilities to lure overseas tourists.

Officials of the ministry however said the government had planned to develop an exclusive tourism zone for foreign tourists, refurbish the golf course to international standards and establish a cricket stadium in the beach town.

In line with the move to upgrade the airport, its runway will be expanded from 6,775 feet to 9,000 feet long and the width from 125 feet to 200 feet. Various navigational instruments will be installed, with the total cost estimated at Tk 302 crore.

Shafique Alam Mehdi, secretary in charge of the civil aviation and tourism ministry, said they completed the primary preparations. The organogram for the project has also been approved.

“We will send the proposal to the planning ministry next week for approval.”

The expansion will enable wide-bodied aircraft, such as the Airbus 310, to land at the airport. It will also allow foreign tourists to come to Cox’s Bazar by chartering aircraft, officials said.

The project, as per the proposal, is expected to be completed by June 2012, if work begins this fiscal year.

“We want to declare the Cox’s Bazar airport as an international airport after the runway is expanded. Now we aim to begin work as soon as possible,” said Quader.

In the second phase of development, the terminal building and other necessary facilities will be established, he added.

The attempt to upgrade the airport comes as Bangladesh tries to boost its hospitality industry by promoting its natural wonders, such as the sea beach, the coral island of St Martin’s and the mangrove forest, the Sundarbans, to global tourists who are visiting Bangladesh at an increasing rate every year.

For the past several years, the inflow of foreign tourists to one of the low cost tourism destination of Bangladesh more than doubled — from two lakh in 2005 to 4.67 lakh in 2008 — according to the civil aviation and tourism ministry.

The majority comes to visit Cox’s Bazar, the Sundarbans and Sylhet. Operators said the developed airport would enable foreigners to fly direct to the beach town.

“The thought behind the expansion is positive. It will encourage airlines to open direct flights from abroad to the tourism spot. However, unless various other facilities for tourists are created, it may not be sustainable,” said Captain Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury, chairman and managing director of three-fleet carrier United Airways Ltd, operating four flights a week from Cox’s Bazar.

He also stressed the need to create 24-hour landing and take-off facilities for aircraft and establish refuelling stations to enable carriers to plan convenient flights.

Foreign carriers operate from two airports — Dhaka and Chittagong — with the airport in Sylhet failing to attract foreign airliners because of an absence of refuelling facilities.

Taufiq Uddin Ahmed, president of Tour Operators’ Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), echoed Choudhury suggestions and said the government should take immediate measures to develop adequate infrastructure to attract tourist.

“Otherwise, extending the runway or turning it to an international airport will not make any difference,” he said. He also recommended branding Bangladesh properly as a holiday destination.

BSB to establish mulberry nursery on 760 bighas of land

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=147148

BSB to establish mulberry nursery on 760 bighas of land
Bss, RAJSHAHI

Oct 24: The Bangladesh Sericulture Board (BSB) has been working to establish mulberry nursery and mini-garden on more 760 bighas of land for production of eight lakh mulberry saplings and 10 lakh disinfectant eggs.

BSB Chairman Sunil Chandra Pal told the agency that the extension work of the mulberry farming is being operated under a two-year project titled “Implementation of Sericulture Extension and Development Work Plan”.

Apart from repairing and renovating 14 more nurseries, he said 20 projection plots would be raised for boosting production of high- yielding mulberry plants.

He said, the development project is being implemented in around 40 districts since July 2008 at a cost of Taka 12.16 crore.
Main objective of the project is to develop and extend sericulture and silk industry with the active participation of the government, private entrepreneurs and NGOs keeping consistency with the PRSP in the light of Millennium Development Goal (MDG).

Strengthening the motivation work along with building up a sound relationship between GO and NGO for accelerating the sericulture movement in the country is the main objective of the plan.

Besides, it has also been increasing mulberry cultivation and providing incentive to the farmers and other people engaged in mulberry plantation, production of cocoons and silk yarn and creating marketing facilities of silk product in the country.

In order to develop expertise, Sunil Chandra said, intensive training would be arranged at home and abroad for the manpower and professionals engaged in sericulture.

