DCCI urges PM to withdraw increased tax on exports

The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Sunday urged prime minister Sheikh Hasina to withdraw the proposed 1.5 per cent tax at source on export proceeds in the final budget for the next fiscal year.

The chamber leaders at a meeting with the prime minister at her office also suggested continuation of current 0.4 per cent tax at source and imposition of 15 per cent tax on the income earned by the export sectors, said a press release.

The DCCI president, Asif Ibrahim, told the PM that the increased tax at source would make the export sectors of the country vulnerable in the global market competition while many developed and developing countries including India, Vietnam and China were giving incentives to the export sectors to make them competitive.

Hasina assured the business community of all out support from her government to run their businesses freely and smoothly, reports United News of Bangladesh.

'People didn't vote us to power for doing business. As in the past, we'll continue to provide all possible cooperation to the business community,' she told the delegation of DCCI.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, PM's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said that following a request by the prime minister, the DCCI leaders assured her of doing their best to keep the prices of essentials within the common man's reach during the month of Ramadan.

She said her government would continue to work for flourishing the private sector.

Asif suggested that the government should make liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) easily accessible for households consumption as the new gas connections have been stopped.

The DCCI president also suggested that the government should sponsor manufacturing of diversified products from jute to revive the golden fiber. He recommended that initiative should be taken to use jute for manufacturing pulp and paper.

Asif highlighted on creating opportunities for the Bangladeshi business people investing abroad for achieving 8 per cent growth.

The chamber leader recommended the PM to form a committee led by the Principal Secretary for resolving the scarcity of electricity and gas, and the problems of investment including the complexities of land acquisition and ownership. The proposed committee should include the representatives from chambers and different research and development organizations.

Commerce minister Faruk Khan, prime minister's principal secretary MA Karim, Prime Minister's office secretary Mollah Waheeduzzaman and press secretary to the prime minister Abul Kalam Azad were present at the meeting.

Source : New Age

Govt to get Tk 10cr from unclaimed bank accounts

The government is going to get a large sum of money to the tune of Tk 10 crore lying unclaimed in deposit accounts with different banks and financial institutions.

According to the Bank Companies Act, the accounts having no transaction for 10 years fall in the category of unclaimed ones.

The law requires banks and financial institutions to deposit the money in non-operated deposit accounts held with them in a Bangladesh Bank fund, from where it goes to the public exchequer after one year.

According to the Bangladesh Bank data, around Tk 10 crore is now lying unclaimed with the central bank.

The data shows in 2010 the number of total unclaimed deposit accounts in the country's banking

system stood at 49,337.

If a client or his/her nominee(s) contacts the bank concerned during the one-year interim period, the central bank allows him/her to get the money kept in the special account. The banks and FIs allow only the accountholders and their nominees to claim and get the money.

The law also requires making public the names of the accountholders before depositing the unclaimed money in the government coffers.

A senior BB official said the amount of money that remained unclaimed in a deposit account usually was not a significant one and people generally were not interested or willing enough to make an effort and withdraw the sum. Many of the accountholders have even died in the meantime, he added.

'Most of the accounts have deposits of less than Tk 500,' the official said.

The banks generally send letters to the clients informing about the status of such non-operated accounts and seeking their decision about whether or not they want to keep the accounts alive.

Among other banks, currently the number of such accounts with Sonali Bank is 11,574, Agrani Bank 11,951, Janata Bank 5,995, AB Bank 657, Pubali Bank 6,993, Bangladesh Krishi Bank 352, Bank of Ceilon 144, Habib Bank six, IFIC Bank 4,041, Islami Bank Bangladesh 5,103, State Bank of India 19, Uttara Bank 356, Eastern Bank 54, ICB Islamic Bank seven, Southeast Bank four, Prime Bank three, BASIC Bank 331, Standard Chartered Bank 138, and National Bank 269.

Source : New Age

Students confine VC at SAU

Sylhet Agricultural University students on Sunday locked the administrative building as part of their continued movement demanding adjustment in the existing credit system.


