Country’s terry towel exporters recovering from global meltdown

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/10/21/82118.html

Country’s terry towel exporters recovering from global meltdown

Jasim Uddin Haroon

The country’s terry towel manufacturers and exporters said Tuesday they have been recovering from the impact of global meltdown since July-August as the buyers are showing increased interest in their products.

According to the official data, the exporters shipped US$ 27.25 million worth of terry towel during July-August period of this fiscal, a 19.14 per cent rise over that of the same period in 2008-09.

The terry towel production faced a major setback early in 2009 as the buyers halted or delayed buy orders following their inventories or slow sales amid global recession.

It forced many manufactures to cut down production. Even many opted for sub-contracting during the period.

“Buyers are showing their interest in our products after a slump in demand for about four to five months,” Arifuzzaman, president of Bangladesh Terry Towel Manufacturers and Exporters Association, a group of over 100 terry towel producers, told the FE.

Bangladesh’s terry towel products mainly go to the US and European markets.

Terry towel manufacturing companies have been growing since 1980′s in the country. Their combined export earnings stood at $ 124 million in last fiscal year. The earning target for the current fiscal is $ 143.18 million, an 8.0 per cent rise over the previous fiscal year.

Mr Arif, who is also chairman of Global Fabrics Limited, said the buyers are pressing hard for reduction of the prices of the product.

Currently, the prices of terry towel range between $1.0 and $1.25 a kilogram, which was much higher earlier.

Md Rashid, a senior manager of Bismillah Towel at Comilla EPZ, said the export order is now satisfactory. “We’ve sufficient orders for shipment over the next three months,” he added.

A senior official at the Jaantex Industries at Narshingdi said that their orders for Gulf nations remained steady during the recession saying: “Many buyers are rushing to Dhaka over the past one month.”

There are more than 103 fully export-oriented terry towel manufacturing companies in the country, mostly located in Chittagong EPZ. The textile sub-sector has employed over 55,000 workers.

Bangladeshi company launches new product at Dubai fair

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/oct/21/busi.html#3

Bangladeshi company launches new product at Dubai fair
Khadimul Islam . Dubai

Bangladeshi company REVE Systems, a telecom focused solution provider, has attracted huge number of visitors to its Mobile VoIP solutions at the Gitex technology week 2009 in Dubai.

Reve Systems is the one of the two Bangladeshi companies joined the bandwagon of over 3,300 IT firms from 83 countries converging on Gitex which is rated as one of the world’s top three ICT exhibitions and biggest international trade events for IT and telecommunications in the Middle East.

REVE Systems on Monday, launched worldwide iTel switch plus and iTel pin protector besides launching of new version of a soft dialer, iTel Mobile Dialer, to facilitate direct VoIP call from mobile phone using internet.

Reve Systems, a Symbian Network Partner Company, organised a presentation session on Mobile VoIP Challenges and Opportunities at Zabeel Hall marking the launching of new products of its new version of other product.

‘Out iTel range of products in Mobile VoIP helps consumers make VoIP calls from their mobile phones – thereby making it very convenient for consumers. The products have been so designed that the user experience is the same like making a regular call from their mobile phone,’ M Rezaul Hassan, chief executive officer of Reve System told New Age.

He said that Reve has more than 500 clients in 50 countries worldwide and we were proud that out product drawn an attention of a good number of business people at the gitex,’

Sanjit Chatterjee, director marketing of the company at the presentation said that iTel swhich plus is a soft switch software application with intergrated billing solution and interactive voice response system.

‘I Tel switich Plus can be used in a single server platforms as well in distributed architecture its scalable and redundant deployment architecture makes it suitable for large IP carriers, who want a fail proof system today’s competitive and service oriented market,’ said Sanjit.

About the iTel pin protector, an application to protect issues like Pin hacking and fraudulent usage of pin or dialer, Sanjit said that ‘this works on the principle of authentication of the IMEI number of the device, along with the pin to make it a total secure.’

Rezaul Hassan said that REVE Systems has been providing software and services to VoIP Operators since 2003. The core competency of REVE systems is billing solutions for telecommunication industry. REVE Systems is focused for developing software and solution for VoIP industry only.

