দেশের প্রথম পারমানবিক বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্র নিয়ে নানা বির্তক
দেশের প্রথম পারমানবিক বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্র নিয়ে নানা বির্তক
৩৩ বছর পর আসছে নতুন আয়কর আইন, লক্ষ্য স্বচ্ছতা নিশ্চিত করা
৩৩ বছর পর আসছে নতুন আয়কর আইন, লক্ষ্য স্বচ্ছতা নিশ্চিত করা
সালমান শাহ হত্যা তদন্ত ভিন্নখাতে প্রবাহিত হতে পারেঃ আইনজীবী
সালমান শাহ হত্যা তদন্ত ভিন্নখাতে প্রবাহিত হতে পারেঃ আইনজীবী
গুটিকয়েক বিপথগামী সদস্যের দায়িত্ব নেবে না বাহিনী : পুলিশ মহাপরিদর্শক
গুটিকয়েক বিপথগামী সদস্যের দায়িত্ব নেবে না বাহিনী : পুলিশ মহাপরিদর্শক
রাখাইনে অভিযান সন্ত্রাসবিরোধী, দাবি মিয়ানমারের, বাস্তব চিত্র ভিন্ন
রাখাইনে অভিযান সন্ত্রাসবিরোধী, দাবি মিয়ানমারের, বাস্তব চিত্র ভিন্ন
"আন্তর্জাতিক অপরাধ আদালতেই হতে হবে রোহিঙ্গা গণহত্যার বিচার"
আন্তর্জাতিক অপরাধ আদালতেই হতে হবে রোহিঙ্গা গণহত্যার বিচার
জিডিপিতে এসএমই খাতের অবদান ২৫ শতাংশ
দেশে বর্তমানে কুটির শিল্পসহ প্রায় ৭৫ লাখ অতিক্ষুদ্র (মাইক্রো), ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি (এমএসএমই) শিল্প প্রতিষ্ঠান রয়েছে, যা দেশের মোট অর্থনৈতিক প্রতিষ্ঠানের প্রায় ৯৮ শতাংশ এবং জিডিপিতে এসএমই খাতের অবদান হচ্ছে প্রায় ২৫ শতাংশ।
২০০৭ সাল থেকে এ পর্যন্ত এসএমই ফাউন্ডেশন ঢাকায় ৫টি জাতীয় এসএমই পণ্য মেলা এবং ২০টি আঞ্চলিক এসএমই পণ্যমেলার আয়োজন করেছে। এসব মেলায় মোট ১ হাজার ১০৬ কোটি ৮৮ লক্ষ টাকার সামগ্রি বিক্রয় এবং ১ হাজার ২৯৭ কোটি ১৩ লক্ষ টাকার বিভিন্ন পণ্যের অর্ডার পাওয়া যায়।
এসএমই ফাউন্ডেশনের পরিচালনা পর্ষদের চেয়ারপার্সন কে এম হাবিব উল্লাহ বৃহস্পতিবার বাসস’কে এ কথা বলেন।
সরকার ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি শিল্পের উন্নয়নকে গূরুত্ব দিচেছ উল্লেখ করে এসএমই ফাউন্ডেশনের চেয়ারপার্সন বলেন, ‘বাংলাদেশের মতো দেশে জনসংখ্যাকে জনসম্পদে রূপান্তরের পাশাপাশি ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি শিল্পের উন্নয়ন ও কর্মসংস্থান সৃষ্টির মাধ্যমে দেশকে সমৃদ্ধির পথে এগিয়ে নিতে হবে’। জাতীয় শিল্প নীতি-২০১৬তে এটা প্রতিফলিত হয়েছে বলে তিনি উল্লেখ করেন।
তিনি বলেন, ‘এসএমই ফাউন্ডেশন দেশের দশলক্ষ ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি শিল্প প্রতিষ্ঠানের সাথে স¤পৃক্ত কোটি মানুষের সামগ্রিক উন্নয়নের লক্ষ্যে সপ্তম পঞ্চবার্ষিক পরিকল্পনা (২০১৬-২০২০), রূপকল্প-২০২১, জাতীয় শিল্প নীতি ২০১৬, এসডিজি’র পাঁচটি অভীষ্ট লক্ষ্যমাত্রা (১,৪,৫,৮ এবং ৯) এবং অন্যান্য নীতিমালা ও কৌশলপত্র অনুসারে নির্ধারিত লক্ষ্য অর্জনের জন্য নিরলসভাবে কাজ করে যাচ্ছে’।
কে এম হাবিব উল্লাহ বলেন, ‘বাংলাদেশকে ২০২১ সাল নাগাদ মধ্যম আয়ের দেশ এবং ২০৪১ সাল নাগাদ উন্নত রাষ্ট্রে পরিণত করতে ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি শিল্পখাতের উন্নয়ন ও উদ্যোক্তা সৃষ্টির কোন বিকল্প নাই’। এক্ষেত্রে তিনি জাপান ও চীনের উদাহরণ তুলে ধরেন।
তিনি বলেন, ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি শিল্পের উন্নয়নে আগে ফাউন্ডেশনের নিজস্ব তহবিল থেকে উদ্যোক্তাদের ৪০ কোটি টাকা ঋণ দেওয়া হত। চলতি অর্থবছর থেকে তা ৬০ কোটি টাকায় উন্নীত করা হয়েছে। এই ঋন আদায়ের হার শতভাগ বলে তিনি উল্লেখ করেন।
ফাউন্ডেশন সূত্রে জানা যায়, এসএমই অর্থয়ন সহজীকরণের লক্ষ্যে ‘ক্রেডিট হোলসেলিং’ কার্যক্রমের আওতায় ১১টি সহযোগী ব্যাংক ও আর্থিক প্রতিষ্ঠানের মাধ্যমে এসএমই উদ্যোক্তাদের ২০০৯ সাল থেকে সহজ শর্তে সিঙ্গেল ডিজিট (অনুর্দ্ধ ৯%) সুদে জামানতবিহীন ঋণ প্রদান করা হচ্ছে। এ কার্যক্রমের আওতায় আগস্ট ২০১৭ পর্যন্ত ১ হাজার ২শ’ জন এসএমই উদ্যোক্তাকে ঋণ দেয়া হয়েছে, এর মধ্যে ৪৪০ জন নারী উদ্যোক্তা রয়েছেন। এছাড়াও নারী উদ্যোক্তাদের জন্য তিনটি বিশেষায়িত ঋণ কর্মসূচি- ‘গুণবতী, সুকন্যা এবং নীলিমা’ চলমান রয়েছে।
সূত্র জানায়, ২০০৭ সাল থেকে এপর্যন্ত নিয়মিত কার্যক্রমের আওতায় এসএমই উদ্যোক্তাদের জন্য ঢাকা ছাড়াও সিলেট, রংপুর, গোপালগঞ্জ, কক্সবাজার, রাঙ্গামাটি, রাজশাহী, ময়মনসিংহ, বরিশাল, কুমিল্লা, খুলনা, জামালপুর, বান্দরবান, মৌলভীবাজার, দিনাজপুর, বগুড়া, ঝালকাঠি, যশোর জেলায় এসএমই পণ্য মেলার আয়োজন করা হয়। এই মেলাগুলোতে ৮৫০জন নারী উদ্যোক্তা (অংশগ্রহণকারীদের ৭০%) অংশগ্রহণ করেন।
২০০৭ সাল থেকে এ পর্যন্ত এসএমই ফাউন্ডেশন ঢাকায় ৫টি জাতীয় এসএমই পণ্য মেলা এবং ২০টি আঞ্চলিক এসএমই পণ্যমেলার আয়োজন করেছে। এসব মেলায় মোট ১ হাজার ১০৬ কোটি ৮৮ লক্ষ টাকার সামগ্রি বিক্রয় এবং ১ হাজার ২৯৭ কোটি ১৩ লক্ষ টাকার বিভিন্ন পণ্যের অর্ডার পাওয়া যায়।
এসএমই ফাউন্ডেশনের পরিচালনা পর্ষদের চেয়ারপার্সন কে এম হাবিব উল্লাহ বৃহস্পতিবার বাসস’কে এ কথা বলেন।
সরকার ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি শিল্পের উন্নয়নকে গূরুত্ব দিচেছ উল্লেখ করে এসএমই ফাউন্ডেশনের চেয়ারপার্সন বলেন, ‘বাংলাদেশের মতো দেশে জনসংখ্যাকে জনসম্পদে রূপান্তরের পাশাপাশি ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি শিল্পের উন্নয়ন ও কর্মসংস্থান সৃষ্টির মাধ্যমে দেশকে সমৃদ্ধির পথে এগিয়ে নিতে হবে’। জাতীয় শিল্প নীতি-২০১৬তে এটা প্রতিফলিত হয়েছে বলে তিনি উল্লেখ করেন।
