On the way of boost relation between Bangladesh and India developing the mutual benificial business steps.
Exports of raw jute from Bangladesh to other countries including India failed to pick up despite the lifting of ban on exports early this year. There are indications that the local exporters were finding exports of finished goods more lucrative than exporting raw jute due to the price differential.

The Bangladesh Government had imposed a ban on exports of raw jute in December 2009 due to the fall in production of jute and to ensure adequate availability for the local mills. The ban was, however, lifted in January amid pressures from jute traders.

?Currently there is no export of raw jute happening from Bangladesh. We have to take a call on exports based on this years’ production, we have however, lifted the ban on exports,? said Mr Dilip Barua, Bangladesh Minister of Industries. Mr Barua was speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of ?Look East’ summit organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce here on Saturday.
After a difficult year, jute production in Bangladesh is likely to see a significant rise which may lead to resumption of exports of raw fibre to India, the country’s industry minister indicated.

Late last year, Bangladesh had banned the export of raw jute to countries, including India, to ensure adequate availability for local jute mills, which were facing trouble in procuring the raw material because of price hike in the domestic market, in part due to plummeting production levels.

“A substantial amount of land was being utilised to cultivate crops other than jute. However, this is now likely to change and we will produce higher quantities of the fibre. Although currently there is no export of raw jute from the country, we have lifted the ban on exports,” Bangladesh Minister of Industries Dilip Barua said.

He was speaking on the sidelines of an event organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce on Saturday.

Barua said that the jute industry in his country had been demoralised as synthetic fibres had posed as a substantial threat. “But things have now picked up and some mills which had closed down have also been revived. After a string of losses, the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporations is also expected to make a profit this year,” he added.

Bangladesh is the world’s largest jute growing country with an annual production of about 5.5 million bales.

While India, Pakistan and China are large buyers of raw jute, other countries such as Britain, Spain, Germany and Brazil also import the fibre.

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Leader of the visiting US Congress delegation David Price today said his country does not “undermine” the process of war criminals trial and expects that Bangladesh deals with the matter in its own way.

“This (trial) is an internal mater of Bangladesh . . . but it does not mean we are undermining the initiative,” Price told a press briefing on the second day of the three-day visit of the Congressional delegation to Bangladesh.

Asked for comments on the trial process, Price, a Democratic Party Congressman, said they are not in a position to judge the
process but think it to be a difficult judicial process and expects “Bangladesh to deal with the matter in its own way”.

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DHAKA, March 29 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the Islamic scholars (alem and ulema) to remain alert so that none can disrupt law and order in the country. “You have to remain watchful against any move to create anarchy as they are pioneers of creating trouble across the country,” she said pointing to the anti-liberation forces of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Expressing her regret over the untoward incidents in Hathazari in Chittagong on February 24 last, the Prime Minister said there was a conspiracy behind the occurrences. The Prime Minister was addressing the country’s renowned `alem and ulema’ (Islamic scholars) at Ganobhaban here this evening.

The Prime Minister was addressing the country’s renowned `alem and ulema’ (Islamic scholars) at Ganobhaban here this evening.

Allama Ahmad Shafi, director general of Darul Ulum Muinul
Islam Hathazari Chittagong and chairman of Bangladesh Qawmi
Madrasa Board, presided over the function.

Describing Islam as a religion of peace and tranquility, she said there is no room for terrorism and militancy in Islam.

Sheikh Hasina expressed her government’s firm stance against militancy and terrorism and sought support of the Islamic
scholars to this end.

The Prime Minister categorically told them that her government never said anything to discard `Bismillah’ from the country’s constitution. “Rather, we said that we will not do anything which goes against the Quran and Sunnah,” she added.

Listing her government’s programmes for incorporating religious education in the school curriculum, Sheikh Hasina said
the government had already directed all concerned to make religious education compulsory.

“We gave the directives as we think that complete education is not possible without religious education,” she said and urged
the Islamic scholars to give their suggestions about the curriculum of qawmi madrasas to incorporate those in the draft
education policy.

