Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Govt to invite private partners soon to develop Hi-Tech Park


Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka

The government in principle decided to invite expression of interest from interested private investors to develop Hi-Tech Park at Kaliakoir in Gazipur district.
It has been decided that the park will be developed on a public-private partnership basis and advertisement in this regard would be given in national dailies this week seeking EOI from interested companies.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the executive committee of High Tech Park Authority at Bangladesh secretariat with State Minister for Science, Information, and Communication Technology Yeafesh Osman in the chair.
For encouraging high tech park developers and investors, the government has decided to offer a 10-year tax holiday to the entrepreneurs who will set up industries at the high tech village.
Besides, investors would get accelerated depreciation facilities in buying equipment up to 10 years and foreign nationals working in the industry could enjoy three years’ tax exemption. On the other hand, investors will also get tax exemption to import all kinds of machineries up to 10 years.
The basic infrastructure of the Hi-Tech Park was constructed on an area of 232 acres at Kaliakoir beside the Dhaka-Tangail Highway, 25 kilometres away from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital city Dhaka.
The park is connected with the seaports of Chittagong and Mongla and land ports of the country both by road and railways.
The basic infrastructure includes a three-storey administrative building, internal roads, sewerage system, gas, power and water supply, electricity substation, and optic fibre connection to provide high power bandwidth with Internet facilities.
The meeting also decided to provide other facilities, including offshore banking, for investors. ‘There is no alternative to information technology to carry forward the country. That’s why the government has decided to develop the Hi-Tech Park at Kaliakoir,’ Yeafesh Osman said.

Telenor wants enabling environment for 3G mobile technology

VoIP offenders punished: CEO
Staff Correspondent

Visiting Telenor Group president and chief executive officer Jon Fredrik Baksaas on Tuesday urged the government to create an environment favourable for introducing third generation mobile phone technology as its local operator GrameenPhone was ready to adopt it.
‘We have been engaged for years in connecting peoples through different telecom services. Now we are ready to bring the third generation mobile technology to the people,’ Baksaas told newsmen at a meet the press programme held at Radisson Hotel in the city.
In reply to a question, the Telenor CEO said, ‘GrameenPhone is now well-positioned to roll out a 3G-based telecom network. It now rests on the government creating an enabling environment.’
When asked whether the GP finds any barriers to introducing 3G mobile phone technology, Baksaas said they expected that the Bangladeshi authorities would establish a clear and fair 3G licensing process.
The third generation mobile phone technology will provide the subscribers with wide-area wireless voice telephone, mobile Internet access, video calls, and mobile TV facilities. The 3G system allows simultaneous use of speech and data services and provides peak data at the rate of at least 200kbs.
He said the government of Bangladesh should take into consideration the concerns raised by the information and communication technology industry about some clauses of the amended Bangladesh Telecom Act that were perceived to be detrimental to an investment-friendly business environment. He also emphasised the need for consultation with the renewing operators while preparing the renewal framework.
Responding to another question, the Telenor Group CEO claimed the GP had fired some of its high officials for indulging the use of illegal voice over Internet protocol, better known as VoIP, for which the company had to pay a handsome amount in compensation to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.
Responding to a question, Baksaas said that the matter of illegal VoIP is now history and the persons had already left the company.
‘I can’t ensure you that there will be no irregularities in GrammenPhone. But I can ensure you that if any irregularities are detected, at once we remove those involved in the affair in a transparent way,’ he said.
Baksaas is visiting Dhaka to attend the inauguration programme of Grameen-Phone’s new head office.
Telenor Group, the largest shareholder in GrameenPhone, is an international provider of telecom, data and media communication services.

Mobile growth slows down in October


GP loses 1.67 lakh subscribers

Staff Correspondent

The growth in the number of mobile subscribers slowed down in October as the country’s six operators added only 4.23 lakh subscribers, while Grameenphone, the leading operator, lost 1.67 lakh subscribers.
The total number of active mobile subscribers increased to 65.56 million or around 6.56 crore at the end of October from 6.514 crore in September, according to data of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission released on Tuesday.
Although the number of active subscribers increased by 4.23 lakh in October, the Grameenphone’s subscriber base decreased by 1.67 lakh last month. The six operators had netted 10 lakh subscribers in October 2009.
The number of subscribers increased by 16.70 lakh in September, 16.30 lakh in August and 18.60 lakh in July. There were 6.35 crore subscribers in August and 6.18 crore in July.
An official of the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh could not tell New Age on Tuesday the reasons behind the slowing down of the growth of the number of mobile subscribers in October.
The total number of Grameenphone’s subscribers increased to around 2.848 crore at the end of October from 2.865 crore in September.
An official of the BTRC said that the calculation of the number of mobile subscribers was based on the connections that were active.
He said that the Grameenphone had lost active subscribers as many of the clients might have switched off their SIMs or shifted to other operators.
Grameenphone added 7.32 lakh subscribers in September and 6.46 lakh in August.
BTRC chairman Zia Ahmed told New Age that it was not ‘unusual’ that the growth of mobile phone subscribers slowed down in October. ‘It is a normal thing. There will be ups and down. I think the operators could not add more subscriber in October because of Eid-ul-Azha as people spent more for festivals,’ he said.
Zia said that the subscribers’ growth would pick up as operators were coming with new packages.
The subscriber base of Banglalink, the second largest operator, reached 1.84 crore at the end of the month as it had added 3.01 lakh subscribers last month.
Warid Telecom, 70 per cent of whose stake was acquired by Indian Bharti Airtel, added 85,000 subscribers in October and its subscriber base reached 36.67 lakh.
State-run Teletalk added 41,000 subscribers in October and its subscriber base increased to 12.24 lakh.
Robi, the third largest operator, added 1.38 lakh subscribers to take its subscriber base to 1.18 crore.
The total number of subscribers of the lone CDMA operator, City Cell, reached 19.33 lakh after it added 26,000 subscribers in October.

Hasina talks nuke plants with Putin

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday sought cooperation from Russia to set up new power plants and repair the old ones.

She was holding bilateral talks with her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at his St Petersburg residence.

Later, PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told journalists both the leaders talked about the proposed Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

Hasina said more than 40 percent power plants in Bangladesh had been constructed by the assistance of the Russian government.

She also expressed her willingness to sign a long-term agreement on food grains and fertiliser.

Putin said the issues of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and long-term agreement on food grains and fertiliser would be discussed at the earliest.

Hasina invited the Russian premier to visit Bangladesh. Putin accepted the invitation.

The prime minister paid glowing tributes to the 40 Russian soldiers who died while de-mining the Chittagong Port after Liberation war, 1971.

Hasina expressed her gratitude to the Russian government for their support during the war.

She also sought cooperation from the Russian government for training of the defence personnel and in gas exploration. Hasina said Russia and Bangladesh are working together against terrorism.

New business platform for Nordic countries

Businesses of five Nordic countries in Dhaka launched a chamber yesterday to boost bilateral trade and investment between Bangladesh and the countries of Scandinavia, Iceland and Finland.

The newly formed platform, Nordic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), also wants to promote a positive image of Bangladesh as an investment destination for the Nordic businesses, and to help improve business environment.

"The establishment of the NCCI is a manifestation of the strong business relations between Nordic countries and Bangladesh," said a statement issued, marking the launch of the trade body at The Westin Dhaka.

Commerce Minister Faruk Khan and Norwegian Minister of Environment and Development Cooperation Erik Solheim, Norwegian and Danish ambassadors and leaders of various trade bodies were also present.

The NCCI represents companies from Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden that do business in Bangladesh.

It becomes the 16th bilateral trade lobby group that aims at promoting and serving the Nordic business community and providing a platform to create and safeguard new business opportunities.

"It's a good day. This chamber will help boost bilateral trade and understanding between the two regions," said Commere Minister Faruk Khan.

The NCCI, with a 7-member executive committee, came into being at a time when two-way trade between Bangladesh and Nordic states stood at nearly $750 million. Bangladesh favours a trade balance, according to Khan.

"There is a business-friendly climate in Bangladesh. We want to promote Nordic business here," said Norwegian minister Erik Solheim.

He stressed focusing Bangladesh's success stories.

There was a time everyone tended to focus on problems of Bangladesh. This is now shifting. They are now focusing

on the success in Bangladesh, said Solheim, citing steady growth of Bangladesh economy.

In the past two decades, Bangladesh, with a population of nearly 160 million, logged 5 percent average growth and helped lift people out of poverty.

The Norwegian minister said Nordic companies are doing well here.

"We're proud of doing business here," he said, citing Telenor, majority owner of local cellphone giant Grameen Phone.

"We believe Nordic companies will set positive business," the upbeat Solheim said.

In the statement, the NCCI said it wants to strengthen links between Nordic and local companies and social and match making events.

"We want to grow in Bangladesh," said Danish Ambassador in Bangladesh Svend Olling, adding that there are opportunities for business here.

Norwegian Ambassador Ragne Birte Lund said human resource base is unique in Bangladesh.