তিনি বলেন, ‘এসএমই ফাউন্ডেশন দেশের দশলক্ষ ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি শিল্প প্রতিষ্ঠানের সাথে স¤পৃক্ত কোটি মানুষের সামগ্রিক উন্নয়নের লক্ষ্যে সপ্তম পঞ্চবার্ষিক পরিকল্পনা (২০১৬-২০২০), রূপকল্প-২০২১, জাতীয় শিল্প নীতি ২০১৬, এসডিজি’র পাঁচটি অভীষ্ট লক্ষ্যমাত্রা (১,৪,৫,৮ এবং ৯) এবং অন্যান্য নীতিমালা ও কৌশলপত্র অনুসারে নির্ধারিত লক্ষ্য অর্জনের জন্য নিরলসভাবে কাজ করে যাচ্ছে’।
কে এম হাবিব উল্লাহ বলেন, ‘বাংলাদেশকে ২০২১ সাল নাগাদ মধ্যম আয়ের দেশ এবং ২০৪১ সাল নাগাদ উন্নত রাষ্ট্রে পরিণত করতে ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি শিল্পখাতের উন্নয়ন ও উদ্যোক্তা সৃষ্টির কোন বিকল্প নাই’। এক্ষেত্রে তিনি জাপান ও চীনের উদাহরণ তুলে ধরেন।
তিনি বলেন, ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি শিল্পের উন্নয়নে আগে ফাউন্ডেশনের নিজস্ব তহবিল থেকে উদ্যোক্তাদের ৪০ কোটি টাকা ঋণ দেওয়া হত। চলতি অর্থবছর থেকে তা ৬০ কোটি টাকায় উন্নীত করা হয়েছে। এই ঋন আদায়ের হার শতভাগ বলে তিনি উল্লেখ করেন।
ফাউন্ডেশন সূত্রে জানা যায়, এসএমই অর্থয়ন সহজীকরণের লক্ষ্যে ‘ক্রেডিট হোলসেলিং’ কার্যক্রমের আওতায় ১১টি সহযোগী ব্যাংক ও আর্থিক প্রতিষ্ঠানের মাধ্যমে এসএমই উদ্যোক্তাদের ২০০৯ সাল থেকে সহজ শর্তে সিঙ্গেল ডিজিট (অনুর্দ্ধ ৯%) সুদে জামানতবিহীন ঋণ প্রদান করা হচ্ছে। এ কার্যক্রমের আওতায় আগস্ট ২০১৭ পর্যন্ত ১ হাজার ২শ’ জন এসএমই উদ্যোক্তাকে ঋণ দেয়া হয়েছে, এর মধ্যে ৪৪০ জন নারী উদ্যোক্তা রয়েছেন। এছাড়াও নারী উদ্যোক্তাদের জন্য তিনটি বিশেষায়িত ঋণ কর্মসূচি- ‘গুণবতী, সুকন্যা এবং নীলিমা’ চলমান রয়েছে।
সূত্র জানায়, ২০০৭ সাল থেকে এপর্যন্ত নিয়মিত কার্যক্রমের আওতায় এসএমই উদ্যোক্তাদের জন্য ঢাকা ছাড়াও সিলেট, রংপুর, গোপালগঞ্জ, কক্সবাজার, রাঙ্গামাটি, রাজশাহী, ময়মনসিংহ, বরিশাল, কুমিল্লা, খুলনা, জামালপুর, বান্দরবান, মৌলভীবাজার, দিনাজপুর, বগুড়া, ঝালকাঠি, যশোর জেলায় এসএমই পণ্য মেলার আয়োজন করা হয়। এই মেলাগুলোতে ৮৫০জন নারী উদ্যোক্তা (অংশগ্রহণকারীদের ৭০%) অংশগ্রহণ করেন।
রোহিঙ্গাদের বায়োমেট্রিক নিবন্ধন ৩ লাখ ছাড়িয়েছে
পাসপোর্ট এন্ড ইমিগ্রেশনের তত্ত্বাবধানে রোহিঙ্গাদের বায়োমেট্রিক নিবন্ধন কার্যক্রম শুরু হয় গত ১১ সেপ্টেম্বর থেকে। সেনাবাহিনীর সদস্যরা এ কার্যক্রমে সার্বিক সহযোগিতা করছেন।
পাসপোর্ট এন্ড ইমিগ্রেশনের উপ-পরিচালক আবু নোমান মোহাম্মদ জাগির আজ সন্ধ্যায় বাসসকে জানান, ‘এখন প্রতিদিন গড়ে ১১ হাজরের বেশি রোহিঙ্গা নিবন্ধিত হচ্ছেন। নিবন্ধন কেন্দ্রে ভীড় অনেক বেড়েছে। নিবন্ধন কর্মীদের দিনভর ছবি তুলে ও তাদের নাম-ঠিকানা লিপিবদ্ধ করতে হিমসিম খেতে হচ্ছে।’
আজ সকালে বালুখালী ক্যাম্পে নিবন্ধন কেন্দ্রে গিয়ে দেখা যায় দীর্ঘ লাইন। সেনাবাহিনীর সদস্যরা রোহিঙ্গাদের ছবি তুলছেন, তাদের নাম-ঠিকানা লিপিবদ্ধ করছেন এবং একইসাথে তাদেরকে একটি করে ছবি সম্বলিত নিবন্ধন কার্ড ধরিয়ে দিচ্ছেন। অনেকটা ওয়ানস্টপ সার্ভিসের মত।
লাইনে দীর্ঘক্ষণ স্ত্রী ও ৪ সন্তানকে নিয়ে লাইনে দাঁড়িয়ে আছেন হালিম উদ্দিন। তিনি বাসসকে জানান, ‘ছবি না তুললে নাকি কোন ত্রাণ পাবো না। আমাদের ক্যাম্পের অনেকেই নিবন্ধন করেছেন। তাই ছেলে-মেয়েদের নিয়ে এসেছি। বাংলাদেশ সরকার আমাদের জন্য অনেক করেছে। খাদ্য, ঔষধ, থাকার ব্যবস্থা সব করছে।’
নিবন্ধন কার্ড হাতে নিয়ে কেন্দ্র থেকে বের হচ্ছিলেন বালুখালী ক্যাম্পের তানজিয়া খাতুন। ছবি সম্বলিত কার্ড দেখিয়ে প্রতিবেদককে বলেন, ‘সকালেই এসেছি। অনেকক্ষণ দাঁড়িয়ে নিবন্ধন করলাম। কার্ডও দিলো। এখন আর সাহায্য পেতে কোন সমস্যা হবে না।’
উল্লেখ্য, কক্সবাজারের শরণার্থী ত্রাণ ও প্রত্যাবাসন কমিশনের (আরআরআরসি) রিপোর্ট মোতাবেক ২৫ আগস্টের পর থেকে গত বুধবার পর্যন্ত বাংলাদেশে অনুপ্রবেশকারী মিয়ানমার নাগরিকের সংখ্যা ৬ লাখ ৩ হাজার। সেই হিসেবে আরও প্রায় তিন লাখ রোহিঙ্গা এখনও নিবন্ধনের বাইরে রয়েছে। সূত্রঃ বাসস
বিলিয়নায়ারের সংখ্যা ১০ শতাংশ বেড়েছে
বিশ্বে গত বছর বিলিয়নায়ানের সংখ্যা ২০১৫ সালের চেয়ে ১০ শতাংশ বেড়ে ১৫০০ ছাড়িয়েছে। এশিয়ায় বিলিয়নায়ারের সংখ্যা বৃদ্ধি পাওয়ার কারণেই এমনটি ঘটেছে।
সুইস ব্যাংকিং জায়ান্ট ইউবিএস এবং অডিটর্স পিডাব্লিউসি বৃহস্পতিবার এ কথা জানায়।
ইউবিএস এবং পিডাব্লিউসি’র বার্ষিক প্রতিবেদনে জানানো হয়, গত বছর প্রথমবারের মতো এশিয়ায় বিলিয়নায়ারের সংখ্যা যুক্তরাষ্ট্রকে ছাড়িয়ে গেছে। এশিয়ায় বিলিয়নায়ারের সংখ্যা ৬৩৭ এবং যুক্তরাষ্ট্রে ৫৬৩। চীনের উদ্যোক্তাদের সুবাদে এশিয়ায় এই বিলিয়নায়ারের সংখ্যা বৃদ্ধি পেয়েছে।
বিলিয়নায়ার সমীক্ষা প্রতিবেদনে ইউরোপ তৃতীয় অবস্থানে রয়েছে। ইউরোপের বিলিয়নায়ারের সংখ্যা ৩৪২।
বিশ্বের অতি দরিদ্র এই গ্রুপ বিশ্বের ৬ ট্রিলিয়ন ডলার (৫ দশমিক ১ ট্রিলিয়ন ইউরো) সম্পদ নিয়ন্ত্রণ করছে। পূর্ববর্তী বছরের তুলনায় বিলিয়নায়ারদের ১৭ শতাংশ বৃদ্ধি পেয়েছে।
এই গ্রুপের ১৫৪২ বিলিয়নায়ার তাদের মালিকানাধীন অথবা আংশিক নিয়ন্ত্রিত কোম্পানিগুলোতে ২৭ দশমিক ৭ মিলিয়ন লোক কাজ করছে। সূত্রঃ বাসস
ইন্দোনেশিয়ার আতশবাজি কারখানায় অগ্নিকান্ডে ৪৭ জনের প্রাণহানী
Chittagong water-logging: High Court asks authorities to explain action in two weeks