Expressing her satisfaction over the role of `ulema and mashayekh’ (Islamic scholars) for building character of the
people, Sheikh Hasina told them to play a due role in keeping the people away from all sorts of misdeeds, including drug abuse and repression on women.

“You should let the young people know that it is anti- Islamic activities and Islam does not support it. Then crimes
will come down,” she said.

She also sought cooperation from the Islamic scholars to find ways so that no girl is deprived of her rights on property.

Referring to her role in different international forums in favour of Islam, the Prime Minister said she had protested in
those forums whenever anybody uttered the words, `Islamic terrorist’.

“I vehemently protested the words and told them that there is no room for terrorists in Islam as Islam is a religion of peace
and harmony and terrorists have no religion and border,” she added.

After her repeated protests in different international forums, the Prime Minister said, the people from across the world
have kept them away from uttering such words like “Islamic terrorist”.

Listing her government’s activities for the sake of religious education, she said it had already introduced mosque- based education and increased the salary of imams and muajjins. “Even, we have included the `alem and ulema’ to take action
against terrorism and militancy,” she added.

Among others, Hazrat Maulana Abdus Sobhan, Hazrat Maulana Nur Hossain Kashemi, Hazrat Maulana Junaid, Hazrat Maulana Anwar Shah, Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali spoke on the occasion.

Awami League Religious Affairs Secretary Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah gave the address of welcome.

Later, a munajat was offered seeking peace, progress and prosperity of the country. Renowned Islamic scholar Allama Ahmad
Shafi conducted the munajat.

The Islamic scholars in their speeches appreciated the government’s initiatives for religious education across the country and its steps for welfare of the country’s `alem and ulema’ (Islamic scholars).

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Considering the potentiality of Bangladesh and for real development all the research by various analyst come on same point that to develop we have to ulitize our our resources specially human resources Power is the key infustucture for all till Digital Bangladesh. United staes new leadership of Barrak Obama Govt is more sincier for a developed World……. www.gurumia.com ??

The United States Monday assured Bangladesh to invest more in the country?s infrastructure, energy and power sectors for ensuring overall development of the country.

The assurance came when a US delegation led by the visiting Congressman of the US House of Representatives David Price paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban here Monday morning.

During the meeting, they discussed matters relating to bilateral interest and US support in Bangladesh?s socio-economic development, said Prime Minister?s Deputy Press Secretary Mahbubul Haque Shakil after the meeting.

The visiting US Congressman said that the United States was impressed with the landslide victory of Bangladesh Awami League in the last general election held in a free, fair and credible manner in the Bangladesh?s history.

He said it has opened the door of restoring democracy in the country under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Mr. Price said Washington is always supportive to the present government?s welfare oriented programs especially to Food Security and UN peace Keeping Operations.

The Bangladesh?s Premier said due to the absence of uninterrupted democracy in Bangladesh for long time the country could not attain desired expected development so far.

She said since taking of office her government is working relentlessly to further strengthen democratic institutions of the country including parliament so that people?s desire can be reflected through them.

Regarding terrorism and militancy, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh?s stance against these social menaces is always firm and the country will continue to work to root out them.

Terming poverty as the main enemy of the whole region and said Bangladesh is always ready to fight against the curse together with the regional countries for the welfare of their people.

She called upon the United States to invest more in Bangladesh?s thrust sectors like infrastructure, power and energy.

The US delegation also included congressmen Jeff Fortenberry and Stephen Lynch.

Among others, Prime Minister?s son Sajib Ahmed Wajed, Adviser to the Prime Minister Professor Dr Gowher Rizvi, Ambassador At- large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister MA Karim and Prime Minister?s Deputy Press Secretary Mahbubul Haque Shakil were present on the occasion.

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?

THE problem of water shortage, compounded by pollution, is causing indisputable harm in most poor countries of Asia and Africa. The population in poor countries like Bangladesh is growing so fast that improvements on water supply have failed to keep pace. Worldwide, two billion people still have no access to clean water, and water contaminated by sewage is estimated to kill 3.4 million, including two million children, every year.People in West Asian countries now use 54 per cent of the available fresh water, and additional demand will further jeopardise the ecosystem. Added to this is the problem of pollution caused by fertilisers, pesticides, silts, sewage and other toxic effluents that have killed lakes and poisoned rivers.

