These are some of the leading stories in the Bangladesh press on Tuesday. gurumia has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

THE DAILY STAR

— A Dhaka court yesterday ordered further investigation into the August 21, 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally, stating that the investigation conducted earlier could not identify the collectors and suppliers of grenades used in the attack.

— A senior member of Bangladesh parliamentary delegation to Tipaimukh site said India has expressed willingness to have more discussions and give more information to Bangladesh if necessary.

THE FINANCIAL EXPRESS

— The country would require investments worth Tk 410 billion in next five years until 2014 to streamline the power sector and fend off the nagging load-shedding, officials said Monday.

— Taxmen will not raise any question about the declared capital of new individual taxpayers, who will pay tax under the universal self-assessment system showing at least 25 percent income on their invested capital in the current fiscal, the revenue board said.

THE INDEPENDENT

— A tribunal yesterday ordered further investigation into the August 21, 2004 grenade attack cases.

— Top law officers of the government are scrutinising the draft of a reference to be made by the President to the Supreme Court for its opinion on the law under which the BDR mutineers should be tried.

THE NEW AGE

— Taxicab operators are now counting the cost of their wrong choice of vehicles that forced them to pull 90 percent of cars out of service much before their average lifetime expired. Their association estimates that return on their Tk 200 crore (2 billion taka) investment in the nascent service in last six years was much less than expected as light vehicles with low engine capacity lost their resale value.

— The investigation committee failed to make any headway in probing the deaths of BDR soldiers in custody even in the last two months and a half as such death toll soared to 35 until Sunday, officials said..

The leading stories in the Bangladesh press on Saturday

THE DAILY STAR

— Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina yesterday issued a warning to the ruling party leaders and workers saying breach of public confidence or any other unjust behaviour by her party members will not be tolerated.

— Food rationing programme for garment workers becomes uncertain again, as the readymade garment and knitwear manufacturers are pressing the government again to reduce the price of rice refixed twice.

THE FINANCIAL EXPRESS

— India has decided to halt export of rice and wheat to Bangladesh to meet possible shortages, that might be triggered by low monsoon rains.

— Importers and exporters are still being subjected to harassment, including payment of bribes, by a section of rent-seeking officials at the Chittagong Customs House (CCH), leading to container congestion in the port, said a report prepared by the department concerned in the Prime Minister’s Office.

THE INDEPENDENT

— Awami League president Sheikh Hasina in a special gesture to those in her party who had faltered and took wrong steps during the two years of caretaker government said yesterday that they should now be put on the right track

— Finally, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently published its post-survey report on the Lawachhara reserve forest where US-based international oil company (IOC) Chevron had conducted 3D seismic survey as part of its gas exploration move. IUCN, a UN recognised body which monitored and conducted its own pre- and post-survey to follow the Chevron’s survey, found no harm to the country’s one of the most sensitive reserve forest – a safe haven for a number of rare species of birds and animals, reports news agency UNB.

THE NEW AGE

— Sheikh Hasina was re-elected the president of the Awami League unopposed for a sixth term as the ruling party held its 20th national council session amid fanfare on Friday. The council also elected Syed Ashrfaul Islam as the party’s general secretary uncontested for the next three years.

— The two Indian religious extremists, who were earlier arrested at places in Dhaka and were suspected of organising a Bangladesh unit of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, during interrogation in custody said 10 of their associates, believed to be Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives, were reportedly staying in Bangladesh, the Detective Branch said.

($1=69.06 taka)

“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.