The High Court on Sunday issued a rule asking officials concerned to explain in two weeks as to why it will not direct them to take coordinated action to solve water-logging problem of Chittagong city.
A High Court division bench comprising justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury and justice Md Iqbal Kabir passed the order after holding hearing on a writ filed in public interest.
The court asked LGRD secretary, public works secretary, mayor of Chittagong City Corporation and its chief executive officer, chairman of Chittagong Development Authority and chairman of Chittagong WASA to comply with the order.
The court also ordered the respondents to explain why the master plan made by Chittagong City Corporation in 1995 has not been implemented yet.
Lawyer Mohiuddin Md Hanif filed the writ on August 1.
(Source: New Age)
A High Court division bench comprising justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury and justice Md Iqbal Kabir passed the order after holding hearing on a writ filed in public interest.
The court asked LGRD secretary, public works secretary, mayor of Chittagong City Corporation and its chief executive officer, chairman of Chittagong Development Authority and chairman of Chittagong WASA to comply with the order.
The court also ordered the respondents to explain why the master plan made by Chittagong City Corporation in 1995 has not been implemented yet.
Lawyer Mohiuddin Md Hanif filed the writ on August 1.
(Source: New Age)
Dhaka, Hanoi agree to enhance trade, reduce gap
Bangladesh and Vietnam on Sunday agreed to work closely to achieve the target of enhancing bilateral trade volume to $1 billion and reduce trade gap.
The decision was made at the first-ever foreign office consultations, between the foreign ministries of the two countries in Dhaka on Sunday.
Foreign secretary Md Shahidul Haque led the Bangladesh delegation while Vietnam vice-minister Dang Dinh Quy led his country.
Bangladesh stressed the need for finding ways to address the existing trade gap in favour of Vietnam and requested Vietnam to relax the registration process and accept the bio-equivalence and traceability tests done in other ASEAN countries, according to a foreign ministry release.
Both sides agreed that the trade volume was far less than the existing potentials.
Vietnam expressed interest to enhance bilateral trade volume and to facilitate investment in both the countries.
Vietnam also agreed to find scopes of reducing trade gap, officials said.
Bangladesh also sought deeper cooperation in the agriculture, fisheries and livestock sectors, particularly in agricultural research to develop stress tolerant and high yielding varieties of rice and tropical fruits, exchange of germplasm and developing sustainable pearl culture technology.
Bangladesh also sought Vietnam’s cooperation in shipbuilding and ship breaking sectors.
Vietnam expressed willingness to boost up bilateral cooperation in the education and tourism sectors.
The two sides also stressed the need for regular exchange of visits at political and functional levels to steer bilateral cooperation.
Bangladesh also sought Vietnam’s support for Bangladesh’s initiative to become a ‘Sectoral Dialogue Partner’ of ASEAN and also to join the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation initiative. Vietnam agreed to facilitate Bangladesh’s initiatives.
Vietnam’s vice-minister called on state minister for foreign affairs M Shahriar Alam Sunday morning.
Bilateral trade gap with Vietnam was over $5 million in financial year 2009-10 and it rose to $322 million in 2015-16.
Export to Vietnam was $65 million and import from the country was over $322 million in FY 2016.
Import from Vietnam, in the first 11 months of the current fiscal, was over $320 million and export was about $61 million.
Dang Dinh Quy would leave Dhaka today.
(Source: New Age)
The decision was made at the first-ever foreign office consultations, between the foreign ministries of the two countries in Dhaka on Sunday.
Foreign secretary Md Shahidul Haque led the Bangladesh delegation while Vietnam vice-minister Dang Dinh Quy led his country.
Bangladesh stressed the need for finding ways to address the existing trade gap in favour of Vietnam and requested Vietnam to relax the registration process and accept the bio-equivalence and traceability tests done in other ASEAN countries, according to a foreign ministry release.
