Dhaka Elevated Expressway is going to be practicale!!! through receiving the proposal from local and foreign companies Dhaka Elevated Expressway project is blooming to reality soon.

Ministry of Communications of Present govment initiated Dhaka Elevated Expressway of 32km . Through cabinet meeting held 17 june 2009 passed the proposal of the project considering as Public Private Partnership (PPP) project. in the mean time the ministry took all the prework to develop the project in reality.

In part of this project development 20-21  November 2009 published through newspaper for Pre-qualification Statement from the interested parties to submit proposal . As per decision 1st called last date was marked till 22 February2010 next it was marked till 4 th March 2010.

Today till 4th March 2010,  9 companies have submitted their proposal .Companies are :

          Soma Enterprise Ltd. (India), Sino-Global (USA), AR Track Hawai Rocket Rahmat (Bangladesh), Italian-Thai Development Public Coampany Ltd., (Italy-Thailand), Sikder Real Estate-KCC JV Consortium (Korea-Bangladesh), Gammon Infrastruture Projects Ltd-Bouygus Travaux Publics SA Consortium (India-France), BPHB-BCC JV (Malaysia-Bangladesh),M/S. Simplex Infrastructures Ltd ,M/S. Sri Infrastructure Finance Ltd (India) , China Railway International Ltd., (China)

Asia forms the crossroads of success or failure for Barack Obama’s grandest foreign policy designs. This impression has crystallized over a year in which the president has shown himself indifferent to Europe, sentimental and somewhat conflicted about Africa, perplexed by the Middle East and largely oblivious to Latin America.
Obama’s choices about China, India, Japan and Pakistan loom at least as large as the urgent challenges of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The president has outlined the need for the United States to shed burdens abroad to help repair the badly damaged American economy. That means that Obama must settle discarded U.S. burdens — and power — across a range of international organizations in which Asian nations are becoming increasingly influential.

The president consigned the Group of Eight industrial countries to leadership oblivion in his recent State of the Union message, omitting any mention of it while singling out the G-20 forum of developed and developing nations. This was no oversight: His administration hopes to shift climate change negotiations out of the unmanageable U.N. format that doomed the Copenhagen summit in December and place these talks in the G-20 process, according to U.S. officials.

Asia’s giants, India and China, present differing and opposed models of international cooperation. A G-20 world needs at its center a dynamic U.S.-Indian relationship to help bridge that organization’s divides between haves and have-nots and their different political systems. But here in New Delhi, Indian officials increasingly fear that the Obama team does not see it that way.

Indians are flattered that the only state dinner Obama hosted last year was given for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whose remarkable intelligence and gracious manner would make him a welcome guest anywhere. But they also detect an air of ambivalence blowing their way from Washington — and are reacting by hedging against a quick U.S. pullout from Afghanistan that would bring greater U.S. reliance on China and Pakistan, at India’s expense.

Romanced by the Bush administration to balance China’s inexorable rise in military and economic power, India finds itself out of sync with the Obama administration on some key issues. There is no open conflict. But neither is there the air of excitement and innovation about the U.S. relationship that I found on my last trip here 18 months ago.

Since then, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has explicitly rejected balance-of-power politics as a relic of the past. Yet India, Japan and other Asian states fear that without a supportive U.S. hand on the scales, they will be swamped by China’s growing military capabilities and its increasingly aggressive, and effective, diplomacy.

The somewhat fanciful notion of a G-2 directorate in which the United States and China collude to determine global economic and political direction is increasingly colliding with reality. Tensions over Taiwan, trade and Tibet make the G-2 unworkable, as recent events have again shown. But the specter lingers for Asians as well as Europeans that Obama will be tempted to try — even though a failed G-2 would be the worst possible outcome for everyone.

“The G-2 carries the implication that the United States would leave Asia to China to run,” says B.J. Panda, a rising young political star here. Adds another Indian strategist: “We have to balance the Chinese, irrespective of what the U.S. and others do.”