‘Mobile VoIP market will grow drastically and recent economic crisis will faster this growth. This is the right time to take decision about it,’ he said.

Rezaul said that service provider now can launch its mobile VoIP service easily with iTel Mobile Dialer and the demo version of the product is available for free download from its website www.itelbilling.com.

Bicycle tyres reach foreign markets

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=110465

Bicycle tyres reach foreign markets

Sajjadur Rahman

A local company has made a foray into the international tyre market by earning Tk 35 crore in exports in a year.

Meghna Rubber Industries, a concern of Meghna Group, began exporting tyres in August 2008. The biggest slice of the company’s exports was destined to European countries, with other major export markets being Brazil and Taiwan.

“An interesting aspect of tyre exports is value addition. We use locally produced rubber, the main component of tyres,” said Mizanur Rahman, chairman of the group.

Rahman said earnings from tyre exports could reach Tk 500 crore annually in future, if the government comes forward with helping hands. “Government incentives will give us some advantage over our competitors.”

The global bicycle tyre industry is worth several billions of dollars. Only Europe consumes 3 crore bicycles annually. Additionally, bicycle tyres need to be replaced at least twice a year, according to industry people.

Meghna Rubber Industries is going to double its capacity from the present 20,000 tyres a day by this year, to meet growing export demand, said MA Halim Khan, executive director of the group.

“We have already geared production,” Khan said.

Meghna Group is also the leading manufacturer and exporter of bicycles in the country.

The export potential of bicycle tyres has cushioned local rubber manufacturers, who were previously facing slack demand for rubber.

Currently, the country is capable of producing about 30,000 tonnes of rubber a year, but some 10,000 tonnes are currently being produced a year because of limited market demand.

“We consume about 150 tonnes of rubber a month to produce bicycle tyres,” Khan said. “It could be doubled in one year.”

Motahar Billah Chowdhury, vice president of Bangladesh Rubber Garden Owners Association, said, “we are getting better prices for rubber now than two years ago because of increased use of the item by tyre manufacturers.”

“Both the demand and price of local rubber is rising,” said Chowdhury.

However, rubber producers are still getting lower prices for their produce than in India and Malaysia, the two closest markets. “We get only $1.5 for a kilogram of rubber, which costs $2.17 in India.”

sajjad@thedailystar.net

Thai company to invest $1.3m in Dhaka EPZ

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/oct/20/busi.html#9

Thai company to invest $1.3m in Dhaka EPZ
Business Desk

Thailand company Bexter Brenton (Bangladesh) Clothing Manufacturing Limited will set up an industry in the Dhaka Export Processing Zone.

The 100 per cent foreign owned company will invest $1.3 million in setting up their unit and will produce garments items.

The company will also create employment opportunity for 292 workers including 11 foreign nationals, a news release said.

An agreement to this effect was signed between the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority and Bexter Brenton (Bangladesh) Clothing Manufacturing Limited at BEPZA Complex in Dhaka recently.

BEPZA member (investment promotion) Md Moyjuddin Ahmed and Bexter Brenton managing director Kongkiat Thanakarnjanasuthi signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides.

Among others, BEPZA executive chairman Brigadier General Jamil Ahmed Khan was present.

New variety of paddy BINA-7 developed: 10 lakh tonnes more Aman can be grown in Monga-hit dists

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/10/20/news0235.htm

New variety of paddy BINA-7 developed: 10 lakh tonnes more Aman can be grown in Monga-hit dists

Md Antaz Miah, a farmer of Dimla village in Rangpur seen with the fast-growing BINA-7 paddy in his field. NN photo

Shamim Jahangir from Rangpur

Farmers in eight monga prone districts will be able to produce an additional 10 lakh tons of Aman paddy within a couple years by cultivating a new variety of paddy (BINA-7) developed by the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA).

This was disclosed at a field level demonstration of BINA-7 at Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur yesterday.

Md Antaz Miah, a farmer of Dimla village in Rangpur Sadar told The New Nation that he cultivated BINA-7 in his several acres of land.