Both sides agreed that the trade volume was far less than the existing potentials.
Vietnam expressed interest to enhance bilateral trade volume and to facilitate investment in both the countries.
Vietnam also agreed to find scopes of reducing trade gap, officials said.
Bangladesh also sought deeper cooperation in the agriculture, fisheries and livestock sectors, particularly in agricultural research to develop stress tolerant and high yielding varieties of rice and tropical fruits, exchange of germplasm and developing sustainable pearl culture technology.
Bangladesh also sought Vietnam’s cooperation in shipbuilding and ship breaking sectors.
Vietnam expressed willingness to boost up bilateral cooperation in the education and tourism sectors.
The two sides also stressed the need for regular exchange of visits at political and functional levels to steer bilateral cooperation.
Bangladesh also sought Vietnam’s support for Bangladesh’s initiative to become a ‘Sectoral Dialogue Partner’ of ASEAN and also to join the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation initiative. Vietnam agreed to facilitate Bangladesh’s initiatives.
Vietnam’s vice-minister called on state minister for foreign affairs M Shahriar Alam Sunday morning.
Bilateral trade gap with Vietnam was over $5 million in financial year 2009-10 and it rose to $322 million in 2015-16.
Export to Vietnam was $65 million and import from the country was over $322 million in FY 2016.
Import from Vietnam, in the first 11 months of the current fiscal, was over $320 million and export was about $61 million.
Dang Dinh Quy would leave Dhaka today.
(Source: New Age)
Charges pressed against poet Shahabuddin Nagari over Nurul killing
Police on Sunday pressed charges against poet Shahabuddin Nagari and his ‘girlfriend’ Nurani Akhter Sumi in the businessman Nurul Islam murder case.
Rabiul Islam, inspector of the Detective Branch of Police and the investigation officer of the case, submitted a charge-sheet before the court of dhaka metropolitan magistrate Sazzadur Rahman.
The IO also prayed for acquitting another accused, driver Selim, as the allegation against him could not be proved.
Nagari has been on bail while Sumi, victim’s wife, is now behind the bars.
Nurul Islam, a businessman, was found dead at his Elephant Road residence on April 13 last.
Later, the victim’s sister filed a case with New Market police station accusing Sumi, Nagari and some other unnamed people on April 14.
Police arrested the poet in the city’s Nikunja area on April 17.
(Source: New Age)
Rabiul Islam, inspector of the Detective Branch of Police and the investigation officer of the case, submitted a charge-sheet before the court of dhaka metropolitan magistrate Sazzadur Rahman.
The IO also prayed for acquitting another accused, driver Selim, as the allegation against him could not be proved.
Nagari has been on bail while Sumi, victim’s wife, is now behind the bars.
Nurul Islam, a businessman, was found dead at his Elephant Road residence on April 13 last.
Later, the victim’s sister filed a case with New Market police station accusing Sumi, Nagari and some other unnamed people on April 14.
Police arrested the poet in the city’s Nikunja area on April 17.
(Source: New Age)
Driver, helper ‘confess’ to raping girl in running truck
A truck driver and his helper reportedly confessed before separate courts in Narayanganj on Sunday that they raped a teenage girl in their running vehicle.
Senior judicial magistrate Akhtaruzzaman recorded the statement of driver Mehedi Hasan while senior judicial magistrate Aftabuzzaman recorded the statement of helper Sohan alias Tuhin under section 164.
Later, they were sent to jail, said court police inspector Sohel Alam.
Earlier, on Thursday, a court placed the duo on a four-day remand in a case with Siddhirganj Police Station over the rape of the girl in the running truck.
Police said Mehedi and Sohan picked up the 15-year-old girl, who left her house following a brawl with her mother, from Chourasta in Gazipur city at about 8:00pm while she was standing there alone promising that they would took her to her home.
However, the duo raped the girl in the running truck throughout the night.
As the truck stopped in front of the main gate of ACI Pharmaceuticals at Panirkall at Siddhirganj upazila on Wednesday morning, the victim started screaming.
Later, local people rushed in and rescued her. However, the driver and helper managed to escape the scene.
Later, police arrested Mehedi in front of Adamjee Sonamia Market in Siddhirganj on Wednesday while Sohan at Godanail on Thursday morning.
(Source: New Age)
Senior judicial magistrate Akhtaruzzaman recorded the statement of driver Mehedi Hasan while senior judicial magistrate Aftabuzzaman recorded the statement of helper Sohan alias Tuhin under section 164.
Later, they were sent to jail, said court police inspector Sohel Alam.
Earlier, on Thursday, a court placed the duo on a four-day remand in a case with Siddhirganj Police Station over the rape of the girl in the running truck.
Police said Mehedi and Sohan picked up the 15-year-old girl, who left her house following a brawl with her mother, from Chourasta in Gazipur city at about 8:00pm while she was standing there alone promising that they would took her to her home.
However, the duo raped the girl in the running truck throughout the night.
As the truck stopped in front of the main gate of ACI Pharmaceuticals at Panirkall at Siddhirganj upazila on Wednesday morning, the victim started screaming.
Later, local people rushed in and rescued her. However, the driver and helper managed to escape the scene.
Later, police arrested Mehedi in front of Adamjee Sonamia Market in Siddhirganj on Wednesday while Sohan at Godanail on Thursday morning.
(Source: New Age)
Dhaka Mass Transit Company signs contract for buying rolling stocks
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited on Sunday signed a contract with a Japanese company for purchasing rolling stocks and other equipment for the metro rail project.
The contract was signed to implement the 20.1 kilometre mass rapid transit line – 6, popularly known as metro rail project’s package 8.
DMTCL managing director Md Aftabuddin Talukder and Kawasaki-Mitsubishi Consortium representative Makoto Ogawara signed the Tk 4,257 crore contract at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.
Speaking as the chief guest, road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader said that after the incident of attack at Holey Artisan the work of metro rail slowed down and was delayed by eight months.
Currently, the work started at full pace and there was no problem with funding, he said.
The minister also said that JICA came forward to fund the proposed MRT line – 1.
Under the package, rolling stocks (compartments), train stimulators and other equipment to operate rolling stocks and maintaining depots will be purchased and training for rolling stock engineers and employees to maintain and operate metro rail will be provided.
Officials said a total of 24 sets of trains would be run on the track while five sets of trains would be provided within December 2020 and, within 2021, 19 sets of trains would be provided, said officials.
The stainless steel trains would be operated with overhead wires while each train would provide two wheel chairs, they said.
Each train will be able to carry 1,738 passengers while the trains will be air-conditioned and passengers will have to use integrated circuit ticket.
By 2021, the metro rail system will be able to carry 22,530 passengers, by 2026 a total of 25,560 passengers and by 2051, 60,979 passengers on both sides every hour.
The entire metro rail, between Uttara and Motijheel, with 16 stations, will cost Tk 21,985 crore and Japan International Cooperation Agency will fund 75 per cent of the cost while the rest will be funded by the government of Bangladesh.
The metro rail’s Uttara third phase to Agargaon portion is scheduled to be opened by 2019 and its full length is scheduled to be opened by 2020.
The ceremony was attended, among others, by Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh Masato Watanabe, parliamentary standing committee on road transport and bridges ministry chairman Nazmul Haque Prodhan, road transport and highways division secretary MAN Siddique, railways ministry secretary-in-charge Md Mofazzel Hossain, food ministry secretary Md Kaikobad Hossain, JICA chief representative (Bangladesh office) Takatoshi Nishikata and Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority executive director Syed Ahmed.