The agitating students also resisted a team of police from entering the campus at the main entrance at noon as the university authorities called for the law-enforcers to tackle the situation.
Campus sources said more than five hundred students of the first and second semester under different faculties staged a sit-in in front of the academic building at about 10:00am, boycotting classes and scheduled examinations to press home their demand.
The students at about 11:30am locked the main gate of the building, confining the vice-chancellor, along with others, for about two hours till 1:30pm.
The university authorities called the Kotwali police to take the situation under control, but the students stopped the policemen at the main entrance at noon when they tried to enter the campus.
At a rally in front of the administrative building, the student representative claimed the existing credit system was discriminatory.
The system, which was launched in the 2009-10 session, does not allow a student's promotion if he/she fails in more than 20 per cent examinations of the credit courses in a semester.
But the system is much more relaxed at other public agricultural universities in the country, the student representatives claimed.
They vowed to continue the movement boycotting academic activities until their demand for fixing the credit limit at 40 per cent instead of 20 per cent was met.
The university student welfare-affairs adviser Jamal Uddin Bhuiyan asked the students to send their representatives to the authorities to discuss their demand.
But the students refused the proposal, saying they would consider sitting with the authorities, if they would sit with all the students.
The students, however, postponed their demonstration at around 1:30pm as the authorities agreed to sit with all the students.
'We will sit in a meeting among ourselves in the evening to fix the time of the meeting with the authorities,' a student said, seeking anonymity.
Source : New Age

Proposed budget ignores Ctg dev, say speakers

The proposed budget of 2011-12 has bypassed the development issues of the Chittagong city, stated speakers at a programme on Saturday.


They said this at a dialogue titled 'analysis of the national budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year,' jointly organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue and Bangladesh Economic Association at the Chittagong Club Auditorium.
'You'll find many things in the proposed budget except for the development issue of the port city,' said Lawmaker Mainuddin Khan Badal in his chief guest's address.
Khandaker Golam Moazzem, senior research fellow of CPD, presented the keynote paper on 'the state of the Bangladesh economy: analysis of the national budget FY2011-12.'
Former Chittagong University vice-chancellor Alamgir Mohammed Sirajuddin complained that all the successive governments had invariably ignored the development need of the port city.
Perhaps the policymakers have failed to realise the urgency of the issue in the light of the greater interest of the national economy, Mainuddin Khan Badal viewed.
With BEA Chittagong chapter president Joyti Prokash Datta in the chair, CPD executive director Mostafizur Rahman, former BEA president Moinul Islam, former BEA Chittagong chapter president Sikandar Khan and former Chittagong Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Farid Ahmed Chowdhury, spoke at the programme, among others.
Source : New Age

2nd Agro Bangladesh 2011 kicks off in city

A three-day exposition of agro-industries began at in the capital on Sunday with a view to enable the local and international stakeholders to exchange ideas about the modern technologies in the field.


Fisheries and livestock minister Mohammad Abdul Latif Biswas opened the exposition, 2nd Agro Bangladesh 2011, jointly organised by the Extreme Exhibition and Event Solution Limited and I Station Limited, at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
The minister at the inauguration gave a call on the private sector entrepreneurs to introduce novel technologies to augment the development of the agriculture sector in the country.
He informed that the government was working on opening two fisheries research centres in Gopalganj and Kishoreganj.
'If the country can fulfil its target production of 34.78 lakh tonnes of fish in 2012-13, it will be able to export two lakh tonnes of fish and processed fish products that year,' he added.
About 65 agricultural input and equipment manufacture and export-import establishments from 12 countries, namely Bangladesh, India, Korea, Taiwan, China, Thailand, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, Japan, Netherlands and Turkey, have participated in the show.
Agricultural machinery, fertilisers, seeds, medicines and other related technologies are showcased at the 165 stalls of the fair, the organisers said.
Presided over by World Poultry Science Association – Bangladesh Branch president Mohamad Abdur Razzaque Mia, the opening programme was addressed by fisheries and livestock secretary Ujjal Bikash Dutta, department of livestock services director-general Mohammad Ashraf Ali, WPSA president Bob Pym, Mohammad Nazrul Islam Khan, personal secretary to the prime minister, Anwar Faruque, director-general of seed wing under agriculture ministry, Mohammad Nazrul Islam, director of Agriculture Information Service, Abdul Matlub, president of India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and MM Khan, secretary-general of Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association, among others.
The exposition, to end on June 28, will be kept open from 10:00am to 8:00pm every day, the organisers said.
Source : New Age

RU student movement for TSCC continues

The students and cultural activists of Rajshahi University on Saturday continued their demonstration, demanding immediate opening of the Teachers-Students Cultural Centre.