Likewise, the targeted farmers and other beneficiaries would be provided with financial supports and other inputs for mulberry production and cocoon rearing.

The existing chawki rearing centers would be extended and renovated for raising healthy batch of chowki silk-worm and distribution to the farmers.

He said, sericulture activities are agri-oriented, labour-intensive and part of rural cottage industries, so the expanded activities have been producing positive results in accelerating rural economy.

Tk 3.75b Karnaphuli dredging project approved

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/10/24/82431.html

Tk 3.75b Karnaphuli dredging project approved

Jasim Uddin Haroon

The government has approved the Karnaphuli river capital dredging project worth Tk 3.75billion to keep the country’s most important channel navigable for vessels and enhance anchorage capacity of Chittagong port, shipping ministry officials told the FE.

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), which handles nearly 90 per cent of the country’s US$37 billion foreign trade, will now engage consultant for preparing tender document and other relevant jobs for the biggest ever dredging work.

“We’ve received an approval letter Thursday. Now, we will hire consultant for the execution of the project,” Khademul Bashar, a senior official who is familiar with the project told the FE Thursday.

“Dredging of the Karnaphuli river has become necessary if we want to ensure smooth operation of the Chittagong Port,” an official at the planning department said.

Besides, it will generate large amount of revenue for the port authority, as at least 300 coaster vessels will be able to anchor there.

Currently, coaster vessels anchor at the mouth of Karnaphuli, which hinder smooth operation of ocean ships.

“Once we finish the dredging, ships won’t have to be worried about running aground. They will be able to move freely. Besides, we will recover 50 acres of lands worth Tk 3.0 billion thorough dredging process,” he added.

Under the project, CPA said it would also build a concrete ‘marine drive’ on the right bank of Karnaphuli river to facilitate smooth inland transportation of cargoes.

The length of the marine drive will be 2.5 kilometres on the north bank of the river of Karnaphuli.

“It will beautify the port to a great extent and attract more tourists in the city,” said Khademul Bashar, who is a CPA’s deputy estate manager.

The port took up the massive project some four years back after silts filled up around two and a half kilometers stretch of the river between the key Kalurghat and Sadarghat area in the port city.

A major part of the estuary has since become a restricted area for big ocean going vessels, hampering trade and escalating cost of freight.

The project will be self-financed by the CPA. Earlier, Japanese government wanted to provide a fund worth Tk 740 million for the project, but it later withdrew the money due to delay in project implementation.

Earlier, Chittagong Port conducted such dredging of the estuary of the river Karnaphuli twice. One was done in 1981 by a Holland-based company and other was in 1990 by a Chinese company — China Harbour.

The CPA in 2007 floated tender for the planned project, but it was later cancelled mainly because of irregularities in the tender procedures.

New avenue for RMG exports

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=110906

New avenue for RMG exports
Items made of organic cotton in high demand
Refayet Ullah Mirdha

The increasing demand for Bangladesh’s readymade garments (RMG) made of organic cotton fabrics in western countries has opened up new avenues for apparel makers and exporters, according to industry insiders.

Exports of such products are on the rise, they say, as major buyers are ready to pay more because the health-conscious customers in the west find the items environment-friendly.

Meanwhile, cashing in on such high demand, local spinners now lean towards manufacturing organic cotton yarn, finds a survey, recently conducted by a giant international RMG brand working in Bangladesh.

In this context, an official of this international company pointed to the fact that the RMG makers are to import such fabrics from India, China and Pakistan as local organic cotton yarn makers cannot meet the entire demand.

The main feature of organic cotton fabrics is a sustainable farming method that discourages use of heavy chemicals and maintenance of soil fertility.

Talking to The Daily Star, Abdullah Al Mahmud Mahin, managing director of Mahin Group who uses organic cotton fabrics for export-oriented RMG products, expressed his high hope of a better chance for higher prices for the RMG products made of organic cotton fabrics.

“If I use five percent organic cotton fabrics for RMG products, the prices increase at least 25 percent,” Mahin said, pointing to a value addition to Bangladesh made apparels through the use of such fabrics.

