Source : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government plans to procure fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, helicopters and other armament to strengthen the armed forces.

She told Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) personnel Wednesday that the government had drawn up plans and set the process, including budget allocation, in motion.

‘Budget allocation for the Bangladesh Air Force under the present fiscal year is the biggest amount in the history of the force,’ she said.

She witnessed the BAF’s annual exercise WINTEX-2010 at the main fighter base at Kurmitola in Dhaka Cantonment, United News of Bangladesh (UNB) reported.

‘The present government will take all possible measures to build up the country’s air force as an up-to-date force by arming it with modern technology-based war weapons,’ New Age newspaper quoted her as saying.

Sheikh Hasina said her government was firmly committed to building a modern, knowledge-based air force that excelled in training and technology in order to ensure security of the country and its people.

A development plan had been approved for constructing infrastructure at Cox’s Bazar, located in the southeastern region bordering Myanmar, for smooth operation of fighter jets and transport aircraft to ensure security of economic activities in the maritime territories and relief operation in remote areas, Hasina said.

Defence purchases in Bangladesh have been mired in political controversy.

A court Monday acquitted Hasina of corruption charges in the purchase of eight MiG-29s that were bought during her earlier tenure as the prime minister.

She told the airforce personnel that the government of her political rival, Begum Khaleda Zia (2001-06) had kept the aircraft unused for long ‘just to get her in trouble’, the newspaper said.

A frigate purchased from South Korea for the Bangladesh Navy was also kept in mothballs for five years. It was re-commissioned in 2007.

The security analyst

“WHO has sent three teams of experts to Bangladesh last year and gave a roadmap to the Bangladeshi government how to develop vaccines locally,” WHO Director General Margaret Chan said on Tuesday before she leave Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka after a two- days official visit, national news agency BSS reported.

“You have to meet international requirement and provide quality assurance before you think of exporting vaccine made in Bangladesh, “ Chan said, adding that Bangladesh has every facilities to develop vaccines. However, she said the country would be required high investments for it and WHO would try to woo international agencies to fund for such projects.

The WHO chief executive said that the A/H1N1 vaccines would reach Bangladesh by this month under WHO’s technical supports program, but warned Bangladesh that it should not be complacent against A/H1N1 flu virus. DHAKA, Wednesday, Xinhua

Addressing a joint press conference with Border Security Force Chief Raman Srivastav here, the Bangladesh Rifles Chief Major General Mohammad Mainul Islam said: “Our Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has declared that Bangladesh land will not be allowed to use for terrorist activities. We are implementing these words on ground.”

When questioned about the reports of terrorist camps operating in Bangladesh, Maj.Gen Mainul Islam said: “My government has a big responsibility to ensure the security and development of the people. We have no time and space to harbor terrorists on our land. We have already learnt lessons from others mistakes.”

“There are certain grey areas where the presence of the BDR is very low. We are in the process of modernizing the force and will increase our presence in the grey areas to ensure no terror group can operate from our land,” he added.

The four-day-long BSF-BDR conference agreed to prevent criminal elements from misusing dark patches of borders.

“We have come across incidents of cattle smuggling, movement of people along the border especially during darkness. We have discussed the matter in detail in this meeting and action will be initiated,” Srivastav said.

“On the Indian side there are some parts along the border left unfenced, we are taking action and it will be fence soon. And we have also decided to put flood light along the border for better observation and to prevent criminals from taking advantage of darkness,” he added.

Srivastav further said that the question of “Zero” line is still pending, and it has been discussed during the Home Secretary level talks also.

Commenting on cross border firing, Maj Gen Mainul Islam said: “We should not be worried about such incidents. It’s a matter of concern to both sides. We have discussed the matter and will ensure that no innocent people will be killed.”

“We have a history of movement of people and cattle trafficking during darkness, will ensure to limit such activities along border,” he added.

Srivastav said the BSF would also ensure that no innocent is killed by firing.

“We have no right to shoot and kill innocent people. We will ensure that such incidents do not to occur in the future,” Srivastav said.

The India-Bangladesh Border Coordination Conference is held twice a year, once in Dhaka and the other in New Delhi.

The conference also discussed measures to be adopted to develop force-to-force relations.

The BSF is assisting the BDR in its modernizing process.

The nearly 4,096 kilometers-long India-Bangladesh border is one of the most difficult to patrol owing to reasons of topography, riverine patches, dense forested hills, agricultural lands and human settlements.

The porous nature of the border has led to numerous trans-border problems including infiltration, smuggling, of arms and drugs, contraband goods, illegal movement of persons, and crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, cattle lifting, extortion etc

Nagar Bhaban….The city government…….a vision decleared by Mayor Mohiuddin. The symbol of traditional andarkilla the Nagar Bhawan will have 4 killa to take the pride of the heritage of ctg city. The opening ceremony was held on 11 March 2010 & the handover will be 2015.

The total Floor space is about 3,33,3000 sft. It will be 22 storied building which will have 3 floor  car parking basement . There will also have the conference Hall,  food court, Bank, Corporate office space, garden, fountain, helipad etc.with fire fighting and Earth quake resistance technology.

The Bawan will completed by 2 Phase: Project Value : 48,85,56019.22tk

1st phase : 10cr tk will complete by 10-50-2011.and finalised 2 nd phase by 2015

Arcitect :Shohel Sakur .Project Value : 48,85,

In one sense it will change the full impression of chittagong city .Mayor also expressed  as it is going to represented as a symbol of city government.

The opening ceremony was held at CITY CORPORATION – area. & the time was 11.30 a.m. The ceremony was opened by A.B.M. Mohiuddin Chowdhury. Mr. A.B.M. Mohiuddin Chowdhury also keep a valuable speech about the Nagar Bhawan Vhitti Sthapon.  He said that every good works got criticism but we have to over come it & have to develop it day by day. He said “we are making city governance —not only building.”

Many people were present there. Present CDA Chairman Abdus Salam, Ex CDA chairman Jia Uddin, Police commissioner Muniruzzaman, Ctg DIG, IG, Government PP MD. Kamaluddin, The chairman of IUB, Mr. Moshiur Rahman -Editor Gurumia.com  ,Chairman-Equity Properties –Dr Ainul Islam, Managing Director ,RAHAT Properties ,COO of Mr. Shakil Md. Israt Hossain & many other important people of Chittagong.

The communications ministry in cooperation with a donor group led by the World Bank almost completed chalking out bidders’ pre-qualification criteria for building the bridge that will have both road and rail ways linking the south-western region of the country with the east.

Earlier this week, WB appreciated the government, in particular the communications ministry, and Bangladesh Bridge Authority for moving expeditiously with the preparatory work for the tender, and reiterated the donors’ firm commitment for providing assistance.

Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain told The Daily Star on Monday that the document containing bidders’ pre-qualification criteria will be sent to WB for final clearance within this week.

“We are hoping to float the tender any time now,” he said.

The World Bank is now waiting for receiving the minutes of a meeting between the donors and the finance ministry where key decisions were taken regarding the design of the bridge, and the procurement methods for its construction.

The decisions include that the proposed Padma Bridge will comprise rail and road ways; the rail track and related viaducts, and other facilities will be built linked with a project for extending the railway to the country’s southwest region; and the contract for constructing the main bridge will be awarded through a single international competitive bidding.

There will be two stages to the bidding process, with a limited first stage based on the design prepared by design consultants.

According to the communications ministry’s proposal, the bridge will be 6.15 km long, and will be constructed by December 2013. The bridge will connect 19 districts of the south-western part of the country with the eastern part including the capital, and it will be linked with the Asian Highway.

Of the $2.4 billion financing, different development partners have agreed to co-finance about $2.2 billion, of which the WB will provide $1.2 billion, Asian Development Bank $550 million, Islamic Development Bank $130 million, Japan International Cooperation Agency $300 million, and Abudhabi Fund $31.4 million.

Back story Thursday, 25 June 2009 )6.15km Long Padma Bridge Suggested
Consultants have suggested a 6.15 km-long bridge over the river Padma rather than a 5.58 km one proposed earlier in a feasibility report.

Engineering group Maunsell AECOM in its primary design for the Padma bridge proposed a two-level ’superstructure’ with traffic communication in the upper level and railway in the lower.

The group based in the Asia-Pacific region presented the Interim Scheme Design Report on Thursday. It was chosen as the consultants for the long-awaited Padma bridge on Jan 19 this year.

Construction of the bridge would cost more than US $ 800 million, according to the consultants.

It said a two-level bridge would require 150-metre wide spans (columns) which would push the total cost to $ 816 million while a single-level bridge with traffic and railway communication would need 180-metre wide span.

“In that case the cost would be around $ 887 million,” said Ken Wheeler, project manager for Maunsell AECOM.

The bridge, with a proposed 13.6 km approach road, would also have provisions for gas transmission lines, he added.

Communication minister Syed Abul Hossain, speaking as the chief guest, slammed the previous BNP-led government for delaying the project.

“Prime minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation [of the bridge] at the Mawa point at the end of her last (1996-2001) term.”

