Day: June 29, 2024

DHAKA: State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat today put emphasis on making a vow to ensure honesty in disclosing information to establish peace in society. 'Existence of differences of opinion is a beauty of society and democracy. We all must agree on disclosing the true and correct information,' he said. The state minister said this while speaking as the guest of honor at the Peace Ambassador's National Conference 2024 at the convention hall of Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) in the city's Farmgate area this morning. At first, the truth must be acknowledged and then different opinions should be made, he said, adding, if the information is presented in a distorted way and any idea is created through it, then it will bring no good for anyone in society. 'So, we have to pledge that we will ensure honesty in disclosing authentic information,' Arafat said. The Hunger Project Bangladesh, in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), t he Democracy International and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, organized the conference. Noting that it is the responsibility of all to verify the information, the state minister said if there is no attitude to accept the truth rather a tendency to distort information blending with politics, it will not help establish peace in society. 'First of all, I have to admit that regardless of my political ideology, I want to ensure my honesty in disclosing the authentic information. The truth might go in favor of someone and against someone. But it must be embraced,' Arafat said. But falsehoods are spread in this society through many means, including social media, he said, adding that it is not fair to spread falsehood in favor of anyone's political views or against a person he or she dislikes politically. Due to some events and unwanted incidents that happened in different stages of Bangladesh's political history, the country's politics now stands on conflicts and disagreements, the state min ister said and cited that incidents like August 15, 1975 took place in Bangladesh. 'Bangladesh has a history of blood. There are many reasons for arising disagreements and conflicts over it. But disagreements and conflicts will take all of us backward, regardless of our party affiliation,' he said. Pointing that politics should have competitions and differences of opinion, Arafat said, 'But rivalry and competition should be positive, not negative. Rivalry turns into conflict when negativity comes into it'. By attaining capabilities through one's own effort, he or she should move forward positively through hard work, talent and self-sacrifice at every individual, team and group level, he said, adding, 'If we can create an environment of positive competition, peace will be established'. Urging all to remain united over the question of Bangladesh, the state minister said, the country was born through the Liberation War and it is now progressing forward. 'There will be no compromise over this key issue. Ther e will be no compromise over the spirit based on which Bangladesh was born. Apart from that, we all have to go to the root of the Liberation War and be united regardless of the factions,' he added. Noting that there is no room for radical evil forces like the anti-Liberation War and fundamentalist evil forces in the democratic environment as they destroy democracy, freedom of expression and peace, Arafat said, 'We have to be united avoiding those evil forces to establish peace'. 'Hopefully, in the coming days, we will be able to show other countries of the world that along with the existence of competition, disagreements and differences of opinion, peace remains established here (in Bangladesh),' he hoped. Expressing hope of taking the country's politics out of conflict, the state minister said there will remain differences of opinion, arguments and everything. 'Awami League, BNP will fight each other with arguments and words. There will be room for differences of opinion among us, but it will not be righ t to engage in any conflict and violence. We have to get out of these,' Arafat said. Global Vice President and Country Director of the Hunger Project Bangladesh Badiul Alam Majumdar presided over the event while Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Vice Chairman Abdul Awal Mintu, Jatiya Party Presidium member Rana Md Sohel and former president of Bangladesh Communist Party Mujahidul Islam Selim were present at the function, among others. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