Obama’s emphasis on setting an initial date for withdrawal from Afghanistan in his Dec. 1 policy speech, even as he sent additional U.S. troops, stirred doubt here about U.S. strategic patience. So have the frequent U.S. military visits to and overblown praise for Pakistan’s army leadership, despite credible evidence of high-level Pakistani involvement in cross-border terrorism directed at India.

The dominant impression from three days of informal conversations organized here by the Aspen Strategy Group with Indian officials and analysts is that Pakistan has become a second-tier problem for India, even as it increasingly preoccupies Washington. What one Indian analyst described as “Obama’s nuclear alarmism” also gives Pakistan increased leverage over Washington.

India has recently moved troops away from the Pakistan frontier while increasing deployments into border areas that China is claiming in pugnacious and offensive rhetoric. In a break with its past opposition to foreign bases in the region, India has secured military transit and stationing rights at an airbase in Tajikistan. And Singh’s government lavishly welcomed Japan’s new prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, on a recent three-day visit that included publicity about plans for joint military maneuvers in the Indian Ocean.

These are clear signs of Indian hedging: seeking allies for worst-case scenarios while accommodating China on economic matters. The Obama administration’s failure to reaffirm clearly that India’s rise is in U.S. strategic interests has contributed to this hedging. That is a mistake the president should quickly correct, in the interests of his own vision of a new world order centered on the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Obama, Dalai Lama meeting could ‘irritate China very much’
Despite strong objections from the Chinese government, President Obama will meet the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, at the White House on Thursday.

The meeting has the potential to further complicate Sino-U.S. tensions, rising in recent months.

China has warned that it will certainly damage ties to Washington.

“It will seriously undermine the Sino-U.S. political relations,” Zhu Weiqun, a senior Communist Party leader in charge of ethnic and religious affairs, said recently. “We will take corresponding action to make relevant countries see their mistakes.”

The Dalai Lama has said he favors genuine autonomy for Tibetans, not independence for Tibet. Beijing regards the Nobel Peace Prize laureate as a dangerous “separatist,” a politician who wishes to sever Tibet from China.

Obama did not meet with the Dalai Lama when the latter visited Washington last fall, making it the first time since 1991 that such a meeting did not occur. Ahead of a summit with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Obama persuaded Tibetan representatives back then to postpone the meeting with the Dalai Lama.

Now, the meeting will take place as several prickly issues have come between Washington and Beijing including trade disputes; a recent U.S. arm sales deal for Taiwan, which China considers an illegitimate breakaway province; and a censorship row over Internet search engine Google Inc.

“It’s going to be another event in the recent, one has to say, downward spiral in U.S.-China relations,” said China scholar David Shambaugh.

Obama’s meeting is also troublesome for the Chinese for one other important reason, Shambaugh said.

“He could have met him as a spiritual leader in a neutral place like a church,” he said. “But he is going to receive him in the White House, and that is a political act. And that is going to irritate China very much.”

The Dalai Lama also is scheduled to meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the State Department.

Some analysts said the Chinese could retaliate by cutting off political exchanges as they did after the Dalai Lama met with the heads of state of France and Germany. And Hu could turn down an invitation to visit Washington in April.

Neither China nor the United States can afford strained relations, said Douglas Paal, a diplomat and investment banker who has served as a presidential advisor on China.

“We both need each other,” he said. “We need each other for a number of international security issues — to deal with the global climate crisis, to deal with the global financial crisis.”

For years, ships from other countries, laden with oil, machinery, clothes and cargo, sped past this small town near India as part of the world’s brisk trade with China.

China is investing millions to turn the fishing hamlet of Hambantota in Sri Lanka into a booming new port, furthering an ambitious trading strategy in South Asia that is reshaping the region and forcing India to rethink relations with its neighbours.

