Industrial police set to swing into action

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=166704

Industrial police set to swing into action
DEEPAK ACHARJEE

The much-talked about ‘industrial police’ will start its activities by this month with a view to ensuring law and order in industrial areas, especially in the readymade garment units.

It would be a unit of the Bangladesh police like the highways police and a deputy inspector general (DIG) of police would head the unit, sources in the home ministry said yesterday.

Home secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder yesterday told The Independent that they were ready to form the proposed industrial police and the home ministry was likely to issue a circular in this regard this month.

“The circular will be issued after getting approval from the finance ministry,” he said adding: “We sent a proposal to the finance ministry recently seeking its approval for forming the industrial police and we hope that the ministry will approve it this week,” he said.

The home secretary said that the new dress and logo of the proposed industrial police would be introduced.

Abdus Sobhan Sikder said that the seven-member sub-committee headed by the additional secretary of the home ministry, would submit its report today (Sunday or Monday) to the ministry recommending how to form the industrial police.

Sources said that the industrial police would be deployed in different industrial zones, especially in the garment factory areas, to check labour unrest.

The industrial police, which is a long demand of the industrialists, especially garment manufacturers, would initially be manned by 1,850 members, the sources added.
A deputy inspector general (DIG)-level police officer will be appointed as the director general (DG) of the industrial police and five directors of the wing will also be appointed on deputation from the existing law enforcement agencies.

The establishment ministry approved 1,580 members for manning the industrial police for initial function.

Officers and constables of the new police wing will be appointed from the forces of police, Ansar, Village Defence Party (VDP) and fire service on deputation. Fifty per cent of the manpower of the total employees of the wing would be from the police department.

Five different departments-Intelligence, investigation, operation, administration, and training — would be set up for the proposed industrial police.

According to the Home Ministry’s proposal, the industrial police would consist of four separate units to be primarily deployed in four major industrial zones-Ashulia, Savar, Gazipur, and Narayanganj-at a cost of Tk 20.3 crore.

Ctg port to be digitised by year-end

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Ctg port to be digitised by year-end
Bss, Chittagong

Chittagong port will be digitalised by year-end to upgrade the premier seaport’s operations.

The port will be brought under a full computer network as part of digitalisation under Chittagong Port Trade Facilitation Umbrella Project, said officials with Chittagong Port Authority.

The Tk 225 crore project will be implemented with the financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank.

To this end, all activities including submission of bill of entry for export-import and the process for imposing duty of the Chittagong Customs House have already been brought under automation.

Work for implementation of two projects — the Port Management Information System (PMIS) and the Container Terminal Management System (CTMS) — is nearly complete.

The projects are being executed to make other operational activities technology-dependent, including administrative management, goods handling of ships and scanning of goods delivery of the port.

“To turn Chittagong port into a world-standard port, its activities are being computerised,” said RU Ahmed, chairman of Chittagong Port Authority.

Viyellatex to set up green building

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=130926

Viyellatex to set up green building
Refayet Ullah Mirdha

The country’s garment industry will see its first “carbon-neutral” factory to be constructed on the outskirts of Dhaka by the middle of the next year.

The country’s leading apparel maker and exporter Viyellatex Group is going to set up the green building, first of its kind, on four acres in Joydevpur in an effort to attract more international buyers.

The new building will be more environment-friendly and energy-saving than the factories the company had set up earlier.

David Hasanat, the group’s chairman, said, “Construction of the building, a one-storey-one, will start by June this year and complete by June next year. The design, finalised already, allows at least 1,000 workers to work inside the building.”

The concept of green building mainly focuses on environmental issues and energy efficiency, according to experts. Also, carbon emission from such building is comparatively low.

Such a building is designed as per rules of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a rating system devised by the United States Green Building Council.

LEED was launched in an effort to develop a ‘consensus-based, market-driven rating system to accelerate the development and implementation of green building practices.’

According to the Viyellatex Group’s top official, the garment factory to be housed in the ‘green building’ will manufacture knit and woven items.