Among others, President of Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hamim Rahmatullah and President of Bangladesh German Chamber of Commerce and Industry Saiful Islam also spoke on the occasion.

LDC dialogue kicks off today

Debapriya Bhattacharya, left, distinguished fellow of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), speaks at a press conference at its office in Dhaka yesterday. Mustafizur Rahman, centre, CPD executive director, is also seen.Photo: STAR

A three-day international dialogue on exploring new global partnership for the least developed countries (LDC) will begin in Dhaka today.

Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), an independent think tank, will organise the discussion in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Centre.

The dialogue will also focus on the economic issues of the LDCs and find sustainable way outs, said Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow of CPD.

"We consider the fourth UN conference on the LDCs that would be in Istanbul in May 2011 very significant for the least developed countries like Bangladesh. And we want to prepare an outcome document for the LDC governments before the conference," he said.

Bhattacharya said the number of LDCs has increased to 49 from 25 over the last few years, and only two countries could graduate from that list.

"Now we have to find out the reasons why only two countries could come out of the LDC status and prepare to overcome the problems.”

He was speaking at a press briefing organised by CPD at its office in the capital yesterday.

Bhattacharya said the LDCs have failed to make any significant improvement in reducing poverty in the past decade.

Although most LDCs have met many of the targets set in the last conference, such as improving human development indicators, attracting foreign investments and boosting exports, the economic status remains unchanged for most of them, he said.

"One fundamental reason I see behind this is the lack of diversification in these targeted areas. For example, the export volume of Bangladesh has increased over the years, but it's mainly dependent on a single item-RMG."

"At the same time, we have received more foreign investments than before, but those mainly came for the services sector and not for industrial development," he said.

So the progress was weak and not sustainable, he added.

Bhattacharya also stressed the need to keep in mind the newer challenges the LDCs are facing now, including a fragile global economy, global warming and internal political conflicts, while preparing a charter of demands.

"We have to look for more options, such as finding more markets for our products, more employments for workers and importantly more investments to develop infrastructure and better access to technology, from the upcoming conference," he said.

"I hope this dialogue will help us do the groundwork properly by creating awareness among the policymakers and civil society. But, the government has to do the real task --bargaining for the national interests eventually," said Bhattacharya.

Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of the CPD, said the dialogue would also focus on strengthening partnerships among the LDCs to help them reach a common goal of upgrading the economic status.

He said CPD would prepare a set of proposals in the end of the international dialogue on November 26, and send it to all the LDC governments.

"All the LDCs have to play a very significant role in the conference, where their fate would be shaped for the next decade."

Carlos E Alvarez Voullieme, deputy director of OECD Development Centre, and Anna Batyra, coordinator of Development Finance Network (DeFiNe), also spoke at the briefing.

Says CPD

Bangladesh needs to boost its bargaining capacity and quantify the benefits it can get from providing transit and transhipment facility to India, said a spokesperson for the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) yesterday.

"In today's world, no-one can deny the importance of transit and transhipment facilities among neighbours," said Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, CPD's distinguished fellow.

"To achieve maximum benefit from providing transit and transhipment facility to India, the government has to boost its bargaining capacity at the discussions table," he said. “A great deal more research must be done before going for any such deal.”

He was speaking at a press briefing at the CPD office in Dhaka, ahead of the International Dialogue on Exploring a New Global Partnership for the LDCs in the Context of the Fourth UN LDC. The dialogue begins today.

Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of CPD, agreed the government should make short- and long-term plans and quantify economic benefits before agreeing to transit and transhipment.

Telenor upbeat on internet prospects

Telecom giant Telenor Group is upbeat on Bangladesh's growth prospect in internet penetration, said a top official yesterday.

Jon Fredrik Baksaas, president and chief executive of Telenor, the majority stakeholder in Grameenphone, said there would be a 25 percent rate of internet penetration in Bangladesh within a few months.

"We, from Telenor Group, are very eager to move on that line," he said. "We have a long-term ambition to deepen and widen the network and also bring in the skill that the group can offer to Grameenphone."

Baksaas was speaking to journalists after a meeting with Finance Minister AMA Muhith at his secretariat office in Dhaka.

"We have seen the telecom sector in Bangladesh moving much more rapidly than one could have expected if we go 10 years back," he said. "Now it is a hectic sector, which really has a potential to get people connected."

He said a majority of Bangladeshis have voice and sms services. "We will reach out for internet access in the coming years."

He hopes the number of internet-users would rise as the number of people using mobile phones is increasing rapidly.

The meeting also discussed 3G technology, said Muhith. "We are open in this regard. Once the 3G technology is introduced, the country will be benefitted enormously."

Muhith hopes teledensity in Bangladesh would soon reach 80 percent from 40 percent at present. He is however upset by the low level of internet penetration.

"Mobile density has increased, but internet usage is much lower. We hope the use of internet will go up. The mobile technology will play a vital role here."

He said the meeting also discussed banking and financial services through the technology.

Telenor Group is keen to engage in financial services, especially in remote areas, where most financial institutions have no outlets. Since 1996, Telenor Group has invested $2.2 billion in Bangladesh and paid taxes worth up to $2.5 billion.

Grameenphone Chief Executive Oddvar Hesjedal was also present.

German business team due today

German State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Office Martin Biesel, accompanied by an eight- member business delegation, arrives in Dhaka today on a three-day official visit to Bangladesh.

The visit takes place following Foreign Minister Dipu Moni's visit to Germany in early September.

A release of the German Embassy here says the visit will provide an opportunity to deepen bilateral cooperation as it comes amid signs of growing interest of German business in Bangladesh as a trade and investment partner.

Martin Biesel is scheduled to hold talks with Commerce Minister Faruk Khan, Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes and other government representatives. The talks will focus on the development of the economic and political framework conditions.

Biesel will deliver a speech on the bilateral economic and political relations at a luncheon of the Bangladesh German Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Westin Dhaka hotel today.

Dr S A Samad, chairman of the Board of Investment, is expected to speak on the occasion.

On Friday, Biesel will attend a ceremony marking the delivery of two container ships built by Western Marine Shipyard to German owner Grona Shipping GmbH in Chittagong.

Germany is the second largest export market for Bangladesh. Trade with Germany provides Bangladesh with an

annual trade surplus of more than 1.9 billion euros. In 2009, the bilateral trade volume increased by more than 15 percent, reaching 2.3 billion euros.

RMG exports to benefit from relaxed EU rules

Jon Fredrik Baksaas, president of Telenor, speaks at a press conference at Radisson Hotel in Dhaka yesterday. Oddvar Hesjedal, chief executive officer of Grameenphone, is also seen. Photo: Amran Hossain

Bangladesh's apparel exports will benefit from Europe's relaxed rules for the least developed countries (LDCs) under the generalised system of preferences (GSP) in textile trade, experts said.

The new rules of origin (RoO) adopted by the European Union will be effective from January 1.

The biggest change is that single-stage processing (manufactured from fabric) will be allowed in many cases, instead of only two-stage processing (manufactured from yarn).

It means most apparel items from all LDCs will get duty-free access, no matter where the raw materials originate. The standard import duty for readymade garments in the EU is 12 percent.

The GSP is a trade arrangement allowing reduced or zero tariff on imports from developing countries; and the RoO determines whether imported goods really do originate in the countries covered by the GSP.

Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), sees the new move as a boon for Bangladesh.

"Once implemented, if any exporter uses imported fabrics, manufactures in Bangladesh and exports to the EU, he will get the GSP facility."

A majority of the woven garment exporters import fabrics from China because the backward linkage industry is not strong like knitwear, Rahman said.

He, however, thinks the domestic backward linkage industry will face slight competition because many manufacturers import fabrics from other countries, especially China.

Rahman suggested the government continue an adequate supply of gas and power to the backward linkage industries so that they can produce fabrics and yarn in time to tackle competition.

"Apparel exports to the EU will increase manifold for the new move."

Zillul Hye Razi, trade adviser of EU trade delegation to Bangladesh, is also upbeat on reaping more benefit from the new move by woven and knit exporters.

"It may also provide opportunities for the local exporters to go for the higher end of the EU market as Bangladesh could not benefit from the GSP under the existing rules, as a high quality fabric is not sufficiently manufactured locally."

Abdul Hai Sarker, president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, said the backward linkage industry is fully equipped to take on the challenge, at least for knitwear.