With about 250 rivers that once dotted the country, Bangladesh is now identified as a water-scarce country. The consequences of failing to bridge the gap will be higher food prices and expensive food imports. Hunger and thirst, experts say, are linked to political instability and low rates of economic growth.

Moreover, as much of the world becomes urbanised, its water crisis will deepen. Dhaka, a mega city of 12.5 million people, has to rely mostly (about 87 percent) on ground water, but aquifers take decades to recharge while the population growth in the city is exponential. Human activity is playing an ever greater role in creating water scarcity and ?water stress? ? defined as the indication that there is not enough good quality water to meet human needs.

?In spite of the fact that Dhaka regularly faces devastating floods in the wet season, higher consumption resulting from new housing projects and population growth of over six percent annually was outstripping supplies.

Hundreds of men, women and children queue up at roadside water taps every morning jostling to have a quick bath, wash clothes or to grab a pot-full of drinking water.

“The water scarcity was due to growing consumption by the city’s hugely expanding multi-storied housing complexes and pollution of the Buriganga,” Azharul Haq, Managing Director of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), told Reuters.

Hundreds of tonnes of waste and harmful chemicals are dumped in the Buriganga river from tanneries and industries lining its banks.

“Those without running water drink from the river or other derelict sources exposing them to health hazards,” he added.

Haq said the water crisis was likely to deepen during the summer when ground water levels would drop further.

Water experts blame the decline in ground water levels on pumping from deep tubewells for irrigation and other purposes.

According to Haq, ground water levels had been falling by nearly six feet (two metres) per year.

“WASA has a capacity to supply 1.27 billion litres per day against a demand of 1.6 billion litres for residents in the capital”.

Haq said WASA’s efforts to increase water supplies faced difficulties because many of the 750 deep tubewells it used in the capital were unusable because of falling ground water levels.

The situation could be helped by the opening of a $131 million surface water treatment plant in the Syedabad area of the city, expected next June.

The Syedabad plant will have capacity to supply 225 million litres of clean water each day, Haq said.

City officials, however, warned it could prove a drop in the ocean given the huge population pressures facing Bangladesh.

Water & Electricity is very essential element inour every day life. But in bangladesh water, electricity & many other things which we required in our every day life are not we are getting properly. We have to face many kind of problem to get that. In bangladesh its also happened that from 3 to 4 days people havent any Water & Electricity supply & become a horrible situation. The government should take necessary step about those problem.

?

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Sources ;The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Sunday it will provide a $266 million loan to meet about half the cost of a major expansion of Bangladesh’s natural gas supply network in a bid to spur economic growth.
Bangladesh faces gas shortages of up to 300 million cubic feet a day. The funds will be used to build new transmission and distribution pipelines and to expand gas supply to less developed areas in the impoverished south Asian country’s southwest.

Bangladesh’s reserves of natural gas provide about 70 percent of its total primary energy supply and fuel 85 percent of its power generation.

Its gas transmission and distribution infrastructure have not kept pace with new investment in gas exploration and the development of new fields.

About 200,000 new households in the southwest, along with 1,400 industrial and commercial establishments, will receive gas as a result of the expanded distribution network.

Korea Eximbank will provide a loan of $45 million for the transmission expansion phase and the government of Bangladesh will give $231 million in equity and loans for a total project cost of $542 million.

The project is due for completion in March 2015.

($1=69.25 taka)

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Bangladesh is facing huge load shedding of electricity. Almost all part of?Bangladesh?having load shedding of electricity everyday at least?four to?five hours eveyday. In many places, power disruption occurred five times with more than five hours of outage between 8:00am and 5:00pm and in 24 hours almost eight to nine hours. Multiple power cuts for periods totaling six to seven hours occurred in Dhaka, Chittagong and many other places.

