The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

American Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) has expressed optimism about the passage of a new trade bill in the US Congress, allowing better market access of readymade garments from Bangladesh and other LDCs to the US market.

He expressed the hope welcoming a delegation from Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), led by its President Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury, at a meeting at the Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday, according to a message received here yesterday.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Humayun Kabir and several representatives of the BGMEA were present at the meeting.

Jim McDermott (D-WA) on October 18 introduced the "New Partnership for Development Act (NPDA) of 2007 Bill" in the US House of Representatives.

Bangladesh, Cambodia and other LDCs from Asia will be able to increase their apparel export to the US market if the bill is passed

by the House of Representatives and the Senate, and approved by the

US President.

If the bill is passed, Bangladesh is expected to be able to increase its apparel export by 18 per cent to the US market alone.

The bill was co-sponsored by nine Congressmen--Joseph Crowley, Phil English, Kendrick, Meek, Diane Watson, Jerry Weller, Earl Blumenauer, Adam Smith and Dan Burton.

Jim McDermott apprised the BGMEA delegation that there were a number of trade-related bills in the Congress for consideration and NPDA might be sequenced in following the passage of those bills.

"The New Partnership for Development Act of 2007 Bill" is likely to come to the committee concerned of the US Congress at any time. We have been lobbying in this regard. We hope that the members of the Congress would support the bill so that it could be passed," he said,

Congressman McDermott, however, requested the delegation to continue to improve their compliance credentials so that concerns in some quarters in the USA could be addressed.

"Bangladesh will have to comply with the international labour laws and address the internal environment in the garment factories," he said.

The Congressman also appreciated Bangladesh's achievement in the

field of women empowerment and gender parity in education.

BGMEA president Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury thanked the Congressman for his cooperation in alleviating poverty in the developing world.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Humayun Kabir, who accompanied the delegation, appreciated the Congressman for his leadership and hoped that this will help uplift the conditions of hardworking people in Bangladesh and in the developing world.

The delegation had also meetings with Congressmen Ron Lewis, John Conyers, Adam Smith and Keith Ellison. The delegation apprised them of the latest situation in the RMG industry of Bangladesh and called for their support for the expeditious passage of the bill.

The delegation had a series of meetings with advisers, counselors and

legislative assistants of several influential Congressmen and Senators.

Staff Reporter

The bilateral Exercise Sumo Tiger, conducted by the United States Marine Corps and the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) flying squadrons, concluded on Wednesday ending a successful week of combined training at the Kurmitola Air Base in Dhaka.

During the exercises, American and Bangladeshi forces conducted flight operations with US F/A-18 fighter aircraft, and Bangladeshi F-7s and MiG-29s, a US Embassy press statement says in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Additionally, aviation support personnel from both nations, from air traffic controllers to maintenance specialists, shared their expertise and insights while jointly supporting flight operations during the exercise.

"We have a lot in common. We are both very proud of our history and we have seen the professionalism of the BAF throughout this exercises," said Lt Col Flay R Goodwin, Commanding Officer of US Marine Fighter-Attack Squadron 314.

Through cooperation and exchange, the exercises reinforced the United States and Bangladeshi armed forces' ability to operate together, as well as the professional relationship between U.S. and Bangladesh personnel.

The Exercise Sumo Tiger demonstrates the United States government's firm commitment to regional security by promoting military-to-military relationship throughout Asia and the Pacific region, the statement adds.

DU Correspondent

Northern University Bangladesh (NUB) celebrated its 5th founding anniversary yesterday.

Vice-chancellor of the university Prof Dr M Shamsul Haque inaugurated the day by cutting a cake while Treasurer of the university M Abu Bakkar Siddique, Former chairman of Privatization Commission Enam Ahmed Chowdhury and Director, HRD M Lutfor Rahman, among others, were present.

A rally with horse cars, band parties and different colour play cards was brought out and it marched surrounding the areas of its main campus situated at the Mohammadpur.