Around 200 students, members of the Progressive Students Alliance, platform of four leftist student organisations, and Kendrya Sangskritik Jote, platform of more than 15 cultural organisations, brought out a demonstration in the morning that paraded through the main streets of the campus.
Later they gathered in front the university central library.
The cultural activists from different groups at the rally complained that they did not have any spaces to practise and hold their cultural activities.
The university authorities had more than once failed to keep their promises that they would provide them with such spaces, they alleged.
Iqbal Kabir, convener, RU unit of Biplobi Chhatra Maitry, Sujon, organising secretary, RU unit of Chhatra Front, and Jewel, member of Anushilon Natyo Dal, spoke at the programme, among others.
The demonstration was coordinated by Aupurbo Chakrabarty, general secretary, Kendrio Sanngskritik Jote.
The long-drawn-out movement for the TSCC began in the 1960s at the university. The construction work of the TSCC building, begun in 1991, has yet to be finished. The RU students commenced the present movement on June 2.
Source : New Age

Change in temperature unlikely

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely at most places over the Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions and at many places over the Rangpur, Rajshahi and Dhaka divisions till 6:00pm today.

Moderately heavy to heavy falls are also likely at places over the country, Met Office said.

Day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.

The sun sets in the capital today at 6:50pm and rises tomorrow at 5:14am.

The country's highest temperature, 33.3 degrees Celsius, was recorded on Sunday in Sylhet and the lowest, 24.5 degrees, in Rangamati.

Source : New Age

New BCL body formed at CU after 5 years

The committee of the Chittagong University unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, associate student body of the ruling Awami League, has been formed after a gap of five years.


The BCL central committee announced the committee Saturday evening, with Mamunul Hoq of applied physics department as president and SM Khaled of public administration department as general secretary.
When contacted, Mahfuzul Haider Rotan, secretary of the BCL central committee, confirmed the matter.
Abul Mansur Shikdar, Saiful Islam Romel, Riazul Hoq, Saifuddin Khaled Rantu Dus, Faruk Hossain, Kazi Marufur Rahman and Shekh Sfaet Billah are vice-presidents of the new committee.
Kazi Tanjim Hossain and Suman Mamun are join-secretaries and SM Arifur Islam Arif, Alamgir Tipu, Rubaet Hossain are organising secretaries.
Besides, Mohsin Karim Real, Saiful Alam Riman, Shahed Sarawar and Shahriar Rahman Tarek are members.
The previous committee was formed on October 14, 2005 with a tenure of one year.
Source : New Age

RU BCL committee formed

The committee of Rajshahi University unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, associate student body of the ruling Awami League, was formed Saturday night.


The BCL central committee in Dhaka selected Ahmed Hossain of public administration department as president and Abu Hossain Bipu of mass communication and journalism as secretary general of the committee for 2011-12, said a press release.
Ilias Hossain and Jakir Hossain Roni were selected vice-presidents while Fuad Hossain Murad was selected joint secretary.
Meanwhile, leaders and activists, led by the new committee's vice-president Illias Hossain and joint secretary Fuad Hasan Murad, brought out a procession on the university campus on Sunday, welcoming the new committee.
Earlier, the university unit committee of the organisation was suspended on August 8, 2010 following a factional clash on the campus that left 30 BCL activists injured
Source : New Age

Construction worker dies falling from rooftop in city

A construction worker died after falling from the rooftop of an under-construction building at Malitola of Bangshal in the capital on Sunday.

The victim, Sahadat Hossain, 22, was a worker of Hawlader Builders Ltd. He hailed from Chandpur.

Sahadat fell from the rooftop of the two-storey building when he was setting rods for the construction of roof at about 6:00am, his co-worker Ahmed Ullah said.

He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital were doctors declared him dead.

The Bangshal police said they found no safety measures at the construction site.

A case was filed.

Source : New Age

BSMMU opens own medicine shop

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University on Sunday inaugurated its own medicine shop in the hospital compound.