SANGSAD BHABAN: Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali today hoped that the general point to point inflation rate would come down at 6.5 percent in the next fiscal year (FY25) due to various steps and strategies of the government. "Keeping in line with the contractionary initiative of the monetary policy, we've adopted supportive strategies in the revenue policy like reducing budget deficit, discouraging less important expenditures and pursuing austerity in various sectors," he said. The Finance Minister said this while delivering his winding up speech on the Finance Bill of the proposed budget for fiscal year 2024-25 at Jatiya Sangsad this afternoon. He said the government has put highest priority on restoring macroeconomic stability including containing inflation in the budget considering the facts that Bangladesh is facing various challenges like other countries of the world due to global crisis. Ali said it is undeniable that adoption of contractionary policy in the long run to control inflation can slow down growth. "While there is a need to adopt contractionary policy to control inflation, it is undeniable that in the long run this approach can slow down growth," he said. But, he noted that to build a developed, prosperous, smart Bangladesh by 2041, Bangladesh needs high growth on a continuous basis. "In this context, we framed this budget with the difficult challenge of balancing the seemingly contradictory goals of achieving economic stability and sustaining growth," he said. Ali strongly hoped that under the able, experienced and pragmatic leadership of the Prime Minister, the government can bridge the gap between aspirations and capabilities and thus return to the path of high growth soon. The Finance Minister said that in the proposed budget, the government has tried to provide necessary allocations in education, health, agriculture, local government and rural development, electricity, communication, science and technology sectors with the aim of building a smart Bangladesh. "Besides, we've gi ven due importance on ensuring food safety," he added. Therefore, he said that in this proposed budget, the government has given the highest priority to bringing macroeconomic stability along with containing inflation. "In the Monetary policy, various contractionary steps have been taken to control inflation; the policy rate (repo) has been raised significantly to 8.5 percent and bank interest rates have been made fully market-based," he added. Moreover, Ali said that a crawling peg system has been introduced in the dollar exchange rate to increase foreign currency reserves by encouraging exports and accelerating remittances. In the proposed budget, he said the government has planned to mobilise resources on a priority basis for investment and employment-supporting infrastructures development. "As a result of these initiatives, we expect GDP growth to reach 6.75 percent in the next financial year and 7.25 percent in the medium term," he said. He mentioned that the government is also taking multifaceted st eps to collect resources to meet the government expenditure. "Before deciding the revenue collection policy, we've reviewed in details the proposals received from discussions with various public and private organisations, business organisations and stakeholders," he added. Ali said that to sustain the pace of development, the government has adopted various strategies to increase tax collection, including reducing tax evasion, with an emphasis on increasing the tax-GDP ratio. "We're undertaking various reforms in revenue management to increase revenue in the medium term by solving existing challenges in revenue collection," he said. At the same time, he said the government is reforming the national customs policy keeping in mind the reality of the post transition from the list of least developed countries in 2026. "Reliance on import duties is being reduced to help reduce anti-export bias," he observed He said although the rise in overall allocations in the proposed budget for FY25 is 11.6 percent higher th an the revised budget for FY24, but the allocations against education and technology sectors in the fresh budget witnessed 25 percent growth while it witnessed 39 percent growth in the health sector. In order to expedite the process of poverty alleviation, he said that the coverage and depth of the social safety nets have been widened continuously as allocations against the social safety nets have been increased by 12.2 percent in the next fiscal year to Taka 1,36,026 crore. Turning to the benefits of the universal pension scheme, Ali said that such scheme would be one of the most attractive schemes in the world. The Finance Minister said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is the inheritor of the Father of the Nation's eternal ideals, is carrying out the unfinished tasks of the Father of the Nation one by one, taking alongside all people of the country with invincible conviction after overcoming hundreds of thousands of setbacks. "With the hands of the Prime Minister and the path shown by her, we will achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030 and join the ranks of high-middle income countries by 2031 and thus we'll be able to establish a developed-prosperous-smart Bangladesh by 2041, Insha'Allah,' he said. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