Teachers, students, officials and guardians of the university took part in the rally wearing a t-shirt inscribed with the NUB monogram.

Prof Shamsul Haque said the university has been working to build human resources since its establishment so that the students can play a vital role in the country.

Later, the programme was concluded through a cultural event.

UNB, Dhaka

The World Health Organization (WHO) Thursday launched its Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2008-2013 for Bangladesh to strengthen the capacity of the country's health system for long-term sustainable health improvement for all.

WHO Regional Director for South East Asia Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, Health Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Dr ASM Matiur Rahman and LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal jointly launched the CCS at a function at Sonargaon Hotel in the morning.

Health and Family Welfare Secretary AKM Zafarullah Khan presided over the launching ceremony.

Seven strategic directions, including promoting the access of vulnerable groups to health services ensuring continuum of care through the life course, were identified in the CCS to address the

priority health and development challenge in Bangladesh.

The overarching principles of WHO Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2008-2013 are primary healthcare approach, human right to health and gender equality and equity.

Addressing the programme, WHO Regional Director Dr Samlee Plianbangchang said the CCS is a medium-term framework for WHO cooperation in and with the country, highlighting how it will do and with whom.

"It acts as a guiding organization-wide reference for country work for planning, budgeting and resources allocation in the country."

He mentioned that the development of WHO Country Cooperation Strategy is basically a joint endeavor between WHO and the concerned national health authorities.

Emphasizing on multi-sectorality of health development, Dr Plianbangchang said the success in health development for improving the health of entire population in the country depends on the inputs and actions from other sectors than health.

"Multi-sectoral involvement in health development is an essential requisite for long-term sustainable health improvement for all people," he added.

Acknowledging the contribution of World Health Organization, Health Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Dr ASM Matiur Rahman said WHO's contribution has been valuable in relation to all of these elements.

LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal highlighted the issues of environmental health and thanked WHO for the excellent support provided to the Department of Public Health Engineering to address the challenge relating to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.

Environment and Forests Secretary AHM Rezaul Kabir, DRD Secretary M Amnul IslamBhuiyan, WHO Country Representative Dr Duangvadee Sunkhobol also spoke on the occasion.

WHO Bangladesh CCS 2008-2013 was developed through an interactive consultation and planning process that involved the government officials, development partners and other stakeholder such as major NGOs.

The primary inputs to the CCS 2008-2013 were comprehensive analysis and review of country's health and development priorities, current and expected development assistance, the impact of recent WHO collaborative work and the directions given in the WHO global and regional policy frameworks.

UNB, Dhaka

BNP chairperson's adviser Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah Thursday said BNP leaders and workers outright rejected the "midnight drama" of Saifur Rahman and his followers.

Talking to reporters at his DOHS residence, he questioned who were the "other people" present on that night at the residence of Saifur Rahman apart from members of the Standing Committee.

Shah said Saifur Rahman telephoned him Wednesday at 4:50pm and requested him to join them, but "I refused." On the contrary, he said he requested Saifur Rahman not to spoil his image through such activities.

"I have already stated this is not a unification process, it is a conspiratorial process," he said, adding that had it been a process of unification, Saifur would not only invite Mannan Bhuiyan, but invite them also.

Shah questioned the motive of the meeting of seven members of the standing committee and said all on a sudden they met and distributed party portfolios among them.

The BNP leader called for a fresh meeting of the standing committee by issuing notice through newspapers to prove whether the meeting was spontaneous or it was held to serve the purpose of any particular quarters.

He told the reporters to publish the names of others who were present on that night at Saifur Rahman's house apart from the BNP standing committee members.

"You must have seen them… Publish their names in your papers, then everything will be clearer," Shah said.

UNB, Dhaka

Export earnings in the first two months (July-August) of the current fiscal year fell 23 percent short of the period's target of US$ 2,642 million due to decline in export volume.

It also declined about 12 percent to US$ 2,033 million from US$ 2,302 million during the same period last year, according to figures released Thursday by Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

The government set an export target of US$ 14.5 billion for the fiscal 2007-08 with a growth rate of 19.07 percent over 2006-07.