He urged local and foreign expert panels to provide feedbacks on the report quickly to finalise the scheme design by next month.

Hossain affirmed the government’s ’strong commitment’ to finish the bridge by 2013. However, on Wednesday, Hossain that completion of the Padma bridge at Mawa, 50 km south of Dhaka, may not be possible within the tenure of the current administration.

The Awami League-led government is expected to leave office in December 2013.

“The project would be delayed if tenders for construction work had to wait until after loan agreements have been secured with donors,” he told reporters after a farewell with departing World Bank country director Xian Zhu.

STOP
BRAIN-DRAIN !!

“After World War II, Japan was an aid recipient country…Japan would be really happy to see Bangladesh’s graduation from foreign aid-dependence, achieving further prosperity with a poverty-free society in the near future,” Japanese Ambassador Tamotsu Shinotsuka told a seminar on “Contribution of Japan for Development of Bangladesh.”

JICA Chief Representative Takao Toda, JETRO Representative Takashi Suzuki, former Vice-Chancellor of BUET Prof Dr. Anwarul Azim and Chairman of Bangladesh-Japan Friendship Association Aminul Islam Khan Bulbul also spoke at the seminar held at the National Press Club.

Explaining his 5-point suggestion, the Ambassador felt that more skilled workers are needed in Bangladesh to achieve further industrialization. He said vocational training and secondary education should be prioritized to enhance quality education in Maths and Science subjects in primary schools being conducted by JICA.

On his second point, Shinotsuka said the Bangladesh government should make a bold decision in choosing the core industries after huge success in RMG. “Moreover, once the policy is set, it should be pursued consistently even when the government changes. It has remained as a major problem in Bangladesh,” he observed.

Citing examples from Japan, the Ambassador said investment is needed in basic infrastructure like transportation, telecommunications and industrial equipment He said the effect of investment in infrastructure on economic development is very telling, as infrastructure strengthens business opportunities by increasing efficiency in production and transportation.

Stressing the need for talented workers, he said both Japan and Bangladesh have been developed on the strength of labor-intensive industries, and only skilled and talented workers ensure further development For Bangladesh, he said nurturing more labor-intensive industries could be the engine for massive economic growth.

Once again referring to China, the Ambassador hoped young and talented Bangladeshis abroad would come back in the future to contribute to the prosperity of their own nation.

On current scarcity of gas and electricity as a major concern for Bangladesh, he said that in Bangladesh, coal could be considered as an alternative energy fuel alongside hydropower. However, he said cooperation with India and other neighboring countries would be important in this respect

On bilateral trade and investment, the Ambassador said that though Bangladesh’s exports to Japan have been increasing after 2001, if Bangladeshi products cannot meet the requisite quality expected by Japanese consumers, its exports to Japan would not keep increasing.

Bangladesh’s annual imports from Japan are worth around USD 550 to USD 690 million, while exports amount to around USD 96-150 million only.

Around 75 percent of Bangladeshi exports go to the US, Canada and European countries, whereas exports to Japan accounted for only 1.4 percent of Bangladesh’s total exports in 2008.

Shinotsuka said Chinese companies made strenuous efforts to meet the standards of the Japanese market Nevertheless, he noted, as the labor cost of Chinese products has increased in recent years and Chinese companies seem to be losing their competitive advantage in the RMG sector, Bangladesh has an opportunity to take advantage of this trend.

Calling for the instilment of an investment-friendly environment here, the Ambassador hoped that the government would prioritize improving the business environment, so businesses could successfully nurture competitiveness of export products.

The overall sum of Japanese investment in Bangladesh registered with the Board of Investment is USD 1,207 million on a cumulative basis, which is the 6th largest overseas investment in the country. Besides that, the overall sum of Japanese investment in BEPZA is USD 171 million.

On Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) to Bangladesh, the Ambassador said the Japanese government has this year pledged a new Yen Loan Package of US$ 433 million to Bangladesh. The package includes four concrete projects relating to construction of a new power plant, improvement of electricity distribution in rural areas, improvement of roads and bridges in the South-West region of the country and construction of part of a ring road in Chitagong.

“One of the fundamental principles of Japan’s development cooperation is to support the ownership and self-help efforts of Bangladesh,” the Ambassador said, adding that his country will continue to lend Bangladesh support with the aim of implementing Bangladesh’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and achieving the Millenium Development Goals.

Cyclone Aila, which tore through southern Bangladesh in May last year, killed 300 people and destroyed 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) of roads and river embankments, which prevent the flooding of low-lying areas.

The breached embankments led to villages and fields being flooded, forcing 200,000 people from their homes, “many of whom are still living in appalling conditions on strips of raised land,” the EU said in a statement.