A three-member team of the Department of Architecture at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) has developed the design in collaboration with the German Technical Cooperation-GTZ, Hasanat said.

Zebun Nasreen Ahmed, a Buet professor and a member of the green building construction project, hoped that Viyellatex’s pilot project under the Promotion of Green Architecture in RMG Sector would inspire others, if this initiative works well.

“Definitely the green building is more environment-friendly and natural.”

reefat@thedailystar.net

Further cut in BTCL internet services charge from April

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=130662

Further cut in BTCL internet services charge from April
Bss, Dhaka

Bangladesh Telecommuni-cation Company Limited (BTCL) has decided to reduce further broadband internet service charges with effect from April 1.

SM Khabiruzzaman, managing director of BTCL, announced the decision to reporters at the company’s conference room in Dhaka yesterday.

As per the changed rates, the registration charge for any type of ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) broadband package would be Tk 100 in place of Tk 500, while the set up or configuration charge will be Tk 300 instead of Tk 600.

Internet usage charges of different data transfer speeds have also been reduced. The monthly charge for 128 kbps (kilobyte per second) data transfer speed will be Tk 500 instead of Tk 800.

The connection fee will be Tk 400 in place of Tk 1,100, said Khabiruzzaman.

On illegal VoIP business, Khabiruzzaman said the present government has reduced incoming call rates from abroad to three cents from four cents.

“The easy way to stop illegal VoIP business is to lower the incoming call rate. The number of overseas call increased after the government reduced the incoming call rate,” he added.

Currently, the total duration of legal incoming calls from abroad is 3 crore minutes.

Korean delegation visits BG top executives

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/03/19/news0559.htm

Korean delegation visits BG top executives: Ventures in shipbuilding, power, water-logging solution welcomed

Business Report

A seven-member high-powered trade and technical delegation from Republic of Korea met the Managing Director of the Bashundhara Group (BG), leading industrial and business conglomerate in the country, at its Chairman’s House yesterday.

Member of the National Assembly, Deputy Floor Leader and Member of the House Steering Commitee, Chairman of the National Assembly Group on Future Growth of Engineering Industry and Member of the Special Commitee on Future Strategy, Science and Technology Lee Jong Heuk led the Korean delegation.

Dr. Yeong Soo Lee of Department of Advertisement and Public Relation at Snilla University, General Manager of Kwang In Printing Company Limited Jong Hyun Kim, Chief Secretary and Member of the National Assembly Kang Sung Dae, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hyun Tech Elevator Company Limited Kim Deoge – Ho, Directors of the Asia Pacific Communication Media Limited Geon Jong Hwan and Cho Woo were the members of the delegation.

Managing Director of the Bashundhara Group Sayem Sobhan welcomed the delegation at the Chairman’s House and also led the BG team during the meeting.

Senior Deputy Managing Director Belayet Hossain, Chief Advisor to the BG Mahbub Morshed Hasan, Advisor to the BG AR Rashidee, Advisor Press & Media Mohammad Abu Tayeb and Director Media and Business Relation Development Colonel (Retd) Khondkar Abdul Wahed were among the BG dignitaries.

The Korean delegation proposed collaborations in a number of fields like mega-constructions, city-planning, renewable energy, nuclear power plant, satellite power plant, carbon dioxide neutralization, water logging solutions and emission of greenhouse gas reduction.

They also claimed that the Korean renewable energy projects in Turkey, China and United Arab Emirates had acquired wide spread acclamation from all quarters and wished to work on the similar projects here in Bangladesh. “Korean National Company is ready to provide necessary support in water-logging solutions,” Lee Jong Heuk said.

Managing Director of the Bashundhara Group Sayem Sobhan gave patient hearing to the Korean delegation and the narration of the success stories. He welcomed the Korean entrepreneurs to invest in the country’s power, basic infrastructure, water-logging solutions and shipbuilding sectors. He also lauded the country’s investment climate and the future potentials.