"Manufacturing activities were mostly affected for lack of business confidence amid ongoing anti-corruption drive," said an apparel industry exporter.

He said the export figures would continue to show sluggish trend until September '07, but predicted an up-trend from October onwards with increased shipments.

According to EPB figures, export quantity declined 11 percent in July-August while prices declined over one percent. However, prices of primary products increased about 9 percent, but declined about 2 percent in case of manufactured products.

Earnings from main export sector suffered setback during the period with woven garments falling about 23 percent short of the target to US$ 762 million and declined 17 percent from the same month previous year.

Knitwear also dropped 20 percent from the target to US$ 792 million and 12 percent from July-August '06.Earnings from frozen food exports fell 9 percent short of the target to US$ 99 million, but recorded 2 percent growth from the same months in previous year.

Other major items recording decline from the target and previous year's performance were home textiles, engineering products, handicrafts, leather and leather products, chemical products, ceramic products, computer services, jute goods, petroleum byproducts and terry towel.

Export earnings from vegetables, tea, cut flower and agro-processed foods crossed the target of the period and also last year's performance while raw jute, footwear and electronics did better than last year's performance but fell short of their respective targets.

UNB, Chittagong

With separation of judiciary from the executive taking effect on Thursday, additional District and Sessions Judge Enamul Haque Bhuiyan started functioning as Chief Judicial Magistrate and additional Sessions Judge Mohammad Rezaul Karim as Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.Marking the separation of the judiciary from the executive, District Bar Association and District Labour Court Bar Association held separate rallies and brought out processions.Addressing a meeting at the District Bar Association, Chief Judicial Magistrate Enamul Haque Bhuiya and Chief Metropolitan Magistrate M Rezaul Karim sought cooperation from the lawyers for ensuring justice to the justice-seekers.At a separate meeting organized by the Labour Court Bar Association, speakers urged the Chief Justice and also the government to bring all labour courts under the Law Ministry from the Labour Ministry. Otherwise, they said, the separation of judiciary would not be complete.Khulna UNB Correspondent adds: Judges, lawyers and others related with judicial activities here today (Thursday) rejoiced over the separation of judiciary from executive control.They thanked the government for taking sincere initiative, which paved the way for the separation of judiciary. Mohammad Moshiur Rahman Chowdhury started functioning as Chief Judicial Magistrate for three district courts and Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman as Chief Metropolitan Magistrate for three metropolitan courts. Meanwhile, local people in a show of jubilation exchanged sweets among themselves as the two magistrate courts at Koira and Paikgachha upazila headquarters were not shifted to the district headquarters following separation of the judiciary.

Staff Reporter

A month-long winter trade fair will begin at Basundara City shopping mall from November 8.

Businessmen from eight different countries-India, Pakisatn, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, Iran and host Bangladesh will exhibit their products in the fair that includes jewellery, furniture, mobile phone, readymade garment, cosmetics and many other things.

United Fair Corporation is organising the trade fair where the buyers will get some extra facilities that includes free henna festival, free skin test and raffle draw.

Organisers have extended the time of booking stalls until November 7.

RB Group, Miako and Hair Life are co-sponsoring the fair.

Staff Reporter

Switzerland will provide US$ 1 million for the 'Preparation of Electoral Roll with Photographs' (PERP) project, implemented by the Bangladesh Election Commission. The contribution will be channeled through a pooled funding mechanism coordinated by UNDP.

In this connection, UNDP Resident Representative Renata Lok Dessallien and Ambassador of Switzerland Dr Dora Rapold signed an agreement in Dhaka yesterday.

''Switzerland is assisting the Bangladesh Election Commission to prepare a comprehensive and accurate voter list with photographs in order to facilitate preparations for fair and credible elections'' said the Swiss Ambassador on the occasion.

"We are extremely pleased to be able to join other development partners in supporting this important initiative,' she added.