(Source: New Age)
The contract was signed to implement the 20.1 kilometre mass rapid transit line – 6, popularly known as metro rail project’s package 8.
DMTCL managing director Md Aftabuddin Talukder and Kawasaki-Mitsubishi Consortium representative Makoto Ogawara signed the Tk 4,257 crore contract at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.
Speaking as the chief guest, road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader said that after the incident of attack at Holey Artisan the work of metro rail slowed down and was delayed by eight months.
Currently, the work started at full pace and there was no problem with funding, he said.
The minister also said that JICA came forward to fund the proposed MRT line – 1.
Under the package, rolling stocks (compartments), train stimulators and other equipment to operate rolling stocks and maintaining depots will be purchased and training for rolling stock engineers and employees to maintain and operate metro rail will be provided.
Officials said a total of 24 sets of trains would be run on the track while five sets of trains would be provided within December 2020 and, within 2021, 19 sets of trains would be provided, said officials.
The stainless steel trains would be operated with overhead wires while each train would provide two wheel chairs, they said.
Each train will be able to carry 1,738 passengers while the trains will be air-conditioned and passengers will have to use integrated circuit ticket.
By 2021, the metro rail system will be able to carry 22,530 passengers, by 2026 a total of 25,560 passengers and by 2051, 60,979 passengers on both sides every hour.
The entire metro rail, between Uttara and Motijheel, with 16 stations, will cost Tk 21,985 crore and Japan International Cooperation Agency will fund 75 per cent of the cost while the rest will be funded by the government of Bangladesh.
The metro rail’s Uttara third phase to Agargaon portion is scheduled to be opened by 2019 and its full length is scheduled to be opened by 2020.
The ceremony was attended, among others, by Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh Masato Watanabe, parliamentary standing committee on road transport and bridges ministry chairman Nazmul Haque Prodhan, road transport and highways division secretary MAN Siddique, railways ministry secretary-in-charge Md Mofazzel Hossain, food ministry secretary Md Kaikobad Hossain, JICA chief representative (Bangladesh office) Takatoshi Nishikata and Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority executive director Syed Ahmed.
(Source: New Age)
World Bank inks $47.5m deal for financing Chittagong WASA
The government on Sunday signed an additional $47.50 million financing agreement with the World Bank to continue construction of a new water infrastructure in the port city of Chittagong, said a press release.
The financing for the Chittagong Water Supply Improvement and Sanitation Project totaling $218.50 million will help the Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority to complete constructing the Modunaghat Water Treatment Plant and Patenga Booster Pumping Station, as well as to install 60 km of new water transmission pipeline and rehabilitate another 73 km pipeline from Kalurghat to the Patenga Booster Pumping Station providing access to safe water to around 650,000 inhabitants in the city, the release claimed.
World Bank acting country director for Bangladesh Rajashree Paralkar and additional secretary of economic relations division Mahmuda Begum signed the agreement.
The credits are interest-free and repayable in 38 years from the WB’s concessional lending arm International Development Association.
(Source: New Age)
The financing for the Chittagong Water Supply Improvement and Sanitation Project totaling $218.50 million will help the Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority to complete constructing the Modunaghat Water Treatment Plant and Patenga Booster Pumping Station, as well as to install 60 km of new water transmission pipeline and rehabilitate another 73 km pipeline from Kalurghat to the Patenga Booster Pumping Station providing access to safe water to around 650,000 inhabitants in the city, the release claimed.
World Bank acting country director for Bangladesh Rajashree Paralkar and additional secretary of economic relations division Mahmuda Begum signed the agreement.
The credits are interest-free and repayable in 38 years from the WB’s concessional lending arm International Development Association.
(Source: New Age)
Bogra court orders Tufan, Rumki to be interrogated at jail gate
A Bogra court on Sunday ordered investigators to interrogate Bogra town unit Awami Shramik League suspended convener Tufan Sarkar and Bogra municipality ward councillor Marzia Hasan Rumki at jail gate over the rape of a college girl and torturing the girl and her mother.
The court also rejected their bail prayer.
The court of senior judicial magistrate Shyam Sundar Roy passed the order after the investigation officer, Bogra police inspector Abul Kalam Azad, placed the two before the court seeking a fresh five-day remand for each.
Earlier, Tufan was remanded thrice while Rumki was remanded twice over the rape and torture, said Azad.
On July 17, Tufan took the girl to his house at Chaksutrapur in the town promising her admission at a local college and violated her.
When Tufan’s wife Asha and her elder sister Rumki came to know the incident, they along with some associates of Tufan picked up the girl and her mother to Rumki’s house at Badurtala in the town on July 28.
They allegedly tortured the girl and her mother and got their heads shaved by the barber.
(Source: New Age)
The court also rejected their bail prayer.
The court of senior judicial magistrate Shyam Sundar Roy passed the order after the investigation officer, Bogra police inspector Abul Kalam Azad, placed the two before the court seeking a fresh five-day remand for each.
Earlier, Tufan was remanded thrice while Rumki was remanded twice over the rape and torture, said Azad.
On July 17, Tufan took the girl to his house at Chaksutrapur in the town promising her admission at a local college and violated her.
When Tufan’s wife Asha and her elder sister Rumki came to know the incident, they along with some associates of Tufan picked up the girl and her mother to Rumki’s house at Badurtala in the town on July 28.
They allegedly tortured the girl and her mother and got their heads shaved by the barber.
(Source: New Age)
Gas supply off for 10 hours in Dhaka's Mirpur
Gas supply will remain suspended Monday for 10 hours in the city's Mirpur and adjoining areas due to relocation of gas pipelines to facilitate construction of Mass Rapid Transit Development under the Dhaka Metro Rail Project.
According to a press release of the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd, the gas supply will be cut off to the east and west sides of Mirpur-12 to Chiriakhana (Zoo) Road from 10:00am to 8:00pm.
The affected localities will include Mirpur - 1, 2, 6, 7, 10, 11 and 12, Eastern Housing, Rupnagar, Arambagh, Alubdi, Mirpur Cantonment and also adjacent areas.
The supply will disrupt all kinds of consumers including household, commercial, industrial and CNG refuelling stations in these areas.
Residents of Mirpur have grown accustomed to such day-long shutdowns over the last one and half years. The pipeline replacement work has been necessitated by the start of construction as part of the Metro Rail Project.
(Source: New Age)
Bangladesh revenue board finds it difficult to determine which dept to probe
The National Board of Revenue is facing legal complexity in determining the investigating authority for the money laundering cases after transferring the power to its Central Intelligence Cell.
In June, the revenue board in an order instructed its field offices of customs, value-added tax and income tax to transfer the money laundering cases to the CIC saying that the cell would investigate the cases as the investigating authority.
Earlier in October 2016, the revenue board had empowered the CIC for conducting inquiry and investigation into money laundering issues related to taxes as investigating agency.
The complexity arose as the Money Laundering Prevention Act-2015 did not empower any organisation to transfer the investigation authority to someone except those fixed by the law.
According to the act, customs, value-added tax and income tax wings of the NBR would investigate the money laundering cases having involvement of customs duties, VAT and income tax respectively.
Till now, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) of the revenue board has been playing the major role in investigation of money laundering cases, mostly trade-based money laundering.
The customs intelligence has already detected some incidences of money laundering and filed cases against those involved with the offence.