As trade in the region grows more lucrative, China has been developing port facilities in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, and it is planning to build railroad lines in Nepal. These projects, analysts say, are part of a concerted effort by Chinese leaders and companies to open and expand markets for their goods and services in a part of Asia that has lagged behind the rest of the continent in trade and economic development.

But these initiatives are irking India, whose government worries that China is expanding its sphere of regional influence by surrounding India with a “string of pearls” that could eventually undermine India’s pre-eminence and potentially rise to an economic and security threat.

“There is a method in the madness in terms of where they are locating their ports and staging points,” Kanwal Sibal, a former Indian foreign secretary who is now a member of the government’s National Security Advisory Board, said of China. “This kind of effort is aimed at counterbalancing and undermining India’s natural influence in these areas.”

India and China, the world’s two fastest-growing economies, have a history of tense relations. They share a contested Himalayan border over which they fought a war in 1962. India has given shelter to the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet as China exerted control over it. And China has close military ties with Pakistan, with which India has fought three wars.

But the two countries also do an increasingly booming business with each other. China recently became India’s largest trading partner, and both have worked together to advance similar positions in global trade and climate change negotiations.

CHINA’S INROADS WITH INDIA’S NEIGHBOURS

As recently as the 1990s, China and India’s trade with four South Asian nations – Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan – was roughly equal. But over the last decade, China has outpaced India.

For China, these countries provide both new markets and alternative routes to the Indian Ocean, which its ships now reach through the Strait of Malacca. India, for its part, needs to improve economic ties with its neighbours to broaden its growth and to help foster peace in the region.

Some of the shift in trade toward China comes from heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. But China has also made inroads in nations that have been more friendly with India, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

India has had some success in establishing closer ties with Sri Lanka, with which it has a strong bilateral trade agreement. But China has become a partner of choice for big projects here like the Hambantota port. China’s Export-Import Bank is financing 85 per cent of the cost of the US$1 billion ($1.4 billion) project, and China Harbour Engineering is building it.

CHINA OFFERS THE BEST TERMS … AND NO STRINGS ATTACHED

President Mahinda Rajapakse has said he offered the Hambantota port project first to India, but officials there turned it down. In an interview, Mr Jaliya Wickramasuriya, Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the United States, said the country looked for investors around the world – “We don’t have favourites” – but China offered the best terms.

Sri Lanka’s The Sunday Times recently estimated that China was involved in projects totalling US$6 billion.

Mr Harsha de Silva, a prominent economist and adviser to the main opposition party, said the Sri Lankan government appeared to prefer awarding projects to China because it did not impose “conditions for reform, transparency and competitive bidding” that would be part of contracts with countries like India and the US.

Mr Jerry Lou, Morgan Stanley’s China strategist, said China is winning big projects because its companies run “at very high efficiency and at the lowest costs”. In 10 years, Chinese companies have become the biggest suppliers to ports of cranes used to move shipping containers, displacing South Korean and Japanese companies, he said.

“China is a game-changer, rather than a new player in the world’s construction industry.”

Evaded import duties to the value of 50 million Euros are to be recovered following three through investigations.

Into importations of textiles that the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has recently concluded. The products, in particular jeans and t-shirts, originated in the far-east, mainly China, but were introduced into the EU with forged documents showing Bangladesh as their country of origin.

During the investigations, thousands of documents, such as certificates of origin, bills of lading, customs export documents, delivery receipts and invoices presented to customs in EU Member States and to the competent Bangladesh authorities, the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), were found to be forged by third parties. The fraudsters aimed to evade EU import duties on textile consignments originating in the far-east, mainly in the PR of China. Forged or unduly obtained certificates of origin (Form A) falsely showing Bangladesh as the country of origin gave the importers of the textiles, in particular t-shirts and jeans, unrestricted and duty-free access to the European markets.