Sobhan said that shipbuilding industry would soon be the largest sector in the country under the heavy industrial enterprise category. Relatively cheaper workforce and easy access to the resources are the secrets of speculated potentials of this industry.

The BG Managing Director also expressed interest in power generation mainly by satellite power stations, water-logging solutions and in the area of renewable energy. Denouncing the responsibility of unabated emission of carbon dioxide in the air by Bangladesh and the other developing nations, he sought more atention of the developed nations on this issue for saving the planet from man-made disasters.

Bangladesh products to get duty-free access to China

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=95516&date=2010-03-18

Bangladesh products to get duty-free access to China

BEIJING, March 18 (BSS) – China will allow duty free access of Bangladeshi products to its markets and increase its supports for the country’s efforts to face floods and other natural calamities caused by global warming.

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao gave the assurance during official talks with Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina held at East Hall of Great Gall here this afternoon.

During the talks that lasted nearly an hour in a cordial atmosphere, the two leaders discussed various issues of bilateral interest as well Chinese support and cooperation for Bangladesh’s socio-economic sectors.

Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad briefed newsmen after the talks.

In the meeting, the Bangladesh Prime Minister also sought short and long term Chinese assistance, grants and approval of State to State loan on ODA basis for implementing seven projects in Bangladesh’s agriculture, power and infrastructure sectors.

These are grants for construction of Chinese Exhibition Centre with car parking facilities, construction of road and rail infrastructure connecting Chittagong with Kunming through Gundum of Myanmar, construction of 8th Bangladesh-China friendship bridge, Water Purification Project in Pagla, Financial and Technical support for construction of power plant in Bangladesh, strengthening organizational cooperation between China National Hybrid Rice Research Centre and Bangladesh Rice Research Institutes (BRRI) and waiving Chinese loan.

Welcoming Sheikh Hasina to the Great Hall, the Chinese Prime Minister lauded her leadership, saying that democracy has been strengthened further in Bangladesh after her assumption of office of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

“Stability in socio-economic sectors has been brought back after your assumption as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh,” Mr. Jiabao told Sheikh Hasina and expressed the hope that Bangladesh will achieve further progress in this vital sectors in future due to her prudent leadership.

Referring to excellent bilateral relations existing between the two countries, the Chinese Premier said the cooperation in the country’s socio-economic sectors would be bolstered in the days to come.

In reply, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recalled the visits of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to China in 1953 and 1957 and said through these visit bilateral links between Bangladesh and China had been established.

Sheikh Hasina said China is a trusted friend of Bangladesh and her country attaches highest importance to its relationship with China in the greater interest of the two Asian nations.

Mentioning the Chinese support for Bangladesh’s development sector, Sheikh Hasina said the Chinese cooperation in the country’s infrastructure, trade and business, agriculture, energy and power have been playing an important role in the country’s socio-economic development.

In this context, she referred to Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, Bangabandhu International Conference Centre and other projects being implemented through Chinese support.

During the talks, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought Chinese support and cooperation in modernizing flood forecasting and warning centre, river dreading projects, satellite launching and setting up remote sensing satellite, increasing stipend for Bangladeshi students up to 150 and providing scholarship facilities to the foreign service officials.

Referring to defence cooperation, the Prime Minister requested the Chinese government to provide two frigates with three helicopters under long term loan assistance and called for extending support to her government’s endeavours in tackling the challenges of climate change.

Laying emphasis on regional cooperation, Sheikh Hasina said relations among the countries in the region, especially China, India and Mayanmar, have to be bolstered for the overall benefit in the region.

She said concerted efforts have to be taken to eliminate terrorism and militancy from the region. Describing poverty as a common enemy, she said united steps have to be taken to eradicate poverty from the Asian region.

As the Bangladesh premier sought Chinese cooperation in these sectors, Mr. Wen Jiabao assured her to provide his country’s support for these sectors for overall development of Bangladesh.

Regarding the climate change issue, the Chinese Premier appreciated the role of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her prudent leadership in those forums where she raised the vulnerability of the affected countries and sought international support to tackle the climate change challenges.

Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossin, Industries Minister Dilip Barua, State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Dipankar Talukder, Ambassador-at-Large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary M A Karim, ERD Secretary Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes, Post and Telecommunications Secretary Sunil Kanti Bose, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad, Bangladesh Ambassador to China Munshi Foiz Ahmad and DG, Far East, Monirul Islam were present during the meeting.

Govt nod likely for massive foreign investment

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=166345

Govt nod likely for massive foreign investment
ANIS ALAMGIR

Bangladesh will be open to massive foreign infrastructure investment in a move many expect will transform the country’s ailing transport, communications and water supply networks. The long-awaited Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative would allow foreign companies to build and operate major projects for 20-30 years before they are handed to government control under a build-operate-transfer scheme. Large projects will be given four years for completion and small projects will have three years.

Officials say the draft policy is ready for final adoption following a meeting on March 7 at the prime minister’s office.

The government has allocated taka 25000 crore (250 billion) for PPP in the current budget.

The main targets for investment would be telecommunications, electricity, ports, highways, mass transit, tourism, water supplies, sewage, land reclamation, waste management, and railways. The government would give special incentives for risky projects and large infrastructure projects geared towards rural poverty alleviation.

Build-operate-transfer allows private companies to invest in projects and earn profits for a specified amount of time before they are transferred to government control. They allow countries to mobilize foreign funds and expertise and to take control of the projects after companies reap profits. Thailand, Japan and Indonesia have had similar schemes, which usually target infrastructure.

Under the PPP initiative in Bangladesh, private companies would be responsible for financing the projects and the government would not guarantee loans. Investors would be allowed to transfer shares to a new investor after five to seven years from the commercial operation date.

Analysts gave mixed reviews of the proposed rules, with some warning that the government needs to improve the investment climate.

“There isn’t enough fuel in the form of coal and natural gas for electricity, so how can large projects succeed? The government needs to make the investment climate more attractive,” said former government adviser Akbar Ali Khan. He also said that the country’s blurry land tenure system could make obtaining property difficult.

Abdul Haque,  director of the FBCCI, country’s apex  industry and trade body, said four years is too short for a company to complete mega projects like ports, flyovers, and water supply infrastructure.

But Annisul Haque, the FBCCI president said the policy will encourage private investors to the country.

He also suggested that the supervisory committee should be made up of a separate board to simplify the approval process.

ECNEC approves 10 new power plants

http://www.newagebd.com/2010/mar/17/front.html#11

ECNEC approves 10 new power plants
Staff Correspondent

The government has undertaken a mega-project worth Tk 7,203 crore to build 10 new power plants by 2011 to solve the persisting electricity crisis in the country.

The executive committee of the national economic council headed by the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, approved the project at a meeting held at the NEC Bhaban on Tuesday.

‘The 10 new peaking power plants will be implemented by the end of 2011,’ the planning minister, AKM Khandker, said at a press briefing after the meeting.

The planned power plants will be diesel-fired or furnace oil-fired plants with a combined capacity of generating 830 megawatt electricity during the peak hours.

Of the Tk 7,203 crore investment requirement for the plants, the government will provide Tk 7,085 crore and the rest will come from the Bangladesh Power Development Board, he added.

]A 200-MW plant will be built in Ghorashal of Narsingdi district and three 100-MW plants in Haathhajari and Dohajari of Chittagong and in Gopalganj, according to the project proposal.

An 80-MW power plant will be installed in Bera of Pabna and five 50-MW plants in Baghabari of Sirajganj, Katakhali of Rajshahi , Shantahar of Naogaon, Daudkandi of Comilla and in Faridpur district.

The ECNEC meeting also approved a project to renovate the Ashuganj Power Plant Complex. This project with an estimated cost of Tk 1,025 crore is aimed at modifying and renovating the units 3, 4 and 5 of the plant complex.