The manufacturers using organic cotton fabrics more than five percent in garments, the Mahin Group boss said, are to go by a system that binds them to obtain certification from growers, yarn spinners on such usage. Finally, the manufacturers are required to make such certification to the prospective buyers.

Global Organic Testing System is a world class organisation who certifies such usage of organic cotton fabrics.

Actually, demand for organic cotton yarn marked a rise over the last one year, said an official of a Chitagong textile mill.

“As a result, we are also receiving huge number of orders from local manufacturers and international buying agents,” he added.

reefat@thedailystar.net

All highways to be made four-lane ones

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/oct/23/front.html#19

All highways to be made four-lane ones
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka

The communications minister, Syed Abul Hossain, Thursday said all highways across the country would be made four-lane ones to minimise road crashes.

‘We’re repairing and widening the highways to reduce the risk of accidents,’ he said while addressing a rally organised by ‘Nirapad Sarak Chai’.

The minister said the government wanted to make all highways, including Dhaka-Chittagong Highway, secure for the travellers. He said the work order for making the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway four-lane one would be issued within the next two months.

Abul Hossain said road fatalities would come down in many cases, if the existing the 2-lane highways, were made 4-lane ones with dividers.

Nirapad Sarak Chai chairman Ilias Kanchan also spoke on the occasion.

Rahimafrooz introduces solar-powered irrigation system

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=146942

Rahimafrooz introduces solar-powered irrigation system
ECONOMIC REPORTER

Farmers will no more need to wait for power or diesel for running their irrigation pumps as Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Ltd (RRE) has introduced solar-powered irrigation system.

The system will also help save 760 mw power and 800 million litre diesel every year if the conventional power and diesel run irrigation pumps are converted to solar power, says a press release.

Rahimafrooz has introduced the system through converting a 10HP diesel run irrigation pump to solar power, which is owned by farmer Shaheen Ahmed of Kaishar Char under Savar in Dhaka.

Niaz Rahim, chairman of Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Ltd, and Shaikh Siraj, media personality and presenter of Channel I’s popular “Hridoye Mati O Manush” programme, formally launched the pump, which will supply water for irrigation of 20 acres of BORO rice field. Dr Nazmul Hossain, chairman of Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC), witnessed the launch of the scheme, also senior advisor of German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) Khurshid-ul-Islam and program coordinator of (GTZ) Erich Otto Gomm were present there.

It’s the largest installation of its kind in Bangladesh from Rahimafrooz. It is a lifetime project with one single major investment as solar panels, the major part of the system is warranted for 20 years.

Rahimafrooz launched solar PV project back in 1985 in Bangladesh. Due to technological advancement, solar market has grown fast and efficiently for the last few years.

Around 500,000 households are already enjoying the comfort solar home systems designed by Rahimafrooz, among which, 70,000 are actually supplied and monitored by the company. Besides, another 100kwp medium and large scale solar installations are also supplied by Rahimafrooz.

The company introduced solar water pump in 2004, pioneering the service in Bangladesh. Since then hundreds of beneficiaries are enjoying solar-based water pumping service for drinking and irrigation water.

As continuation of ongoing services to the nation, Rahimafrooz installed and commissioned this 11.9kwp solar-powered irrigation scheme.

German business team arrives in Bangladesh

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=146945

German business team arrives in Bangladesh
UNB, Dhaka

A German business delegation of more than 20 members from the shipbuilding, engineering and energy sectors will visit here from October 25 to 30.

The business delegation wish to explore the potentials of  Bangladesh’s growing market as well as import opportunities, a German Embassy Press Release said The week long visit is organized by the OAV-German Asia Pacific Business Association in cooperation with the Bangladesh-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BGCCI) and supported by the German Embassy in Dhaka.

The delegation will be headed by Peter Clasen, owner of the company “Wilhelm G. Clasen” and joint venture partner of GerBanFibres Ltd.  The delegation will visit Ananda and Western Marine shipyards as well as the Export Processing Zones in Dhaka and in Chittagong, the release said.