Every summer Bangladesh face huge load shedding problem. According to the official statistics, the country?s electricity shortage gone up 1000 megawatts (MW) to 1259 MW with the demand of 4806 MW on 2006. ?Authority said this year (2009) about 1400 MW to 1800 MW electricity shortage will face this year, which is almost twice more than last year and the country need about 5000 MW. So this summer we might face the problem that?s we have not face last ten years. In Bangladesh electricity power is not generate as much as our demand. So every summer we face huge load shedding and people are suffering, but in winter there is almost not load shedding. In summer temperatures goes up to around 40? Celsius. So in this situation if there is load-shedding of electricity people face uncertain condition.

Power Development Board (PDB) sources said while the official power demand was just 5000MW, the unofficial demand was hovering around 6000 MW. The officially estimated power demand is 5000 MW against a generation of around 3500 MW. Around 1500 MW power could not be generated due to short supply of gas to many power plants. Gas is a major concern also because several new gas-fired power plants with nearly 1000 MW generation capacity are expected to be drafted into service this year. ?We are expecting 200MW new power generation from May. If we cannot ensure the gas supplies, it will become meaningless? PDB pointed out.

A PDB official said the real power situation was worse than the official picture. ?The Rural Electrification Board (REB) needs 2500 MW, but is given less than half of that. Dhaka Electricity Supply Authority (DESA) and Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO) need more than 2000 MW power and the PDB needs another 2000 MW,? he added.

On 2007 government said by 2010 Bangladesh will be a load shedding free country. ?We have set a target to generate sufficient electricity by the year 2010 to reach a level where there will be no load shedding,? said Mirza Azizul Islam, finance and planning adviser. But we don?t see any result of it day by day the rate of load shedding is increasing.

There are some problems with the policy that was followed in the power sector. This sector was always under government control. Recently large scale investment from private sector was encouraged. But it did not solve the problem for various reasons. In the context of Bangladesh, this problem can easily be solved by micro enterprise or micro investment. For the success of that strategy, all types of taxes on the import and sale of generators below the capacity of 10 mega watts must be fixed at zero per cent. Banks should allow loans without mortgage for purchasing generators below 10 mw. This will create employment for the youth. They will be able to invest in small area-wise power production and distribution business. Low-priced electricity will strongly assist the boost up of cottage industry in the rural areas. Owners of these micro power plants will need employees for maintenance. In a small area, each household will be their customer and they will negotiate the price. The city corporation or the municipality will ensure the standard of service by regular inspection. This way the sufferings of the people from power shortage will decrease significantly. These investors should be exempted from income tax and vat for the first five years. This will certainly solve the power crisis. This will also provoke some self-seekers, whose interest is going to be hurt. The government should prevent them from doing anything harmful. The government should also encourage manufacturing of small capacity generators locally.

The northeast Indian state of Tripura is offering Bangladesh investment incentives, and has suggested electricity export from its under construction Palatana plant as part of recent Bangla-Indo power sharing initiatives.

The visiting chief minister of Tripura Manik Sharkar told businessmen in Dhaka on Saturday that his state could become a destination for Bangladeshi garments and for profitable investments in the construction and industrial sectors.

“We will welcome any investment from Bangladesh, which, with use of our resources, promises to generate earnings and employment for Indians,” said Sharkar.

“Bangladeshi investors will get double incentives, the existing incentives from the central government and now also from the state government,” he told a meeting organised by the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

“Tripura is experiencing huge growth, higher than the Indian average,” said Sharkar.

He said the state was seeing a particular boom in the construction industry and was also inviting investment in the industrial sector.

“Tripura can ensure the required electricity and gas for new industries,” he added.

POWER EXPORT

He also said Tripura was more than happy to export its surplus electricity to Bangladesh, from the under-construction 726 MW Palatana plant of India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), for Bangla-Indo power sharing.

The Palatana power plant would be operational by the first-quarter of 2012, Sharkar added.

Bangladesh and India recently signed an MoU on cross-border grid connectivity, agreeing to install 130km of distribution lines. The connection will facilitate Bangladesh’s import of 250 megawatts of electricity from India, though specifics of the agreement are yet to be worked out.

