Sunday, January 30, 2011

19 secrets of Windows XP

1. It boasts how long it can stay up. Whereas previous versions of Windows were coy about how long they went between boots, XP is positively proud of its stamina. Go to the Command Prompt in the Accessories menu from the All Programs start button option, and then type 'systeminfo'. The computer will produce a lot of useful info, including the uptime. If you want to keep these, type 'systeminfo > info.txt'. This creates a file called info.txt you can look at later with Notepad. (Professional Edition only).

2. You can delete files immediately, without having them move to the Recycle Bin first. Go to the Start menu, select Run... and type ' gpedit.msc'; then select User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Explorer and find the Do not move deleted files to the Recycle Bin setting. Set it. Poking around in gpedit will reveal a great many interface and system options, but take care -- some may stop your computer behaving as you wish. (Professional Edition only).a

3. You can lock your XP workstation with two clicks of the mouse. Create a new shortcut on your desktop using a right mouse click, and enter 'rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation' in the location field. Give the shortcut a name you like. That's it -- just double click on it and your computer will be locked. And if that's not easy enough, Windows key + L will do the same.

4. XP hides some system software you might want to remove, such as Windows Messenger, but you can tickle it and make it disgorge everything. Using Notepad or Edit, edit the text file /windows/inf/sysoc.inf, search for the word 'hide' and remove it. You can then go to the Add or Remove Programs in the Control Panel, select Add/Remove Windows Components and there will be your prey, exposed and vulnerable.

5. For those skilled in the art of DOS batch files, XP has a number of interesting new commands. These include 'eventcreate' and 'eventtriggers' for creating and watching system events, 'typeperf' for monitoring performance of various subsystems, and 'schtasks' for handling scheduled tasks. As usual, typing the command name followed by /? will give a list of options -- they're all far too baroque to go into here.

6. XP has IP version 6 support -- the next generation of IP. Unfortunately this is more than your ISP has, so you can only experiment with this on your LAN. Type 'ipv6 install' into Run... (it's OK, it won't ruin your existing network setup) and then 'ipv6 /?' at the command line to find out more. If you don't know what IPv6 is, don't worry and don't bother.

7. You can at last get rid of tasks on the computer from the command line by using 'taskkill /pid' and the task number, or just 'tskill' and the process number. Find that out by typing 'tasklist', which will also tell you a lot about what's going on in your system.

8. XP will treat Zip files like folders, which is nice if you've got a fast machine. On slower machines, you can make XP leave zip files well alone by typing 'regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll' at the command line. If you change your mind later, you can put things back as they were by typing 'regsvr32 zipfldr.dll'.

9. XP has ClearType -- Microsoft's anti-aliasing font display technology -- but doesn't have it enabled by default. It's well worth trying, especially if you were there for DOS and all those years of staring at a screen have given you the eyes of an astigmatic bat. To enable ClearType, right click on the desktop, select Properties, Appearance, Effects, select ClearType from the second drop-down menu and enable the selection. Expect best results on laptop displays. If you want to use ClearType on the Welcome login screen as well, set the registry entry HKEY_USERS/.DEFAULT/Control Panel/Desktop/FontSmoothingType to 2.


10. You can use Remote Assistance to help a friend who's using network address translation (NAT) on a home network, but not automatically. Get your pal to email you a Remote Assistance invitation and edit the file. Under the RCTICKET attribute will be a NAT IP address, like 192.168.1.10. Replace this with your chum's real IP address -- they can find this out by going to

Code: ‹ Select ›
www.whatismyip.com


-- and get them to make sure that they've got port 3389 open on their firewall and forwarded to the errant computer.
11. You can run a program as a different user without logging out and back in again. Right click the icon, select Run As... and enter the user name and password you want to use. This only applies for that run. The trick is particularly useful if you need to have administrative permissions to install a program, which many require. Note that you can have some fun by running programs multiple times on the same system as different users, but this can have unforeseen effects.

This one will create a way to hacking too, if he do mischief Twisted Evil

12. Windows XP can be very insistent about you checking for auto updates, registering a Passport, using Windows Messenger and so on. After a while, the nagging goes away, but if you feel you might slip the bonds of sanity before that point, run Regedit, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Explorer/Advanced and create a DWORD value called EnableBalloonTips with a value of 0.

13. You can start up without needing to enter a user name or password. Select Run... from the start menu and type 'control userpasswords2', which will open the user accounts application. On the Users tab, clear the box for Users Must Enter A User Name And Password To Use This Computer, and click on OK. An Automatically Log On dialog box will appear; enter the user name and password for the account you want to use.

14. Internet Explorer 6 will automatically delete temporary files, but only if you tell it to. Start the browser, select Tools / Internet Options... and Advanced, go down to the Security area and check the box to Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed.

15. XP comes with a free Network Activity Light, just in case you can't see the LEDs twinkle on your network card. Right click on My Network Places on the desktop, then select Properties. Right click on the description for your LAN or dial-up connection, select Properties, then check the Show icon in notification area when connected box. You'll now see a tiny network icon on the right of your task bar that glimmers nicely during network traffic.

16. The Start Menu can be leisurely when it decides to appear, but you can speed things along by changing the registry entry HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Control Panel/Desktop/MenuShowDelay from the default 400 to something a little snappier. Like 0.

17. You can rename loads of files at once in Windows Explorer. Highlight a set of files in a window, then right click on one and rename it. All the other files will be renamed to that name, with individual numbers in brackets to distinguish them. Also, in a folder you can arrange icons in alphabetised groups by View, Arrange Icon By... Show In Groups.

18. Windows Media Player will display the cover art for albums as it plays the tracks -- if it found the picture on the Internet when you copied the tracks from the CD. If it didn't, or if you have lots of pre-WMP music files, you can put your own copy of the cover art in the same directory as the tracks. Just call it folder.jpg and Windows Media Player will pick it up and display it.

19. Windows key + Break brings up the System Properties dialogue box; Windows key + D brings up the desktop; Windows key + Tab moves through the taskbar buttons

Monday, January 24, 2011

Bangladesh can follow Korea’s power expertise


http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/others/30506-bangladesh-can-follow-koreas-power-expertise.html
Bangladesh can follow Korea’s power expertise
Staff Reporter
DHAKA, JAN 22:  Experts in power generation and distribution industry said, Bangladesh can take advantage of Korea’s experience to improve electricity generation and distribution system by reducing system loss. Both Bangladesh and Korea started power-sector development almost at the same time but the latter have gone far ahead while Bangladesh remained dwindled, they said in a seminar on Korea-Bangladesh Technical Seminar in the capital on Sunday.
Speaking as chief gust, Chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) ASM Alamgir Kabir said the government has planned for 14,000 MW electricity generation target by next five years.
“To achieve this target, Bangladesh will need technical assistance and Korean expertise will be very helpful,” he said.
Mr Kabir said the government has already signed 33 contracts for 3,000 MW electricity generation and planning to sign another 18-contracts for additional generation of 4,000 MW electricity within next 6-months.
He gave importance to Korean experts, whose expertise would help Bangladesh to attain greater productivity and efficiency in distribution system. Md Jamal Ullah, Managing Director of Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) said the government has planned to generate 7,000 MW electricity very soon.
In order to proper utilization of this generated power, Bangladesh need to build an efficient distribution where Korean experts can be very important, he said.
Bhuyan Shafiqul Islam, Chairman of Rural Electrification Board (REB) in his address said, Korea has reduced its system loss up to 4.0 per cent.
As we are looking for self-sufficiency by the year 2015, Bangladeshi experts can learn from their Korean counterparts.
The seminar was also addressed by Korean Ambassador in Bangladesh Taiyoung Cho, Kazi Kamal Uddin Ekram, Managing Director of KNASH Engineers Ltd, Vice President of KEPCO and the leader of Korean delegation Jung Keun Park.