The government will provide Tk 703 crore while the development partners Tk 322 for commissioning the project.

The ECNEC gave a go-ahead to a Tk-597-crore project of the agriculture ministry for development and production of paddy, wheat and corn and a Tk-781-crore project of the water resources ministry

IP phones ring

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=130420

IP phones ring
Eighteen companies launch service

IP telephones are on display at a programme organised by Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh, in Dhaka yesterday. The sets ranging between Tk 3,000 and Tk 30,000 will let users talk through VoIP technology within Bangladesh.Photo: STAR

Star Business Report

Bangladesh’s internet users are now allowed to talk through VoIP (voice over internet protocol) technology within the country, as 18 local companies yesterday launched IP (internet protocol) telephony services.

The existing users, connected by local internet service providers (ISPs), will get the chance to transfer and receive voice calls through IP telephony.

Besides getting data services, the internet users will enjoy video calls, call forwarding and audio-video conferencing.

Internet protocol telephony service providers (IPTSPs) initially target corporate customers, as intra-office communication cost will come down.

Presently, more than five lakh internet users are connected through local ISPs, while mobile operators claim that more than 40 lakh people are connected via mobile internet. Bangladesh’s internet penetration rate is four percent.

ISP internet users can start voice calls by just installing PC2 dialler software into their computers. With headphones, they can talk through landline and mobile phone. The internet users can also transfer voice through USB phone.

The users who have traditional phone sets with an internet connection can switch to IP telephone by installing an analogue telephony adaptor.

SIP (session initiative protocol)-enabled handset users can get the benefits of IP telephony in the Wi-Fi areas.

However, users can talk to people living abroad through IP phone, but overseas calls through VoIP are still restricted.

The IP telephony operators offer free installation of PC2 software to the customers. Presently USB phones are available at Tk 1,000 in the local market. IP telephone sets cost Tk 3,000 to Tk 30,000, while the analogue adaptor price ranges from Tk 2,000 to Tk 6,000.

IPTSPs will charge a maximum of Tk 0.20 a minute for IPTSP-IPTSP calls and a maximum of Tk 2 for a call from IPTSP to any mobile or landline operator, in line with a Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) directive.

As per the decision of IPTSPs, customers will have to pay Tk 100 as connection fee per month for unlimited IPTSP-IPTSP calls.

However, the minimum airtime charge for calls from IPTSP to any mobile or landline operator will not be below Tk 0.65 a minute.

The 18 operators are Advanced Data Networks System Ltd, Agni Systems Ltd, BDCom Online Ltd, Beximco, BracNet, BTS Communication Ltd, Connect BD Ltd, Dhakacom Ltd, Grameen Cybernet Ltd, Global Access Ltd, HRC Technologies Ltd, Information Services Network Ltd, Innovative Online Ltd, Link3 Technologies Ltd, Metronet BD Ltd, Optimax Communication Ltd, Royal Green Online Ltd and Telnet Communication Ltd.

The companies have developed required software locally to run the business.

Yeafesh Osman, state minister for science and ICT, yesterday inaugurated the IP telephony service at a programme organised by Internet Service Providers’ Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

IP telephony could be the cheapest means of communication for the educational institutes, said Nazrul Islam Khan, national project director of Access to Information Programme of the Prime Minister’s Office.

He said: “The service can be tagged with government plans to bring all educational institutes under internet service.”

Zia Ahmed, chairman of BTRC, and Akhtaruzzaman Manju, president of ISPAB, also spoke.

WB to fund Kaliakoir hi-tech park

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WB to fund Kaliakoir hi-tech park
Star Business Report

The World Bank will provide fund to help construct the hi-tech park in Kaliakoir as the first site for special economic zone in the country.

The objective of the project is to create a more sustainable industrialisation model by developing a public-private partnership approach to invest in zones, the WB said in a statement yesterday.

The project will facilitate public sector investment in infrastructure for the development of serviced land and leverage private financing for zone development, added the statement.

