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Bangladesh to Review Constitution!!! This may hits many Bangladeshi to bloom up the patriot feel and specially to those who are not directly involved with politics (50%+) Who depends on constitution ,who love Bangladesh, Who pray a dignified Bangladesh, Who dream eco-rights democratic power, who bear lots of pain as being Bangladeshi -comparing developed contry ,who believe in good governance,

We have natural unlimited resources, what we don??t have? -we don??t have good governance system. So all the power gained political parties gain the harassment of devastating failures! Go through the fact.? What is government? Government is the execution body?to follow the Constitution! If there is systematic mistake in constitution .How can any govern well? So after 38years of failure -it seems to review.??So review ?please review consciously.

I only request Take it seriously!!!?Don??t limit till get the successful Models. Mind it we are still not satisfied in our any expectations!!! For Example Economy?? ?,gas?? , Electricity??, Education,?? Health??-gurumia

sources :The House yesterday formed a special parliamentary committee devoid of representation from the main opposition BNP, to chalk out a constitutional amendment proposal.

The 15-member committee, headed by Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, consists of only Awami League-led ruling alliance lawmakers, as BNP declined to nominate a representative following an invitation from the ruling party. No post was kept reserved for an opposition representative either.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the Leader of the House, brought a motion for the committee’s formation under section 266 of the rules of procedure of Jatiya Sangsad, and made a brief statement.

She said the amendment to the constitution is “necessary for upholding democracy, and for blocking the way for usurpation of state power through imposition of martial laws in future”.

Earlier in the day, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain said the “All-party Parliamentary Committee” is unconstitutional, and its formation contradicts the rules of procedure of the parliament.

Unanimously approved by the House boycotted by BNP, the special committee will examine the constitution and place a report in the parliament proposing necessary amendments to the country’s charter. But it was not given any timeframe for submitting that report.

The committee was also empowered to seek opinions of constitutional experts, and to invite them to its meetings.

“The constitution needs to be amended to block the way for illegal usurpation of state power,” Hasina said moving the motion.

She said keeping democratic rule upheld is the only way to economic development of a country. “Our prime objective is to establish that democratic trend.”

She however did not make it clear whether her government will move to restore the original constitution of 1972 through the amendment.

In defence of the move to amend the constitution, the premier said the constitution, the supreme law of the land, was damaged in the name of amendments through martial law proclamations during about four years following the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975.

“Therefore, re-amendments to the constitution is required in line with the High Court verdict,” Hasina said.

Ending her 10-minute speech, Hasina proposed the names of the members and chief of the committee.

In absence of the opposition lawmakers led by BNP, treasury bench deputies voted for the motion, and it got the parliament’s nod amid a huge rejoice, and desk thumping.

Suranjit Sengupta, chief of the parliamentary standing committee on law justice and parliamentary affairs ministry, was made the co-chair of the committee consisting lawmakers of AL, Jatiya Party, Workers Party, and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal.

The other members are Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzaq, Tofail Ahmed, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Rahmat Ali, Syed Ashraful Islam, Fazle Rabbi Mia, Rashed Khan Menon, Abdul Matin Khasru, Hasanul Haq Inu, Anisul Islam Mahmud, Hasan Mahmud, and Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury.

Treasury Bench Chief Whip Abdus Shahid, who wrote to Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia on Sunday night, requesting her to nominate an opposition lawmaker for the committee, said on Tuesday that a post would be kept vacant for BNP.

But contacted by The Daily Star last evening after the formation of the committee, Shahid said he has nothing to do now as the committee has already been formed.

Asked if he will reply to the opposition chief whip’s letter that sought explanation for the committee’s formation, Shahid said he knew nothing about it.

Shahid ruled out that the BNP secretary general’s remark, and said the committee was formed certainly following the constitution and the rules of procedure of the parliament.

Hasina, during her motion speech said the people gave her government the historic mandate in the December 29, 2008 parliamentary election, and created an opportunity for it to carry the historic responsibility.

“It is imperative to carry out the historic responsibility,” she said.

She also termed the High Court verdict “a landmark”, which had declared illegal the fifth amendment and the military regimes between August 15, 1975 to April 9, 1979.

The HC verdict, which was declared in 2005, was upheld by the Appellatte Division in February this year.