Solar energy to be used in public buildings

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/10/23/news0487.htm

Solar energy to be used in public buildings

Staff Reporter

The government will introduce solar home system (SHS) in all the public buildings in future to as a part of government’s promotion of the use of renewable energy.

Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury Bir Bikram told the reporters about the government’s recent decision in this regard at a workshop yesterday.

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) organised the ‘national workshop on Go Green Series on Energy Saving = Cost Saving’, in association with GTZ (German Technical Cooperation). Prof Ijaz Hossain of BUET and DCCI President Zafar Osman also spoke at the seminar held at the DCCI auditorium. GTZ energy expert Michael John Birks made a presentation on energy efficiency in industries.

Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi said that the government decision about the solar energy use was takes recently at the ECNEC meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Besides, all the new public buildings will also make arrangements for rainwater harvesting considering the water crisis.

“Primarily, solar panel is a costly system, but in the long run it will be cost effective,” he said.

He urged all the private sector businesses to do the same in order to enhance the use of renewable energy as alternative source of electricity.

About the rainwater harvesting system, he said this will meet the water requirement in future.

Responding to the PM’s Adviser’s call, Dhaka Chamber president Zafar Osman said that the private sector would take the move to introduce energy efficiency and conservation system to save electricity consumption.

The PM’s Adviser reiterated the government plan to distribute over one crore energy saving compact florescent light (CFL) in February next year as part of electricity saving measures.

Emphasising on the use of efficient and energy saving technology in industrial units, he said the government has undertaken a policy to promote energy conservation moves.

As part of the strategy, Dr. Tawfiq said, the Sustainable Energy Development Agency (SEDA), an independent institution established under the Power ministry, will be activated.

SEDA was launched to promote ‘sustainable energy’ comprising renewable energy and energy efficiency. The main objective of SEDA was to promote awareness about renewable energy and other clean energy technologies and integrate their development within overall national energy policy and development.

The PM’s Adviser said the government has also initiated move to enhance gas production from the existing gas fields through different projects. “We hope this will shortly enhance gas production by 200-300 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD).”

Blaming the Western world for global warming, he said that now the poor countries like Bangladesh have fallen victims of their misdeeds.

On the sideline of the seminar, Power Development Board (PDB) chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir told reporters that they have moved to install solar panel system in the Prime Minister’s Office within the next two months.

Augere launches first WiMax for Dhaka

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Augere launches first WiMax for Dhaka

Jerry Mobbs, chief executive officer of Augere, speaks at the launch of the company's wireless broadband service in Dhaka yesterday. Photo: Masthead PR

Star Business Report

Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Ltd yesterday launched the much-waited wireless broadband service through WiMax in some designated areas in Dhaka.

Augere, one of the two WiMax licensees, is the first company in Bangladesh to launch such service under the brand name ‘Qubee’.

Augere is initially offering two packages. Customer will have to pay Tk 3,400 a month for the Qubee 512 kbps package. The monthly charge for the Qubee 1 Mb has been fixed at Tk 6,200, while the modem price for both the packages is Tk 7,000.

Initially, the Qubee service is available for businesses and residential customers in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Mirpur and Uttara. Qubee will be available across Bangladesh soon.

WiMax is a technology that provides wireless transmission of data using a variety of transmission modes from point-to-multipoint links to portable and fully mobile internet access. The technology supports peak download rates of up to 46 Mbps and peak uplink rates of up to 14 Mbps.

Jerry Mobbs, chief executive officer of Augere Bangladesh, Russell T Ahmed, chief marketing officer, were present at the launching ceremony.

“We can offer low priced packages, but our goal is to ensure quality first,” said Ahmed. “We believe our services will satisfy our customers.”

Augere also unveiled a Qubee Flagship Store at Gulshan to provide 24-hour customer services.

Three bidders — BanglaLion Communication, BRAC BD Mail Network Ltd and Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Ltd — won the WiMax licences through an auction organised by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in September last year. However, BRAC later refused to take the licence.

UK-based Augere Holdings owns 60 percent of Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Ltd along with two local companies. Teleport Bangladesh owns 30 percent and Aamra Resources Ltd owns the remaining 10 percent.