Trading of 13 cos halted for abnormal price hike

Dhaka stocks rebound
Staff Correspondent

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday halted trading of shares of 13 companies on the Dhaka Stock Exchange because of abnormal rise in prices of the securities.
The general index of the bourse, however, bounced back on the day following the halt of the trading of the non-marginable and low profile securities as investors went for a buying spree of marginable issues.
Marginable issues witnessed a sharp fall on Monday after the SEC squeezed credit facilities for the investors.
As per the SEC directive, the DSE authorities halted the trading of the shares of Sonali Aansh, Mithun Knitting, Tallu Spinning, CMC Kamal, Saffko Spinning, Miracle Industries, Standard Ceramic, Aziz Pipes, Bangladesh Autocars, United Airways, Desh Garments, Dacca Dyeing and Ambee Pharmaceuticals at 11:30am on Tuesday after the market opened at 11:00am.
After the trading began on Tuesday, the prices of these securities, which had witnessed abnormal rise in last few days, jumped by around 10-20 per cent but the general index tumbled in early minutes because of heavy fall of prices of other issues.
The market began to rebound after the DSE halted the trading of the 13 issues till further notice.
The benchmark general index of Dhaka Stock Exchange advanced by 33.76 points, or 0.40 per cent, to close the day at 8,554.22 points. The index had lost 77.11 points on Monday, ending a six-day record-breaking surge, after the SEC squeezed share market credit.
The SEC, in a move to cool down the overheated market, decided on Sunday that investors from now on would get margin loans at the ratio of 1:0.5 instead of 1:1.
The DSE general index had risen by 650.37 points between November 1 and 21.
DSE president Shakil Rizvi said the price of non-marginable securities increased significantly on Tuesday. ‘We had to halt trading of the shares of 13 companies temporarily to check abnormal rise in prices of shares of the low profile issues.’
He said investors turned to marginable securities after the bourse had halted the trading of the shares of the non-marginable companies.
Akter H Sannamat, managing director of Prime Finance and Investment, a leading financial institute, said most of the investors began to offload high profile shares in the early minutes of trading as they predicted that most of marginable securities would fall further due to the new margin loan ratio set by the SEC.
‘But, when the DSE halted trading of the shares of 13 non-marginable companies for unusual price hike in their shares, investors began to buy shares of high profile securities,’ he said.
Of the total 248 issues traded on the DSE, 146 advanced, 99 declined, and three remained unchanged.
The daily turnover on the bourse was Tk 2,736.07 crore, down by Tk 9.64 crore from the previous trading day.
Beximco topped the turnover leaders with 26.77 lakh shares valued at Tk 90.18 crore traded on the day.
The rest of the turnover leaders were Peoples Leasing and Financial Services, United Commercial Bank, Square Textile, RN Spinning, Bextex, NCC Bank, Shahjalal Islami Bank and Pubali Bank.
Active Fine Chemicals was the day’s biggest gainer, posting a 24.16-per cent rise in its share prices while Kohinoor Chemicals was the worst loser.

CAG to post audit reports online

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=124333


CAG to post audit reports online

Star Business Report

The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) plans to post audit reports on its website, allowing people a wider access to the documents, said CAG Ahmed Ataul Hakeem yesterday.

Hakeem said he would first submit the reports to the president. The posting of the audit reports on the web will help citizens see the government expenditure procedures, he added.

“Until now, no audit report has been posted on the web in Bangladesh,” said Hakeem who inaugurated a three-day training for journalists on “Understanding Contents of CAG Audit Reports” at his office in Dhaka.

If necessary, the CAG office will also relay other vital information to the Anticorruption Commission, Hakeem added.

He said corruption in public offices could be reduced significantly if the government implements auditor recommendations.

Hakeem also said he will take steps to enhance journalists’ access to the CAG office, so that they can collect information to be published in newspapers and disseminate important information to the public.

USAID PROGATI, in collaboration with the office of CAG, and Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) organised the training for business journalists on audit related activities.

AKM Jashim Uddin, director general of Commercial Audit, Hasibur Rahman, executive director of MRDI, and Ralph Frammolino, a consultant, also spoke.

CAG to post audit reports online

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=124333


CAG to post audit reports online

Star Business Report

The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) plans to post audit reports on its website, allowing people a wider access to the documents, said CAG Ahmed Ataul Hakeem yesterday.

Hakeem said he would first submit the reports to the president. The posting of the audit reports on the web will help citizens see the government expenditure procedures, he added.

“Until now, no audit report has been posted on the web in Bangladesh,” said Hakeem who inaugurated a three-day training for journalists on “Understanding Contents of CAG Audit Reports” at his office in Dhaka.

If necessary, the CAG office will also relay other vital information to the Anticorruption Commission, Hakeem added.

He said corruption in public offices could be reduced significantly if the government implements auditor recommendations.

Hakeem also said he will take steps to enhance journalists’ access to the CAG office, so that they can collect information to be published in newspapers and disseminate important information to the public.

USAID PROGATI, in collaboration with the office of CAG, and Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) organised the training for business journalists on audit related activities.

AKM Jashim Uddin, director general of Commercial Audit, Hasibur Rahman, executive director of MRDI, and Ralph Frammolino, a consultant, also spoke.

Govt to introduce e-GP system by next year

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=97637&date=2010-04-14

Govt to introduce e-GP system by next year
FE Report

The government will introduce e-government procurement (e-GP) system by 2011 to make the public procurement process more dynamic and modern in the country.

The central procurement technical unit (CPTU) of implementation monitoring and evaluation department (IMED) of the Planning Ministry will implement e-GP under its Public Procurement Reform Project (PPRP-II) with support of the World Bank.

To implement the new system, a contract on e-GP system development and implementation was signed between CPTU and GSS America Infotech Ltd, India at the Planning Ministry on Monday.

Mobil Jamuna to inaugurate 3 new plants in Ctg Nov 11

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=117006&date=2010-11-08

Mobil Jamuna to inaugurate 3 new plants in Ctg Nov 11

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/images/news_image_2010-11-08_16521.jpg

FE Report

MJL Bangladesh Ltd, popularly known as Mobil Jamuna Lubricants Ltd, will inaugurate its three new plants-”Grease, Viscosity Index Improver and Transformer Oil” — in Chittagong on November 11.

State Minister for Power and Energy Enamul Huq is expected to inaugurate the plants as the chief guest.

This was disclosed at a press conference at a city hotel Sunday.

Sanaul Haque, chief executive officer (CEO) of the company, said the plants and their technology have been designed and implemented by highly experienced former ExxonMobil personnel who are currently working for product development of the company.

“These new plants are import substitutes and will help save foreign currency worth around Tk 1.27 billion,” he told the FE adding: “All major equipment, including control system of these plants, have been sourced from North America, Australia and Europe”.

The CEO said they will manufacture 850 tonnes of premium grade grease, which is 50 per cent of total annual domestic demand. At present this demand is fully met through import, he said.

The pack-size of the product will be 0.5 kg, 1 kg, 2kg, 3 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg, 20 kg and 180 kg.

Sanaul Haque told the reporters that they, however, could have double shifts in production of the grease, if necessary, to meet total demand of the country.

Viscosity Index Improver and Transformer Oil plants have been set up for the first time in the country, he said.

He said demand for Transformer Oil is increasing rapidly in the country with the demand of electricity and it is entirely imported. Presently, they will be able to supply 8000 tonnes out of total demand of 2000 tonnes, he added.

MJL high officials Mukul Hossain and Tipu Sultan were present in the press conference.

'Country can earn forex by exporting minerals of Cox’s Bazar’


http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=170574

‘Country can earn forex by exporting minerals of Cox’s Bazar’
bss, DHAKA

Bangladesh could earn Taka 14,000 crore foreign exchange by exporting a deposits of at least 1.76 million tonnes of minerals in the beach sand of vast areas stretching of Cox’s Bazar district, experts said.

A total of 17 mineral sands deposits containing 23 per cent heavy minerals for an estimated reserve of about 4.45 million tonnes have been identified.

Only nine are economically viable though, said Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) Chairman Mosharraf Hossain. They are: titanium, ilmenite, zircon, rutile, magnetite, leucoxene, kyanite, garnet and monazite.

He said the price of the mineral deposit could be realized through exports which have high demand in the global market.

The valuable mineral sands mostly zircon, ilmenite, magnetite, garnet and rutile could be extracted on a commercial basis from the vast areas stretching from Najirartek of Cox’s Bazar sadar to Teknaf, he said.
For a decade or so, BAEC scientists have been studying the sea beach where the minerals were found.

The minerals are scattered in an area of about 8,000 hectares of land in Cox’s Bazar district.

Many heavy minerals found in Bangladesh are in high demand, both at home and abroad. For this reason, exploiting such resources will require cooperation or a joint venture with foreign countries with experience in mineral development, Mosharraf said.

Proper exploitation of mineral resources at the Cox’s Bazar sea beach and other points along the coastal belt will open up a new vista of rapid economic development of Bangladesh, he added.

Researchers said that the world’s longest sand beach is endowed with a vast reserve of titanium, zircon, rotail and monanjitis.

Titanium is mainly used as raw material for building aircraft. It has been found at 17 points at the coastal area of Cox’s Bazar and khulna. It is possible to lift 10 lakh tonnes of elmanite from the coastal belt.

With this quantity of elmanite four lakh tonnes of titanium worth Tk 560 lakh crore can be produced, they mentioned. They further said one kilogram of titanium is now sold at 19,500 US dollars to 22,000 dollars. Mexico, India, North America and Australia are the main buyers of this mineral. Titanium is used not only for building aircraft but also for brightening the colour of paints and lifting coal from the mine.