“I have got tremendous result from my paddy field,” he said adding that he has produced nearly 7 tons of paddy per hectare on his land.” It was only 4 tons per hectore with in traditional BRRI-33 variety from the same land last year.

Mokhlesur Rahman, another farmer in Kawnia village in Mithapukur upazila said he has been benefited by cultivating BINA-7. “Production cost of BINA-7 is comparatively lower from traditional Aman varieties as it can be produced only in 110 days.

“We need proper help from Department of Agriculture Extension officials to disseminate the variety at monga prone areas,” he said.

Scientists of Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), who developed the new Aman variety BINA-7, said that farmers can get an additional two tons of yield per hectare of Aman over the traditional variety.

A total of 10,000 hectares of land came under BINA-7 cultivation in eight monga prone districts this year, an official of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said.

“We expect to get 50,000 tons of rice from 10,000 hectares of paddy field,” he said adding that it was only 35,000 tons from the same paddy field of BRRI-33 variety on an average.”

Farmers in the monga areas will feel encouraged to cultivate BINA-7 as they are able to get yields from the variety within 110 days whereas other varieties needed 30 more days, BINA scientist Dr Md Ali Azam, who developed the variety, told The New Nation yesterday.

“I have developed BINA-7 variety in cooperation with my associate after long nine years research in BINA,” Dr. Azam said, adding that the farmers feel encouraged to produce BINA-7 as the BINA-7 has more disease resistance capacity from other Aman varieties.

He said that farmers can overcome monga by cultivating the variety as the BINA-7 can be cultivated not only in Aman season but also all over the whole year. He said that the Aman production can be raised to two crore tons by disseminating the variety. It will help ensure food security of the country, he hoped.

A total of 7, 86,885 lands came under Aman cultivation this year in greater Rangpur region, sources said.

2nd rented power plant in Ctg starts production next month

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/10/20/news0237.htm

2nd rented power plant in Ctg starts production next month

Chittagong Bureau

Power crisis here in the region is likely to improve slightly by middle of November this year when the second rental power plant at Shikalbaha in Patiya starts generation.

Informed sources said that nearly 80 per cent of the installation work of the 75-megawatt furnace oil-run power plant had already been finished by now and the rest of the work would be completed by the first week of November.

Messrs Energies Power Corporation, a private company, is implementing the German-origin rental power plant project at an estimated cost of Tk 2600 million. Royce Power, a Hong Kong based firm, is providing technical assistance to the project.

“The plant will go on trial run by first week of November if things are all right,” Managing Director of the Energies Power Corporation (EPC), owner of the power plant, Javed Hosein told reporters.

Earlier, Messrs Energies Power Corporation successfully commissioned the region’s first rental power plant at Barabkund in June this year. It was 24-megawatt furnace oil-run power plant.

Initiators commissioned the power plant near the Shikalbaha gas turbine power plant in January this year. The Power Development Board (PDB) is learnt to have signed accord to buy 55-megawatt of the plant’s generation while the rest will go to a number of industrial units nearby.

Officials at Power Development Board (PDB) speculated modest improvement in total power generation scenario in the region.

“A number of medium scale generation capacity power plants are still needed to address the ever-growing power demand in the region,” a top official of the PDB here in the port city commented.

BAPEX begins drilling at prospective Mobarakpur gas structure next year

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/10/20/82080.html

BAPEX begins drilling at prospective Mobarakpur gas structure next year

FHM Humayan Kabir

The country’s petroleum exploration firm BAPEX would start drilling at prospective Mobarakpur gas structure in northern Bangladesh in the second quarter of next year to confirm gas reserve and viability of its extraction, officials said Monday.

The Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (BAPEX) officials said they had already determined a point for drilling a well in a zone of Mobarakpur structure as the company was hopeful of a reserve of 200 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas.

“We’ll drill an 4.50-kilometre depth exploratory well at the prospective structure in May. The drilling will confirm the actual reserve and its production viability,” Mosharraf Hossain, general manager of BAPEX, told the FE.

“The project needs some additional funds and time. We have recently placed the proposal before the Planning Commission for getting the extra time and fund for the drilling scheme,” he said.