According to the NBR estimate, more than 80 per cent incidences of money laundering occur in disguise of international trade or export and import.
Officials said that the CIID had been opposing the decision of withdrawing the power from it and appointing the CIC as investigating agency saying that the decision was not consistent with the money laundering act.
They said that the revenue board also understood the complexity and decided to review the decision.
In its last board meeting held on July 24, the revenue board formed a high-powered committee to end the complexity of determination of investigating agency in line with the money laundering act, they said.
The committee headed by NBR member (board administration) SM Ashfaque Hussain will review the previous decision and relevant issues in line with the law and prepare a proposal for the next board meeting.
A high official of the NBR said that the committee had already held several meetings and discussed about the problem.
Hopefully, the complexity will be removed soon as the investigation process of ongoing money laundering cases is delayed due to the problem, he said.
(Source: New Age)
In June, the revenue board in an order instructed its field offices of customs, value-added tax and income tax to transfer the money laundering cases to the CIC saying that the cell would investigate the cases as the investigating authority.
Earlier in October 2016, the revenue board had empowered the CIC for conducting inquiry and investigation into money laundering issues related to taxes as investigating agency.
The complexity arose as the Money Laundering Prevention Act-2015 did not empower any organisation to transfer the investigation authority to someone except those fixed by the law.
According to the act, customs, value-added tax and income tax wings of the NBR would investigate the money laundering cases having involvement of customs duties, VAT and income tax respectively.
Till now, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) of the revenue board has been playing the major role in investigation of money laundering cases, mostly trade-based money laundering.
The customs intelligence has already detected some incidences of money laundering and filed cases against those involved with the offence.
According to the NBR estimate, more than 80 per cent incidences of money laundering occur in disguise of international trade or export and import.
Officials said that the CIID had been opposing the decision of withdrawing the power from it and appointing the CIC as investigating agency saying that the decision was not consistent with the money laundering act.
They said that the revenue board also understood the complexity and decided to review the decision.
In its last board meeting held on July 24, the revenue board formed a high-powered committee to end the complexity of determination of investigating agency in line with the money laundering act, they said.
The committee headed by NBR member (board administration) SM Ashfaque Hussain will review the previous decision and relevant issues in line with the law and prepare a proposal for the next board meeting.
A high official of the NBR said that the committee had already held several meetings and discussed about the problem.
Hopefully, the complexity will be removed soon as the investigation process of ongoing money laundering cases is delayed due to the problem, he said.
(Source: New Age)
Corruption key barrier to FDI in Bangladesh: USTR report
The Office of the United States Trade Representative has said corruption, bureaucratic inefficiencies and lack of transparency are the major impediment to attracting foreign direct investment in Bangladesh.
In a recent report titled ‘2017 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers’, the USTR identified extortion of money from businesses by individuals claiming political backing as another barrier to trade and investment in Bangladesh.
‘Bureaucratic inefficiencies often discourage investment in Bangladesh. Overlapping administrative procedures and lack of transparency in regulatory and administrative systems can frustrate investors seeking to undertake projects in the country,’ the report said.
It also said that the timely implementation of strategic reform initiatives and routine duties was being barred due to frequent transfers of top and mid-level officials in various ministries, directorates, and departments.
According to the report, the US and other international companies are concerned over the arbitrarily reopening of decades-old tax cases with particular targeting of cases involving multinational companies.
The report said that the US and other international investors raised concerns over the cumbersome process of outbound transfers from Bangladesh.
It said, ‘Applications to repatriate profits or dividends can be held for additional information gathering or otherwise delayed, if tax disputes arise.’
The USTR report said that there were widespread disputes over land and both the US companies and citizens had filed complaints about fraudulent land sales.
‘For example, sellers fraudulently claiming ownership have transferred land to good faith purchasers while the actual owners were living outside of Bangladesh. In other instances, US-Bangladeshi dual citizens have purchased land from legitimate owners only to have third parties make fraudulent claims of title to extort settlement compensation,’ the report read.
‘Likewise, corruption remains a serious impediment to investment in Bangladesh. While the government has established legislation to combat bribery, embezzlement, and other forms of corruption, enforcement is inconsistent,’ the USTR report said.
Regarding the government procurement, the report said that the government of Bangladesh publicly subscribed to principles of international competitive bidding but charges of corruption were common.
According to the USTR report, despite launching a national electronic government procurement portal the US companies raised concerns about the use of outdated technical specifications, the structuring of specifications to favour preferred bidders, and lack of overall transparency in public tenders.
‘Concerns over the safety of infrastructure and industrial relations practices also have discouraged greater investment and trade,’ the report read.
The collapse of the Rana Plaza building and the death of 1,129 workers in April 2013 highlighted health and safety concerns in the country’s factories and the lack of effective oversight and regulation, the USTR report observed.
It, however, said that the recent initiatives by the government of Bangladesh, international garment buyers, and the International Labour Organisation led to improvements in factory safety standards and transparency over the past three years.
Nabhash Chandra Mandal, executive member of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, said that they had taken various initiatives to overcome the impediments to FDI growth.
‘We are going for automation to remove administrative overlapping and bureaucratic complexities for the investors. We are working on ease of doing business and to facilitate foreign investment the government is formulating a law and the draft of the One-Stop Service Act has been sent to the cabinet for approval,’ he said.
Nabhash said that the BIDA was working to ensure transparency and accountability and the body was making progress step by step.
‘We can’t say Bangladesh is 100 per cent corruption-free but work is going on to eradicate the problem and we are making progress,’ he said.
(Source: New Age)
In a recent report titled ‘2017 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers’, the USTR identified extortion of money from businesses by individuals claiming political backing as another barrier to trade and investment in Bangladesh.
‘Bureaucratic inefficiencies often discourage investment in Bangladesh. Overlapping administrative procedures and lack of transparency in regulatory and administrative systems can frustrate investors seeking to undertake projects in the country,’ the report said.
It also said that the timely implementation of strategic reform initiatives and routine duties was being barred due to frequent transfers of top and mid-level officials in various ministries, directorates, and departments.
According to the report, the US and other international companies are concerned over the arbitrarily reopening of decades-old tax cases with particular targeting of cases involving multinational companies.
The report said that the US and other international investors raised concerns over the cumbersome process of outbound transfers from Bangladesh.
It said, ‘Applications to repatriate profits or dividends can be held for additional information gathering or otherwise delayed, if tax disputes arise.’
The USTR report said that there were widespread disputes over land and both the US companies and citizens had filed complaints about fraudulent land sales.
‘For example, sellers fraudulently claiming ownership have transferred land to good faith purchasers while the actual owners were living outside of Bangladesh. In other instances, US-Bangladeshi dual citizens have purchased land from legitimate owners only to have third parties make fraudulent claims of title to extort settlement compensation,’ the report read.
‘Likewise, corruption remains a serious impediment to investment in Bangladesh. While the government has established legislation to combat bribery, embezzlement, and other forms of corruption, enforcement is inconsistent,’ the USTR report said.
Regarding the government procurement, the report said that the government of Bangladesh publicly subscribed to principles of international competitive bidding but charges of corruption were common.
According to the USTR report, despite launching a national electronic government procurement portal the US companies raised concerns about the use of outdated technical specifications, the structuring of specifications to favour preferred bidders, and lack of overall transparency in public tenders.
‘Concerns over the safety of infrastructure and industrial relations practices also have discouraged greater investment and trade,’ the report read.