The fifth amendment to the constitution was passed in the parliament in 1979 ratifying all actions of preceding military rulers, including amendments to the constitution, which had been made under martial law regulations and proclamations.

Hasina said the country got the constitution through sacrifice of 30 lakh peoples’ lives and at the cost of 2 lakh mothers’ and sisters’ sanctity.

But the constitution was wounded repeatedly by bayonets of soldiers following the August 15, 1975 blood bath, she added.

Hasina said there is no provision of declaring martial law in the constitution, nor in the army’s act and regulations. But martial law was declared on August 20, 1975.

She also said members of the military had to become victims of the martial law as thousands of officers and soldiers were killed and punished, and a countless number of political leaders and activists were tortured. “We don’t want recurrence of such incidents,” she added.

Meanwhile, the prime minister is likely to give some important directives to her party deputies to assist the government’s constitution amendment move, as she is scheduled to speak at a meeting of AL parliamentary party today.

BNP’S REACTION

The rules of procedure of the parliament does not allow formation of any “All-party Parliamentary Committee”, although section 76 of the constitution allows formation of a special committee, BNP Secretary General Delwar Hossain said at a media briefing at the party’s central office in Nayapaltan prior to the committees formation yesterday.

Urging the ruling party to move away from amending the constitution, he said the consequence will not be good, if the government imposes anything on the people.

He said the Supreme Court may give explanation of a constitutional amendment but it cannot direct to amend the charter. “Only the parliament can amend the constitution, which might be amended considering national interest, not the interest of any party,” he added.

He also criticised ruling AL for not maintaining the protocol of the opposition leader when it send the letter to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia asking her to nominate her party representative in the committee.

The letter should have been sent by the leader or the deputy leader of the House, he said.

In a reply to the letter BNP wanted to know about possible amendments, but the ruling alliance formed the committee in a hurry without answering the questions, he said.

“The committee is being formed hurriedly with an ill motive. Never before a plan for formation of a parliamentary committee was announced before it being planced in the House. What the ruling party did this time, is a first.” he said.

He said no normal person supports military rule, but it was AL which in 1986 gave legitimacy to General Ershad’s military rule.
BackStory

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President of Bangladesh Awami League and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the objectives and aims of the 1972 constitution would be upheld.The Prime Minister made the assertion while making her inaugural speech to the central working committee meeting of Bangladesh Awami League at her official residence Gonobhaban here.

The meeting was organized to finalize the programmes of National Mourning Day on August 15, observe the anniversary of August 21 grenade attack on Awami League rally and discuss the overall political situation in the country.

The Prime Minister presided over the meeting while party General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam moderated it.

Sheikh Hasina said an all-party parliamentary committee will be formed during the current session at the Jatiya Sangsad for amending the constitution in the light of the recent Supreme Court verdict that scrapped the Fifth Amendment.

She said the post `75 military autocratic rulers repeatedly distorted the constitution of the country as they wanted to destroy the spirit of independence, liberation war and democracy to consolidate their grip on power, but the people put up resistance against them time and again.

The Prime Minister said the people of this country with huge expectations voted Awami League to power with a landmark victory in the last general elections. She urged the party leaders and workers to work for strengthening democracy, attaining economic emancipation and development to give due respect to the people’s confidence.

She said the government is working relentlessly for attaining economic emancipation of the people, holding trials of the war criminals and establishing digital Bangladesh as per its election pledges.

Referring to ongoing development activities in all fields, she said 90 percent of the annual development programme (ADP) has been implemented, foreign exchange reserve has shot up to all time high and foreign investment increased in a massive way.
Sheikh Hasina alleged that a conspiracy was hatched to destabilize the government through the BDR mutiny immediately after assuming power. She said a transparent trial of the mutiny has been ensured through a proper investigation into the incident.

She said a total one lakh 22 thousand people were given jobs since assumption of power by the Awami League government. The government is working with a mega plan to make Bangladesh a middle income group country by the year 2021.

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Sources :Japan??s Fast Retailing, the maker of the Uniqlo brand, is to form a joint venture in Bangladesh with Grameen Bank to provide affordable clothes to the country??s poor.

Fast Retailing will become the first Asian company to set up a ??social business?? ? a term given to companies formed to address a social cause and whose profits are ploughed back into the company ? in the region. It will own 99 per cent of the new company withsocial business the other 1 per cent. It will begin operations in September.