“If the embankments aren’t repaired urgently, the humanitarian consequences will be catastrophic,” added Stefan Frowein, the head of EU?s delegation to Bangladesh.

Since the 1960s, the government has built up a network of embankments along rivers and canals in southern Bangladesh to prevent salt water flooding low-lying areas, allowing millions of people to cultivate the land.

The statement from the EU came less than a month after 18 charities criticised the government for not building the embankments quickly, forcing the victims to remain homeless indefinitely.

The government maintains that reconstruction will be finished before the rainy season begins in May.

More :

Cyclone Sidr powered through Bangladesh last 15th November 2007, devastating the southern coast and directly affecting around 3.1 million people.
More than 3,000 people have been reported dead and over 1,000 are missing, but numbers are rising fast as the full effects of the cyclone become clear.
Most deaths were caused by the 15ft tidal surge that plunged into coastal villages and towns, filling the air with debris and flattening bamboo and tin houses.
Vicious 250kph winds tore down homes, schools and power lines. Roads and bridges were also seriously damaged by the cyclone….>>>>>>more

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) announced today a definitive agreement to acquire one of American International Group, Inc.’s (AIG) international subsidiaries, American Life Insurance Company (ALICO), for approximately $15.5 billion. The consideration will consist of $6.8 billion in cash and approximately $8.7 billion in MetLife equity securities, subject to closing adjustments.

Specifically, the equity security portion of the purchase price will consist of 78.2 million shares of MetLife common stock valued at $3.0 billion, 6.9 million shares of contingent convertible preferred stock valued at $2.7 billion and 40 million equity units having an aggregate stated value of $3.0 billion.  The values of the common stock and the preferred stock are based upon the closing price of MetLife’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, March 5, 2010.  Finally, MetLife expects the cash portion of the purchase price to be financed through a combination of the issuances of senior debt and MetLife common stock as well as cash on hand.

The acquisition of ALICO, one of the world’s largest and most diversified international life insurance companies, accelerates MetLife’s global growth strategy.  Upon completion of the transaction, MetLife, which is already the largest life insurer in the United States and Mexico, will become a leading competitor in Japan, the world’s second-largest life insurance market.  The transaction materially advances MetLife’s position in Europe.  It also moves MetLife into a top five market position in many high growth emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.
 
“With this acquisition, MetLife is delivering on its strategy to accelerate international expansion as a powerful growth engine for the company,” said C. Robert Henrikson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of MetLife, Inc.  “Today’s transaction will bring together two profitable, complementary, well-established businesses with superb track records and strong long-term growth potential.  We expect it will increase MetLife’s return on equity and be accretive to operating earnings.”

MetLife expects the transaction to increase its 2011 operating earnings per share by approximately $0.45 to $0.55 per share, and enable the company to increase its estimated 2011 year-end operating return on equity by 140 to 160 basis points.  Operating earnings per share does not include transition and other one-time expenses estimated at $0.12 per share.

MetLife and AIG will enter into an Investor Rights Agreement which will, among other things, require AIG to hold specified amounts of MetLife securities for certain designated periods of time.  Certain lock-ups will begin to expire nine months after closing.  The ALICO special purpose vehicle intends to monetize the MetLife securities over time, subject to market conditions, following the lapse of agreed-upon minimum holding periods.

The sale agreement includes all of Alico, including the company’s approximate 60,000 points of distribution, agents, brokers and financial institutions, 12,500 employees across more than 50 countries and 20 million customers worldwide.

MetLife Inc is the largest life insurer in the US and Mexico. The deal will give MetLife a larger presence in Japan as well as high-growth markets in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, according to MetLife officials.

The transaction has already been approved by the boards of directors of both MetLife and AIG, and is expected to close by the end of 2010. The transaction is subject to certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Both AIG and MetLife are based in New York, USA.

Alico is by far the largest life insurer in Bangladesh. The company’s market share was 20.7 percent in 2008 and it has nearly 10 lakh policy owners in Bangladesh.

Alico Bangladesh earned premiums worth Tk 898 crore in 2009, up from Tk 811 crore a year ago.

“The move will bring together two profitable and well-established businesses with superb track records and strong long-term growth potential,” said the Alico Bangladesh’s COO.
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In a report released on Tuesday, The Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), said that tens of thousands of Rohingya, a Burmese Muslim ethnic group, had been forced into makeshift camps, facing starvation.

“It is unconscionable to leave this stateless and starving,” said Richard Sollom, the PHR director of research and investigations.