The collapse of the Rana Plaza building and the death of 1,129 workers in April 2013 highlighted health and safety concerns in the country’s factories and the lack of effective oversight and regulation, the USTR report observed.
It, however, said that the recent initiatives by the government of Bangladesh, international garment buyers, and the International Labour Organisation led to improvements in factory safety standards and transparency over the past three years.
Nabhash Chandra Mandal, executive member of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, said that they had taken various initiatives to overcome the impediments to FDI growth.
‘We are going for automation to remove administrative overlapping and bureaucratic complexities for the investors. We are working on ease of doing business and to facilitate foreign investment the government is formulating a law and the draft of the One-Stop Service Act has been sent to the cabinet for approval,’ he said.
Nabhash said that the BIDA was working to ensure transparency and accountability and the body was making progress step by step.
‘We can’t say Bangladesh is 100 per cent corruption-free but work is going on to eradicate the problem and we are making progress,’ he said.
(Source: New Age)
Bangladesh minister says bankers facing corruption charges won't be selected for promotion
Finance minister AMA Muhith has directed the Financial Institutions Division not to select any bankers facing corruption cases for promotion.
He gave the directive after the FID placed a list of 11 deputy managing directors, aspirant for the posts of managing director at three state-owned specialised banks.
Of them, Agrani Bank DMD Mizanur Rahman Khan and Janata Bank DMD Abdus Salam Azad are facing departmental cases for their alleged involvement in loan scams.
Mizanur was sacked by Bangladesh Bank on June 30, 2016 because of the Moon Group loan scam involving Tk 108 crore. Later, on August 7 he was suspended by the FID.
Azad was suspected of being involved in the Bismillah Group loan scam.
FID secretary Eunusur Rahman said the suspected officials would be selected again for promotion once they are cleared out of departmental actions.
Now, the FID has to select the managing directors from nine selected DMDs, he said.
The DMDs are Moin Uddin, Mohammad Ismail Hossain, Mohammad Helal Uddin, Rafiqul Islam, Mashiur Ali, Amin Uddin Ahmed, Tariqul Islam Chowdhury, Mahtab Zamin and Ali Hossain.
The FID officials said top post of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank felt vacant since the expiry of tenure of immediate past MD Kazi Sanaul Hoq.
They said tenures of the present MDs of Krishi Unnayan Bank and Probashi Kallyan Bank would expire soon.
(Source: New Age)
He gave the directive after the FID placed a list of 11 deputy managing directors, aspirant for the posts of managing director at three state-owned specialised banks.
Of them, Agrani Bank DMD Mizanur Rahman Khan and Janata Bank DMD Abdus Salam Azad are facing departmental cases for their alleged involvement in loan scams.
Mizanur was sacked by Bangladesh Bank on June 30, 2016 because of the Moon Group loan scam involving Tk 108 crore. Later, on August 7 he was suspended by the FID.
Azad was suspected of being involved in the Bismillah Group loan scam.
FID secretary Eunusur Rahman said the suspected officials would be selected again for promotion once they are cleared out of departmental actions.
Now, the FID has to select the managing directors from nine selected DMDs, he said.
The DMDs are Moin Uddin, Mohammad Ismail Hossain, Mohammad Helal Uddin, Rafiqul Islam, Mashiur Ali, Amin Uddin Ahmed, Tariqul Islam Chowdhury, Mahtab Zamin and Ali Hossain.
The FID officials said top post of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank felt vacant since the expiry of tenure of immediate past MD Kazi Sanaul Hoq.
They said tenures of the present MDs of Krishi Unnayan Bank and Probashi Kallyan Bank would expire soon.
(Source: New Age)
Bangladesh Internet service providers demand revision of BTRC draft decision
Internet Service Providers on Sunday demanded that the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission should review its decision that imposed 2 per cent of the ISPs’ revenue sharing with the BTRC and increased their licence and annual fees.
They placed the demand at a meeting with the telecom regulator in presence of BTRC chairman Shahjahan Mahmood.
At the meeting, leaders of the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh and a number of BTRC officials were present.
Leaders of the association said that imposition of 2 per cent revenue sharing with the government including 1 per cent for the social obligation fund would increase cost of business significantly.
For example, an entity having annual Tk 150-crore turnover will have to deposit an additional Tk 3 crore to the government, while there was no such cost earlier, they said.
Besides, increase of licence acquisition fee and annual licence fee by more than 15 times would ultimately hamper government’s vision to increase broadband internet penetration across the country.
In a recently taken move, BTRC has proposed the posts and telecommunication ministry to increase ISP licence acquisition fee drastically.
The proposal, however, was made following an instruction from the telecom ministry.
Asked, Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh general secretary Emdadul Hoque told New Age, ‘at the meeting, we requested the BTRC chairman to revise its move to increase ISPs licence acquisition fee and impose 2 per cent revenue sharing with the government.’
‘Our profit margin is only 4 per cent - 5 per cent. So how could it be possible for sharing 2 per cent revenue or 50 per cent of our profit with the government,’ he said.
‘We informed the BTRC that the ISPs would not be able to survive if the latest move is implemented,’ Emdadul said.
‘Government’s move to increase licence acquisition fee and annual licence fee would impact the country’s broadband penetration and quality of service at large,’ he said.
‘The regulatory move to increase licence acquisition fee drastically to Tk 25 lakh from Tk 1 lakh would hamper government move to increase internet users,’ the ISPAB general secretary said.
He also said that the BTRC chairman assured us that the regulator would reconsider the issue and asked the ISPAB to submit written proposal in this regard.
BTRC initiated a move to increase the licence acquisition fees of internet service providers drastically following an instruction from the post and telecommunication ministry.
As per the proposal, BTRC would issue three categories of ISP licences— nationwide, urban and rural.
Nationwide service providers will have to pay Tk 25 lakh as licence acquisition fee along with Tk 5 lakh annual licence fee.
The urban service providers will have to pay Tk 15 lakh licence acquisition fee along with Tk 3 lakh annual licence fee.
The licence acquisition fee and annual licence fee for the rural ISPs were proposed at Tk 1 lakh and Tk 25,000 respectively.
Besides, the regulator proposed that all the three types of ISP licencees will have to share revenue with government at 1 per cent rate and payment to the government’s social obligation fund at the rate of 1 per cent would be a must.
The commission also decided to issue registration certificates to cyber cafes instead of issuing licence, while they will have to pay Tk 25,000 as registration fee.
(Source: New Age)
They placed the demand at a meeting with the telecom regulator in presence of BTRC chairman Shahjahan Mahmood.
At the meeting, leaders of the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh and a number of BTRC officials were present.
Leaders of the association said that imposition of 2 per cent revenue sharing with the government including 1 per cent for the social obligation fund would increase cost of business significantly.
For example, an entity having annual Tk 150-crore turnover will have to deposit an additional Tk 3 crore to the government, while there was no such cost earlier, they said.
Besides, increase of licence acquisition fee and annual licence fee by more than 15 times would ultimately hamper government’s vision to increase broadband internet penetration across the country.
In a recently taken move, BTRC has proposed the posts and telecommunication ministry to increase ISP licence acquisition fee drastically.
The proposal, however, was made following an instruction from the telecom ministry.
Asked, Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh general secretary Emdadul Hoque told New Age, ‘at the meeting, we requested the BTRC chairman to revise its move to increase ISPs licence acquisition fee and impose 2 per cent revenue sharing with the government.’