Co-ordinated investigations of the EU Member States’ authorities, together with OLAF and the Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau, uncovered the scheme that was run at the expense of the EU taxpayer. Following the results of three verification missions of administrative cooperation to Bangladesh in 2007, 2008 and 2009, OLAF together with the EU Member States concerned have established a customs debt of around 50 million Euros. For this amount, recovery orders to the importers will be issued by the customs administrations in almost all EU Member States.

Investigations in several Member States and follow-up activities such as court proceedings are still ongoing.

Within the framework of these investigations, the Commission also published a notice to importers on 15 February 2008 informing the public and economic operators concerned of the serious doubts which existed in relation to importations of textiles allegedly originating in Bangladesh. By this means, OLAF and the Commission were able to raise the awareness of economic operators and to prevent further loss to the EU taxpayer.

The Confucius Institute in Bangladesh has contributed a lot to building strong relationships between people of China and Bangladesh through language teaching, said Professor Jiang Yinlian, Chinese Director of the Institute. In an exclusive interview with Xinhua recently, Jiang said, “Learning language is the best way of building strong relationship and minimizing gap with people of different countries as it works like a bridge.” Jiang has been working for the last three years at the Confucius Institute at leading private North South University (NSU)in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, the first and so far the only one in Bangladesh. More and more Bangladeshis are now showing interest in learning Chinese language, she said, adding that her students deemed it’s aneed of time. “In 2006 when I joined the Confucius Institute at NSU there were 20 to 30 students, now there are more than 100 students, which means people here are more and more interested in learning Chinese,” said Jiang, professor of China’s Yunnan University. The Confucius Institute at NSU was established on Feb. 14, 2006.It was also the first in the South Asian region. Jiang said some of the students even come from Bangladesh’s southeastern port city Chittagong, some 242 km from capital Dhaka. They came every weekend just to attend the Chinese class as there is no good place to study Chinese in Chittagong, she said. “My suggestion is that there (Chittagong) should have another Confucius Institute,” said Jiang, who was honored by the Chinese Education Ministry with an award in 2008 for her contribution in teaching Chinese. “I think the Bangladesh government also attaches importance in learning the world’s number one Chinese language in terms of the Chinese-speaking population,” she said. “Actually, Chinese language is now more and more popular. Almost all middle schools in the United States have introduced Chinese as foreign language. It’s a matter of need, they think they need this,” said Jiang, who taught Chinese language in the U.S. for one year. She said a number of English-medium middle schools in Bangladesh have already made learning Chinese compulsory after she initiated a course to train local teachers to teach Chinese for the first time in 2008. She is planning to write a text book in Chinese, English and Bengali languages on teaching Chinese in Bangladesh so that Bangladesh people can learn the language more easily. “We’ve already developed a friendship song using both Chinese and Bangladesh languages as our “Institute Song,” which is also the first Confucius Institute song in the world in foreign language,” Jiang said. Jiang, who during her nearly three decades of services as teacher also taught Chinese language in Thailand, said, “Bangladesh people have their own rich culture which impressed me very much. It’s interesting that Bangladesh and Chinese people share some commons in both cultures and languages.” “Both two peoples love to maintain close relations with their family members. And people even in Bangladesh uses some Chinese words like Cha (tea in English),” she said. However, she expressed her surprise saying that still people in Bangladesh know very little about China and its rich culture. “In this connection we’ve a lot of things to do,” she said. Jiang, who has been honored here very much for her prime role in establishing the Confucius Institute on a strong base, said “I want to pass the rest of my life in teaching language and doing something for poor people.” Jiang, in her 50s, said her only son namely Jiang Yuan who is now in Beijing on completion of his higher study has also engaged himself in teaching foreigners Chinese language.

Bangladesh and China is long time examined friend contry.China is ready to work with Bangladesh to further promote the bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation in all fields, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said here on Thursday.

    Yang made the statement as he was meeting with Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni on the sidelines of the high-level UN conference on the world financial and economic crisis and its impact on development, which opened here on Wednesday and is to end on Friday.