DHAKA: Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said Awami League is the name of going ahead gallantly through long struggle and movement against storm, darkness and autocracy. "Awami League had played a crucial role in establishing right to vote and right to food of the people. The age of the organization is 75 years," he told a discussion organised by AL Dhaka South city unit marking anniversary of the party. Quader said, "We sing the song of the victory standing in the procession of death row . . . we fly the flag of creation standing on the end of destruction. Our roots are deeply rooted in the soil of Bangladesh. We didn't grab power in the gunpoint in the wee hours. The countrymen had joined the Liberation War under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman". Terming the BNP's movement as 'made in London', the AL general secretary said the movement of BNP has no strength. "BNP talks only and their movement is fake. AL doesn't fear in any way to this end," he added. Tarique Rahman, he said, is a name of "trepidation" for BNP leaders as orders come from the bank of Thames River in the midnight. AL Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif said that all achievements of the country realized under the leadership of Awami League. Bangladesh is now a role model before the world, he said. Bangladesh, he said, would turn into a developed country by 2041 under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. AL Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim said Awami League is the most popular party in the sub-continent. AL Presidium Member Dr Abdur Razzak, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya Bir Bikram and Quamrul Islam, Cultural Affairs Secretary Ashim Kumar Ukil and executive committee members Shahabuddin Farazi and Sayeed Khokan, among others, addressed the discussion. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Cyclone 'Remal' has damaged crops on 45,590 hectares of land worth Taka 180.24 crore in Khulna agricultural zone, according to the Directorate of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Khulna. The crops covering the areas of 44148.95 hectares of farming land were partially damaged whereas 1450.90 hectares of farming land were totally damaged in the 'Remal-hit' four districts-Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira and Narail, said Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Khulna Zone Mohon Kumar Ghosh. In Khulna district, a total of 3,565.65 hectares of cropland of 13,796 farmers was affected due to Cyclone Remel, the DAE official said, adding that the amount of loss in the district is around Taka 42.98 Crore. In Bagerhat, a total of 12,611.50 hectares of cropland of 39465 farmers were damaged and the loss in the district is around Taka 97.36 crore. In Satkhira, a total of 659.7 hectares of cropland of 12,156 farmers were affected where the loss amount is Taka 24.42 Crore. In Narail, a total of 2 8,763 hectares of cropland of 8,620 farmers were affected where the loss amount is around Taka 15.47 Crore. While talking to BSS, Mohon Kumar Ghosh said the tropical cyclone 'Remal' caused extensive damage to the southern coastal areas, especially the croplands. He said the affected crops include jute, Aush seedbed, aush cultivated land, groundnut, chilli, bona Aman, ginger, turmeric, summer melon, litchi, mango, papaya, betel nut, sugarcane, banana, sugarcane, winter maize, sesame, summer were damaged by cyclone 'Remal.' There were a variety of vegetables of various kharif seasons including tomato, mug dal and banana also affected. Following the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we are working tirelessly in favour of the helpless farmers with a view to recovering the loss, Mohon Kumar said adding that incentives are being given to farmers to overcome the damage caused by Cyclone Rimel. In the coming months, they will be supported by all kinds of incentives from the government. Besides, regular counseling and supervision is being done at the field level, he added. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

DHAKA: Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) and media can jointly play an important role in building a competitive business environment and ensuring fair business practices in the country. In this regard, the BCC is ensuring fair competition by preventing anti-competitive behavior such as monopolistic market arrangements or cartels, which is helping to drive the country towards sustainable economic growth through innovation and productivity growth. Prodeep Ranjan Chakraborty, Chairperson of the BCC, said this while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on 'Implementation of the BCC Act and Role of Media to Establish a Fair Competition in the Market', held at the Auditorium of the Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF) in the capital today. The BCC and ERF jointly organized the event. The BCC Chairperson said the commission's efforts in promoting fair competition, market efficiency, consumer protection, and strong institutions are contributing significantly to the development of Bangladesh. "To maintain a f air competitive environment in business, the Commission has strengthened the market monitoring system and is properly conducting the investigation of cases filed for anti-competitive activities," he pointed out. Md. Hafizur Rahman, a member of BCC in a presentation, highlighted the implementation of 'The Competition Act 2012'. The BCC filed 97 cases, of which 51 cases were disposed of through fines and punishment. Besides, the commission issued 74 'Suo Moto' cases observing abusing the Commission Act by different companies, he said. He emphasized that the consumer will get the best product at a competitive price if 'The Competition Act' is implemented fully. ERF president Refayet Ullah Mirdha presided over the meeting. The BCC members Sowdagar Mustafizur Rahman and Salma Akhter Jahan also spoke in the programme. ERF assistant general secretary Mizanur Rahman moderated the event. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

State Minister for the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Md Abdul Wadud today said that 'Amar Char, Amar Palli' project will become boon for the char people. 'With the adoption of 'Amar Char, Amar Palli' project comprising 36,000 chars from all over the country, the fortunes of char-people will be permanently improved,' he said. The state minister was talking to the journalists after inaugurating the Bangladesh Palli Unnayan Board's seven-storey exhibition and sales center building adjacent to Rangpur city Terminal. He said the works are being carried out to improve the fortunes of the people of the Char region through the M4C (Making Markets for Chars) Project. 'We are taking up bigger projects through Palli Unnayan Academy,' he added. The fortunes of the people of the northern region have improved during the current government, he said, adding that the government has built a university in Rangpur and continued various development activities, including making six-lane roa ds, he said. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha