Month: July 2022

New Zealand and the European Union have concluded negotiations on a major free trade agreement (FTA), which covers market access into 27 European countries and removes duties on the majority of products New Zealand exports.

“Our EU-NZ FTA is expected to increase the value of New Zealand’s exports to the EU by up to 1.8 billion NZ dollars (1.12 billion U.S. dollars) per year from 2035,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Friday after the FTA signing in Brussels.

“It’s a strategically important and economically beneficial deal that comes at a crucial time in our export-led COVID-19 recovery,” Ardern said in a statement.

The deal delivers tangible gains for exporters into a restrictive agricultural market. It cuts costs and red tape for exporters and opens up new high-value market opportunities, she said.

Also Read: Dhaka, Tokyo to explore possibility of FTA

This is the fifth FTA New Zealand has concluded in the past five years and sits alongside upgrades to the existing agreements with China and Singapore, she said, adding that the increase in market access means 73.5 percent of New Zealand’s global exports are now covered by an FTA, up from around 50 percent five years ago.

The deal provides duty-free access on 97 percent of the New Zealand’s existing goods trade to the EU within seven years, 91 percent from day one, said New Zealand Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor.

However, the meat and dairy industries, two of New Zealand’s major export sectors, were disappointed as their gains in the trade deal were very limited.

The EU is New Zealand’s fourth-largest trading partner with two-way goods and services trade worth 17.5 billion NZ dollars (10.9 billion U.S. dollars).

Source: United News of Bangladesh

A fire broke out at a carton factory in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area in early Friday morning, destroying goods and equipment worth Tk five lakh, officials said.

The fire broke out around 3.20am at Al Madina Printing and Packaging and it took five fire tenders nearly three hours to douse the flames, said Shahjahan Shikder, deputy assistant director (media cell) at Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters.

Also read: Ctg power substation fire doused

“The fire originated from an electrical short-circuit. The estimated damage is of around Tk five lakh. We managed to save items and equipment worth Tk 10 lakh,” he said.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is exposed to a multitude of hazards for which the local people of vulnerable regions require special attention to enhance their resilience against impacts of hazards through an inclusive resilience approach, says Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

KOICA has partnered with a number of multilateral organizations and international non-governmental organizations to build community resilience and has been supporting the above-mentioned projects.

It primarily aims to enhance resilience of the vulnerable communities from flooding, cyclones, storms, earthquakes, etc. that have been the cross-cutting sectors of KOICA.

Read: KOICA to render pre-survey on introducing metro rail in Chattogram

KOICA for strengthening community resilience progs in Bangladesh’s flood-prone regions

The projects apply various approaches for the affected people namely, access to forecast-based financing, micro-insurance and seasonal livelihood support, national capacity to respond to emergencies and risk reduction of the chronically flood affected population.

KOICA in collaboration with World Food Programme (WFP), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC), Oxfam Bangladesh and KOICA Bangladesh Alumni Association (KBAA) held a knowledge sharing seminar titled ‘Building Community Resilience to Natural Disasters’ on Thursday evening at Gulshan Club in the city.

Young-Ah Doh, Country Director, KOICA Bangladesh Office, Nasima Begum, Member (Secretary), Planning Commission and President, KBAA, Piet Vochten, Deputy Country Director, WFP Bangladesh Country Office, Ali Akgul, Operations Manager, IFRC, among other, were present.

KOICA for strengthening community resilience progs in Bangladesh’s flood-prone regions

The event featured presentations and discussions on KOICA funded projects with WFP titled, “WFP Building Resilience to Achieve Zero Hunger (BRAZH)”, IFRC titled, ‘Integrated Flood Resilience Programme: Phase 2 through Community-based Disaster Risk Reduction Approach’ and Oxfam Bangladesh titled, “Resilience Boat Resident Community of Bangladesh”.

Read: KOICA for enhancing treatment of neurodevelopmental disabilities for children in Bangladesh

It also consisted of an action plan on ‘Innovation Solutions to Safe Drinking Water in the Saline-prone Coastal Belt’ under KOICA-Yonsei Master’s Degree Programme in Community Development in Korea.

Speaking on the occasion, KOICA’s Country Director Young-Ah hoped that through this support from the government of the Republic of Korea, it will strengthen the resilience of community people in the areas of health, livelihoods, WASH and overall ability to withstand and cope against natural disasters.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited has been recognised as best sustainable bank by Bangladesh Bank.

Fazle Kabir, Governor, Bangladesh Bank handed over the crest of recognition to Mohammed Monirul Moula, Managing Director and CEO of Islami Bank at Bangladesh Bank head office on Thursday, said a media release.

A.K.M Sajedur Rahman Khan and Abu Farah Md. Nasser, Deputy Governors, Nurun Nahar, Executive Director and Khondkar Morshed Millat, Director of Bangladesh Bank were also present on the occasion.

Bangladesh Bank has published such rating based on four indicators such as Sustainable Finance, Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), Green Refinance and Core Banking Sustainability.

A total of 10 private banks in Bangladesh were recognised in the Sustainability Rating-2021.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Sri Lanka’s state-owned Jaya Container Terminal at Colombo Port has offered priority berthing facilities to Bangladeshi feeder vessels.

Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Prasantha Jayamanna has recently announced it at a discussion in Colombo, according to a message received here on Friday.

He briefed Bangladesh about the present facilities as well as ongoing and future expansion plan of Colombo Port which would increase their container handling capacity to 15 million TEUs once completed in 2025-26.

Bangladesh High Commission has been pursuing this priority berthing issue with SLPA for long, said the nessage from the mission.

Bangladesh High Commission to Sri Lanka organized in Colombo a stakeholders’ consultation forum recently on enhancing shipping connectivity between Chattogram and Colombo Ports pursuant to observance of the First Economic Diplomacy Week.

The purpose was to facilitate greater understanding of operational issues between Chattogram and Colombo Ports and ensure greater connectivity and supply chain security and stronger partnership between the two ports.

Representatives from port authorities of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, terminal operators, main line operators, feeder operators, freight forwarders as well as users of the two ports presented their respective perspectives.

READ: Sri Lanka offers greater use of Colombo port by Bangladesh

Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Tareq Md Ariful Islam shared Bangladesh’s remarkable economic developments and the potential it holds for Colombo Port.

He also mentioned of the changes in the global logistics operations due to the pandemic and now the war, the resultant trends in shipping and necessity of offer of possible incentives from Colombo Port.

The Chairman of SLPA, private terminal operators and Sri Lankan shipping community assured of giving continued priority to Bangladesh users, according to Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo.

Referring to the recent negative media reporting on Colombo Port, they clarified that that their Port’s operation remains unaffected by the crisis situation in the country.

Both sides emphasized the importance of real time communication among all the stakeholders of the two countries.

Representative of Chattogram Port Authority shared that Bangladesh’s container traffic through Colombo Port has increased significantly last year.

Representatives of Bangladesh stakeholders shared the users’ perspective about Colombo Port, emerging trends and challenges in shipping operations.

In the interactive session that followed, the panelists from both sides responded to the queries from the participants which cleared many of the issues involving Chattogram-Colombo connectivity.

It was physically attended by senior representatives from the Sri Lankan shipping community.

From Bangladesh side, Senior Executive Director of Karnaphuli Group and HR Lines Anis Ud Dowla, Head of Operation and Marketing of Mohammadi Group and Country Head of DSV Logistics joined through zoomlink.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The Dutch Water Envoy, Henk Ovink, and Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands, Riaz Hamidullah, have launched a unique book capturing award-winning photos from young Bangladeshi and Dutch photographers in Delft.

Henk Ovink, who is also Sherpa for 2023 UN Conference on Water, stressed on people-focused transformation on outlook to water in every delta; and assured of Dutch support to Bangladesh’s water sector in decades ahead, said the Bangladesh Embassy in The Hague on Friday.

Read: Dutch Co. to invest $ 10.52 million in BEPZA’s Economic Zone

Bangladesh@50: Water Story photo book launched in Netherlands

The book is the outcome of 16-month’s collaboration between the leading Dutch water research institution, Deltares, and the Embassy.

Last year, the open Photo Contest had 800,000 outreaches on social media out of which 10 Bangladeshi photographs were chosen by a jury.

The book, produced as part of 50 years of diplomatic ties, was jointly dedicated to the Father of Nation.

The launching event held on Thursday drew key figures from the Dutch water sector, including IHE, Wageningen University and Royal Haskoning.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

In Thakurgaon, Barakat is the talk of the town ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

Barakat is no ordinary bull, but a neutered male popular for its meat. The big bull weighs around 28 maund.

Read: Samrat: The king bull of Chapainawabganj

Its owner farmer Zillur Rahman said that he reared the bull in his dairy in Dhumunia Shahpara village of Pirganj upazila of Thakurgaon along with twenty more cattles.

“I spend around Tk 600 a day to feed this huge bull,” he told UNB.

Zillur set up a small cattle farm in his homestead in 2011.

“For more than four years, I have been rearing Barakat. The bull eats different types of foods including wheat bran, rice bran, maze, dried hay and raw grass,” he said.

“If any buyer from outside Rangpur division buys the bull, I will deliver it at my own cost, ” added Zillur.

Read: Kalo Manik: The big bull that’s ready to charge this Eid!

Besides, the bull gets showers several times a day.

Everyday locals throng Zillur’s dairy to catch a glimpse of the big bull.

According to sources at the Thakurgan Livestock and Fisheries Department, enough sacrificial animals are available in the upazila this year.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The garment workers on Friday staged a demonstration in the city demanding the immediate payment of the salary of June along with Eid bonus.