“Haiti after the recent earthquake had an acute child malnutrition rate of six percent, in the Rohingya camps the rate is 18.2 percent – three times higher but with no aid,” Sollom said.

‘Violating human rights’

Up to 300,000 Rohingyas, who have been described by the United Nations as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world, have fled across the border to Bangladesh since the 1970’s.

The report said the country’s authorities were waging a campaign of “arbitrary arrest, illegal expulsion, and forced internment”.

The police are “systematically rounding up, jailing or summarily expelling these unregistered refugees across the Myanmar border in flagrant violation of the country’s human rights obligations,” it said.

‘Baseless and malicious’

The report follows two other reports: one by Arakan Project, a lobby group, and another by Doctors Without Borders, a humanitarian NGO, which also criticised the crackdown.

The Bangladeshi government has dismissed the accusations as “baseless and malicious”.

It views the Rohingya as elligal immigrants and maintains they must be repatriated.

“We are arresting illegal Rohingya and pushing them back over the border. It is an ongoing operation,” said Rafiqul Islam, a Bangladeshi police chief.
Counter Part :
The report, “Stateless and Starving: Persecuted Rohingya Flee Burma and Starve in Bangladesh,” also called the makeshift camps for unregistered refugees “open-air prisons” where children face severe malnutrition due to a lack of food aid and restricted movement outside of camps.

“The government of Bangladesh is absolutely ignoring it. They are sweeping it under the rug,” said Richard Sollom, director of research and investigation for the group based in Cambridge, Mass. “Basically, it’s the policy of the government that they simply want (the refugees) to disappear.”

In addition, Sollom said Bangladesh authorities are preventing outside humanitarian aid to get to the refugees.

Abdul Momen, Bangladesh’s representative in the United Nations, called that charge “totally false” and said government officials just have to make sure that any aid isn’t coming from terrorist groups.

“Bangladesh always stands by human rights,” said Momen. “(But) we are the victims. The Burmese people have been kicked out of their country and we gave them shelter. We are an impoverished country, and in spite of that, we tried to help them as best we can.”

Momen said the influx of refugees in Bangladesh is putting pressure on the country, roughly the size of Massachusetts, since it is already overcrowded with a population of 160 million.

Momen said there may be one or two “sporadic incidents,” but denied that there was widespread abuse.

“We are trying our best to keep them in good humor,” said Momen.

Last weekend, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni called for the repatriation of Burmese refugees back to Myanmar. She called media reports about the ill treatment of refugees “baseless and malicious.”

However, several international aid groups have protested against the treatment of the Rohingya in Bangladesh. Medecins Sans Frontieres-Holland said last month that a violent crackdown against Rohingya is forcing thousands to flee their homes, fearing local authorities and citizens who are trying to force them to go back to Myanmar.

“MSF is treating victims of beatings and harassment, including people the Bangladeshi Border Force has attempted to forcibly repatriate to Myanmar. As camp numbers continue to swell, conditions pose a significant risk to people’s health,” the group said then in a statement.

A Birmingham, U.K.-based aid group, Islamic Relief Worldwide, also pulled out of a makeshift refugee camp in southern Bangladesh on Feb. 28 because the government did not permit them to work with nearly 13,000 unregistered Rohingyas receiving services there, according to the U.N.’s humanitarian news service, IRIN.

The Burmese refugee population in Bangladesh is estimated between 200,000 to 400,000, according to Physicians for Human Rights. The Bangladesh government and the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees jointly administer two recognized camps with 28,000 registered refugees.

The group issued its report after Sollom and a team visited camps last month in Bangladesh and surveyed 100 refugee families.

The government of Bangladesh needs “to cease immediately from arbitrary arresting and forcibly expelling legitimate refugees and they do not have an administrative framework for determining refugee status as do most countries,” Sollom said.

“They need to allow the international humanitarian organizations full and unobstructed access because they are obstructing access right now,” Sollom said.

Physicians for Human Rights, founded in 1986, mobilizes health professionals to research conditions in war zones, U.S. prisons, immigration detention centers and others, according to its Web site. The group pushes policymakers to do something if they find unhealthy conditions.

The two girls and six boys, aged between 10 and 12, were treated for bruises to their arms and backs in the town of Feni.

Police said they were investigating complaints against teacher Ratna Roy lodged by the children’s guardians and parents.

Teachers in Bangladesh often resort to physical punishment, such as caning and slapping, to discipline pupils despite a 1995 government order banning it.

Many parents condone the practice and it is unusual for police to investigate such complaints.

A Unicef study last year found that one out of 10 school children in Bangladesh suffer physical punishment from teachers.