The shop, located in front of the cabin block, remains open round the clock. Medicine and other medical materials would be available here at a discount.
BSMMU vice chancellor Pran Gopal Datta, while inaugurating the shop, said the medicine sales centre had been opened to facilitate smooth treatment. 'It is not a business venture. The patients will get medicine at a fare price here.'
Proper temperature for safe storage of medicines would be maintained strictly here, he said, adding that automated sale system and closed circuit camera have been installed for ensuring quality of service and items as well.
He urged the physicians, nurses and all other staff of the university to maintain cordial behaviour with the patients.
BSMMU hospital director Brigadier General Abdul Majid Bhuiyan and BSMMU pro-VC M Shahidullah attended, among others, the inaugural programme.
Source : New Age

392 posts of teachers vacant in govt pry schools in Barisal

A total of 392 posts of headmaster and assistant teacher are lying vacant in government primary schools in ten upazilas of Barisal hampering academic and administrative activities.

Barisal district education office sources said there were 951 government primary schools having enrolment of more than 2 lakh students in the district. But 116 posts of headmaster and 276 posts of assistant teachers have been lying vacant since long in the primary schools, according to the sources.

Out of those vacant posts, 6 headmaster and 47 assistant teacher posts are lying vacant in Sadar upazila, 25 headmaster and 31 assistant teacher posts in Bakerganj upazila, 12 headmaster and 16 assistant teacher posts in Babuganj upazila, 15 headmaster and 23 assistant teacher posts in Gournadi upazila,, 9 headmaster and 19 assistant teacher posts in Agoiljhara upazila, 10 headmaster and 22 assistant teacher post in Uzirpur upazila, 6 headmaster and 20 assistant teacher posts in Banaripara upazila, 13 headmaster and 34 assistant teacher posts in Muladi upazila, 15 headmaster and 37 assistant teacher posts in Mehendiganj upazila, 5 headmaster and 27 assistant teacher posts in Hizla upazila.

The district primary education officer, Harun Nakib, said that problem was acute in primary schools of remote areas and authority of primary education directorate assured them that the vacant posts would be filled up very soon.

Source said that the government, however, was developing the infrastructure of the schools every year. But the government had failed to fill in vacant posts timely and develop the monitoring system of primary education.

Teachers of many primary schools in the district claimed that it was very much difficult for them to run the teaching smoothly because they were always doing extra work following the government order even under shortage of more than one third teaching staffs.

Source : New Age

China to remain long-term Europe debt investor

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao said on Saturday he was 'still confident' that Europe can overcome the debt crisis and said China would remain a long-term investor in Europe's debt market.

The Chinese premier spoke at a press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during a visit to Hungary.

'I have confidence in European economic development,' he said. 'China is a long-term investor in Europe's sovereign debt market. In recent years we have increased by a quite big margin holdings of euro bonds.'

'In the future, as we have done in the past, we will support Europe and the euro,' Wen added.

He said China stood willing to help Europe 'work for expeditious recovery and stable growth,' but did not give exact figures on how much euro zone sovereign debt China might buy.

Wen also said China was willing to buy a 'certain amount' of Hungarian government bonds and aims to boost bilateral trade to $20 billion by 2015. He did not specify the amount of Hungarian bonds China would be willing to purchase either.

He said China's state development bank would provide 1 billion euros for development projects between Hungary and China.

The Chinese premier is visiting Europe as the euro zone grapples to contain Greece's worsening debt crisis and possible default which analysts fear could roil global markets and trigger another financial crisis.

China has large holdings of euro-denominated assets in its vast $3.05 trillion foreign reserves and is desperate to do what it can to preserve the value of its holdings, though analysts say the extent to which China may commit fresh funds toward purchasing distressed European debt as a market-calming gesture, will likely be limited.

Wen Jiabao, the first Chinese head of government to visit Hungary for 24 years, is also seeking to explore greater trade ties with the country given its strategic location and increasing role as a logistics and trade processing hub in Eastern Europe for Chinese goods.

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban said China's buying of Hungarian government bonds would increase the security of debt financing for Hungary in the medium term.

'The purchase of government bonds is also important for Hungary as Hungary is able to finance itself from markets but the fact that China will buy further will bring huge security,' Orban said.

While Wen is expected to face a barrage of protests and criticism from governments in Britain and Germany over China's human rights record and its recent clampdown on dissent, the release of prominent activist and artist Ai Weiwei on the eve of Wen's visit could ease some pressure on this front.

The 54-year-old artist Ai was freed on bail on Wednesday, while a batch of Ai's associates and other activists have also been freed since then, marking a climbdown of sorts by Chinese authorities, who have rarely flinched in prosecuting critics of Party rule.

Source : New Age