During the meeting, Yang told his Bangladeshis counterpart that China and Bangladesh are friendly and close neighbors, the Chinese government attaches great importance to the Sino-Bangladeshi relations, and it is China’s adamantine policy to strengthen and develop the relations of friendship and cooperation with Bangladesh.

    China is willing to work with Bangladesh to further expand the bilateral cooperation in political, economic and trade, agricultural and cultural fields, the Chinese foreign minister said.

    In return, Moni said that Bangladesh and China enjoyed relations of friendship and cooperation for a long time, and Bangladeshi sees China as its close friend and cooperation partner.

    Bangladesh and China have frequent exchanges at all levels, and the bilateral cooperation has made great achievements, she said, adding that her country will work with China to promote the bilateral ties to a new level.

“DIN BODOLER PALA” SLOGAN FOR A CHAGE OF DEVELOPED AND UPDATED BANGLADESH

Bangladesh’s Industries Minister Dilip Barua said the government is formulating a new industrial policy, including short-term, middle-term and long-term plans, which is important to build a digital Bangladesh and make Bangladesh into amid-income country by 2021 as committed by the new government.

He said the goverment will empasis on foreing investment and technology support,Barua said the new government of Bangladesh has given importance to light industry and small and medium enterprises (SME) which are suitable for Bangladesh to further develop the country’s economy.

Bangladesh’s Industries Minister Dilip Barua said in  a  meeting  with a delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC),he added, Bangladesh welcomes more investments from China as Bangladesh’s economy is experiencing a transition to “industry-oriented

On Response ,Liu Hongcai, deputy head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and chief of the delegation, said Bangladesh enjoys unique advantages including big human resources and geographic advantages which will be attractive to investors.He also said China as a good friend of Bangladesh wishes Bangladesh to be stable and hopes to see an economic takeoff in Bangladesh as soon as possible

ABOUT DILIP BARUA

Industries Minister Dilip Barua, general secretary of Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal, was born on February 28 in 1949.

He completed his BSc (honours) in Physics, MSc from the Dhaka University. He obtained MA, Diploma in Journalism and LLB from the same university.

He was a leader of the East Pakistan Students Union from 1966-1970. He was a member of the Communist Party since 1969 and elected member of the Dhaka City Committee of the Party in 1972. He was the President of the Jubo Federation during 1977-1979.

Dilip is one of the architects of 14-party alliance. He played a vital role in formulation of 31-point reforms of caretaker government and 23-points programmes.

During his long political career, he was imprisoned in 1969 as the student leader, in 1983 as a member of the Political Bureau. He led underground life for several times due to Political reasons.

A Chinese company will set up a shoe manufacturing industry by investing $5 million in the Chittagong Export Processing Zone.
LianXin Footwear, the 100 per cent foreign-owned company, will also create employment opportunity for 1,774 Bangladeshi including 56 foreign nationals, a news release said on Monday.
An agreement to this was signed between the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority and the LianXin Footwear Company in BEPZA Complex on Sunday.
BEPZA member (investment promotion) Prasanta Bhushan Barua and LianXin Footwear Company chairman Chen Chun Fu inked the agreement on behalf of the respective side.
Other officials from respective organisations were present on the occasion.

Chinese co to set up shoe industry in KEPZ

A Chinese company will set up a shoe accessories manufacturing industry in the extension area (CSD) of Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone with an investment of US$ 24.217 million. 

 This 100 percent foreign owned company, M/s Zhong Bu Centresin (Bangladesh) Company Ltd, will also create employment opportunity for 310 Bangladeshi including 10 foreign nationals, said a press release yesterday.

An agreement to this effect was signed between the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and the M/s Zhong Bu Centresin (BD) company Ltd in BEPZA complex on Sunday.

Prasanta Bhushan Barua, member (Investment Promotion) of BEPZA and Jim K. L. IP, Managing Director of M||s Zhong Bu Centresin (BD) Company Ltd, executed and exchanged the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.