The project will also focus on human resource development and better compliance with environmental and social standards.

Meanwhile, the government has almost completed the construction of basic infrastructure for the hi-tech IT park at Kaliakoir in Gazipur district.

The government itself has undertaken a Tk 270 million (Tk 27 crore) project to develop the hi-tech park.

An administrative building, internal roads, sewerage system were constructed in the IT park while gas, power and water supply, telephone and high-speed internet facilities are being provided.

The park is being developed on an area of 232 acres. The government is also forming authorities for the hi-tech park.

Top apparel buyers open offices in Dhaka

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Top apparel buyers open offices in Dhaka
Refayet Ullah Mirdha

Most global retail brands have opened their offices in Dhaka in recent times for direct sourcing of Bangladesh’s quality clothing items at reasonable prices.

Buyers say the liaison offices here will raise their capacity to follow up on supply chain management for the Bangladesh-made apparels collected at a cost comparatively lower than other countries.

After China, the world’s largest supplier of apparels, Bangladesh emerges as a lucrative place for the renowned retailers like US giant Wal-Mart, JC Penny, Zara, Tesco, IKEA, Marks and Spencer, H and M, Uniqlo and Li & Fung.

These firms have already established their branches in the Bangladesh capital with an aim for business expansion, as they now take much more interest in Bangladesh’s readymade garments than they are keen on such items from China, India and Pakistan..

Previously, major foreign buyers used to source Bangladesh’s RMG either from Delhi or Hong Kong or from Islamabad or through the local buying houses representing them.

According to a major supplier, major brands like Puma, G-Star Raw and Espirit are likely to have their branches in Dhaka soon, although they still source ready-to-wear products from other countries.

An official of the Swedish company IKEA points his finger at Bangladesh’s low-cost but quality apparels, which pushed up buyers’ interests.

Moreover, recently Bangladesh improved a lot in compliance issues and made the garment factories free of child labour, he added.

“Recently many owners have established effluent treatment plants (ETP) in their factories, as it is mandatory for protection of environmental and ecological balance,” the IKEA official also pointed out.

Cheap labour cost is another factor that helped grow buyers’ keenness, said an official at the Dhaka office of another retail brand.

On the objectives of opening its branch office, he said, “Certainly we can now follow-up the supply chain management, compliance issues, product quality and design and efficiency of the suppliers very closely.”

The country is in an advantageous position with cheap and quality apparels because its competitors like China, Pakistan and India are losing out their market share for their higher cost of production, industry insiders say.

Higher cost of production and shifting to high-end products have driven China out of the apparel market, while Pakistan lost its reputation because it has long been a trouble-torn country, apparel makers added.

Meanwhile, Export Promotion Bureau data shows around $3.55 billion knitwear exports in seven months to January of the current fiscal year, a 6.85 percent decline compared to the corresponding period a year earlier. EPB also points out that this figure is also 13.62 percent below the target for this period.

Woven exports also slowed 6.99 percent to $3.15 billion during July-January.

Home textiles and textile fabrics also maintained a negative growth, as their exports totalled $165.65 million and $42.30 million respectively.

When his attention was drawn to such export decline, Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said the financial meltdown worldwide has led to this situation, as major export destinations like EU and USA have been badly affected by the recession.

“Apparel exports will rebound soon as there are signs of recession-recovery,” Parvez hoped. However, he insisted on developing Bangladesh’s basic infrastructures to take the growth in apparel exports to an optimum level.

In this context, he suggested the government ensure regular adequate supply of gas and power to RMG units so that manufacturers can maintain in-time production and lead-time.

reefat@thedailystar.net

Govt-WB identifies Kaliakoir as first site for economic zone

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=95119

Govt-WB identifies Kaliakoir as first site for economic zone

The government and the World Bank (WB) have identified Kaliakoir of Gazipur as the first site for an economic zone, reports BSS.

The proposed economic zone would be turned into a hi-tech industrial park and other potential areas including existing export processing zones (EPZs) could be brought under the economic zone regime, a WB spokesman told BSS today.