Govt targets to double jute production in 2011-12 season


http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/business/5971.html
Govt targets to double jute production in 2011-12 season
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka
Inspired by the healthy production trend of jute as well as its better price and multipurpose use, the government is eying for a record production target of jute in the 2011-12 season.
In the upcoming season, some 7.5 lakh hectares of land would be brought under jute cultivation in the country aiming at producing 87.37 lakh bales, said Agriculture Information Service director Nazrul Islam. Per hectare production of jute has been projected at 10.6 bales.
The production target of jute in the upcoming season has been doubled as the farmers are now more encouraged on jute cultivation due to its rising demand as well as its increasing trend of price, he told the UNB.
The AIS director said that in the current season (2010-11), some 4.8 lakh hectares of land were brought under jute cultivation with a production of 50.76 lakh bales. Per hectare yield was 10.58 bales.
In the 2009-10 season, jute production was 49.39 lakh bales as some 4.56 lakh hectares of land were brought under cultivation. Per hectare yield was 10.83 bales.
Nazrul Islam informed that in the current fiscal, some 15 lakh farmers were provided with ribbon retting device worth Tk 30 crore and the method gained popularity among the farmers.
Bangladesh Jute Research Institute in cooperation with the Department of Agricultural Extension imparted training to the farmers on the use of ribbon retting on limited water.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, jute production ranged between 40-50 lakh bales from fiscal 2004-05 to 2008-09. The production of jute was 40.35 lakh bales in 2004-05 fiscal, 46.19 lakh bales in 2005-06 fiscal, 48.84 lakh bales in 2006-07 fiscal, 46.22 lakh bales in 2007-08 fiscal and 46.78 lakh bales in 2008-09.
The local jute industry, employing about 1,50,000 workers, is now the second largest export earner after RMG.
In fiscal 2009-10, the jute sector logged 76 per cent higher earnings at $736 million (Tk 5,225 crore) than the previous year and the demand remains buoyant in the current fiscal.
In the first six months of the current fiscal (July-December), export of jute and jute goods totalled $548.66 million, showing a 58.33 per cent rise. Raw jute exports fetched $184.66 million, jute yarn and twine $248.40 million, jute sack and jute bag $92.67 million while other jute products $22.93 million.
The jute sector in the country where 40 lakh farmers are engaged is also set to reap the benefits of the packaging law passed last year.
The law made it mandatory for certain percentage of food items and fertilizers to be packaged with jute materials to give a boost to the industry and cut the use of environmentally-harmful polypropylene bags.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Bangladesh missions achieve export target


http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/finance/30206-bangladesh-missions-achieve-export-target.html
Bangladesh missions achieve export target
UNB
Dhaka, Jan 20: Most of the Bangladesh missions abroad including key ones like Washington, Berlin, London, Ottawa, Madrid, The Hague and Paris achieved their export targets for the first six months of the current fiscal (July-December 2010). The total export earning for July-December was US$ 10263.64 million, an impressive 17.04 per cent higher than the target of US$ 8769.00 million and also 41 per cent more than the corresponding period of the last fiscal (2009-10).
Out of the 44 Bangladesh missions, 25 achieved their export targets for the first six months of the current fiscal (July-December), according to the latest statistics provided
by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
The well-performing 25 missions are New Delhi, The Hague, Berlin, Amman, Ottawa, Muscat, Hanoi, Canberra, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Riyadh, Dubai, Brussels, Moscow, Pretoria, Ankara, Paris, Tashkent, Washington, London, Stockholm, Singapore, Madrid, Katmandu and Rome.
Of the 19 missions that could not achieve their targets for July-Dec 2010, the export growth for 13 of them was higher than the corresponding period of last fiscal.

Bhutan transit takes shape


http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=170382
Bhutan transit takes shape
Refayet Ullah Mirdha
Bangladesh plans an exclusive waterway transit for Bhutan as a committee prepares the final documents to give transit facilities to neighbouring countries.
A senior member of the transit sub-committee said they are considering potential routes which could be included for regional connectivity, besides the conventional routes.
A waterway transit for Bhutan from Bangladesh’s Doikhawa border under Lalmonirhat district is likely, he said. This is a potential transit route for Bhutan, as the country is eager to use Mongla Port, he added.
“We have already identified major conventional transit routes for India, Nepal and Bhutan. Now we are spotting new routes for them. We are also planning for a railway transit among the South Asian nations,” the member said, asking not to be named.
Studies are still progressing on transit fees and infrastructures, he said. All five sub-committees are preparing the final report to submit to the government but he did not mention when it would be submitted.
Earlier, the government formed five sub-committees on December 13, assigning five specialists to give their input to Mojibur Rahman, chief of the core committee, who is also the chairman of Bangladesh Tariff Commission.
M Rahmatullah, former director of UN-ESCAP, is assigned to identify transit routes, infrastructures, investment and cost recovery and Hussein Ahmed, member of National Board of Revenue, is in charge of estimation of transit traffic, fees and charges.
Sadik Ahmed, executive director of Policy Research Institute, is convening the economic analysis, and Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of Centre for Policy Dialogue, is assigned to review key issues of transit and related international protocols.
Hussein Ahmed was also assigned on legal issues, including security, monitoring, anti-smuggling measures, international practices, domestic obligations and related matters.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signed the joint communiqué for regional transit including Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan on her visit to India last January.

Shipbuilding zone, maritime university on cards


http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=170873
Shipbuilding zone, maritime university on cards
Bss, Dhaka
The government plans to set up a separate shipbuilding industrial zone to help the potential industry flourish.
“The government has also decided to establish a maritime university, first of its kind in the country, to build skilled manpower suitable for the industry,” Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan said to the news agency yesterday.
A coastal area under Kalaroa upazila in Patuakhali district has been selected initially for the proposed zone, he said. “We are also considering building a seaport in the same area.”
The maritime university will be established on 40 acres in Chittagong Marine Academy, Khan said. “The proposal for setting up the university will be finalised at an inter-ministerial meeting Sunday.”
Six more marine academies will be set up in Narayanganj, Barisal, Sylhet, Pabna, Rangpur and Chittagong division, the minister added.
The government has taken steps to meet the sector’s global demand to regain its past glory, Khan said.
Bangladesh is now a member of the second grade governing body of IMO (International Maritime Organisation), he said. “Of 118 countries, 10 are the first grade members and another 10 belong to the second grade.”
The IMO Secretary General Efthimios E Mitropoulos, who visited Bangladesh recently, asked for setting up a separate shipbuilding industrial zone after taking a close look at the industry, Khan said.
“During the visit, the IMO official expressed satisfaction at the silent revolution that took place in Bangladesh’s shipbuilding industry and gave assurances of providing cooperation to this end.”
Bangladesh earned $18.2 million in the last six months from ship exports, $5.63 million up from the target, said Shipping Secretary Abdul Mannan Hawlader.
“The country fetched $0.89 million more in July-December 2010 period over the same time of 2009, and the period bears a fabulous growth rate of 1,924.72 percent.”
“The Chittagong Marine Academy now provides two-year cadetship. With the new university, the two-year course will be turned into an eight-year course to create world standard marine engineers in nautical, marine laws, port management and shipbuilding management,” said Commandant of Chittagong Marine Academy Sajid Hossain.

Bangladesh, UAE sign agreement on avoidance of double taxation


http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=170476
Bangladesh, UAE sign agreement on avoidance of double taxation
Unb, Abu Dhabi
Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates signed the avoidance of double taxation deal yesterday to boost the bilateral trade between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan inked the deal.
Dipu Moni and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to the gulf country to attend the Fourth World Future Energy Summit.

Japanese NGO launches new project


http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=123532&date=2011-01-21
Japanese NGO launches new project
FE Report
Shapla Neer, a Japanese NGO working in Bangladesh since 1972, has started a fair trade natural soap project to support women who are struggling to live and overcome their painful past, according to a press release.
Financed by Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), Shapla Neer has launched the new project to support underprivileged women in Bangladesh and Nepal through production of natural soap.
The natural soap made by those women are carefully blended with natural ingredient made in Nepal and Bangladesh and beautifully designed for Japanese consumers, and will be exported to Japan as an attractive fair trade product.
The soap will be sold in selected fashionable shops in Japan.

Rahimafrooz to assemble solar panels soon


http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=123530&date=2011-01-21
Rahimafrooz to assemble solar panels soon
Kamrun Nahar
Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Ltd (RRE) is set to start production of the country’s first solar panel assembling plant in Dhaka to serve the domestic need with solar home systems as their demand increases gradually amid severe power crunch.
“The solar panel assembling plant of a yearly capacity of 18 megawatt with an investment of Tk 400 million (40 crore) at Ashulia will start production by next May-June as per our plan,” RRE General Manager Sohel Ahmed told the FE recently.
He said the country will be able to save foreign currency, consumers will get solar panels at a lower price and the power supply will be smoother once these are manufactured in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh intends to add five per cent of the total electricity from renewable energy sources by 2015 and 10 per cent by 2020 to its power grid.
American company Spire Corporation will provide technological assistance in assembling solar photovoltaic manufacturing equipment, said Mr Ahmed, also head of business of RRE, a concern of Tk 15 billion Rahimafrooz Group.
Spire is the leading supplier in the design and manufacture of specialised equipment for producing photovoltaic solar modules, high quality photovoltaic systems and components.
“Spire will support us with their latest technology in manufacturing the best quality solar panels that we used to import at a higher cost than any other panels in the market. Now we will manufacture those panels in our plant with their technical knowledge, technology and support,” said Mr Ahmed.
At present most of the solar panels are imported from China the quality of which is not up to the mark all the time, said Mr Ahmed.
“That’s why we are importing state-of-the-art technology for manufacturing solar panels for the first time in Bangladesh,” he added.
The use of solar home systems has been increasing fast both in urban and the off-grid areas of rural Bangladesh backed by 22 to 24 NGOs that enjoy re-finance facility from state-run Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (IDCOL), which promotes renewable energy development.
RRE has been engaged in distributing solar systems for the last few years through its non-profit organisation Rural Services Foundation.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Steelmaker plans big