Muhammed Yunus, Nobel peace prize-winner and the founder of Grameen Bank, said: ??It [sends] a big message to Japanese companies to use their technology to solve the problems of the people.??

Fast Retailing, whose president, Japanese companies , is Japan??s richest man, joins companies such as Adidas in creating a social business in Bangladesh. It is the first time Grameen participates in a venture that focuses on bringing clothes to the impoverished.

Bangladesh is one of the world??s poorest countries with 36.3 per cent of the population living below the poverty line of $1.25 per day.

However, it has an economic growth rate of 5.6 per cent and is benefiting from a shift out of relatively high-cost production bases, such as southern China.

The Japanese government this year established a new study group with the aim of creating public-private partnerships in developing countries to target middle- and low-income groups as developed country markets stagnate.

The venture, which has a temporary name of Grameen Uniqlo, will sell products such as underwear, blankets, raincoats and school uniforms to families living in poverty at affordable prices ? likely to be about a $1 or less. This will demand the most efficient and low-cost production.

Grameen Uniqlo is planning to employ 1,500 people within three years, the vast majority of whom will be sales people, who will use techniques such as door-to-door selling and education about the importance of sanitation and cleanliness. The venture also aims to nurture entrepreneurs through their sales training and employment.

The venture will benefit from access to Grameen??s 8m borrowers and the use of its well-known brand in Bangladesh.

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Bangladesh’s elite security forces said Monday they had made a major breakthrough in the fight against extortion with a raid on town where nearly every resident was involved in racketeering.
Cracking down on rampant cell phone crimes, Bangladesh’s elite security forces have zeroed in on a village, most of whose residents were found to be involved in racketeering using mobiles, officials said.

The elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officials said they discovered a village in southwestern Rajoir sub-district to which a bulk of such crimes all over the country are traced.

“Astonishingly, most male residents of different ages ranging from 14 to 60 of the Lundhi village appeared to be involved in extortion using mobile phones… our officers during investigations in recent months found most of the extortion suspects hailed from the single village,” Lieutenant Colonel Mamun Mahmud said.

A series of raids on Lundhi, 90 kilometres (60 miles) south of the capital Dhaka and home to 2,000 people, led to 11 arrests, including two ringleaders of gangs using mobile phones to extort money.

“We believe 80 percent of extortion-related threats made over mobile phones in Bangladesh originate from this village,” Rapid Action Battalion officer Colonel Mamum Mahmud told Media.

He said officers were “awestruck” to discover nearly everyone — from students aged 14 to elderly school janitors — was involved in mobile phone extortion.

“During calls, they identify themselves as some notorious criminal and then demand their victim send them money or face the consequences — they’ve conned a huge number of people,” Mamum said.

“It’s a very lucrative business. We have identified at least 20 groups who are involved. They have agents in the capital to collect the extorted money and gather personal information about potential targets,” he said.

Extortion using mobile phone has been a huge problem in Bangladesh since around 2001, when phone companies entered a price war and flooded the market with cheap cell phones, which were given out without proper registration.

Last year, scores of people were arrested for mobile phone extortion but successful prosecutions are rare, police say.

Approached for comments, Awami League lawmaker and Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, who represents a constituency where the village is located, said he too had heard of the village, the home of an estimated 2,000 people.

“Being the MP from the area I too heard about it… but not all the people there, as you said, are involved in the crime,” he said jokingly, but declined to comment further.
A number of suspects having their origin in Lundhi were arrested in the past several weeks from Dhaka as well as the village under a series of raids, he said.

Extortion using mobile phone has been a huge problem in Bangladesh since around 2001, when phone companies entered a price war and flooded the market with cheap cell phones, which were given out without proper registration.

Home Minister Sahara Khatun last week said the government planned to formulate a policy to check the rising incidents of cellphone crimes including extortion and ban its sale to youths under 18.

“We are framing a policy to be enforced in next two months to curb the crimes and misuse of cell phones,” Khatun told reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting also joined by mobile phone operators.

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The World Bank double it financial assistance for Bangladesh to more than $6.0 billion USD over the next four years for poverty reduction.
The World Bank’s Board of Directors Friday endorsed a new Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for Bangladesh proposing 6.1 billion U.S. dollars for the period 2011 to 2014 fiscal years.
A press release of the World Bank Saturday said the new strategy is aimed at supporting the Bangladeshi government’s vision of rapid poverty reduction and middle income country status within the coming decade, as articulated in the Second National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction.

The World Bank Executive Directors commended Bangladesh for a strong track record of over 6 percent economic growth in recent years, as well as sustained poverty reduction and human development over the past two decades.

It said nonetheless, Bangladesh continues to face daunting development challenges, with around 55 million people below the poverty line and two out of five children suffering from chronic malnutrition.

The World Bank said to reduce the population share living in poverty from 40 percent to 15 percent and to reach middle-income country status by 2021, Bangladesh will need to sustain growth of at least 8 percent per annum.

The new Country Assistance Strategy will support Bangladesh’s ambitions by contributing to accelerated, sustainable and inclusive growth, underpinned by stronger governance at central and local levels.

The strategy proposes support for technical analysis of key development issues, as well as record lending for Bangladesh, totaling more than 6 billion U.S. dollars in four years, based on continued strong country performance.

“This new country assistance strategy proposes a doubling of financial support for Bangladesh relative to the 2006-2009 fiscal years strategy,” said Ellen Goldstein, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh.

“To deliver this higher volume of support most effectively, we will work with the Bangladeshi government to shift to larger, more strategic interventions that enhance selectivity and leverage priority reforms and investments,” she said.

About the first priority of accelerating economic growth, she said Bangladesh will need a major increase in infrastructure investment and a more conducive business environment. The World Bank will ramp up investments in infrastructure, including power and gas.

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Paul Octopus’s prediction come true,Now, in Football World Cup Octopus has came into light, just giving forecast regarding finalist of the World Cup Football.

As per Paul Octopus’s prediction, Spain will come in the final match of the World Cup football.
In the FIFA World Cup 2010 semifinals of Spain vs Germany, the Spaniards proved not only that they can make it to the finals, but also showing that Paul the Octopus is the true seer on the World Cup.
A day before the match, Paul the Octopus predicted that Spain will be the team to advance to the World Cup 2010 finals.

SPAIN WIN!!!

Paul Octopus was kept in Oberhausen,s water organism school of West Germany.
It is said that, during this World Cup, whatever forecast was predicted by ‘Paul Octopus’, which have proved its correctness.

The handlers of the psychic octopus at Aquarium Sea Life in Oberhausen encourage Paul to make the predictions by putting mussels into two glass cubes, with each cube having one of the nation’s flags on the front.

The mussel Paul chooses first is taken to be its prediction.

Paul initially went to the Spain-marked container before moving around the tank and then hovered over the German box. But he eventually opted for the European champions.

Paul has become world reknowned, but this good humoured, quirky phenomenon has not been well recieved by everybody.

Following the quarter-final prediction where Paul correctly guessed Argentina would lose to Germany the Argentineans threatened to kill the octopus and put it in a paella.

The newspaper El Dia gave this recipe for anyone daring to capture Paul: “All you need is four normal potatoes, olive oil for taste and a little pepper.”

Argentinan chef Nicolas Bedorrou has suggested on Facebook a far more simplistic and brutal way to cook the octopus.

“We will chase him and put him on some paper. We will then beat him (but correctly!) in order to keep the meat tender and then put it in boiling water.”

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The government yesterday promised to make investment in the cash-strapped power sector more attractive.Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Saturday sought investment from the private investors from home and abroad in the country??s energy and power sector

The assurance came at a conference on “Investment in Power Sector of Bangladesh: Opportunities and Challenges” at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. The government also suggested doubling the price of CNG.

More than 100 potential local and international investors gathered at the hotel to show their interest in Bangladesh government’s call for investment in the power sector.

Addressing the daylong conference, top government executives also assured them of every incentive and the right price if they invest in generating power.

The conference was a follow up of the road shows the government organised in London in 2009 and Singapore and New York this year to attract entrepreneurs from across the world into investing in the power sector.

The Power Division organised the conference, which was the first of its kind in Bangladesh, to reflect the government’s commitment to move forward with the ongoing activities in the power sector.

Speaking at the inaugural session as the chief guest Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said despite many hurdles, the economy of Bangladesh is growing reasonably and there is a huge potential of investment in various sectors, including power.

