The New Nation - Internet Edition

A.T.M.Nurun Nabi

Retailers are responsible for price ramble in the kitchen market because the price they fix for an item is much higher than what it actually should be. Though they blame wholesalers, the information is different. On Tuesday morning, a female retailer was demanding taka 110 for one kilogram of green pepper when all other retailers were selling at taka 80 in the BDR run open market near Khilgaon level crossing. When it was said to her that she was breaking ethics, she denied it. And when the matter was informed to the Bangladesh Rifles personnel, she was asked to follow meticulously market ethics. A survey into the wholesale market reveals that a thing in the retail market is sold sometimes at more than double price.

The price of river shad has further come down. It was selling at taka 180 per kilo and the supply was abundant. A small size of sea shad was available at taka 40 to 50 giving the poor an opportunity to buy. Prices of some other fish were as follows:

Carp taka 100, tengra 100, aire 280, lowla ( small size of salmon) 70, walking fish 180, shrimp 150 and nandai 100 only.

Prices of vegetables are as under:

Bean taka 55, brinjal 28 to 32, potato 21, papaw 10, karella 28, french (borbati) 20, purbal 20, radish 18, tomato 60, palk 24 and basil 30 only.

The grocery articles were selling at the following rate:

Dry pepper taka 130, onion taka 53 to 55, garlic 46, lentil (local) 84, (imported) 66, salt 17, sugar 30 and soyabean 81 only.

The same day, beef was selling at taka 160, fowl (local) 280, (Pakistani) 180 and farm 95 only. Molin Parvin, a resident of South Goran and housewife, said, "We are at a loss how to administer our family budget when our income is fixed."

The inaugural ceremony of th 5-day long IAEA/RCA Training Course titled 'In-Situ Analysis of Coal Quality’ jointly organized by Bangladesh Atomic Energy Conunission (BAEC) and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) began on the 28 October in the Auditorium of Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka. Tapan Chowdhury, Adviser, Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology was present as the chief guest and S. M. Wahid-Uz-Zaman, Secretary, Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology as Special Guest while Dr. Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, Chairman of BAEC presided over the meeting. The function was attended, among others, by Engr. Md. Quamruzaman, Member, Engineering, Dr. Md. Mosharraf Hossain, Member, Planning & Development, Dr. Farid Uddin Ahmed, Member, Physical Science, Dr. Sahana Afroz, Member, Bio-Science, Dr. Feroza Alder, Director, International Affairs Division, Dr. Eunus Akon, Director, Nuclear Minerals Unit and Course Co-coordinator Director and AEA expert Dr. Jacek Charbucinski.

Adviser, Tapan Chowdhury in his inaugural speech emphasized on using nuclear technology in coal resources development in the country which will reduce the dependency solely on gas for power generation. To meet the growing energy demand, the coal resources of the country need to be developed in much broader scale. The govemment has attached significant importance on coal sector development. In the National Energy Policy, the coal is identified as important component in the primary energy mix.

S. M. Wahid-uz-Zaman, Secretary, Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology in his speech said that at present the country is relying on indigenous natural gas for 87 pc of electricity generation. However, the natural gas reserve is depleting faster than previously planned, and beyond 2015 it would be difficult to dedicate natural gas for new power plants. Currently, the country has coal-fired power plant of 250 MW capacity. To increase the share of electricity generation our coal resources need to be developed urgently. He hoped that the training course will definitely expand the domain of nuclear technology in various fields including coal and mineral resources development.

Dr. Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, Chairman, BAEC said that the nuclear technology has been recognized by our govemment as one of the decisive factors for development and poverty alleviation. He further said that nuclear technique in coal exploitation, coal mining, coal industrial process can offer significant commercial and environmental benefits. In this context, he said that atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations have increased markedly as a result of human activities since 1750 and now far exceed pre-industrial values where the contribution of the coal is the biggest.

An agreement on Instant Cash Service was signed recently between Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited and Oman Exchange Company of Kuwait. The signing ceremony was held on the Head Office of Oman Exchange Company in Kuwait.

Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Senior Vice President of International Banking Wing of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited and Sabbir Ali Jamani, General Manager and CEO of Oman Exchange Company of Kuwait signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.

Mominul Islam Patwary, Chairman", Executive Committee of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited and Shahid Akter, Operation Manager of Oman Exchange Company were present in the function

After this arrangement, the recipients in Bangladesh will be able to receive the funds sent by expatriates in Kuwait from any branch of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited instantly without opening any account with the bank, Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited has by now signed Instant Cash agreement with 26 Exchange Houses around the globe.

Through different modernised technologies along with larger banking channel and internet facility, Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited now ensures the reception of money sent by the expatriates to the recipients in a shorter period than before.

To celebrate the launch of its new non-stop service to Brazil, Emirates is offering its passengers a complimentary stay of up to three nights at the five-star Hilton Morumbi Hotel in Sao Paulo.

Passengers who fly first class to Sao Paulo will be eligible for a three night complimentary stay at the Hilton Morumai Hotel, with bus mess class passengers being given a two night stay and a complimentary stay of one night for all economy class passengers.

Emirates made history on 1st October when EK261 took off from Dubai International Airport en-route to Sao Paulo, Brazil: representing the first ever non-stop flight between the Middle East and South America. Emirates now flies non-stop to six continents from Dubai.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Emirates' Executive Vice President. Commercial Operations Worldwide, said: "Sao Paulo is a very exciting destination for Emirates as it represents our first gateway in South America. With our non-stop service from Dubai we are now able to offer our passengers a convenient connection to Brazil.

Passengers on the Dubai - Sao Paulo flight enjoy unrivalled in-flight service, including eight luxurious private suites in First Class, 42 of its latest lie-flat seats in Business, and generous space for 216 passengers in Economy.

Premier Bank formally launched ATM Booth from Sunday the 28th October 2007. In this connection a simple ceremony was held at Motijheel & Kakrail Branches Premises. B.H. Haroon, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors was present as chief guest in the ceremony. Valued customers, elite's, journalists, National TVs and other media people were also present.

Premier Bank's Director Abdus Salam Murshedy attended as special guest. Among others, Addl. Managing Directors of The Premier Bank Khondker Fazle Rashid, Md. Mokhlesur Rahman, and Nurul Alam Chowdhury, and, consultant Kazi Anwarul Mahbub attended the ceremony.

Naser Ahmed, Director, External Affairs, Chevron Bangladesh, has been awarded the '2007 Nehemiah Award' by the International Board of Director (IBOD) of Habitat for Humanity International, Asia Pacific region. The award was conferred on him for his valued volunteer services and support for Habitat initiatives in the country. Ahmed will receive a plaque of appreciation and a cash prize of USD$10,000.

Habitat for Humanity (HFH), an international non-government organisation, has been active in more than 3000 communities in some 100 countries and territories around the world works with low-income families who would not otherwise be able to afford housing. HFH partners with families in need and help them build affordable houses for themselves and their families at no interest. In Bangladesh, Habitat works in Mymensingh, Modhupur, Durgapur, Haluaghat, Savar, Kaliganj, Brahmanbaria, Jessore and Satkhira. The Nehemiah award is the first of its kind received by a Bangladeshi. Every year, Habitat for humanity, international presents awards to its national organisations and volunteers in five different categories for their contributions in organisational initiatives across the globe. Chevron has been supporting Habitat for Humanity International-Bangladesh for the last six years through volunteer services and financial contributions. Chevron employees have directly participated in building houses alongside Habitat volunteers in different projects during this period.