BAPEX, a company under the Bangladesh’s energy corporation Petrobangla, will start drilling investing Tk 973.7 million through its new rig, to be imported from China, in the next year to determine the actual reserve at Mobarakpur in Pabna.

If the gas reserve is feasible, production from the first gas-store in the energy-hungry northern Bangladesh, will start from early 2011, Mr Hossain said.

The fund-starved BAPEX has already signed a deal last year with a Chinese company that would supply the exploration rig at a cost of nearly two billion taka.

The country’s lone petroleum exploration company has completed two-dimensional (2D) survey at 161 line kilometre areas in Mobarakpur last year investing nearly Tk 500 million.

From the survey, the state-owned energy firm has found some 200bcf of gas reserve in the first zone of the Mobarakpur field, which they said, is quite satisfactory, the BAPEX officials said.

The officials said there is another untouched zone at the gas field where they would go for exploration in the next phase after the successful upcoming drilling there.

The official said if there is a feasible hydrocarbon reserve for production it will be the first petroleum presence in the northern region where gas supply is very inadequate that holds back the industrial growth there.

At present the government supplies limited gas to some areas in Sirajganj, Pabna and Bogra districts out of the 16 northern districts.

Dhaka gets down to Bay seismic from Oct

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=146588

Dhaka gets down to Bay seismic from Oct
DEEPAK ACHARJEE

The government is set to begin a seismic survey of the Bay of Bengal from this month (October) with a view to submitting a country report to the United Nations for arbitration to identify the country’s maritime boundary in the Bay in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.

Sources at the foreign ministry said that the seismic survey would be conducted by a company from the Netherlands at a cost of Tk 80 crore.

The finance ministry already allocated the money (Tk 80 crore) on September 27 last for conducting the survey, sources added.

A high official at the foreign ministry yesterday told The Independent that a proposal to conduct the seismic survey was prepared by the ministry and it would be sent to the cabinet division for placing it at the meeting of the cabinet committee on economic affairs for approval.

“Work order would be given to the foreign company after getting nod of the cabinet committee and the survey would commence from this month to be completed by March, 2010,” he said.

“We have to submit necessary documents to the UN by July 26, 2011. So that we need to prepare a final country report on the issue by June, 2011, after completion of the survey by March next year at any cost.”

The official also said that the country might lose its territory in the Bay if it does not submit the country report on sea boundary. “Already our neighbouring countries India and Myanmar have submitted their country reports on the issue before the UN after completion of seismic survey,” he added.

The official also said that the survey company of the Netherlands would also process the data of survey and would help in placing the country report before the UN.

According to the proposal, the survey would be conducted in around 4,000 kilometre areas in the Bay of Bengal.

Three categories of desk-top study have already been completed on the basis of data from the public domain and foreign research organisations. The foreign ministry has prepared a draft report on sea boundary by engaging a local technical team coordinated by the experts from New Hampshire University in the US, the proposal says.

Sources said, Bangladesh has failed in delimiting its maritime boundary in accordance with the provisions of UNCLOS since 1982. The neighbouring countries India and Myanmar completed demarcation of their maritime boundaries, they added.

On several occasions, these two countries have kept on carrying out aggressive exploration of gas and oil in the disputed areas adjacent to or even within Bangladesh territorial waters.

They also did not bother to inform Bangladesh while engaging international oil companies (IOCs) to explore in the disputed areas, sources added.

The disputed areas in the Bay are believed to hold huge reserves of natural gas, lying some 50 nautical miles off Saint Martin’s Island.

UN Convention on the Law of Sea, entered into force on 27 July 2001, establishes a comprehensive legal framework to regulate all ocean space, its uses and resources.

In 1974, Bangladesh enacted the Territorial Water and Maritime Zones Act through parliament. Bangladesh declared straight baselines selecting eight imaginary base points following the 10-fathom line or over-60 feet deep water except west of Elephant Point / St. Martin’s Island.