It can fetch huge foreign currency, researchers said. Exploitation of mineral resources will also generate employment opportunities in the field of research and other sectors, they said.

In an initial survey, researchers found that each ton zircon is worth about Tk 60,000 and others on an average Tk 6,000. The mineral resources were first found in Cox’s Bazar in 1960s and later Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission started diverse researches.

During early 1970s, a study conducted by the Australian government suggested the Bangladesh government set up a pilot plant in Bangladesh.

Probable extraction saw some development as a pilot plant with the support of the Australian government was set up in Cox’s Bazar in 1975 for segregation of mineral resources from sea beach. BAEC scientists recommended the government set up another plant on a commercial basis but no progress was made so far.

Talking to the BSS, scientific officer M Moshruzzaman of Sea Beach Extraction Centre in Cox’s Bazar said the mineral resources are now being extracted on an experimental basis and these resources are being sold too on a small scale as per the demand of various organisations in Bangladesh.

Locals expressed their opinions in favour of extraction of the valuable mineral resources saying that a number of new industries would be set up in the sea-resource areas generating jobs if the government take any step to extract the resources on a commercial basis.

Govt to allow private companies to set up oil refineries

http://www.newagebd.com/2010/nov/11/busi.html#3

Govt to allow private companies to set up oil refineries
Staff Correspondent

The energy ministry on Wednesday decided that private companies would be allowed to set up oil refineries ignoring the opposition of the state-run Eastern Refinery Ltd.

The ministry officials at an inter ministerial meeting, chaired by prime minister’s adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, presented a draft policy guideline for allowing private companies to set up refineries.

Tawfiq, however, asked the officials to shorten the policy keeping consistencies with the existing petroleum and environment acts.

The adviser said that the private companies would be allowed to set up refineries but the government would not give any guarantee of purchasing fuel oils from them and the refineries would have to be export-oriented.

Energy officials, however, said that the refiners would have to sell fuel oils to government once the government asked for.

But the ERL officials opposed the government move as they believed that their plant alone can meet the local demand if its capacity is enhanced through BMRE (balancing, modernisation, rehabilitation and expansion) programme.

At present, the country has only a state-owned refinery – Eastern Refinery Limited – with annual production capacity of 1.5 million tonnes.

The state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation imports crude oil and then it refines the fuel oils through its subsidiary ERL for local use.

The government imports refined petroleum to meet the rest of the total demand of 38 million tonnes of fuel oil in the country a year.

ERL officials felt that the government would ultimately ditch a plan for BMRE of the refinery to purchase oils from the influential private companies.

Finding huge potential in refinery business, a number of local and international companies offered the government to set up plants in the country.

Official sources said the government so far received six proposals from local and international investors to set up private refinery, adds United News of Bangladesh.

Local Basundhara Group and Mobil Jamuna Fuels Limited, and a Czech and a Saudi oil firm are among the interested parties who submitted proposals to set up private refinery in the country.

Of them, Basundhara Group offered to invest $700 million while MJFL proposed to invest $ 110 million for a plant.

The Czech state-owned export bank offered to invest $ 2.5 billion in the refinery business.

The local Beximco Group also submitted a proposal to the government seeking permission for refinery business, said a source.

Tk 700 crore deposited in Gas Development Fund

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=144185&date=2010-11-14

Tk 700 crore deposited in Gas Development Fund

DHAKA, Nov 15 (BSS) – A significant amount of money has been deposited in `Gas Development Fund’ to carry out vigorous gas exploration, seismic and well augmentation work by the national gas and oil companies.

The fund was formed as per an order by Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC)) issued on July 13, 2009 to boost up gas exploration work by the national companies.

This is a separate fund for the energy sector from the regular budgetary allocation. The BERC in its order said that the fund must be utilised exclusively for gas sector development that includes exploration, production, transmission and distribution.

“About Taka 700 crore has been deposited in this fund so far. We need a policy guideline to use it by the national companies,” BERC Chairman Yusuf Hossain told BSS today.

BERC is the monitoring authority to oversee the utilization of this fund.

According to the BERC, it imposed a condition on gas price hike application by Petrobnagla as it observed that Petrobangla pays IOC’s (international oil companies) US$ 480 million per year as gas bill. It also observed that the IOC’s gas output surpassed that of the local’s as their combined gas output reached over 52 percent of total gas production although the country has five gas and oil exploration companies.

“We did not like to see a skeleton Petrobangla that gives all its milk to the IOC’s. We want to see that it will take measures to strengthen our own companies to carry out the risky exploration job, so BERC imposed a condition on them when they want to hike gas price”, the BERC chairman said.

Petrobangla in June 2008 applied to the commission for allowing it to increase gas prices by 65 percent at consumer level.

BERC conducted public hearing on it and increased gas price from last month. According to that verdict, Petrobangla increases gas price by 10 to 15 percent and creates this fund from the increased price of gas.

“We are formulating the policy guideline to use the money of this fund for strengthening our own gas exploration companies. Hopefully, we could start our journey very shortly,” Secretary of the Energy Division Mohammad Mejbahuddin told BSS.

Earlier, the energy sector was given Taka 3,500 to 4,000 crore per year from the budget which was very little for this sector to carry out vibrant exploration work or to do intensive seismic job.

BAPEX moves to hunt gas in onshore blocks

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BAPEX moves to hunt gas in onshore blocks
FHM Humayan Kabir

State-owned petroleum exploration firm BAPEX has taken a massive gas hunt programme in the country’s untapped onshore gas blocks as it is going to appoint foreign contractor for the exploration works, officials said Saturday.

“The seismic survey at the untapped gas blocks in the country’s western region would be started next year. Foreign contractor will conduct seismic survey,” BAPEX Managing Director Murtoza Ahmed Farooq told the FE.

He said, “we have already evaluated bids of foreign firms that participated in the tender invited a few months back.”

Cash-starved Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (BAPEX) would invest more than Tk2.00 billion to explore oil and gas at the block numbers 3, 6, 8 and 11 situated in greater Pabna, Rajshahi, Faridpur, Mymensingh and Manikganj districts.

“We are hopeful of finalising selection of the foreign company to conduct two-dimensional seismic survey in the next month (December),” Mr Farooq said adding the contractor will conduct survey is block numbers 3, 6 and 8.

BAPEX has already conducted survey in block no. 11 and a partial area of block no. 8.

The foreign firm will conduct 2D seismic survey in 3100 line kilometres areas at the untapped blocks in western Bangladesh by December 2012.

“Since we have shortage of equipment and manpower to hunt oil and natural gas, we are appointing a foreign firm as contractor,” the BAPEX managing director said.

He said as the energy demand of Bangladesh has been swelling, which has already walloped the supply chain, the energy division has taken the “first-track programme” to hunt the locations of possible oil and gas reserves.

Attaching highest priority to looking for gas in the untouched onshore areas, the government has decided to provide adequate money for the state-owned energy explorer, producers and suppliers aimed to ensure the country’s long-term energy security.

The caretaker government allocated Tk32 billion in FY2009 for next seven years to mend the impoverished BAPEX, replace more than 20-year old two rigs and arrange adequate experts and tools.

“Since the BAPEX at this moment has had lack of adequate drilling rigs and other tools to start exploration works from next year, we have planned to appoint qualified firms to do the job,” he said.

Amid growing energy crunch in the country, the government has taken initiatives to boost its hydrocarbon exploration and production activities in the untapped areas in the country.

The Petrobangla has said the country’s proven gas reserve will start to deplete in 2012 before drying up completely in 2019 unless new discoveries are made.

Hundreds of factories have failed to go into production due to energy crunch, although the investors have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to build up the facilities.

The untapped block numbers 3 and 6 are situated Pabna, Manikganj and greater Faridpur areas and blocks 8 and 11 are situated in the greater Mymensingh areas.

BAPEX would conduct 2D survey, geophysical and geological studies and delineation of drillable subsurface structure in over 1,000 line kilometres areas in blocks 8 and 11 and 2,100 line kilometres at block numbers 3 and 6.

The country has so far not any gas and oil discovery in the western, northern and southwestern districts, which covered more than half of Bangladesh.

All the existing gas fields are situated in the north-east, eastern, and south-eastern parts of the country.

Science and tech varsity to be set up in Rangamati: Nahid

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=10&id=94052&date=2010-03-10

Science and tech varsity to be set up in Rangamati: Nahid

RANGAMATI, March 10 (BSS) – The government has taken up an initiative to establish a science and technology university in Rangamati as pledged by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

As part of the initiative, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid visited four proposed sites today for establishing the university.

The work for setting up the university will begin within this year for protecting the interest of the people of the area, said the minister while visiting the sites.

The four proposed sites are Rangapani under Rangamati municipality, Awlad Bazaar under Magaban union, Balukhali and Keillamura.

State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Dipankar Talukder, Chairman of Taskforce on Refugees Jyotindra Lal Tripura, Chairman of Rangamati District Council Nikhil Kumar Chakma and Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati Surendra Nath Chaterjee were with the minister.

CCC to set up 500 MW power plant, 12km elevated expressway

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CCC to set up 500 MW power plant, 12km elevated expressway

CHITTAGONG, Mar 5 (BSS): Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) is going to set up 500 MW power plant at Raipur area under Anowara Upazila and construct a 12.5 km elevated expressway in the port city at a cost of Tk 51.50 billion.

Engineering department of the CCC sources said the 500 MW coal based power plant would be set up at Raipur area, south side of the river Karnaphuli in the city on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) system at a cost of Tk 36.50 billion while 12.5 kilometre long elevated expressway would be constructed from city’s Dewanhat to Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport (CSAIA) at a cost of Tk 15 billion.

The CCC has already acquired 20 acres of land and completed other survey of the power plant project. CCC source said after approval by the LGRD ministry, the proposed project has already been sent to the Planning Commission for vetting.

The Planning Commission (PC) asked CCC to amend a few articles of the project profile within March 15 next. With necessary amendment the project profile is likely to be sent to the PC for approval within May next.

If the proposed power plant is completed, the people of Chittagong would get rid of load shedding side by side the city dwellers would be relieved of the exhausted traffic congestion at Agrabad commercial area after construction of 12.5 km long Dewanhat to Airport Expressway, the source added.

Sources said the development works of the said two projects were expected to begin by July-August this year and be completed in next three and a half years.

Foreign investors showed their eagerness to invest for operating the projects for 25 years, CCC would also earn a portion of profit from the project, CCC Planning department sources said.

The investors would hand over the projects to the CCC after 25 years of their operation, the source added.

It said the government would provide security bond to the investors for their investment in the projects.

A senior engineer of the CCC said the investors from Malaysia, China and Singapore had already expressed their interests to invest and implement the projects.

Deep-sea port construction to start Dec likely

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/04/01/news0602.htm

Deep-sea port construction to start Dec likely

BSS, Dhaka

The construction of much-awaited deep-sea port will begin at Sonadia of Cox’s Bazar district in November-December this year.

The shipping ministry has taken the initiative to present the proposal on complete design and work area of the deep-sea port project in the next meeting of the cabinet.

Shipping Secretary Abdul Mannan Hawlader told BSS yesterday that tenders would be invited for construction of the port after approval of the cabinet.

He said the deep-sea port project will include construction of infrastructures for the port and jetty, beck water, additional channels, export-import zones, system for communications with other ports, road, railway, power supply, gas connection, transit area, township and helipad.

This will require requisition of land and rehabilitation of the affected people.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan said the Sonadia deep-sea port would be a regional port. It will expand Bangladesh’s trade with China, Myanmar, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

During the recent visit to Beijing, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina discussed with her Chinese counterpart on the construction of deep- sea port and got assurance of assistance.

The minister said the shipping ministry has taken initiatives to construct the deep-sea port soon.

He said about Taka 13,000 crore would be required to complete the first phase of the deep-sea port project. The government will give 30 percent of the fund while the rest would come from public-private partnership.

Shipping Ministry Joint Secretary Abdul Quddus said work on the first phase of construction would begin in 2010 and end in 2017.

He said expenditures for the second phase (2026-2035) has been estimated at Taka 26,000 crore.

He said the deep-sea port would be constructed on 22,000 hectares of land at Sonadia of Kutubjom and Hoyanak union of Moheshkhali. Five international and four general cargo jetties would be constructed in the first phase.

The joint secretary said currently no ship more than nine meter deep can anchor at the Chittagong port. But 14-16 meter deep ships would be able to anchor at the deep-sea port.

AK Ahmed, coordinator of Pacific International of Japan that conducted feasibility study of the deep-sea port, said the Chittagong port now handle 10 lakh tons containers.

After completion of the first phase, the deep-sea port would be able to handle 7.41 crore containers.

Benapole port to be automated

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Benapole port to be automated
A Correspondent, Benapole

Benapole Port and Customs House is going to be brought under automation to make it modern and effective.

A daylong automation workshop, jointly organised by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and National Board of Revenue (NBR), was held at Benapole Customs Club yesterday.

This is the first time a land port is being brought under automation. Benapole Customs Commissioner Dr Abdul Mannan Shikder presided over the workshop.

Bangladesh, India, Nepal railway transit soon

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/04/12/news0526.htm

Bangladesh, India, Nepal railway transit soon
Syful Islam

Bangladesh, India and Nepal are going to start three country railway transits with a view to strengthening trade and economic ties among these neighbouring nations, official sources said.

India and Bangladesh have already agreed Rohanpur-Singabad and Radhikapur-Biral rail route connectivity which are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to start the communication.

Railway communication both for goods and passenger transportation among the three countries will start once the MoU is signed, sources added.

Commerce Secretary Mozammel Huq Khan said a proposal to sign MoU has been sent to India in this regard. He hoped that the issue will be resolved very soon.

Shipping Ministry sources said Bangladesh is ready to let Nepal to use its Chittagong and Mongla ports fro international trade. Besides, it will also let Nepal to use Mongla port at reduced charge. Mongla port will also give Nepal necessary lands as lease for building warehouse.

According to statistics, at present only 20 per cent capacity of Mongla port is being used.

Transpiration of goods to Nepal through Mongla port had began in 1997 but it was halted soon after.

Commerce Ministry sources said Nepal may seek more facilities in case of using Chittagong port. Nepal is using the port since 1979 and handling cement, cement clinker, rice, wheat and other goods. But Nepal has stopped using the port since 2000.

Sources said Bangladesh and Nepal will sit for Commerce Secretary level meeting on May 3-4 followed by similar meeting between Bangladesh and India.

Commerce Secretary Golam Hosen yesterday told The New Nation that during the Bangladesh-Nepal meeting use of sea port, rail connectivity, air cargo service, infrastructure development and transport modality agreement will get priority.

Bashundhara to set up giant Cement Mill with capacity of million MTs a year

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/04/14/news0707.htm

Agreement signing with Bank Asia on syndicated loan held: Bashundhara to set up giant Cement Mill with capacity of million MTs a year

Business report

The Bashundhara Industrial Complex Limited (BICL), youngest enterprise of the leading business and industrial conglomerate in the country – the Bashundhara Group (BG), has entered an agreement with the Bank Asia as the lead arranger and six of its consortium member banks for funding and enterprise development.

A giant cement mill with installed capacity of producing approximately a million metric tons of best quality cement a year is being set up at Madanganj on the bank of the river Shitalakha in Narayanganj under the latest enterprise development scheme. The complex is being set up on an area of 12.5 acres of land.

Chairman of the Bashundhara Group Ahmed Akbar Sobhan and Managing Director of the Bank Asia Mr. Erfanuddin Ahmed signed the agreement in favor of their respective entities at a function that took place at the Westin Dhaka on Monday.

Additional Managing Director of the Bashundhara Group Safwan Sobhan, Senior Deputy Managing Director of the BG Belayet Hossain, Advisor (Press & Media) Mohammad Abu Tayeb, Executive Director M Fakhruddin and Senior General Manager (Commercial) Shawkat Akbar and representatives from the consortium member banks, senior bankers among others joined the agreement signing ceremony.

The Madanganj project has been planned and subsequently taken up for quick implementation at the back of ever increasing demands of quality cement in the middle and southeastern region of the country.

The “King Brand Cement” of the Meghna Cement Mills Limited, an enterprise of the Bashundhara Group, is long been the most consumer chosen brand in the northern region of the country. The enterprise is often facing hurdle to address the fast growing demands of cement alone in the southwestern region of the country.

The project is being implemented at an estimated cost of Taka 1200 million. More investment in the project is likely in the expansion and modernization phases to be taken up later on.

Addressing the gathering Chairman of the Bashundhara Group Ahmed Akbar Sobhan lauded the investment friendly environment in the country. He welcomed both the honorable Prime Minister and the honorable leader of the opposition in parliament to be rational in their political approaches and become the promoters of the congenial atmosphere in the country in the years to come.

“I understand, economic emancipation and ultimate devolvement are barely impossible without political stability and good governance”.

The Bank Asia, lead arranger to the mega project, is to lend Taka 200 million while its consortium members to provide the rest of the funds under soft terms and conditions.

The Jamuna Bank Limited to lend Taka 200 million, the Standard Bank Limited Taka 100 million, the International Finance and Investment Company Limited (IFIC) Taka 200 million, the Social Islamic Bank Limited (SIBL) Taka 250 million, the Dutch Bangla Bank Limited (DBBL) Taka 100 million, Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited (BCBL) Taka 80 million and the Saudi- Bangladesh Industrial and Agricultural Investment Company Limited (SABINCO) Taka 70 million as the consortium members.

The BICL is likely to generate 12000 direct and indirect employments and help save smart amount of foreign exchange by cutting cement import to a large extent. The project is to play a significant role in the overall improvement of infrastructure.

Govt draws huge plan to link country with Asian Highway

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=97804&date=2010-04-17

Govt draws huge plan to link country with Asian Highway
Munima Sultana

The government has planned to expand the country’s key highways and bridges at a cost of 158.91 billion taka to link Bangladesh with the Asian highway-a network of 141,000 kilometres of roads encompassing 32 nations including Europe.

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has drawn up 23 projects to execute the giant construction work in the sixth five year development plan that begins in July next year, officials said Thursday.

The expanded road network will link the country with the Asian Highway through Sylhet, Jessore and Panchagarh border, boosting trade and economic growth by ushering in a new era of connectivity with the continent’s top powerhouses.

“We have already started implementing some of the projects to connect the country with the Asian Highway (AH),” said M Mahbub Ul Alam, a RHD superintend engineer who looks after the Bangladeshi part of the AH.

The rest of the projects would be financed partly by the government and the development partners, Mr. Mahbub said.

He added the Prime Minister in her next tour to Malaysia and South Korea would seek support for some projects. The anti-poverty lenders, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, are also keen to bank-roll the expansion work.

“We need donors assistance to complete the projects in time. Some projects would also be implemented through public-private-partnership,” he said.

Bangladesh joined the Asian Highway in July last year, some five years after the Bangkok-based UN-ESCAP kick-started the world’s largest transport network with blessing from top Asian giants including China and India.

Officials said under the projects, major national highways and bridges would be expanded into four lanes in line with the standards set by AH’s executing agency United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

The ESCAP has proposed Bangladesh join the Asian Highway through two routes. First one starts at Benapole in Jessore and ends at Tamabil. The second AH-2 route starts at Banglabandha and ends at Tamabil.

Officials said the Awami League government has in principle okayed the routes which begins and ends in India. The previous BNP-led government delayed signing the deal, as it wanted the country to link with the Asian Highway through Myanmar.

A sub-regional route called AH-41 has also been proposed connecting the Mongla and Chittagong seaports with Myanmar through Teknaf border. The total route length is 1,806 kilometre of which 1,199 km roads have two lanes and 584 km roads have only one.

RHD officials said the ADB has started surveying the roads on the two routes to find out their conditions. It is understood, the development lender may recommend changes to upgrade the roads in line with AH standards.

“We expect funds from the development partners after the study,” said another official.

The ESCAP said its secretariat is now working with member countries to identify financial sources for the construction of the gigantic road network and improve its transport capacity and efficiency.

Though the United Nations’ agency has already invested a total of US$26 billion in the improvement and upgradation of the network, there is still a shortfall of US$18 billion.

RHD officials said among the 23 projects, upgradation of Bohaddarhat-approach road of the third Karnaphuli bridge and the Jatrabari-Demra road into four lane have been undertaken with government funding.

They said the government has sought credit from China to construct two more bridges on the river Meghna on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway as the existing two-lane bridges are struggling to accommodate increasing number of traffic.

The ADB has said it would bankroll the Bogra-Natore road upgradation and Benapol-Jessore-Bhatiapara road improvement project.

The mammoth Asian Highway was cinceived in 1959 aimed at promoting trade and connectivity among the countries within the continent.

The Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network was adopted on 18 November 2003 by an inter-governmental meeting at Bangkok. It entered into force on 4 July 2005.

Plans to build 52,000 units for people from low income bracket

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Rajuk to launch project for flats
Plans to build 52,000 units for people from low income bracket
Helemul Alam

Implementation of a Rajuk plan for construction of around 52,000 flats for lower and lower middle-income people under three massive projects begins on Wednesday.

Of the flats, 22,525 will be built under Uttara Residential Model Town Phase-3 project, 20,000 under Purbachal New Town Project and about 10, 000 under Jhilmil Residential Project of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk)

The projects are likely to be completed in five years, said a top official of Rajuk.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for construction of the flats at Uttara Model Town on Wednesday formally kicking off execution of the three projects.

Rajuk Chairman Md Nurul Huda said the flats will be allotted to applicants in eight instalments, and an allotment guideline will be prepared within three months.

Applications for allotment of the flats will be invited in June or July, he told The Daily Star.

Construction of flats on 215 acres of land at Sector-18 of Uttara Phase-3 will start in November.

The Rajuk chairman mentioned that the project proposal for Uttara flats is now awaiting approval of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council. And that for the flats at Jhilmil awaits approval of the housing and public works ministry.

The project proposal for Purbachal flats will be sent to the housing and public works ministry within a month, he added.

At Uttara, 160 buildings will be constructed — each 15-storey–

at an estimated cost of around Tk 8,633 crore. The fund will come from allotment of the flats, said the official.

“The buildings will have solar power apart from normal electricity supply. We also plan to provide the facility of rain harvesting,” he said.

Some 9,224 flats will be constructed under the Jhilmil project.

These will include 3,284 flats of 1,001 to 1,200 square feet each, 4,377 flats of 801 to 1,000 sqft and 1,563 of 600 to 800 sqft .

At Purbachal, there will be 7,000 flats of 850 sqft and 1,250 sqft , and 6,000 flats of 1,500 sqft, said the official.

Construction of $2.4b Padma bridge begins in December

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Construction of $2.4b Padma bridge begins in December
Staff Correspondent

Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain yesterday said construction of the $2.4 billion Padma multi-purpose bridge would begin in December this year with a target of finishing the work by 2013.

He placed a detailed schedule on the construction plan of the bridge at a joint press conference with the donors at a city hotel.

Ellen Goldstein, country director of World Bank, said donors desired speedy implementation of the bridge but they would not compromise with the work quality.

Abul Hossain said pre-qualification tender document for the main bridge has been approved in concurrence with the development partners by April 10.

Tender notice for pre-qualification of bidders has been published in the newspapers and they have been asked to submit their proposals by June 8, he said, adding that the date will not be extended further.

According to the plan, the government would appoint the contractor for main bridge construction by October 2010 after finalising pre-qualification of the bidders.

Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Abdul Karim, Communications Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, ADB Country Director Paul J Heyetns and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Representative Takao Toda participated in the programme.

Five short-listed consulting firms will submit their proposals on supervision work by May 13 and their appointment is likely to be finalised by August.

The minister told the press that the government started handing over cheques to first-phase project-hit people by recruiting some NGOs for smooth implementation of the resettlement.

According to the ministry proposal, the bridge, which will be 6.15km in length, 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 $615 million, Islamic Development Bank $130 million and JICA $300 million.

Chittagong port ready to open up to neighbours

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Chittagong port ready to open up to neighbours
Says CPA chairman
Staff Correspondent, Chittagong

Chittagong port is ready to carry out the government’s decision to open it to neighbouring countries, said Chittagong Port Authority Chairman RU Ahmed yesterday.

To enhance the port’s dynamism and efficiency, various development projects are now under implementation, the CPA chief added.

He was speaking at a ceremony on the port’s 123rd founding anniversary at the Chittagong Port Training Institute auditorium.

Focusing on the port’s performances, he said the port handled a record number of container and cargo in 2009 when the number of vessels reported at the port was also a record.

During the period, the port handled 11,61,470 TEUs (Twenty Equivalent Units) of containers, up from 10,69,999 TEUs the previous year, and 3,48,44,574 tonnes of cargos against 2,81,97,569 tonnes in 2008.

Two thousand one hundred and sixty seven vessels reported at the port in 2009. The numbers were 2,099 and 1,945 in the past two years.

CPA also succeeded in bringing down the container dwell time (average stay time of container) to 16.68 days from 18.28 days and 22.92 days in 2008 and 2007 respectively and sustained the ship turnaround time at 2.48 days from 5.02 days in 2007, the port authority chairman said.

However, the volume of export and import container handled at the inland container depot (ICD) in Dhaka decreased to 63,780 TEUs from 82,454 TEUs in 2008 and 80,714 in 2007.

Chittagong port earned Tk 1133.72 crore in 2008-09 fiscal year in revenues that were Tk 1057.04 crore in 2007-08 and Tk 830.02 crore in 2006-07.

“We had a revenue surplus of Tk 464.41 crore after paying Tk 273.56 crore in taxes,” RU Ahmed said.

Giving details on ongoing projects, he said installation of container terminal management system (CTMS) and MIS, which aims at computerising container terminal operation at the port, is expected to complete by the year-end.

“Sixty percent of the projects has already been done.”

If CTMS is implemented, electronic or automation system will replace the paper-based documentation and increase the port’s efficiency by several times, RU Ahmed added.

To enhance handling activities, an agreement was signed to procure 16 handling equipment. Some of the equipment, including six straddle carriers, five reach stackers and five forklifts, are expected to reach the port in a month or two, Ahmed further said.

“CPA has got approval of the cabinet purchase committee to engage contractors to develop backward facilities behind the berth number four and five to ensure utmost use of New Mooring container terminal.”

Tender has been floated for pre-qualification bidding to appoint a contractor for the much awaited capital dredging and bank protection project, he added.

Replying to a query of a journalist the CPA chairman also said tender processing might be completed by May or June to procure a floating crane with a capacity ranging from 400 tonnes to 600 tonnes by the middle of next year.

Regarding steps to strengthen security, he said a two-stage gate was set up and opened on December 19 last year as part of introducing digital system in maintaining security.

Govt set to build Joydevpur-N’ganj elevated expressway

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Govt set to build Joydevpur-N’ganj elevated expressway
Staff Correspondent

The government is set to launch final bidding and embark on construction of the much-hyped Joydevpur-Narayanganj elevated expressway soon with exemption from existing rules, Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain said at a seminar yesterday.

The ministry has already short-listed four bidders out of nine through a pre-qualification bidding and is now ready to go for final bidding soon, said the minister.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) organised the seminar on ‘Traffic Congestions in Dhaka City: Challenges and Options’ at the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

The communications ministry on November 18, 2009 embarked on the $2-billion project to build the 32.5km elevated expressway.

“We will now go directly for tender bidding and then start execution immediately,” said Hossain, “We sought for exemption from existing rules to go for speedy execution of the project and the government gave us the waiver.”

The ministry has also invited tender bidding for pre-qualification for construction of the Padma Bridge.

The Japanese government has given a hint that they will finance 80 percent of the expressway project and will finalise it during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit, he said. A Japanese team will submit a report on the project in the next two months.

The cabinet committee on economic affairs on October 20 exempted the project from rules of Private Infrastructure Committee, Major Terms and Conditions Committee and Bangladesh Private Sector Infrastructure Guidelines to save time.

Country’s leading transport experts have always emphasised on an adequate and credible feasibility study for such a mega project.

According to the experts, the government should first ensure proper parking management, optimum use of the existing road spaces, and removal of bottlenecks and small-scale improvement of traffic network as some immediate measures to resolve Dhaka’s traffic mess.

CILT Vice Prescient Karar Mahmudul Hasan in a presentation said that the government should restrict any further registration of new private cars in the capital, remove truck stands from inside the city, free footpaths and avenues from illegal occupancy and phase out rickshaws to bring some relief in the horrendous traffic mess.

Replying to why the government cannot free the city’s roads and footpaths from illegal occupancy, the minister said it is the job of DCC claiming it has “relieved considerably the misery of city dwellers”.

The government intends to complete the construction of a flyover from Mirpur-10 to New Airport Road by 1212, said the minister.

While presiding over the seminar, CILT President Syed Rezaul Hayat said that a mass transport system is the ultimate solution to the mass people’s need

Govt set to build Joydevpur-N’ganj elevated expressway

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=135826

Govt set to build Joydevpur-N’ganj elevated expressway
Staff Correspondent

The government is set to launch final bidding and embark on construction of the much-hyped Joydevpur-Narayanganj elevated expressway soon with exemption from existing rules, Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain said at a seminar yesterday.

The ministry has already short-listed four bidders out of nine through a pre-qualification bidding and is now ready to go for final bidding soon, said the minister.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) organised the seminar on ‘Traffic Congestions in Dhaka City: Challenges and Options’ at the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

The communications ministry on November 18, 2009 embarked on the $2-billion project to build the 32.5km elevated expressway.

“We will now go directly for tender bidding and then start execution immediately,” said Hossain, “We sought for exemption from existing rules to go for speedy execution of the project and the government gave us the waiver.”

The ministry has also invited tender bidding for pre-qualification for construction of the Padma Bridge.

The Japanese government has given a hint that they will finance 80 percent of the expressway project and will finalise it during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit, he said. A Japanese team will submit a report on the project in the next two months.

The cabinet committee on economic affairs on October 20 exempted the project from rules of Private Infrastructure Committee, Major Terms and Conditions Committee and Bangladesh Private Sector Infrastructure Guidelines to save time.

Country’s leading transport experts have always emphasised on an adequate and credible feasibility study for such a mega project.

According to the experts, the government should first ensure proper parking management, optimum use of the existing road spaces, and removal of bottlenecks and small-scale improvement of traffic network as some immediate measures to resolve Dhaka’s traffic mess.

CILT Vice Prescient Karar Mahmudul Hasan in a presentation said that the government should restrict any further registration of new private cars in the capital, remove truck stands from inside the city, free footpaths and avenues from illegal occupancy and phase out rickshaws to bring some relief in the horrendous traffic mess.

Replying to why the government cannot free the city’s roads and footpaths from illegal occupancy, the minister said it is the job of DCC claiming it has “relieved considerably the misery of city dwellers”.

The government intends to complete the construction of a flyover from Mirpur-10 to New Airport Road by 1212, said the minister.

While presiding over the seminar, CILT President Syed Rezaul Hayat said that a mass transport system is the ultimate solution to the mass people’s need.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Govt targets Tk 92,847cr in revenue next fiscal

http://www.newagebd.com/2010/apr/16/busi.html#1
Govt targets Tk 92,847cr in revenue next fiscal
Staff Correspondent
The government is likely to set a revenue target of Tk 92,847 crore for the next financial year’s budget, said finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on Thursday.
The target is 16.81 per cent higher than that of the current fiscal year, for which the government set a revenue target of Tk 79,481 crore.
Muhith revealed the new revenue target at a pre-budget meeting with lawmakers in the finance ministry’s auditorium.
He also said the National Board of Revenue may set its revenue target from taxes and duties for the next fiscal year at Tk 72,590 crore. The target is 19 per cent more than that of the current fiscal year, which was set at Tk 61,000 crore.
Muhith also said that the target for non-NBR revenue, which is now Tk 2,200 crore, would be set at Tk 3,200 crore. The non-tax revenue target will be set at Tk 17,057 crore.
The ambitious revenue target is mainly aimed at coping with the pressure of a big budget of Tk 1,32,000 crore the next fiscal year.
Primary projections put the next Annual Development Programme at Tk 38,000 crore, 37 per cent higher than the revised one for the current fiscal year.
Sources said that the NBR plans to widen the tax net and engage lawmakers and representatives of local government in the process of realising its target.
NBR officials said more the than 1,000 students would be outsourced in a bid to net new taxpayers.
An NBR survey has spotted 1.78 lakh people who are eligible to become new taxpayers, mostly businesspeople and professionals, in six metropolitan cities.
The survey, launched last December by the NBR, is aimed at raising income tax earnings by widening the tax net. Of the new taxpayers, the number in Dhaka is 1.34 lakh and the rest are from the five other metropolitan cities.
NBR officials believe the newly found taxpayers will contribute a lot to fulfil the ambitious revenue target for the coming fiscal year.

Muhith: RMG exporters to get stimulus in a month

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Muhith: RMG exporters to get stimulus in a month
Star Business Report
Finance Minister AMA Muhith has assured readymade garment exporters of implementation of the government’s Tk 1,000 crore second stimulus package in a month.
“To finalise the package for the RMG sector within the stipulated time, another taskforce, with the central bank officials at the helm, has already been formed,” Muhith told reporters after a meeting with the leaders of BGMEA and BKMEA at his office in Dhaka yesterday.
On a query, the minister pointed to the government’s decision to make some changes in the original documents of the stimulus that was declared last November. “Now we’ll offer stimulus to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which were not incorporated in the original documents.”
Any garment factory owner exporting clothes worth $250 million would be considered an SME.
There are at least 1,500 SMEs in the apparel sector, according to the industry people.
Under the bailout plan, such SMEs will be entitled to exemption of licence renewal fee for captive power plants, the finance minister said, adding that RMG exporters would also enjoy a cut in taxes on house rent and loan rescheduling facilities.
On the minister’s assurance, Fazlul Hoque, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said, “We’ll be very happy, if the package is implemented within the set time.”
Pointing to the energy crunch in the industrial sector, Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, demanded that the government withdraw the peak hour rate, minimum charges and recently increased gas and power tariffs for the RMG sector.
“We still experience a negative growth in RMG exports, so stimulus is necessary for the revival of the sector,” he said.
The November 25 bailout plan, which aims to cushion global recession fallout, earmarks compensation package for the captive power plants used in industrial units from November 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.
It also offers bank loan re-scheduling facility without any down payment up to June 30, 2010 from October 2009 at a 10 percent interest rate instead of the current 13 percent for the RMG and textile sectors and 5 percent cash incentives for new export destinations for three years.
The exporters will get 5 percent cash incentives in the first year, 4 percent in the second year and 2 percent in the third and final year.
According to the package document, members of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) will receive this facility only for direct export of yarn.
Forward exchange booking is a must for exporting home textile in other currencies than dollar. This sub-sector will also receive the bank loan re-scheduling facility.

NBR to simplify tax return form

http://www.newagebd.com/2010/apr/19/busi.html#8
NBR to simplify tax return form
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka
The National Board of Revenue is going to introduce a simplified two-page income tax return form for the convenience of the taxpayers.
‘The NBR will introduce a simple two-page tax return form for the marginal taxpayers,’ NBR chairman Nasiruddin Ahmed said, in a programme arranged to honour new taxpayers of Karwanbazaar in the capital.
Tax Zone-3 of Dhaka arranged the programme in the Institute of Chartered Accountants Bangladesh premises to handover income tax certificates to the new taxpayers.
The NBR chairman said that the government would make the tax returns system easier in the budget for the upcoming fiscal by introducing the simplified form for small taxpayers.
He also assured the small taxpayers that the government will ensure convenient locations for them to pay income tax.
Ahmed also singled out lack of knowledge on payment of income tax as one of the major reasons for the poor tax culture.
In this connection, the NBR chairman said that his organisation would start a training programme for taxpayers, especially businessmen, from July 1 on payment of income tax.
He also assured them of stern action against tax officials who harass the taxpayers.
NBR member (income tax policy) Aminur Rahman informed the businessmen that taxmen will meet them to collect income tax before the deadline for filing tax returns.
NBR member (tax survey and inspection) Shamvu Nath warned that the revenue collecting authority would be empowered to take legal action against the tax evaders who conceal their actual income.
He preferred a motivational campaign to net more new taxpayers, but vowed action for non-cooperation in the survey.
He instructed the surveyors not to harass marginal taxpayers, and to help them fill in return forms.

Govt to amend foreign exchange regulation act to attract FDI

http://www.newagebd.com/2010/apr/29/busi.html#2
Govt to amend foreign exchange regulation act to attract FDI
Asif Showkat
The government has decided to amend the foreign exchange regulation act 1947 for attracting more foreign investments into the country, official sources said.
It will also amend the Bankers’ Book Evidence Act 1891 for making it time-befitting.
To this end, the finance ministry on Tuesday formed a five-member committee headed by the executive director of foreign exchange policy department of Bangladesh Bank.
Other members of the committee are deputy secretary of the law and parliamentary affair ministry (Bank and financial institutions division), general managers of the FEPD and banking regulation and policy department of Bangladesh Bank.
The committee would submit its report to the authorities concerned within two months while the Bangladesh Bank would provide the committee secretarial assistance.
‘The government wants to attract more foreign investments by making the act time-befitting for the foreign investors,’ said a senior official of the finance ministry.
The official pointed out that capital account is still not transferable under the existing foreign exchange regulation act.
The committee would give suggestions after examining the provisions of foreign exchange regulation act 1947 in comparison with that of neighboring countries.
But some Bangladesh Bank sources claimed that Bangladesh’s foreign exchange regulation act is more liberal compared to that of India and Pakistan.
They pointed out that people are transferring up to $ 5,000 from the country for medical and education purposes.
‘The country’s capital account is not still transferable but the current account is liberal,’ one of the officials said.
Executive director of D-Net Ananya Raihan told New Age that the country’s foreign exchange act is of old days compared to that of India.
‘The local investor does not invest in foreign countries as there is a bar under the country’s foreign exchange act,’ he said.
Raihan said that local people are not yet transferring their money through online channels, abiding by the foreign exchange rules.
‘Indian people are already transferring their money through online channels under its foreign exchange act,’ he added.
Former chairman of Regulatory Reforms Commission Akbar Ali Khan said that the government should conduct a thorough research into the probable changes to the foreign exchange regulatory acts.

Bangladeshi company develops arsenicosis medicines

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=126116

Bangladeshi company develops arsenicosis medicines
Unb, Dhaka

Viola Vitalis, a Bangladeshi company, has developed Arsenicure, an ointment for treatment of external symptoms, and Ars-detox, a capsule formulation to neutralise the accumulated arsenic inside the body.

The founder of Viola Vitalis, young scientist Dr Abdul Kader, made the announcement at a press conference held at the National Press Club yesterday morning.

Bangladesh Academy of Sciences and Viola Vitalis jointly organised the press conference.

Addressing the press conference, Dr Abdul Kader said there are certain specific problems, which are only encountered in developing countries but not experienced in the developed countries. In the developing countries, marginal people are mostly the victims of arsenicosis.

But, he said, the pharmaceutical or nutraceutical companies are not interested to develop products or services for the marginal people as their only “interest is on return on investment”.

Dr Kader said Viola Vitalis and Allium Vitals have developed an innovative system, which has been found effective to address arsenicosis problems.

He said that Viola Vitalis in cooperation with Helmholtz Centre for Environment Research, Leipzig, Germany are now developing ‘biosensor to detect specific arsenic contamination’ from water samples which will be user-friendly.

Dr Kader said: “The nutraceuticals are made based on natural preparations. It has been tested on animals. All ingredients are classified as GRAS by the FDA (Federal Drug Administration of United States Government). Generally, it is recognised as safe for human consumption.”

Secretary of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences and former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Prof Naiyyum Chowdhury, scientist Prof Dr Amir H Khan and representative of the Helmholtz Centre for Environment Research Carola Endes also spoke at the press conference.

Pharma companies brace for new phase

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Pharma companies brace for new phase
Analysts suggest innovations as patent looms on generic drugs

Sayeda Akter

Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies should prepare to maintain growth in local sales and exports and remain competitive in the post-2016 period, when patents will be imposed on all generic drugs, analysts suggest.

Upgrading product quality is one area the companies should focus on, they said. Other suggestions include capacity building in research and engineering and the setting-up of an active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) park to help local companies face the challenge.

Capacity building means innovations, strengthening reverse engineering, training local people and upgrading technology. An API park will help produce raw materials locally and innovate ingredients as well.

The word ‘generic’ is used to describe a product, particularly a drug, which does not have a trademark. For example, ‘paracetamol’ is a chemical ingredient that is found in many branded painkillers and is often sold as a generic medicine in its own right.

In 2001, under the trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS), the World Trade Organisation allowed developing and poor nations to produce generic drugs until 2016 without compulsory licences or paying the patent holders.

According to TRIPS, the least-developed country members of WTO will not have to apply for copyrights for a period of 10 years from the date of application, so they will be able to create a viable technological base for public health.

With that, the WTO trade rules have allowed developing and poor countries — mostly without own drugs industry — to issue a compulsory licence to a third country, such as India or Brazil, to produce cheap generic drugs and to import these to address a public health crisis.

Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), thinks Bangladesh is yet to enjoy the full benefits of the deal.

“As a least developed country (LDC), we must make use of the opportunity to make lifesaving drugs without paying for patents or licensing. Our local pharmaceutical plants are of international standards and we have better infrastructure, which made it easy for us to benefit from the WTO deal.

“The government needs to take policy measures to safeguard the increasing pharmaceutical industry,” Rahman said. “Initially, the government should set up an API park to enhance capacity with advanced research facility.”

“Least developed countries have sought an extension of the deadline from 2016 to 2021. We have to aggressively negotiate on this point to extend the deadline by five more years,” Rahman said.

Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, a trustee of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, echoed Rahman. He said the government should encourage investment in raw materials production to face intense price competition in the coming days on locally-manufactured products.

“The first effect of the post-2016 era will be the cost of patents, which will increase raw material prices, and eventually the prices of locally manufactured products,” Chowdhury said.

“At present, most large local pharmaceuticals have to depend on imported raw materials. So it is high time the government encouraged investment in raw material production,” he said. “Otherwise, the present growth in local sales and exports may not sustain.”

There are 250 small, medium and large local and multinational pharmaceuticals operating in Bangladesh, while only seven are producing raw materials.

Currently, the local pharmaceutical market is worth around Tk 7,000 crore. Around 80 percent of total raw materials are imported mainly from China, said industry insiders.

However, local manufacturers are optimistic about maintaining present growth in the post-2016 period.

Mizanur Rahman Sinha, managing director of Acme Laboratories, said the rising prices of medicines will not have a harsh impact on the local consumption of lifesaving products.

“We are ready to embrace the challenge that is likely to hit many Third World pharmaceutical manufacturers. As a method of caution, we are constantly upgrading the quality of our manufacturing plants and products.”

“The quality of our products is far better than any other LDC and most major companies have obtained MHRA (UK) and FDA (US) certification for their products. So I do not think medicine consumption will drop overnight,” added the Acme boss.

Mohammad Mostafa Hassan, general manager of Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd, said huge investment is required to produce raw materials.

“We are optimistic that advanced technological bases to produce new molecules are likely to be developed locally by 2013-14, when investment in the sector will increase manifold,” he said. “We plan to invest in raw material production by that time.”

However, Nazmul Hasan, member of the parliamentary standing committee on health ministry, thinks the time limit should extended, as developing and poor countries are yet to optimally benefit from the deal.

“Most developing and poor countries are yet not enjoying the benefits of the WTO deal. At the same time, WTO still could not finalise the list of patented products,” he said. “We need more time to safeguard the sector, and the timeline should be extended up to 2021.”

Acknowledging poor government preparations in this regard, he said the government is set to handover the API to local pharmaceuticals by the end of this year, which will accelerate capacity building.

sayeda@thedailystar.net