Sharkar also said that according to surveys of ONGC, Tripura has a vast reserve of natural gas and the state is planning greater electricity production with this which could also be exported to Bangladesh in future.

But, in answer to a question, the minister said he could not say anything at present on exporting gas to Bangladesh. “The assessment of our local need is not yet complete.”

HT Imam, one of the prime minister’s advisers, said Bangladesh would allow businesses to invest in India if they could repatriate funds and profit.

“This government is also serious about strengthening regional connectivity,” Imam said.

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http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs089.snc3/15696_112778805401210_100000072725036_264435_4675440_s.jpgThe better relation between USA and Bangladesh is a win win benificial international relation.Washington, Mar 27 (PTI) Bangladesh has become “an important partner” of the US and has shown resilience, creativity and principle in addressing serious challenges like poverty and extremism, a top American lawmaker has said.

“Bangladesh has become an important partner of the United States. Even as it faces challenges with serious poverty, threats from climate change and extremism, the Bangladeshi people have shown remarkable resilience, creativity, and principle,” Congressman Joe Crowley, said at the US House of Representatives on Thursday.

“This is exactly the kind of country the United States ought to work with and do more to support, not because the situation on the ground is perfect, but because by working together we have clearly created a better path forward,” Crowley said sponsoring a resolution in the House to congratulate Bangladesh on achieving democracy.

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Bangladesh industries minister Dilip Barua on Friday held out the olive branch to the Tata Group saying that the Sheikh Hasina government is willing to restart talks with the Indian conglomerate about reviving its Bangla investment plans.

“We are open to negotiate with the Tatas,” Barua said on the sidelines of a programme organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce. The Tatas had in the past shown an interest to pump in about $2-3 billion in a slew of projects in Bangladesh, which included a steel mill, a fertiliser unit and power plants.

However, the plans could not materialise then because of the Bangladeshi authorities not agreeing to the Tatas’ request to provide gas at cheaper rates. On his part, Barua also conceded that gas remained a ticklish issue. “It will not be possible to provide concessional gas at the moment as Bangladesh itself is running short of it,” he said. The Tata Group could not be reached for a reaction.

Incidentally, Barua is the second Bangladeshi minister in recent times to indicate Dhaka’s willingness to do business with the Tatas. Earlier this month, Bangladesh primary and mass education minister Md Motahar Hossain, too, had spoken along the same lines. “An Indian business delegation will visit Bangladesh in April to explore opportunities,” Barua said.

Incidentally, possibilities of greater economic cooperation between India and Bangladesh have increased ever since Sheikh Hasina came to power.

A high level Indian business delegation would visit Bangladesh early next month, Bangladesh’s Industry Minister Dilip Barua said here Friday. ‘A 50-member team will be visiting Bangladesh on April 10,’ he told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce. Barua, however, declined to name the companies that would visit. He said the Bangladeshi government is willing to revive investment talks with Tata Group for investment but no special invitation would be extended to them. ‘If they come, we are ready to accept them. But no special invitation to anybody will be extended,’ he said. The Tatas had withdrawn its proposal during the erstwhile regime of Begum Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh National Party. Barua said his country is looking at making itself industrially self-sufficient by 2021, but said energy is a big problem. There is high demand of energy in the country but there is no gas exploration, he noted. Talking about other industries, he said Bangladesh is putting thrust on industries like pharmaceuticals, ceramic, agro-based industries, leather and ship building.

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Bangladesh is to Digital Bangladesh .Internet interactivity and infrastructure is important?? .

The Internet came late to Bangladesh with connectivity in 1996. In the last few years it has grown dramatically, although obviously from a very low base. With an estimated Internet user base of more than 700,000 by end-2009, representing only a 0.4% user penetration, the local Internet industry has been preparing to move into the next stage of its development. As this report demonstrates, however, the country must work hard to overcome obstacles associated with the countrys lowly economic status and still developing infrastructure, not least of which being an indifferent, bureaucratic government. The report also looks briefly at very early signs of broadband Internet in Bangladesh and its first moves into WiMAX services.

Sources

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