http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=170582
Steelmaker plans big
Zahirul Islam
Arun Bikash Dey, Ctg
PHP Group moves to expand and diversify, as it plans to make a strong foothold in the country’s steel industry. The company has recently acquired a steel mill at Ghorashal, AMK Steels Mill, to produce deformed bar.
“We wanted to expand our steel industry. At present we produce corrugated iron sheet in our PHP Cold Rolling Mills and PHP Continuous Galvanising Mills. Now we are going to make deformed bar in the new mill,” says Zahirul Islam, managing director of PHP Ispat Ltd, a sister concern of the group.
Islam shares his views with The Daily Star on the company’s latest move.
AMK Steels Mill that produces thermo mechanical treatment deformed bar was established in 2005. “The company was facing some problems, and those were hard for the company to avoid. So we acquired it for a renovation,” says Islam.
The net asset value of AMK Steels is around Tk 75 crore and the total asset value of the two mills is Tk 1,000 crore.
AMK Steels has been renamed PHP Ispat after acquisition.
PHP Cold Rolling Mills is the first of such mill in the country that started operations in 1999 and PHP Continuous Galvanising Mills started operations in 2001.
These two mills produce nearly 15,000 tonnes of corrugated iron sheet a month, meeting around 40 percent demand of the country. “Our annual turnover from the mills is Tk 2,000 crore.”
PHP Arabian Horse and PHP Arabian Horse Super are the two brands of the company’s tins.
The official says they expect an increase in annual turnover by Tk 500 crore with the latest acquisition.
The country needs nearly 17 lakh tonnes of thermo mechanical treatment deformed-bar and 60-grade bar a year, according to Bangladesh Re-rolling Mill Owners’ Association.
“We expect to produce one lakh tonnes a year and reach the three-lakh-tonne mark in the second or third year,” Islam says. “We hope to meet about 7 percent of Bangladesh’s total demand initially.”
The company exports its PHP Arabian Horse and PHP Arabian Horse Super tins to Europe and Africa. In case of deformed bar, he says the company targets to fulfil the domestic demands at first, as the country still depends on imports.
Islam says steel is one of the important sectors in Bangladesh. “The demand for rod will increase on a regular basis. We are heading to become a developed nation. So we want to produce the best quality rods and fulfil the country’s entire demand.”
“If we take initiatives to make best quality products then our competitors will also do so,” Islam says. “This healthy competition will let our people buy quality rods at competitive price.”

Major progress in e-bidding


http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=170599
Major progress in e-bidding

Rejaul Karim Byron
An electronic payment system will be introduced in February as a major breakthrough in the government bidding system, freeing the process of corruption and hassles.
The Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) of the planning ministry yesterday held final discussions with Bangladesh Bank and 12 commercial banks on the new system.
A high official of CPTU said the government is going to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the scheduled banks by the end of this month.
In the first phase of the electronic government procurement (e-GP) system, the contractors have to go to a CPTU-approved bank to pay cash, demand drafts of pay orders to sign up for the system, CPTU said.
The contractors must download tender documents and process tender security or bank guarantees.
In the second phase, there are possibilities of opening various channels such as ATM, debit card, credit card or internet banking.
In the second phase, CPTU will sit with respective e-payment providers for further discussion, the official said.
A Bangladesh Bank official told the meeting that the central bank is going to introduce the e-payment gateway which will enable the contractors to make payments staying home.
The meeting also discussed charges for e-payment and decided that the banks will fix their service charges but Bangladesh Bank may interfere to ensure that does not vary too much from bank to bank.
The headquarters of banks need to instruct their respective branches to receive e-payment, CPTU said. Banks agreed that after signing the MoU they would request their branches to receive e-payment through the e-GP dashboard.
CPTU informed banks that every bank should engage one appropriate focal person for this project, who will act on behalf of the bank and coordinate with CPTU as required.
Secretary of the IME Division Md Habib Ullah Majumder presided over the meeting organised by the CPTU. Director General of CPTU Amulya Kumar Debnath, Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank Nazneen Sultana, and CPTU Director Aziz Taher Khan were present on the occasion.
Representatives from different banks including Janata, Sonali, Agrani, Uttara, Pubali, National, Dutch-Bangla, UCBL, Krishi Bank and Islami Bank also attended the meeting.
The CPTU made a presentation on e-payment options in the e-GP system in the meeting. The bank representatives discussed the existing payment system, its capacity and how they can be involved in the process of electronic payment.
The CPTU is implementing the Public Procurement Reform Project-II (PPRP-II) supported by the World Bank. The e-GP, one of the four components of the PPRP-II, is going to be introduced initially at four target agencies — LGED, REB, WDB and RHD.

Plan to finance $120m to set up economic zones


http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=156150&date=2011-01-18
Plan to finance $120m to set up economic zones
DHAKA, Jan 18 (BSS) – The World Bank (WB) in collaboration with DFID and IFC will finance US$ 120 million to the proposed Private Sector Development Support Project (PSDSP) to set up economic zones in the country.
The US$ 120 million project aims to create a sustainable industrialization model by developing a public private partnership (PPP) approach to investment in zones.
The WB and Department for International Development (DFID) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) have successfully concluded negotiation for the PSDSP this month, according to a WB statement issued today.
The Investment Climate Assessment for Bangladesh identified lack of serviced land and quality infrastructure as the two recurring constraints for private sector development.
Economic Zones can be an important tool for attracting private investment, generating employment and accelerating economic growth.
Economic Zones will create increased linkages with the domestic economy by broadening and building on Bangladesh’s positive experience with Export Processing Zones.
The Government and the World Bank have agreed on Kaliakoir as the first site for developing an Economic Zone. The chosen site at Kaliakoir is Government- owned and no resettlement of people is needed.
The site is fenced, already semi-developed and over 50 percent of the land is elevated and requires no land fill. The site is also strategically located to take advantage of the rail link to the airport and Dhaka city.
The proposed project will finance public sector investment in infrastructure for the development of serviced land and leverage private financing for Economic Zone development.
The initiative will also focus on human resource development and better compliance with environmental and social standards.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Bangladesh to submit claim

Definition of Continental Shelf

The continental shelf is an undersea extension of a continent which can stretch for many miles out to sea in some cases. Many nations have asserted mineral and land rights to their associated continental shelves, since this region of the ocean is rich in natural resources such as marine life.

Minerals on the continental shelf are also significantly easier to extract than minerals on the floor of the ocean, since the continental shelf is relatively shallow by comparison. By convention, many countries defend their continental shelves as territorial waters, since they are concerned about the exploitation of their natural resources.


There are actually several parts to the continental shelf. The first part is the shelf itself, which starts below the shoreline of a continent. The shelf slopes gently as it stretches towards the deeper part of the ocean, until it reaches a certain point and drops off sharply, causing the waters above to rapidly become much deeper. This drop is called the continental break, and it occurs uniformly at around 460 feet (140 meters) of depth. It has been theorized that the continental break may mark the former sea level of the world's oceans.

After the continental break, the continental shelf takes a sharp downward turn, creating a geological feature called the continental slope. This feature transitions into the continental rise, a deposit of sediments which forms as a result of river and stream run off from the neighboring continent. Beyond the continental rise, one finds the ocean floor, along with a host of fascinating plant and animal life which remains largely unexplored due to the inaccessibility of the ocean floor.

In some instances, the continental shelf is very short, as is the case in subduction zones where one tectonic plate is being sucked below another. A well known example of a subduction zone can be found in the waters off the coast of Chile. In other cases, the continental shelf stretches for many miles out to sea. The feature is often visible from overhead, if the viewer looks for a marked change in the color of the water which reflects a sudden change in depth.



Dial 2000 from your GP mobile for latest news
Dhaka, Jan 9 (bdnews24.com) – The government is going to make its official submission in February to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf for demarcating the outer limits of its continental shelf.

"We've taken our best preparation to make our claim and after vetting by the ministries concerned draft claim will be approved by the cabinet. Hopefully, we can submit it by the end of February," foreign minister Dr Dipu Moni said after an inter-ministerial meeting on the issue on Sunday.

According to the continental shelf formula of 1982, a country can claim over 350 nautical miles outer limits from its coastline.

"We're submitting he proposal five months ahead of the schedule, as the sooner we submit the better it is for us," she said.

Bangladesh was scheduled to submit the report by July this year and it is the 53rd country in the world making the claim.

"The government will validate its claim by producing all relevant data and analyses, and it'll take eight to 10 years to reach a conclusion," Dipu said.

India and Myanmar have already submitted their claims on the outer limits of the continental shelf and Bangladesh has lodged 'objections' against their claims, she said.

"It's possible that they will also lodge similar objection to our claim and all the claims will then be taken into consideration when all of us will withdraw our objections," she explained.

Additional secretary Khorshed Alam said, "We've claimed over 400 nautical miles the size of the continental shelf is as big as Bangladesh."

The main dispute with India and Myanmar is that they have claimed on the basis of equidistance but Bangladesh has claimed on the basis of equity. "We've a good chance to win the claim as in 1967 Germany won similar claim against the Netherlands and Denmark," he said.