Dhaka-Ankara meet next month to boost trade ties

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/10/22/82204.html

Dhaka-Ankara meet next month to boost trade ties

FE Report

A meeting of the Bangladesh-Turkey Joint Economic Cooperation (BTJEC) will be held in Ankara next month with an aim to boost the trade and investment relations between the two countries.

“We are going to hold the BTJEC meeting, scheduled for November in Ankara, where the whole range of trade, investment and economic issues will be discussed,” a senior government official said.

The official further said Bangladesh wants to strengthen further its relations with Turkey, especially in the fields of merchandise trade and investment. Turkey’s economy is the 6th largest in Europe and 16th in the world.

About the two countries’ balance of trade, which is now in favour of Bangladesh, officials said there was a scope to further raise exports to Turkey.

According to official figures, Bangladesh currently exports products worth about US$ 450 million per annum to the country against the annual imports worth $ 67 million from there.

In recent government-level talks both Bangladesh and turkey had agreed to explore further the potential of mutual trade and investment, sources said.

Referring to Commerce Minister M Faruk Khan’s recent visit to Turkey, sources said the minister had discussed some issues relating to bilateral trade and investment with high officials of the Turkish government.

Mr Faruk Khan in a bilateral meeting with Turkish foreign trade minister Zafer Caplayan on the sidelines of the Trade Ministers Summit in the Turkish capital had offered a special economic zone for Turkish investors.

Referring to the bilateral talks, officials said Turkey prefers direct air link between Dhaka and Istanbul to help boost the bilateral trade.

Bashundhara, US varsity Jt venture on education

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/10/22/news0418.htm

Bashundhara, US varsity Jt venture on education

Staff Reporter

Business conglomerate Bashundhara Group and Emory University of the United States of America (USA) have taken a joint venture initiative to develop an international standard ‘Education Zone’ in Bangladesh.

Under the project, different types of educational institutions will be set up in the same zone which will be largest education campus in the country.

The proposed Education Zone will include university, medical college, nursing institute, dental college, medical technical institute, physiotherapy college, engineering college, textile college, vocational institute, agriculture institute and IT park.

Bashundhara Group and Emory University yesterday signed an agreement in this regard at a ceremony at Baridhara residence of Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan.

Sobhan and Dr Gray S Hawk, Vice President of Emory University signed the agreement on behalf of their respective institutions.

Members of the visiting 9-member delegation of Emory University, Adviser of Bashundhara Group AR Rashidi, Kaler Kantha Editor Abed Khan, industrialist Din Mohammad and senior officials of Bashundhara Group, were present during the signing ceremony.

There will be educational facilities from play group to the highest level of education.

According to the agreement, students will directly get employment opportunity abroad at lucrative salaries.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Sobhan said with the establishment of the Education Zone, local students would get an international standard education and the government would get foreign currency from foreign students.

The Vice President of Emory University said under the agreement they would extend all technical support while the Bangladesh part would finance in the project.

20pc rise in food grain output probable by using IT software

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/10/22/82210.html

20pc rise in food grain output probable by using IT software

FE Report

The country’s annual food grain production can be increased by 20 per cent from its present level through the use of IT software in fertiliser recommendation, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture CQK Mustaq Ahmed said recently.

“The country’s present production level of 20 million tons would increase by 4 million tons to 24 million tons with the use of the newly-innovated Digital Fertiliser Recommendation Software,” he said at the launching ceremony of the pilot phase of the system.

eGeneration Ltd – a leading local software company – has developed this software for Soil Resource Development Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture through which farmers can select different fertilisers and their precise dosage for different crops through a digital platform.

Using the platform, farmers can have precise fertiliser recommendations by providing five basic pieces of information – name of the crop, type of land, name of the union, upazila and district, developers of the software informed.

A central database covering the soil samples of the entire country has been developed as the feedback of the system.

“The benefit of the service is twofold – increase in yield and decrease in production cost,” Chief Executive Officer of eGeneration Shameem Ahsan said on the occasion.