Garment Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (GSKOP), an alliance of 20 worker associations, arranged the demonstration in front of the National Press Club.

Read: RMG workers stage demo for third consecutive day demanding pay rise

Addressing the function, the leaders of the workers also demanded introduction of dearness allowance to match with market prices of daily essentials, the ration system for workers to buy some essential commodities at subsidized prices, and ensuring the accommodation for workers at low rent.

GSKOP joint coordinator Karmul Ahsan, general secretary of Garment Sramik Front Selim Mahmud, President of Motherland Garment Sramik Federation Saleha Islam Santona, President of Garment and Dorji Sramik Federation Mohammad Rafiq spoke at the programme presided over by another GSKOP joint coordinator Abdul Wahed.

The labour leaders claimed that the garment factory owners are now having a very good time amid the depreciation of taka against dollar and the rise of purchase orders. But the garment workers are now facing the worst time due to price hike of daily essentials and the tremendous work pressure.

Read: RMG workers stage demo in city demanding wage hike

They also claimed that it is leant that some factories would not pay the 100 pc salary of June before the Eid-ul Azha.

The leaders demanded the payment of the entire salary and full-fledged Eid bonus soon, said a press release.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Leasing and financing companies (although we call them NBFIs) have lost deposits recently. Several people of that sector have said that the negative effect of P.K. Haldar’s looting spree spread over almost a decade is responsible. Blaming Haldar is very much in fashion now. Among other things, he has now become the fall guy for all ills that ails the sector. It would have been better if financial sector specialists had been able to admit their general lack of competence in the system as a whole allowed Haldar to do what he did.

Haldar in India or the Indian connection?

Haldar in India is seen as a place where he chose to hide rather than a place which is actually part of a large scale money laundering operations centre. Many there are involved and are skilled in transfers of money and goods having their feet in both India and Bangladesh. That has historically evolved so it will go on.

Read: The pavements of Dhaka: A homage

However, a section of the Indian establishment certainly has a stake in the Haldars that operate in Bangladesh. They are party to the scams through both advice and investment and of course later as recipients of the money smuggled away. While we speak of Canada and Switzerland, we don’t mention Kolkata and elsewhere much. Several cases have come up which show active involvement of such types of players. Some kind of surveillance is needed in both India and Malaysia.

The other question that has emerged is a more serious and political in nature so to speak. The Indian intelligence is far more efficient than ours and has caught more thieves including powerful ones there many times. Since, it was no secret where he was living to many and Haldar was essentially not hiding, how was his presence missed by them? It can only happen if he was allowed to go on living in safety and even invest his smuggled money. Point is, was Delhi protecting him or Kolkata?

India media has also been speculating on this as well. Haldar had been able to access NI cards, bank accounts, investment; purchases etc which are impossible to do without some high level support. So involvement is obvious but the timing is important. It’s close to the elections and he can generate more political vulnerability now than anytime else. So whose politics will he serve best?

It’s possible that Trinamool Congress leaders were helping him out in lieu of money but did the Delhi establishment know this? Bangladesh knew this also but as usual was not very effective. Lacking any clout they were hoping that the Haldar scam would one day get buried and they could move on. But Delhi probably had other ideas on this and keeping the next elections in mind rumbled him, spoiling both TC’s political future and if needed lean on BD leaders as well before 2023.

Haldar will name important names and that means, neutralising many in the influential establishment in Bangladesh and Bengal. Haldar has now graduated into a major political tool in the region though one is not sure that he is enjoying it as much as he enjoyed stealing people’s money in Bangladesh before.

Can the Bangladeshi system cope?

There is little doubt that they can’t. The financial regulatory bodies, the surveillance systems, the not so brilliant decision making all point to sectorial managers in charge of a machine beyond their capacity to handle. Add to this is, the all pervasive corruption that seems to attract corruption the way rotten meat attracts flies. And of course there are the crime prevention and security outfits who seem to have cooperated with Haldar in letting him get away as per even the High Court observations.

Read: Mohiuddin bhai : A year after the farewell

The reason the system finds coping difficult is because directly or indirectly, the system is partly a Haldar itself. And the rest have little skill or capacity to manage it. It’s best to face the fact that the Haldars are here to stay for a long while.

If that is the case, with the financial sector resembling the national cricket team more and more every day, one should at least pay some heed to the calls made.

Settle the various leasing companies’ mess immediately. A signal must go out as to whose side the Government is on. Start training staff on rational and responsible banking and money transactions based on official approval and encouragement of the PM as she alone seems to matter. Initiate a Corruption Control unit in every financial outfit.

Nobody wants high damage beyond repair to the financial sector. But the desire to prevent such damage must come from the official financial establishment first

Source: United News of Bangladesh