Bangladesh also claimed 12 nautical miles (nm) of territorial water, 18nm Contiguous Zone (24nm allowed under UNCLOS 1982) 200 nm Economic Zone amounting to about 40,000 sq miles of sea area and Continental shelf, (350nm allowed under UNCLOS 1982).

IDB to give $133m for laying undersea pipeline

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/10/20/82074.html

IDB to give $133m for laying undersea pipeline

FE Report

The government is eyeing Islamic Development Bank (IDB) funding worth US$ 133 million for laying an undersea pipeline. The pipeline will be used for carrying petroleum to shore from mother vessels at the outer anchorage in the Bay of Bengal, officials said Monday.

“Jeddah-based IDB, the country’s long-term financer of fuel import bills, has agreed in principle to provide funding to lay down the pipeline,” Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) Chairman Anwarul Karim told the FE Monday.

He said the pipeline, once installed, would reduce unloading time and costs and also handling losses.

A single-buoy unloading facility near Kutubdia, some 60 km off the coast in the Bay of Bengal, would also be set up for uninterrupted supply of petroleum through the undersea pipeline, said the BPC top brass.

Smaller vessels currently ferry petroleum to the shore from larger vessels moored at the outer anchorage.

Initially the pipeline would carry only crude oil to the BPC depots located at Chittagong shore, said a senior BPC official.

He said the BPC has a vision to carry refined petroleum too through the proposed undersea pipeline.

The facility will save the BPC around $8 per tonne incurred for loading and unloading.

It would help saving foreign currency to the tune of $9.6 million annually from the first year of installation as the BPC imports 1.2 million tonnes of crude oil every year.

The BPC pays $5.50 per tonne to the lighter vessels owned by state-owned Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) to carry petroleum to the shore apart from other costs.

The pipeline would help reduce unloading time for a mid-size tanker to only two-three days from existing 12-15 days.

The country’s oil imports will go up by 33 per cent from 3.65 million tonnes this year to 4.85 million mt next year when the new thermal power plants will come into operation.

The total under water pipeline project cost would be $140 million – of which the IDB is expected to provide $133 million, while the remaining will be funded by the government.

International tender would be floated to lay down the undersea pipeline immediately after the loan is sanction from the IDB, BPC officials said.

When contacted the newly appointed IDB field representative in Bangladesh Farook uz Zaman said the IDB loan appraisal team will visit Dhaka next week in this connection.

Out of the country’s total 3.65 million tonnes of imported oil — 2.45 million tonnes refined oil and 1.20 million tonnes of crude oil.

Northern mat gaining ground in local market

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/oct/20/busi.html#3

Northern mat gaining ground in local market

Zakir Hossain . Rangpur

Mats manufactured by financially vulnerable women of Rangpur-Dinajpur region are making room in the market across the country.

Mat promotional activities, an initiative of Rangpur-Dinajpur Rural Service Bangladesh, an NGO, have so far changed the fortune of thousands of financially vulnerable women in the region.

The product manufactured by the poor women of the country’s poverty-stricken areas is now being supplied across the country. The initiative has so far created job opportunities for thousands of women.

About 4,000 women of greater Rangpur and Dinajpur districts are now engaged in manufacturing mats. Gradually, these women are becoming self-reliant providing additional support to their families.

RDRS, Bangladesh began mat promotional activities in the worst poverty-stricken areas of the Rangpur and Dinajpur districts. The women of the areas were provided training by the organisation along with supplying raw materials free of cost to prepare mats in their houses. The NGO also took the responsibility of marketing the product.

Nayon Moni, craft manager of the organisation, said that most of the poor women in the region are not directly involved in any income-generating activities in the lean period. Women in the monga-affected areas pass weeks even months with little work in the lean period when the male members go to other areas looking for job.

He also said that the organisation began mat production and promotional activities by financially-vulnerable women at village level of the districts in 2005. It provided women 60-day practical training on mat production. Nearly 4,000 women have so far received training.

The official said that her organisation also buys the finished product from them at the rate of Tk 10 per square foot. Later, RDRS sells the product across the country at 20-25 per cent higher price to maintain staff and other costs.

Manjushri Shah, women rights coordinator, RDRS, said that mat production, as an income generating activity, is very useful for women, as they can do it at home without compromising other household activities like cooking, cleaning and looking after kids and elders.