The site has been chosen as the entire area is semi- developed with a boundary fence and over 50 per cent elevated land requiring no earth filling and strategically located to take advantage of the utility services avaibale in and around the zone.

Private sector investors say economic zones are most important tools for attracting private investment for generation of employment and accelerating economic growth.

Economic zones offer entrepreneurs serviced land and quality infrastructure, doing business and removing barriers in the way of private sector development.

Economic zones will create more linkages with the domestic economy compared to that of EPZs as those require industries located within the zone to export at least 90 per cent of their products.

The World Bank, in collaboration with IFC and DFID, is supporting the government in improving Bangladesh’s competitiveness as an investment destination as well as promoting the domestic private sector.

The proposed project will also focus on human resource development and better compliance with environmental and social standards.

It is currently being designed through close consultation with both the government and private sector stakeholders to determine the necessary activities that will support sustainable private sector development.

Banglalion starts operation in Chittagong

http://www.newagebd.com/2010/mar/15/busi.html#22

Banglalion starts operation in Chittagong
Business Desk

Banglalion Communications Ltd started Wimax Internet operation in Chittagong on Sunday.

Banglalion charman Abdul Mannan announced the opening of the operation at a briefing, said a news release.

Banglalion chief executive officer Khaled Shams and chief brand officer Aftab Mahbub Khurshid were also present in the briefing.

Bangladesh to get Egmont Group membership next year

http://www.newagebd.com/2010/mar/15/busi.html#3

Bangladesh to get Egmont Group membership next year
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka

Bangladesh is likely to get the prestigious membership of Egmont Group of the international financial units.

The membership will boost the country status in addressing money laundering and financial crime, sending positive news to the global financial market.

Established at the Egmont Arenberg Palace in Brussels in 1995, the goal of the Egmont Group is to provide a forum for financial units around the world to improve cooperation in fighting against money laundering and terror financing.

Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman told journalists Sunday that the central bank had already done the legal framework, a prerequisite for getting the membership.

Now, he said, Australia and Malaysia are reviewing the legal framework and other rules and regulations in combating money laundering for recommending the membership.

Referring to his recent visit to the United States, he said, ‘We sought US support for the membership and got positive response.’

Already, Thailand assured all cooperation in this regard, he said. ‘It is expected that the membership will be given next year,’ the governor said.

Bhutan to be offered duty-free access for 18 products

http://www.newagebd.com/2010/mar/14/busi.html#3

Bhutan to be offered duty-free access for 18 products
Bdnews24.com . Dhaka

Bangladesh will soon give Bhutan 18 of its products duty-free access, commerce minister Faruk Khan has said.

The foreign ministry, in a statement Saturday, said Bangladesh would ‘soon implement its commitment, made by prime minister during her Bhutan visit, to give duty-free access of (Bhutanese) products’.

‘We have already prepared a list of 18 Bhutanese products which will get duty-free access to Bangladesh,’ Faruk Khan told bdnews24.com.

Bangladesh and Bhutan’s foreign secretaries, after a meeting at the Burimari border on March 12, said the formalities for giving the facilities were in the ‘final stage’.

‘The final list has now been forwarded to the National Board of Revenue through the finance ministry for necessary action,’ Khan said on Friday.

Bangladesh enjoys duty-free access for all products to Bhutan, commerce ministry officials said.

Despite this, its exports to the Himalayan kingdom total less than $1 million, and include warm garments, computer accessories, dry foods, pharmaceuticals, toiletries and textile items.

Bhutan’s exports to Bangladesh, on the other hand, totals around $14 million, according to the commerce ministry figures. Bhutan’s main export items are mineral products, foodstuffs, fruits, beverages and oats.

The commerce ministry has added vegetables, ginger, particle board, semi-finished iron and materials in the duty free products list.

Faruk Khan told bdnews24.com that Bhutan’s duty free access of the products would ensure smooth supply of vegetables and fruit products at cheaper prices in the country.