He said about 40 percent of the country’s power plants are over 40 years old and not in a position to produce at their capacity. “The gas shortage is also causing problem,” he said.

He suggested to double the price of compressed natural gas (CNG) as the present CNG price is one-fourth of liquid fuel. However, he reaffirmed that the government would continue the subsidy to keep electricity within the reach of common people.

“Please do not expect we will double the price, but we will adjust the price in phases,” he said.

“We need huge subsidy to meet the urgent demands by generating electricity with some costly resources,” said the minister.

The government has taken initiatives for setting up rental power plants, which will be very costly, said the finance minister.

“I am sure gas supply will eventually increase with concerted and sustained efforts in exploration, which will help attract more investment in the power sector, and eventually ensure growth of much higher than the present rate.”

He said investors in the power sector have long been sceptical about the government’s ability to pay for purchasing the power they will generate.

Muhith said the government is working to prepare a coal policy to extract the country’s coal deposit for power generation. He hoped that the policy would be finalised by the year.

The finance minister emphasised the need for introducing regional energy trade and said Bangladesh should not have power crisis from mid 2012 as the government ha taken many projects to mitigate the shortage.

“We can easily take the country’s growth rate up to eight percent by quickly solving the power crisis,” he observed.

Chairman of Power Development Board (PDB) SM Alamgir Kabir gave details of the country’s present power situation, the demand and supply gap, and the scope for investment, the government mega plan and financial challenges in generating power.

Giving a year-wise projection of power generation, he said the government has planned to generate about 10,000 megawatts of electricity by 2015 by setting up of power plants in private and public sectors. “The government is promoting private sector investment in Bangladesh,” he added.

Energy adviser to the prime minister Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said all the organisations of the government are making concerted effort to achieve the target. “We are very open to you,” he told the investors.

He invited investors to come forward and take the benefit of investing in the power sector and help meet the huge present and future power demands.

Executive Chairman of the Board of Investment SA Samad said the energy sector needs 24 percent growth if the country’s economy grows at eight percent.

Summit Group Chairman Aziz Khan came up with the drawbacks of re-tender of bidding and delays. He said this costs a lot to the investors of Bangladesh and abroad.

He identified the large difference between cost of electricity and the sale price as a major challenge.

Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Mohammad Shubid Ali Bhuiyan, State Minister for Power Enamul Huq and power secretary Abul Kalam Azad also addressed the inaugural session.

In the first working session titled “Investment Opportunities”, the government executives, investors and representatives of development partners meticulously explained the investment opportunities in power, gas, liquid fuel and transport sectors.

Genting Energy, Daewoo International, Getco Ltd, Sinha Power Generation, Dutch-Bangla Power, Dana Engineerings, Bangla Cat, GBB Power Ltd, Spectra Group, Vito Asia Private Ltd, Cap Asia, New Line Groups and Tek Energy were among about 80 local and foreign companies that took part in the conference.

Different ministries also set up stalls at the conference venue highlighting their activities and the opportunities of investment.

The conference ended with one-to-one meeting between government officials and potential investors.

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A workshop on quality enhancement in higher education was held today at the Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) with participation of vice chancellors, deans and senior professors of different universities.
Professor Nazrul Islam, Chairman of the UGC was present at the workshop as the chief guest while it was chaired by Professor Dr. Atful Hye Shibly, member of the UGC. The workshop was also addressed by Professor Dr Md. Tajul Islam member and Ruknud Deen Ahmed.
Among others, the workshop was attended by Prof Dr. M. Abdus Sobhan, Vice chancellor of Rajshahi University, Prof Dr Md. Saifuddin Shah, Vice chancellor of Khulna University, Prof. Dr Shah-E-Alam, Vice chancellor of Sher- E-Bangla Agriculture University, Prof. Dr Mozaffar Hussain, Vice chancellor of Pabna University, Prof. Dr Nitesh Chandra Debnath, Vice Chancellor of Chittagong Veterinary & Animal Science university, Prof. Dr M Afzal Hossain, Vice chancellor of Haji Danesh Science & Technology University, Prof. Dr Sanjoy Kumar Adhikary, Vice chancellor of Noakhali Science & Technology University, Prof. Dr Syed Giasuddin Ahmed, Vice chancellor of Jatiyo Kabi Kazi Nazrul University, Prof. Dr Syed Sakhawat Hussain, Vice chancellor of Patuakhali Scicence & Technology University, Prof. Dr Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, Vice chancellor of Gono University, Prof. Dr MA Jalil Miah, Vice chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, Prof. Dr Amir Hossain Khan, Vice chancellor of Comilla university.
The UGC chairman in his speech said the pragmatic role of the universities is to meet the challenges in enhancing the quality of higher education.
Mentioning the higher education quality enhancement project (HEQEP) as the first ever highest allocated project, he said, transparency and accountability will be ensured at sub-project selection, evaluation and implementation level.
Mentionable that the HEQEP is a project with an allocation of Taka 681 crore and being implementing by the UGC with the support of the World Bank for a period from 2009 to 2013.
About :
To face the challenges of globalization raising the quality of our higher education to world standard is very important. Bangladesh government has, therefore, taken initiatives to develop the quality of tertiary education. Government plans to build up our university graduates in a manner so that they can compete successfully in the context of international knowledge society.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Education, with the assistance of the World Bank, has undertaken a Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP). The objectives of the project is to improve the quality of teaching-learning and research capabilities of the tertiary education institutions of the country through encouraging both innovation and accountability and by enhancing the technical and institutional capacity of the higher education sector.