Bangladesh has already filed legal dispute against India and Myanmar for settlement of sea delimitation.

bdnews24.com/ssz/mr/1820h

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Drug makers double sales in three years


http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=170187
Drug makers double sales in three years

Sajjadur Rahman
Top medicine makers recorded robust growth last year at an average 25 percent, riding on people’s growing health awareness and purchasing power, according to the market players.
Also, increased rural penetration of the manufacturers and a significant development in healthcare sector have contributed to the growth.
Bangladesh medicine sales reached Tk 3,700 crore three years ago, which nearly doubled to
Tk 7,000 crore in 2010. The industry players forecast the growth trend would take the sales volume to Tk 10,000 crore in 2011.
Square, Beximco, Eskayef, Incepta and Acme are the top five manufacturers by sales and growth rate.
Beximco grew faster than other companies at a staggering 33 percent in 2010 with Tk 523 crore sales.
Incepta’s sales and growth rate were Tk 665 crore and 31 percent respectively, followed by Acme’s Tk 600 crore and 17 percent.
Eskayef logged Tk 426 crore in sales and the growth rate was 27 percent, the third highest pace in the year, said a company official.
“Increasing health consciousness and buying capacity have helped the industry grow consistently,” said Mizanur Rahman Sinha, managing director of Acme Pharmaceuticals, one of the fastest growing manufacturers.
Sinha predicts the industry’s total sales at Tk 10,000 crore in the current year.
Managing Director of Incepta Pharmaceuticals Abdul Muktadir echoed the same reason for the market growth, but he is not surprised to see the success.
Muktadir said 5 percent GDP growth helps the pharma industry grow at 15 percent, and 6 percent and 7 percent growth makes it 20 percent and 25 percent respectively.
Sales of Square Pharmaceuticals, the market leader, were Tk 1,270 crore in 2010, up from Tk 1,116 crore a year ago. Sales grew 14 percent year-on-year .
AM Faruque, managing director and chief executive officer of Apex Pharma, finds Bangladesh market to be a potential one. He thinks affordability and availability of medicines will help the market boom in the next few years.
Faruque said Apex Pharma, which is not a big player now, will emerge as one of the top five companies in five years. The present turnover of the company is Tk 60 crore only.
“Apex is coming in a big way,” said Faruque.
Bill Mckean, a UK pharmacist who has recently joined Apex Pharma as its chief technical officer, sees a huge prospect and high-quality players in the local market.
According to him, a large population and relaxation of trade related intellectual property rights (TRIPS) for least developed countries are contributing to the market growth.
Business Monitor International in its latest report (Q1 2011) said Bangladesh has moved up one place to occupy the 14th position in 17 regional markets surveyed in BMIs Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Business Environment Ratings for the Asia region.
Still, Bangladesh has a long way to go, the report said.
This adjustment now sees Bangladesh placed below Vietnam and above Sri Lanka. Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical rating is 40.2 out of 100, a figure that has changed marginally from the previous quarter but remains lower than the regional average of 53.1. Globally, Bangladesh occupies 67th position in BMIs 83 market-strong pharmaceutical universe.

ovt open to acquiring foreign coal, gas fields


http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=170105
Govt plans to acquire foreign coal, gas fields
Energy adviser says; country needs to generate 30,000-50,000 MW power in next two decades
Sharier Khan
Alongside tapping the coal and gas resources in the country, the government is planning to acquire some coal and gas fields abroad to ensure long-term energy security, said Energy Adviser Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury.
At a discussion of the power division and Power Development Board (PDB) on Saturday he said, “We are looking at generating 30,000 to 50,000 megawatts of power in the next two decades and hence are open to acquiring assets in other countries.”
In future, half the country’s energy would be generated from coal, he told the discussion organised to interact with the four non-resident Bangladeshi experts who were invited by The Daily Star to share their knowledge on alternative energy and new technology at the newspaper’s first Colloquium Friday.
Replying to a question on why the government has not yet taken any visible move on larger scale coal development, the energy adviser said the works on building a coal city in Barapukuria was in progress which would serve as a hub for coal development in that region.
“We have to ask the National Water Modelling Institute to study the aquifers in the northern region so that we understand the effect and result of coal mining there,” he said, adding, “Presently, we lack adequate data.”
Understanding ground water tables is vital for coal mining. Mining without understanding the water structure can seriously affect the ground water situation.
The energy adviser noted that for such enormous development in the energy sector, especially surrounding coal, an investment of billions of dollars is required to develop the road, water and rail infrastructure to transport raw materials and equipment.
He observed that in the last two years, the government moved for procurement of 4,000MW of power — something that no other government had done before.
This year, the government would move for procurement of the similar scale and complete tendering for setting up of a terminal to import Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as an alternative backup for the country’s declining gas supplies.
“Besides, we are also considering a plan to import Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) from Shahbazpur Gas Field in Bhola to serve the gas starving regions (this gas field is largely unutilised). Similarly, we can transport some excess gas from the Sylhet region through rail to Chittagong,” said Towfiq-e-Elahi.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) was offering loans for 3,000MW solar power to its member countries, the energy adviser noted, adding that he had sought loans for 500MW from the bank. The ADB has not responded to the proposal, but it gave an initial positive feedback.
“How do we utilise this opportunity? I have discussed the matter with Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury and she proposed that we install 1MW solar unit in each upazila. This may be a good idea. A 1MW solar unit will take three acres of land and can pave the way to spread solar plants across the country by 2012,” said the adviser.
He said the government is also considering solution to providing energy to rural people — 80 percent of the country’s population, who have no access to commercial fuel.
“Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) is preparing a strategy paper on how to address this issue so that these people no longer have to depend on firewood and leaves for primary fuel,” he said.
The government is also taking initiatives for energy services for the poor, he said pointing out that most of the poor people cannot afford power, which they should to change their lives.
One such initiative can provide power to 15,000 community clinics across the country from where the poor people would get the services dependent of power.
The government is also forming National Energy Research Council in line with the existing National Agriculture Research Council. This new council will open scope for local researchers, engineering graduates or students to conduct research on various aspects of energy for home grown solutions, said Towfiq-e-Elahi, adding that non-resident Bangladeshi experts will be involved in this council.

Integrated farming becoming popular in Rajshahi


http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=122923&date=2011-01-15
Integrated farming becoming popular in Rajshahi
FE Report
At least half a dozen vegetables can be cultivated in sugarcane lands in Rajshahi region if it is brought under integrated farming, a senior agriculture official said.
Younus Ali, additional director of Department of Agriculture Extension of Rajshahi, said a total of 16,453 hectares of land came under sugarcane cultivation, up 15,500 hectares a year ago.
He also said a variety of crops including maize, wheat, potato and onion can be produced in the sugarcane cropping land, provided weather is favourable.
Mr. Ali said sugarcane cultivation contributes more to the farm output because sugar and gur come from it.
He told the FE last week that soil quality, land and irrigation facility are important factors for boosting sugarcane production.
He noted that at least Tk 50,000 could be earned from one bigha of land by cultivating onion after the harvest of sugarcane.
Officials said this year cultivation of winter vegetables in the area expanded due to favourable weather, fair price and improved transport facilities.

Tk 128cr project to develop ecosystems in Sundarbans


http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/finance/29116-tk-128cr-project-to-develop-ecosystems-in-sundarbans.html
Tk 128cr project to develop ecosystems in Sundarbans
unb
DHAKA, JAN 14:  The government has taken an initiative to develop the ecosystems as well as production capacity of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, by increasing its resilience against natural calamities. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved a Tk 128 crore project titled ‘Sundarbans Environmental and Livelihoods Security (SEALS)’ to achieve the objective. Of the total project cost, Tk 33 crore will come from the government exchequer, Tk 4 crore as NGO contribution while Tk 91 crore as project assistance in the form of grants from the European Commission (EC).
The objectives of the project also include creating alternative employment opportunities for the people living in and around the Sundarbans, said State Minister for Environment and Forests Dr Hasan Mahmud.
Talking to UNB correspondent Golam Moin Uddin over phone, he said that the project has been undertaken at a time when the Sundarbans is in the race for its inclusion in the world’s new seven wonders.
Hasan Mahmud said that the cyclone Sidr and Aila destroyed most of the establishments including the Forests Department offices in the Sundarbans. “Under the newly approved project, these will be rebuilt and the habitat will also be developed.”
He said that the project will also aims at creating alternative means of livelihood for the people living adjacent to the Sundarbans so that they will not have to rely only on the products of the mangrove forest. The work on the project will start as soon as possible and completed  by December 2014, he added. The project will be implemented in five districts of two divisions – Khulna and Barisal – cover 17 upazilas. The upazilas are Mongla, Morelganj, Rampal and Sharankhola in Bagerhat district, Ashashuni, Kaliganj and Shymnagar in Satkhira, Batiaghata, Dakop, Koira and Paikgachha in Khulna, Bamna, Barguna sadar and Patharghata in Barguna and Bhandaria, Mathbaria and Nesarabad in Pirojpur.
The State Minister said that during the tenure of the previous Awami League government, another project titled ‘Protection of bio-diversity in the Sundarbans’ was approved at a cost of Tk 399 crore.
“But the work on the project were halted after three years due to irregularities,” he added.
The newly approved SEALS project covers holding seminars and workshops, publicity and documentary films, NGO activities, monitoring and evaluation (foreign), repair and procurement of speed boats and trawlers, pontoon gangway and jetty construction, office building construction, renovation and jetty renovation, pond excavation and rainwater reservoirs.
The total area of the Sundarbans in Bangladesh part is around 6,000 square kilometers. The Sundarbans was declared a reserve forest in 1875 and as a world heritage site in 1997. The sociopolitical importance of the Sundarbans is also immense as  around 600,000 people dependent on it directly or indirectly for their livelihood. Rivers and canals in the Sundarbans, spreading over some 12,000 kilometers area, are also rich in fish resources.

KYCR Coil plans to expand operations and raise funds from capital market


http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=169913
Corrugated sheets shine
KYCR Coil plans to expand operations and raise funds from capital market
A view of the KYCR Coil manufacturing plant, 25 kilometres from Chittagong. Inset, Officials check the quality of products. Photo: KDS Group
Suman Saha, back from Ctg
A burner is blazing at nearly 900-degrees. It galvanises the cold rolled (CR) coils to give the metal a zinc coating.
Next in line, the metal goes through rolling dice, to take on a corrugated shape. This is the production process at KYCR Coil Industries Ltd, a subsidiary of KDS Group, at Kumira, situated 25 kilometres from Chittagong.
Munir H Khan, director of KDS Steel, walks us around the production lines to show how the final product, corrugated sheets, is made. The plant uses HR coil and zinc as raw materials.
“We set up the Cold Rolling Mills Complex in 2001 to provide the necessary raw materials for the KDS Group’s own galvanising plant. The surplus production is supplied to other consumers in the industry.”
KDS Group mainly does business in four segments — garments and textiles, steel, accessories and logistics. Under KDS Steel, it has three companies — KY Steel Mills Ltd, KYCR Coil Industries Ltd and Steel Accessories Ltd.
Machinery used at the KYCR Coil Industries plant has been supplied by SMS DEMAG Germany, a world leader in this sector. The complex, which was built on 10 acres, houses 6 Hi CVC cold rolling mill (costing nearly $80 million), with an annual capacity of around 1.20 lakh tonnes, said Khan.
“It is an unknown process in Bangladesh and requires massive investment. As a result, only five companies are in operation in the corrugated sheet business,” said Khan.
When the sheets are used as roofs, those are laid somewhat like tiles with a lateral overlap of two or three corrugations and a vertical overlap of about 150 millimetres, to provide waterproofing. The standard shape of corrugated material is round and wavy, but can be easily modified to a variety of shapes and sizes by simply changing the dice.
Bangladesh has to be self-sufficient in steel production, if the country graduates to a middle-income category by 2021 because it is necessary for any development, said Khan.
China and India are also trying to be self-sufficient in steel, he added. Steel sufficiency has played a significant role to turn Japan into a developed country, he added.
Khan, who oversees the operations of KDS Steel, said the company mainly manufactures corrugated sheets, which is around 80 percent of its product range.
Its flagship brand is ‘Murgi’ marka tin and has a significant market share in Bangladesh since 1988, said Khan.
“The annual market size of corrugated sheet in Bangladesh is around 5 lakh tonnes. The market has witnessed stable growth because the purchasing power of the lower income groups, who are the core customer for the product, is gradually increasing.”
KYCR also produces galvanised coil (GC), CR coil, cycle rim strips and slitted sheet. The hard GC sheets are mainly used for roof cladding, while the soft GC sheets are used for AC ducting, colour coating applications, rice storage boxes and vehicle bodies.
Around 15 percent of KDS Steel products are also exported to Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Dubai, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Peru, Colombia and eleven countries in West Africa.
The company manufactures the corrugated sheet, which ranges between Tk 120 and Tk 600 per piece, targeting all income groups, said Khan.
Corrugated tin prices are very sensitive because nearly 90 percent of customers are rural farmers. The lowest market price of corrugated tin is Tk 40,000 per piece-tonne. Each piece-tonne consists of 282 pieces of 6-foot long tin sheets.
The price of the corrugated tin in Bangladesh mainly depends on the districts’ economic condition, said Khan. For example, customers from Dhaka and its outskirts generally buy comparatively high priced products, while customers from relatively poor regions buy low priced products.
The company maintains a 24-hour production process with a 2-megawatt back-up captive generator.
“We pay nearly Tk 70 lakh a month in electricity bills, said Khan. “But power fluctuations sometimes force us to bear huge costs for instrument recovery because low voltage triggers the malfunction of the circuit, which costs nearly Tk 12 lakh.”
KYCR is also set to expand operations and plans to raise capital from the capital market. The company is scheduled for a roadshow on January 31 for the institutional investors to discover price under book building system.
“We plan to produce colour sheets in August,” said Khan. “We also want to expand production capacity by an additional 1 lakh tonnes by 2013 because of the gradual increase in demand for the product.”
For this, the company will invest nearly Tk 200 crore, he added.
The government should take proactive policies to deal with the external forces, especially for steel products.
“We import HR coil from the world market because we have no iron ore mines,” said Khan. “So, if the prices of steel products go up on the international markets, there will ultimately be great pressures on its rural customers.”
Khan urged the government to set a separate steel policy and fix the duty structure from time-to-time by considering the prices on the international markets as well as in the neighboring countries, such India and China.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Shipbuilding industry eyes $100m earning this year


http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/business/5027.html
Shipbuilding industry eyes $100m earning this year
A file photo shows a ship, built by a local shipbuilder for a Danish buyer, anchored at the Chittagong port dry dock recently. — New Age photo
Kazi Azizul Islam
Bangladeshi shipbuilders are eying at least $100 million dollar proceeds from their overseas deliveries this year which will be a milestone in their efforts to build a billion-dollar ship export industry within the next few years.
Local shipbuilders are also developing their capacity to make larger and superior world-class vessels while international marine equipment suppliers have started entering the Bangladesh market.
In last two years, Bangladesh delivered three ships to Danish and German importers that fetched around $40 million in proceeds.
Officials of the Western Marine and Ananda Shipyards told New Age that they have schedules to deliver at least 10 ships to foreign buyers this year.
‘Six ships made in our docks will be delivered to foreign buyers this year and at least $60 million proceeds will be added to the country’s export revenue,’ said Saiful Islam, Managing Director of Western Marine Shipyards.
Abdullahel Bari, chairman of Ananda Shipyards, a pioneer in ship exporting, said they expected four deliveries this year.
‘The deliveries are expected fetch $50 million in export earning for the country,’ said Bari.
He said they had recently installed a 100-tonne plus capacity gantry crane at their shipyard, the largest in the county.
‘Installation of the gantry crane is a significant technological advancement for the country’s shipbuilding industry,’ he said.
Western Marine’s Saiful said at present they are making ships up to 5,600-tonne capacity, but they are at the final stage of  negotiations with a European buyer for building a 7,500-tonne multi-purpose cargo vessel.
Saiful said they had acquired a 50-acre-plus river-shore land near Chittagong port for setting up a new dock which will make 15,000-tonne capacity vessels.
‘By mid-2013 we will start making ships with 15,000-tonne capacity or more,’ he said.
Industry observers said at least three more private owned shipyards have already renovated their units to build export-oriented ships, complying international industry standards.
One or two of them may start operation this year as they are in advanced stage of negotiation with foreign buyers.
Niladri Shekhar Talukder, in-charge, planning and design of Desh Shipbuilding at Chittagong told New Age that some shipbuilders are also negotiating with foreign buyers for supplying small passenger and multi-purpose ships and ferries.
Desh, which specializes in lighter but speedier aluminum ships, is in negotiation with buyers from Australia and UAE.
‘Aluminum ships are very convenient for commuting fast from one island to another, so such specialty ships have great demand in countries having many islands,’ said Niladri.
Bob Lo, business development director of Singapore-based marine equipment distributor, Aerotec, distributor of Korea’s Hyundai Corporation, told New Age that global marine equipment suppliers are now evaluating Bangladesh’s shipbuilding industry very seriously.
While attending an industrial and marine equipment exhibition at Hotel Sheraton on Wednesday, Bob informed that Hyundai, a major shipbuilder of the world and ship equipment manufacturer, has recently entered Bangladesh’s fast growing market of marine and shipbuilding equipments.
‘Global suppliers are foreseeing that shipbuilding industry in Bangladesh has got a momentum and it will grow and grow further,’ he said.

Shipbuilding industry eyes $100m earning this year


http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/business/5027.html
Shipbuilding industry eyes $100m earning this year
A file photo shows a ship, built by a local shipbuilder for a Danish buyer, anchored at the Chittagong port dry dock recently. — New Age photo
Kazi Azizul Islam
Bangladeshi shipbuilders are eying at least $100 million dollar proceeds from their overseas deliveries this year which will be a milestone in their efforts to build a billion-dollar ship export industry within the next few years.
Local shipbuilders are also developing their capacity to make larger and superior world-class vessels while international marine equipment suppliers have started entering the Bangladesh market.
In last two years, Bangladesh delivered three ships to Danish and German importers that fetched around $40 million in proceeds.
Officials of the Western Marine and Ananda Shipyards told New Age that they have schedules to deliver at least 10 ships to foreign buyers this year.
‘Six ships made in our docks will be delivered to foreign buyers this year and at least $60 million proceeds will be added to the country’s export revenue,’ said Saiful Islam, Managing Director of Western Marine Shipyards.
Abdullahel Bari, chairman of Ananda Shipyards, a pioneer in ship exporting, said they expected four deliveries this year.
‘The deliveries are expected fetch $50 million in export earning for the country,’ said Bari.
He said they had recently installed a 100-tonne plus capacity gantry crane at their shipyard, the largest in the county.
‘Installation of the gantry crane is a significant technological advancement for the country’s shipbuilding industry,’ he said.
Western Marine’s Saiful said at present they are making ships up to 5,600-tonne capacity, but they are at the final stage of  negotiations with a European buyer for building a 7,500-tonne multi-purpose cargo vessel.
Saiful said they had acquired a 50-acre-plus river-shore land near Chittagong port for setting up a new dock which will make 15,000-tonne capacity vessels.
‘By mid-2013 we will start making ships with 15,000-tonne capacity or more,’ he said.
Industry observers said at least three more private owned shipyards have already renovated their units to build export-oriented ships, complying international industry standards.
One or two of them may start operation this year as they are in advanced stage of negotiation with foreign buyers.
Niladri Shekhar Talukder, in-charge, planning and design of Desh Shipbuilding at Chittagong told New Age that some shipbuilders are also negotiating with foreign buyers for supplying small passenger and multi-purpose ships and ferries.
Desh, which specializes in lighter but speedier aluminum ships, is in negotiation with buyers from Australia and UAE.
‘Aluminum ships are very convenient for commuting fast from one island to another, so such specialty ships have great demand in countries having many islands,’ said Niladri.
Bob Lo, business development director of Singapore-based marine equipment distributor, Aerotec, distributor of Korea’s Hyundai Corporation, told New Age that global marine equipment suppliers are now evaluating Bangladesh’s shipbuilding industry very seriously.
While attending an industrial and marine equipment exhibition at Hotel Sheraton on Wednesday, Bob informed that Hyundai, a major shipbuilder of the world and ship equipment manufacturer, has recently entered Bangladesh’s fast growing market of marine and shipbuilding equipments.
‘Global suppliers are foreseeing that shipbuilding industry in Bangladesh has got a momentum and it will grow and grow further,’ he said.

BJRI scientist invents tech to produce paper pulp from Dhanicha


http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=155151&date=2011-01-13
BJRI scientist invents tech to produce paper pulp from Dhanicha
DHAKA, Jan 13 (BSS)- A Bangladeshi scientist has invented a technology to produce newsprint paper and packaging materials from Dhanicha, a locally produced jute like fibrous plant.
Sheikh Abul Hasib, a Senior Scientific Officer (SSO) of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI), invented the technology to produce molded pulp from fiber of Dhanicha to make paper and packaging materials.
Dhanicha, so far known as a weed that extensively grows across the country, is now usually used for fencing and fuel purposes in rural areas.
But, Hasib said, it would be a major source of pulp for manufacturing paper and packaging materials in coming days.
paper and packaging materials to be produced from Dhanicha will be less expensive and can be recycled after a life-cycle, the scientist said.
Manufacturing stage of the technology is over and BJRI will take initiative for patent of the technology, Hasib, who took three years time for this technology, said.
The know-how can be commercially used after completion of the process of the patent, he said.
Highlighting the salient feature of the new technology, Hasib said paper pulp can be produced from Dhanicha in normal atmospheric pressure and 60 to 80 degree centigrade temperature.
The pulp to be made under the process will be fully free from sulfur and chlorine, he said.
Hasib said, level of consumption of fuel in this technology is also very low as both `digestion’ and `bleaching’ of the fiber are done at the same time. For this purpose, he said, environment friendly chlorine dioxide (clo2) instead of chlorine (ci) is used.
Director general of BJRI Dr Kamal Uddin said the institute would give a public announcement about the innovation very soon. We are trying to procure a `digester’ which is required to make molded pulp from the fiber, he said.
“I firmly believe that the technology will be epoch making innovation for the country,” he said, adding, “I hope that it will be the cheapest technology to produce paper pulp in the world”.
Abul Hasib said, as cultivation of Dhanicha is very easy and it is produced round the year allover the country, supply of raw materials will be possible.
“The new technology will save valuable bamboo, wood and jute resources of the country which are now being used widely for producing paper pulp destroying the country’s forests and environment,” he said.
The BJRI DG said at the directives of Minister of Textiles and Jute Abdul Latif Siddiqui, the institute initiated the project to invent technology for diversified use of jute and jute products.
The invention of the technology of producing paper pulp from Dhanicha plant is a part of that endeavour, he said.

Mobile user numbers grow 31pc


http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=169957
Mobile user numbers grow 31pc
Star Business Report
The number of mobile subscribers in Bangladesh rose by nearly 31 percent last year to 6.86 crore despite high taxes on new connections, according to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
This is the highest ever increase in the growing mobile sector since the state-run BTRC started to disclose figures of customers nearly four years ago.
Last year, six mobile operators — one state-run and five private ones — altogether sold 1.621 crore new connections, 30.91 percent up compared to 2009, according to the regulator.
In 2009, the number of active subscribers grew by 17.45 percent and 29.88 percent in the year before.
Grameenphone, jointly owned by Telenor and Grameen Telecom, has retained the top position, adding 67 lakh users to take the total tally to 2.997 crore.
Second-placed Banglalink also made big stride, as it sold 56.5 lakh new connections. The number of its clients now stands at 1.9 crore.
Re-branded Robi, owned by Axiata (Bangladesh), a joint venture between Axiata Group Berhad, Malaysia, and NTT DOCOMO, Japan, added 30.7 lakh customers to end the year at third place with 1.236 crore users in total.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Denim makers on a roll as new rules fall into place


http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=169788
Denim makers on a roll as new rules fall into place
Refayet Ullah Mirdha
Businessmen are putting sizeable investments in the denim sector to cash in on the emerging prospects worldwide, thanks to the relaxation of trade rules and shifting of orders from China.
The industry owners are either expanding their capacity or setting up new plants as demand for denim products went up following a change in the fashion trends.
Previously, the majority of denim apparels were menswear and for winter season, but with the changing scenario, denim items are now made for men, women and children, and for all seasons, they said.
The relaxed rules of origin (RoO) by the European Union (EU) under its Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) opened up new opportunities for the denim sector, manufacturers said.
Under the new GSP rules, effective from January 1, exporters will get zero-duty facility even if the products are made from imported fabrics. Previously, the exporters used to get this benefit if only local fabrics were used.
The demand for local denim will rise due to such flexibility in GSP rules. Till now, the garment makers were importing fabrics from China, India, Pakistan and Indonesia, costing at least 45-day lead-time, experts said.
If the Bangladeshi garment makers get the fabrics from the local market, they will not import at higher costs, lead-time and freight charges, they added.
At present, 21 domestic denim makers supply 40 percent of the demand, while the remaining 60 percent is imported. On an average, every factory has a production capacity of six lakh yards per month.
Managing Director of Partex Denim Showkat Aziz Russell said he is investing another Tk 350 crore to raise the production capacity from 2 million yards per month to 4.5 million yards.
The relaxed RoO have both pros and cons, as the garment manufacturers will get zero-duty facility either way under the new GSP rules. “But, we have the advantage of lead-time now,” Russell said.
Syed Mohammad Kamruzzaman, a marketing executive of Ha-Meem Denim, said they will start production in the expanded unit of its Mauna factory, which has doubled its capacity to 1.7 million yards from 8.5 lakh yards per month.
The company invested Tk 100 crore for the expansion, he said. “We are waiting for the government’s permission for new gas connection. We hope to start production from June or July,” he added.
Obaydul Hoque, an adviser to Silver Denim Composite Ltd, said they are setting up a Tk 300 crore factory to produce eight lakh yards of denim fabrics per month, and will go for production within a year.
“The relaxation of the GSP rules is an added advantage. But we are predicting better future of denim in Bangladesh due to the China factor. Bangladesh will enjoy the advantage of lead-time in the demand driven market,” he said.
Hoque said the demand for Bangladeshi textile products is increasing since China, the largest apparel supplier in the world, is shifting its attention to other industries. Bangladesh is a good place for international buyers for its relatively lower production cost, he added.
In September last year, Nitol Group signed an agreement with Arvind, the largest denim company in India, to set up an 80:20 joint venture plant in Bangladesh under Comilla Export Processing Zone.
The investment will be about $69 million over a period of three years. In the first phase, a plant of 10 million-metre capacity will be set up at about $25 million and then it will be scaled up gradually.
Foreign investment is coming in the denim sector because the country has ready consumers and it enjoys the GSP facility to EU. Bangladesh exports products worth over $6 billion a year to EU, of which 90 percent are garment items.
Executive Director of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Mustafizur Rahman said the peaking demand should depend on competition. “If we can supply denim at a competitive price then the demand will increase obviously,” he said.
Although the backward linkage industries will face competition due to the EU move, Bangladesh has the advantage of reduced lead-time and transportation cost, he added.
Zillul Hye Razi, trade adviser to EU trade delegation to Bangladesh, said many more denim factories will come into production in the near future.
“If we can supply quality fabrics at a competitive price, the manufacturers will not go to other countries because Bangladesh will enjoy lead-time facility here,” Razi said.
Abdul Hai Sarker, former president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, said in the long run there will be a negative impact on local backward linkage industries’ growth in the textile sector.
“The backward linkage industries would be at risk because the manufacturers will get zero-tariff benefits if they make garment from the fabrics of other countries,” Sarker said.
Jahangir Karim, a teacher of a fashion and design institute, said now denim jeans for both men and women are in the market. “The denim products match almost all designs now and they are made for all seasons,” Karim said.
Jalal Ahmed, vice-chairman of Export Promotion Bureau, said in fiscal 2009-10 Bangladesh exported knitwear worth $4.71 billion and woven garment products worth $2.47 billion to EU. During the same period the country exported knitwear worth $891 million and woven garments worth $2.73 billion to the US.
“We are expecting a higher growth of both knitwear and woven garment to EU from now because of the latest EU move on GSP,” Ahmed said.

RMG sector earning may reach $30-35b in 4-5 yrs


http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=122728&date=2011-01-13
RMG sector earning may reach $30-35b in 4-5 yrs
FE Report

The earning from garment sector may be taken up to US$ 30-35 billion in the next 4-5 years by ensuring power, infrastructure and port facilities, and maintaining law and order situation, said FBCCI President A K Azad.
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) chief said the local RMG industry’s growth was 40 per cent last year, and it will start increasing significantly within a short time. For this the government has to ensure logistic supports for the sector.
He said these at the inaugural ceremony of International Apparel Machinery, Fabrics and Accessories Tradeshow of Bangladesh at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city Wednesday.
The three-day fair was jointly organised by Zakaria Trade and Fair International and ASK Trade and Exhibitions Pvt Ltd. It will continue from January 12 to 15, and as many as 150 companies from 24 countries will display their products at the 10th edition of Garmentech Bangladesh and IFA Sourcing Fair.
Industries Minister Dilip Barua was present as the chief guest of the programme.

Frozen snacks exports perk up


http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=169787
Sown & Reaped
Frozen snacks exports perk up
Photo: Amran Hossain
Sohel Parvez
The export market for frozen snacks has opened up in the past couple of years thanks to the Bangladeshis staying abroad who crave the taste of native snacks.
In the past three years, export earnings from frozen snacks, such as paratha, singara, samocha, dal puri, and alu puri, have grown more than seven times to $2.38 million in fiscal 2009-10, compared to fiscal 2007-08, according to Bangladesh Agro Processors’ Association (BAPA).
Exporters linked the rise to growing demand among Bangalees and the entry of some new firms in Europe, the US, Australia and the Middle East. The entry of some new firms like Sabjiana Ltd and IBCO Food Industries Ltd, also buoyed exports earnings from snacks.
“The demand for frozen snacks is very high as people staying aboard want to taste local snacks,” said SM Masud Rana, group brand manager of BD Group, which makes and exports various processed foods and spices.
Sabjiana Ltd, a concern of BD Group, has been exporting frozen snacks since 2007. “We received very good responses,” said Rana.
The company exports various types of paratha, singara, puri and potato chop, mainly to the Middle East, UK, Italy and Australia.
In addition to these destinations, frozen snacks have also made their way into markets in North American, exporters said.
“We mainly export to the US,” said Samad Choudhury, chief operating officer of
Golden Harvest Agro Industries Ltd.
The company has been exporting frozen vegetables and snacks since 2006.
Choudhury said frozen snacks account for 40 percent of our export basket. “Demand for our products is high among ethnic people. They are opening the opportunity for us to enter the cross-cultural food markets.”
“It’s a trillion-dollar-market worldwide,” said Choudhury. “We see huge market potential.”
A factor behind his forecasts on wider export market is the rise in the number of Bangladeshis and South Asian people abroad. “At the same time, people worldwide are showing interest to cross cultural foods.”

Dhaka, Thimphu trade to go up to $100m, hopes Bhutanese PM


http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=169803
Dhaka, Thimphu trade to go up to $100m, hopes Bhutanese PM

Unb, Dhaka
Visiting Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley hoped that bilateral trade could go up to US $ 100 million from current US$ 30 million in the next few years.
In an interview with the news agency at his Sonargaon Hotel suit on Tuesday night Thinley said, “We both the sides see the possibilities of very rapid expansion of bilateral trade going up to US $ 100 million within next few years,”
“We are also looking at trade in services.”
Thinley said Bhutan can also take advantage of Bangladesh’s human resources-professionals, skilled and semi-skilled people to develop their infrastructure, industries and information technology.
Asked how many doctors Bhutan is planning to recruit from Bangladesh, he said it would be nice if 25-30 doctors could be recruited on yearly basis for the next three years. Some of these doctors will be highly specialised and some general doctors with 5 years’ experience.
Asked whether the theory of Gross National Happiness (GNH) can be applicable for Bangladesh as well, Thinley said many of the programmes of the Bangladesh government are creating conditions for pursuit of happiness and enabling people to be happy.
BSS Adds: The Bhutanese premier said the geographic features that made his country landlocked would not obstruct Thimphu’s connectivity or cooperation particularly in energy sector with Bangladesh.
He told the state-run news agency in the interview with the private news agency.
Thinley, who earlier assured Hasina of extending cooperation in the hydropower sector, said his country expected to reach a deal “as soon as possible” on energy cooperation but right this moment it was “over capacitated” with its pledges to India in exporting electricity.
Asked about the trade or business relations, he said the two sides already have identified many tradable goods, as “there are so many complementary items.
“For instances, I can tell you Bangladesh can export vegetables to Bhutan during winter months (when extreme cold hampers production in Bhutan) while we can export vegetables to your country in summer months,” he said.
The Bhutanese premier also suggested the tour operators of the two countries to attract western tourists to visit the mountainous kingdom and Bangladesh under a single trip.
Thinley called Bangladesh’s offer to Thimphu in using its port facilities as a gesture of “largeness of heart and sympathy” for the landlocked “smaller neighbour” like Bhutan and said “it would be extremely useful” for his country.
“We will be sending a team of experts to study how best Bhutan can avail the facilities immediately and in future,” he said.
He also stressed exploring more trade routes between the two countries beyond the existing only route through Fulpur frontier.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Youngone chairman explains how Bangladesh can take apparel exports to $30b