A woman can manufacture 10 to 15 square feet mat in a day that can earn her about Tk 100 to 150, she added.

Hajera Begum, a 39-year-old woman of Gojoghanta village under Gongachara upazila in Rangpur, said that she along with her husband and three children used to starve or remain half-fed during Bengali months of Aswhin and Kartik, as there was no farm work.

Having been engaged in mat production after receiving training she is now able to make additional money along with household works, she said adding that her family is now much better-off.

Mercantile Bank to build charitable hospital

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/10/20/82028.html

Mercantile Bank to build charitable hospital

FE Report

In a developing country like Bangladesh, the poor and underprivileged sections of the society are often deprived of the basic human rights of access to education and healthcare.

Responding to such socioeconomic disparity, a private commercial bank, the Mercantile Bank Ltd, is currently planning to establish a charitable hospital for the treatment of the poor people.

The bank says it also has a plan to establish a school exclusively for the education of the indigent students.

The latest move is part of a series of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities carried out by MBL in recent years. According to statistics of the bank, it spent Tk 15.115 million in the year 2008.

“The Mercantile Bank Ltd, among other things, is committed to the welfare of the society through these activities which extends to every aspect of national development including education, health, disaster management and sports,” Monindra Kumar Nath, Deputy Managing Director of the bank said.

One of the greatest accomplishments of the bank was its sole sponsorship of Amar Ekushey Granthamela-2009 held earlier this year for which it donated Tk 3.2 million.

Earlier, the bank sponsored Dhaka International Trade Fair-2008 along with other business houses. The bank granted Tk 2.1 million for the construction of the grand entrance of the fair.

Major CSR initiatives of the Mercantile Bank also include the construction of two permanent Murals of Bir Uttam M A Rob and Bhasha Sainik Justice Abdur Rahim in the city at a cost of Tk 900,000.

Each year the bank donates 1.0 per cent of its operating profit or Tk 40 lakh (which ever is higher) to its CSR arm – the Mercantile Bank Foundation. Accordingly the total amount of donation to the foundation in 2008 stood at Tk. 10.0 million.

“The foundation established in the year 2000; strives to preserve and promote cultural heritage and support artistic expressions,” the bank said.

In upholding this spirit, Mercantile Bank Foundation assists research activities on Bengali literature through Bangla Academy. It also supports the writers and publishers through purchasing their books and distributing these to different educational institutions on the occasion of national and other important days.

Every year, the foundation also provides awards to eminent personalities of the country for their contributions. Beginning in the year 2002, the annual ‘Mercantile Bank Foundation Award’ has so far honoured a number of renowned personalities in the country for their contributions to Bengali language and literature, education and culture, research on liberation war, economy and research on economy, commerce and industry, medicine, science and technology, journalism and sports.

In addition, the foundation is also providing financial support to various educational institutions, hospitals and clinics in various parts of the country.

The Mercantile Bank’s CSR initiatives extend widely to the sports arena as well. Last year, as the sponsor of the National Swimming Championship Competition-2008, the bank donated Tk 1.0 million for staging the tournament.

Simultaneously, the bank also sponsored the International Junior Tennis Championship and a Golf Tournament during the same period. In addition, it also provided a donation of Tk 700,000 to Bangladesh Swimming Federation for staging the Indo-Bangla Swimming Competition.

Export from CEPZ rises to US$1.12 billion during last fiscal

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=8&id=65194&date=2009-10-18&PHPSESSID=770e71197ca416cbfaf9c43eaf710171

Export from CEPZ rises to US$1.12 billion during last fiscal

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, Oct 18 (BSS)- Different industrial units in
Chittagong Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) exported items of worth US $ 1,188 million during the last fiscal.

Export target of the current fiscal is US$ 1,250 million.

As many as 1,41,611 Bangladeshi and 430 foreign workers are now serving in 151 industrial units in CEPZ.

CEPZ sources said, at present there are US $ 730.468 million investment here and it is increasing day by day.