The University Grants Commission of Bangladesh is the implementing agency of the project. A HEQEP Unit has been established in UGC to arrange implementation, management and monitoring and evaluation of the activities.

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Sources Bangladesh is going to first ever export of bamboo shoot, especially in the South East Asian countries from the first week of August this year .

The export of bamboo shoot is on the card as successful trial production has started since June 1 following setting up a Treatment and Scientific Processing Plant (TSPL), at a cost of Taka 85 lakh, beside Karnaphuli Tea Estate in Fatikchari upazila.

Project director Mohammad Jashim Uddin told BSS that nearly 450 acres of land was brought under bamboo shoot cultivation this year in Fatikchari and three other hill districts.

The production is expected to be in full swing from July this year. In this connection nearly five metric tons of bamboo shoot will be processed by the TSPL in first three months and the production will be increased after expanding the processing centers in December next, Jashim said.

As huge demand of Molly Bamboo in China, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia for its deliciousness, we expect to export the bamboo shoot at six US dollar per kilogram, he added. The project director said the export growth rate is increasing to 20 percent every year. Bangladesh has a huge potential to utilize the Chinese technology and earn huge foreign currency like readymade garments and shrimp sectors, he added.

Mohammad Jashim Uddin, Project Director and head of the agriculture research division of Forest research Institute in Chittagong said China produces 2500 items of goods from bamboo including food, medicine and cosmetic and exports it to different countries including Japan and the United States. In this connection an agreement was signed between the Forest Research Institute in Chittagong and the International Center for Bamboo and Rattan (ICBR) of China in September 2008.

Under the agreement ICBR transferred the technology in bamboo shoot production, processing and marketing from China to Bangladesh free of cost. The ICBR has also set up a TSPL over three acres of land in Fatikchhari beside the tea estate of Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BARC), according to the agreement.

A total of Taka 1,37 crore was received as Common Fund for Commodity (CFC) by Bangladesh for bamboo cultivation project from International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBER), an organization of worldwide aiding for Bamboo production through International Center for Bamboo and Rattan (ICBR), an organization of Bamboo and Rattan production aiding in China.

The project tenure is three years from January 2008 to December 2010.

After receiving the fund, the Forest Research Institute in Chittagong had started work to attract the farmers and big entrepreneurs to cultivate bamboo shoots.

A huge number of entrepreneurs and individuals had started cultivation of bamboo shoots in three hill districts and Fatikachhri upazila.

The cultivation will be doubled in next year, he said adding that the BFRI had organized four training programmes for the individuals and farmers of bamboo shoots in the last fiscal year.

The authorities also organized a training programme for the big entrepreneurs like BRAC and the officials of Forest Research Institute last month and three motivation programmes for the farmers and entrepreneurs in three hill district during the last six months for introducing the sectors and conveying the prospects about the cultivation of bamboo shoots.

The main objective of the project is to promote the grassroots level farmers about the cultivation and marketing of bamboo shoots and reduction poverty through creating employment, the project director said.

He said that they were contemplating to import different kinds of high yielding variety bamboo sapling from China from August next.

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