http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=169735
Seize the day or lose
Youngone chairman explains how Bangladesh can take apparel exports to $30b
Kihak Sung
Sajjadur Rahman
Bangladesh might double its apparel exports to $30 billion within three years, but limited capacity and a poor business environment could foil the opportunity, said Kihak Sung, chairman of Youngone.
The Youngone boss talked about Bangladesh’s export potential, in a recent interview with The Daily Star at his Uttara home. He spoke about the speculation of restricting foreign investment in the RMG sector, Bangladesh’s move for duty- and quota-free access to the US market and Korean Export Processing Zone in Chittagong.
Relaxation of generalised system of preferences (GSP) rules by the European Union and access to East Asian markets can become a major springboard for Bangladesh’s garment exports.
“Garment exports to Europe may double to $14 billion due to flexible GSP rules. Another $4 billion income is possible from exports to East Asian countries,” said Sung.
Sung is optimistic, particularly about the export potential in South Korea, Japan and China. However, it will not be easy for Bangladesh to cash in on the opportunity, he said.
Downside risks lie with four core areas: energy constraint, labour issues, port capacity and general law and order situation.
Seoul-based Youngone, the largest manufacturers and exporters of readymade garments in Bangladesh, had a business turnover of $1.2 billion in 2010. Nearly half — 45 percent — of it came from Bangladesh operations.
Youngone started business in Bangladesh in early 1980s and presently, it has 47,000 employees with some 4,500 in officer rank. Ninety-nine percent of them are locals as the company’s philosophy is to run enterprises by local people.
Sung said Bangladesh has an excellent opportunity to increase its garment exports in few years. Besides Europe, he sees East Asia as a major export destination as China gradually shifted to high-end products from low-end ones.
The European Union relaxed rules for the least developed countries (LDC) under GSP in textile trade. The new rules of origin (RoO), effective from January 1, allowed most apparel items from all LDCs would get duty-free access, no matter where the raw materials originated.
Korea has recently allowed Bangladesh duty-free export of some items including jackets. More items will follow, said Sung who is believed to be the main architect behind this duty free access.
“If four issues are resolved, at least reasonably, Bangladesh will have an enormous export opportunity.” They must be addressed simultaneously without specific prioritising, he noted.
Without building capacity in the areas such as energy and infrastructure, including ports, Bangladesh might lose the chance to its competitors, he added.
“The energy problem is looming over and disrupting business seriously,” said Sung. The unnecessary delay in the port cause huge business losses.
On the issue of minimum wage, Sung said: “It’s not enough, but agitation cannot ensure it.” He said his company gives Eid bonuses, rice subsidy and medical services for the workers.
About the recent agitation at Youngone factories in Chittagong, he said the company wanted to merge rice subsidy with the wages, but workers misunderstood it as a cancellation move.
Sung, a Korean national, blamed outsiders for the agitation. “Ninety percent of the agitators were outsiders,” he claimed.
Youngone invested Tk 130 crore to develop Korean EPZ in Chittagong, but the government took almost one decade to issue permit. In the meantime, he shifted some of his planned factories to China and Vietnam. The EPZ, if developed, would employ some 50,000 workers.
Foreigners were given special facilities at the EPZs in Bangladesh so that they would transfer technology and their skills to Bangladeshis but some raised questions about it.
He said technology has been transferred and it is one of the main reasons for flourishing apparel factories in Bangladesh. “Some 50 Bangladeshis run our factories in Vietnam and another five work in China,” he added.
However, the garment maker hailed local entrepreneurs for their relentless efforts to go forward amid lot of limitations.
Restricting foreign investment in garment sector in Bangladesh will not be a wise decision, Sung said. It will give bad signals to the global markets, he added.
The Youngone chairman said it is very unlikely that Bangladesh would get duty- and quota-free market access to the US, which he believes cannot negate the same facilities to Africa, Jordan and Israel.

$2.93b Padma bridge okayed


http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=122663&date=2011-01-12
$2.93b Padma bridge okayed
Cost doubles in three years
FE Report
The government Tuesday approved a 205.07 billion taka (US$2.93 billion) bridge over the river Padma, raising its construction cost to nearly twice the estimate made three years back.
The country’s highest project approval body led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina okayed the revised cost in an effort to kick-off the work of the Bangladesh’s costliest project later this year, officials said.
The body, Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), had approved a 101.62 billion taka budget for the 6.15 kilometres long rail-cum-road bridge in August 2007.
But the cost has been revised due to soaring prices of construction materials in the global market, a larger-than-expected spike in resettlement budget and complex engineering of the project, communications ministry officials said.
The bulk of the cost will be funded by credit from development lenders such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Japan and Islamic Development Bank. Construction is expected to complete in 2014-15 financial year.
The government took up the ambitious Padma Bridge building scheme to connect the country’s impoverished southwestern region with the more-developed central and eastern parts.
A World Bank report has said the planned bridge would boost the country’s gross domestic product by 1.2 per cent, revive the fortune of the ailing Mongla Port and cut poverty in the poorest south-western districts.
The report said pace of poverty alleviation in the country’s 20 odd southwestern districts, where level of hunger is five per cent higher than the national average, would speed up once the bridge is built.
Of the $2.93 billion, the four development partners will lend $2.36 billion with the World Bank pledging $1.20 billion, ADB $615 million, Japan $400 million and the IDB $140 million.
The rest will be financed from the government’s tax revenue, an official of the communications ministry said.
The ECNEC also approved a 37.80 kilometres long land port connecting road scheme in southern district of Feni, which will facilitate cross-border trade with northeastern Indian states.
The Baruierhat-Heako-Ramgarh land port road, which links southeastern Bangladesh with the Indian state of Tripura, will cost 2.04 billion taka. It will be financed from the one billion dollar Indian soft credit.
A top government official said the Tripura state government would construct part of the road linking the Indian land port of Sabrum with Bangladesh’s border point of Ramgarh, situated on the bank of Feni river.
Seven north-eastern Indian states would use the planned road to access Chittgaong seaport, he said, adding it would spur trade between the two nations.
The ECNEC in its meeting in Dhaka also endorsed five other projects valued at 18.09 billion taka.
They include 10.78 billion taka Chittagong Water Supply Improvement and Sanitation project, 780 million taka gas supply scheme in Chandpur, a 150megawatt power plant and 4.25 billion taka sewage treatment plant at Dasherkandi.

Shipbuilders for backward linkage industries


http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=154792&date=2011-01-11
Shipbuilders for backward linkage industries
DHAKA, Jan 11 (BSS) – Local shipbuilders have suggested setting up of more backward linkage units to help them adding more value to the country’s growing shipbuilding sector for increasing its competitiveness in the global market.
Presently, around 90 percent of the machinery, parts and other tools are imported for shipbuilding, said a group of local shipbuilders participating in an international exhibition on Maritime Technology, Shipbuilding and Renewable Energy began at a local hotel today.
They expressed satisfaction at the growth of shipbuilding industry and said Bangladesh has emerged as a shipbuilding nation from a ship-breaking one.
Industries Minister Dilip Barua opened the three-day exhibition while Chairman of Western Marine Shipyard M Saiful Islam and chairman of Highspeed Shipyard KM Mahmud-ur-Rahman focused on the shipbuilding growth and it’s future prospects.
Denmark ambassador Svend Olling, Chinese ambassador Zhang Xianyi and Indonesian ambassador Zet Mirzal Zainuddin, Vice- Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Jalal Ahmed, Shipping Secretary Abdul Mannan Howlader, Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) Islam Sharif were among others who spoke on the occasion.
Dilip Barua said it took 25 years to earn 10 billion US dollars by the Readymade Garments (RMG) sector. He expressed the hope that the shipbuilding sector can do the same in around 10 years.
Saiful Islam, President of Bangladesh-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BGCCI). said despite limitations like power shortage and inadequate infrastructure facility , country witnessed 41 percent growth in export earning in the last 10 months of the current fiscal.
Mahmud-ur-Rahman, who chaired the function, said the country must increase shipbuilding facilities to exploit the growing opportunity of ship export as the western economies are now focusing more on South Asian countries for cheaper labour cost.
“Proper strategies and short and long term policies would expand the facility to build ships of higher tonnage, said Rahman.
In early 70s Denmark sent war-torn Bangladesh a ferry boat to help improve its river communication system and recently the Scandinavian country bought an ocean going ship from Bangladeshi said Svend Olling.
Zhang Xianyi lauded Bangladesh’s business community for their initiatives and said Bangladesh’s export to China is on the rise.
“Indonesia can be a prospective market for ships built in Bangladesh, Mirzal Zainuddin.

Japan-Bangladesh venture to print security paper


http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=122640&date=2011-01-12
Jt venture to print security paper
FE Report
A Japan-Bangladesh joint venture has taken an initiative to stem the document forgery in Bangladesh and stop it in all forms.
Japan-Bangladesh Security Printing and Papers Ltd (JBSPPL) has taken the project to produce security paper by setting up its manufacturing plant in 2012.
This was unveiled at a seminar on “Paper Forgery vs Security Printing: Step towards Digital Bangladesh” held Tuesday in the city.
Salim Prodhan, chairman of JBSPPL, said the project has been undertaken for manufacturing security papers, which will help to stop paper-based forgery and crime.
“Security papers are today imported and each year the country has to spend huge foreign currency. This project is expected to save around US$1.0 billion dollar a year and create huge employment opportunities,” said Mr. Prodhan
Prof Syed Modasser Ali, adviser to the prime minister attended the seminar as the chief guest while state minister for Land Mostafizur Rahman and Brain R. Peck, chief of Asia Pacific Region of TROY group, among others, spoke at the seminar.
Jahid Hossain, additional managing director of JBSPPL, his company has partnered with internationally reputed firm TROY to produce security papers. Currently MICR cheques and dividend warrants for the banks are being printed by the JBSPPL.
“Besides certificates and documents of various academic and other organizations are also printed with the exclusive products of TROY group with strict security measures of global standard by this institution” he added
Modasser Ali said technology is very necessary to build a digital Bangladesh.
Mostafizur Rahman said, paper forgery are committed all the sectors in the country. If we take right technology and use it properly we can avoid this problem.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Garmentech starts tomorrow


http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=169609
Garmentech starts tomorrow
Source: http://www.garmentechdhaka.com/
Star Business Report
The 10th edition of Garmentech starts tomorrow at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka to exhibit the latest technologies and machinery of the garment sector.
Zakaria Trade and Fair International and ASK Trade and Exhibitions Ltd jointly organise the event that ends on Saturday, said the organisers at a press meet at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday.
In the show, 150 participants from 25 different countries will participate. The fair will remain open for all from 10:30am to 7pm everyday without any entry fee.