Of 151 industrial units, 85 are running with hundred percent foreign investment. CEPZ General Manager Ataul Haque said, export volume is increasing gradually with the rise of investment, which is generating more employment also.

In the last fiscal, the industrial units here imported raw material of worth US $780.532 million and exported directly to abroad from here.

Considering the increasing interest of the foreign investors in CEPZ, the government has set up Karnaphully EPZ at the land of now defunct Chittagong Steel Mills.

In KEPZ, six thousand workers are now working in 16 industrial units. Over 50,000 people will get job here when all the units will go into operation.

Australian co to invest $400m in mineral sand mining

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/10/19/news0081.htm

Australian co to invest $400m in mineral sand mining

UNB, Dhaka

An Australian company offered to invest 400 million US dollars in mineral sand mining in the Bay of Bengal off Cox’s Bazar coast, after ascertaining a good find through preliminary exploration.

The company’s willingness was conveyed to State Minister for Environment and Forest Dr Hasan Mahmud by Australian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Dr Justin Lee during a meeting at the ministry yesterday.

Earlier, in January 2007, the government had given permission to Premier Minerals, the Australian Company, for exploration of the sea sand laden with a number of minerals reportedly abound in the bay, apart from hydrocarbons.

“On completion of the first phase of exploration, the company expressed its eagerness to invest in the project for extracting the sea sand rich in mineral resources,” an official announcement said.

The sea sand at Cox’s Bazar beach contains heavy minerals, including Zircon, Rutile, Ilmenite, Leucoxene, and Magentite. The Australian firm plans to undertake the mining project under Teknaf upazila.

The minister said, “The government is eager to approve those projects which will bring economic prosperity for our country, but these must be environment-friendly.”

Alan Grant, Chairman of the Premier Minerals, who was present at the meeting, said that they are interested to make the investment in the mining project maintaining full “environmental balance”.

Dr Hasan Mahmud said more review is needed for looking into the project’s technical and environmental sides. “It must be ensured whether it is environment-friendly before giving final approval.”

The Australian mining-project proposal came when the government is negotiating deals with an American and an Irish firm for gas exploration in the Bay, amid outcries from a group of protestors at home and rival mining bids from neighbouring India and Myanmar.

Govt to introduce new departments in public universities for technical education

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=8&id=65184&date=2009-10-18&PHPSESSID=770e71197ca416cbfaf9c43eaf710171

Govt to introduce new departments in public universities for technical education

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Oct 18 (BSS) – The government is going to open new academic departments in five public engineering universities to solve unemployment problem and expand technical education.

A Taka 146.3-crore project has been taken to create necessary infrastructure and laboratory facilities in the universities.

The project will be implemented by June 2013 in five universities – Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) and Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET).

Planning Division Secretary M Habib Ullah Majumder told BSS that the project already been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in a recent meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

He said to solve the unemployment problem and create new employment facilities is one of the election pledges of the present government and work is going on to implement this pledge.

There is no alternative to technical education to resolve the growing unemployment problem, the secretary said hoped that the
new project would help expand technical educational and employment opportunities for educated manpower at home and abroad.

Habibullah Majumder said department of glass and ceramic engineering will be introduced in BUET and RUET under the University Grants Commission (UGC) to develop glass ceramic technologists in the country.

When implemented, this project would create opportunities for local and foreign students to study, he added.

The secretary further said department of petroleum and mining engineering would be introduced in CUET while department of leather engineering in KUET and department of textiles engineering in DUET.

The project includes construction of academic building, expansion of academic building, building research and workshop buildings, expansion of existing research buildings and procurement of furniture, book and journals, scientific and research equipment, teaching materials and arranging training at home and abroad.

IT fair begins in Bogra

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=110329

IT fair begins in Bogra

A three-day IT fair started at Covered Ground Gymnasium in Bogra town yesterday.

The North Bengal IT Fair-2009 was jointly organised by Maker Communication and Inpace Management.

17 local and international IT companies, including HP, Intel and Flora Ltd, participated in the fair to showcase laptop, desktop and multimedia along with other IT products.

Another three-day IT fair will be inaugurated on October 22 at Parjatan motel in Rajshahi.