‘Our profit margin is only 4 per cent - 5 per cent. So how could it be possible for sharing 2 per cent revenue or 50 per cent of our profit with the government,’ he said.
‘We informed the BTRC that the ISPs would not be able to survive if the latest move is implemented,’ Emdadul said.
‘Government’s move to increase licence acquisition fee and annual licence fee would impact the country’s broadband penetration and quality of service at large,’ he said.
‘The regulatory move to increase licence acquisition fee drastically to Tk 25 lakh from Tk 1 lakh would hamper government move to increase internet users,’ the ISPAB general secretary said.
He also said that the BTRC chairman assured us that the regulator would reconsider the issue and asked the ISPAB to submit written proposal in this regard.
BTRC initiated a move to increase the licence acquisition fees of internet service providers drastically following an instruction from the post and telecommunication ministry.
As per the proposal, BTRC would issue three categories of ISP licences— nationwide, urban and rural.
Nationwide service providers will have to pay Tk 25 lakh as licence acquisition fee along with Tk 5 lakh annual licence fee.
The urban service providers will have to pay Tk 15 lakh licence acquisition fee along with Tk 3 lakh annual licence fee.
The licence acquisition fee and annual licence fee for the rural ISPs were proposed at Tk 1 lakh and Tk 25,000 respectively.
Besides, the regulator proposed that all the three types of ISP licencees will have to share revenue with government at 1 per cent rate and payment to the government’s social obligation fund at the rate of 1 per cent would be a must.
The commission also decided to issue registration certificates to cyber cafes instead of issuing licence, while they will have to pay Tk 25,000 as registration fee.
(Source: New Age)
Dhaka stocks rise to fresh highs
Dhaka stocks advanced on Sunday after a profit booking session with the key index, DSEX, hitting all time high at above 5,900 points as investors continued injecting fund, especially in the bank companies amid optimism.
The DSEX advanced 0.46 per cent, or 27.18 points, to close at 5,907.62 points after falling 10 points in the previous trading session.
The core index reached the peak point after its launch with 4,055 points on January 28, 2013.
In 2013, the bourse launched DSEX under Standard and Poor’s developed free-float methodology with a view to replace the then key index of the bourse, DGEN.
The market touched the psychological barrier of 5,900 points within first 10 minutes of the trading session that rose further as the investors continued to inject fund in the capital market with fresh enthusiasm, market operators said.
They said that the continuous surge in most of the share prices bolstered investors to invest in the market.
The key index hit records for multiple times recently that drew attention of many investors who were in the side-line for months, they said.
Market capitalisation of the bourse also continued to break records, increasing to its all-time high to Tk 396763.03 crore on Sunday as share prices continued to rise.
Moreover, better earnings declaration and lower prices of bank companies kept instigating investors to invest fresh fund in their shares, stockbrokers said.
As a result, the average share prices of banks advanced by 1.18 per cent.
Out of 30 traded bank scrips, 25 advanced, 4 declined and 1 remained unchanged on the day.
Engineering, telecommunication and energy added fuel to the surge of the market, gaining by 1.94 per cent, 0.69 per cent and 0.28 per cent respectively.
Meanwhile, the increased share buying from directors of the City Bank in recent week drew some investors’ attention to the company shares, stockbrokers said.
According to the data from DSE, five directors of the bank expressed intension to buy a total of 51,71,500 shares of the bank from July 30 to Sunday.
As a result, the surge in share prices of City Bank helped most to rebound the market on Sunday.
City Bank also led the turnover chart on the day with its shares worth Tk 36.07 crore changing hands.
Meanwhile, the share prices of newly listed BBS Cables closed around the upper limit of the circuit breaker that posted the highest gain of the day.
On the other hand, the average share prices of cement and non-bank financial institutions declined by 0.97 per cent and 0.41 per cent respectively on the day.
Turnover on the bourse, however, declined to Tk 919.32 crore compared with that of Tk 1,077.99 crore in the previous trading session.
Of the 332 companies and mutual funds traded, 153 advanced, 146 declined and 33 remained unchanged.
DS30, the blue-chip index of the DSE, closed at 2,130.07 points, adding 0.32 points or 6.95 points.
The Shariah index of the bourse, DSES, gained 0.11 per cent, or 1.49 points, to close at 1,313.12 points.
BBS Cables, IFAD Autos, LankaBangla Finance, C and A Textiles, IFIC Bank, Apollo Ispat, Keya Cosmetics, Tung Hai Knittting and Mercantile Bank were the other turnover leaders.
BBS Cables gained the most on the day with a 9.84 per cent increase in its share prices, while Information Services Network was the worst loser, shedding 6.25 per cent.
Source: New Age
The DSEX advanced 0.46 per cent, or 27.18 points, to close at 5,907.62 points after falling 10 points in the previous trading session.
The core index reached the peak point after its launch with 4,055 points on January 28, 2013.
In 2013, the bourse launched DSEX under Standard and Poor’s developed free-float methodology with a view to replace the then key index of the bourse, DGEN.
The market touched the psychological barrier of 5,900 points within first 10 minutes of the trading session that rose further as the investors continued to inject fund in the capital market with fresh enthusiasm, market operators said.
They said that the continuous surge in most of the share prices bolstered investors to invest in the market.
The key index hit records for multiple times recently that drew attention of many investors who were in the side-line for months, they said.
Market capitalisation of the bourse also continued to break records, increasing to its all-time high to Tk 396763.03 crore on Sunday as share prices continued to rise.
Moreover, better earnings declaration and lower prices of bank companies kept instigating investors to invest fresh fund in their shares, stockbrokers said.
As a result, the average share prices of banks advanced by 1.18 per cent.
Out of 30 traded bank scrips, 25 advanced, 4 declined and 1 remained unchanged on the day.
Engineering, telecommunication and energy added fuel to the surge of the market, gaining by 1.94 per cent, 0.69 per cent and 0.28 per cent respectively.
Meanwhile, the increased share buying from directors of the City Bank in recent week drew some investors’ attention to the company shares, stockbrokers said.
According to the data from DSE, five directors of the bank expressed intension to buy a total of 51,71,500 shares of the bank from July 30 to Sunday.
As a result, the surge in share prices of City Bank helped most to rebound the market on Sunday.
City Bank also led the turnover chart on the day with its shares worth Tk 36.07 crore changing hands.
Meanwhile, the share prices of newly listed BBS Cables closed around the upper limit of the circuit breaker that posted the highest gain of the day.
On the other hand, the average share prices of cement and non-bank financial institutions declined by 0.97 per cent and 0.41 per cent respectively on the day.
Turnover on the bourse, however, declined to Tk 919.32 crore compared with that of Tk 1,077.99 crore in the previous trading session.
Of the 332 companies and mutual funds traded, 153 advanced, 146 declined and 33 remained unchanged.
DS30, the blue-chip index of the DSE, closed at 2,130.07 points, adding 0.32 points or 6.95 points.
The Shariah index of the bourse, DSES, gained 0.11 per cent, or 1.49 points, to close at 1,313.12 points.
BBS Cables, IFAD Autos, LankaBangla Finance, C and A Textiles, IFIC Bank, Apollo Ispat, Keya Cosmetics, Tung Hai Knittting and Mercantile Bank were the other turnover leaders.
BBS Cables gained the most on the day with a 9.84 per cent increase in its share prices, while Information Services Network was the worst loser, shedding 6.25 per cent.
Source: New Age
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