The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Siemens Bangladesh Ltd and Consortium of Siemens Ltd, India has signed a contract with Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) an Enterprise of Bangladesh Power Development Board recently for the Design-build and Turnkey contract for construction of 132/33 kV Substation at Niamatpur.

The total contract value is US$ 4,251,022.38 plus Tk 115,024,160. The project is financed by PGCB. The works under this contract includes Design, Supply, Installation, Testing & Commissioning of a new substation at Niamatpur with outdoor 132 kV and 33 kV switchgear and associated control and protection equipment, two nos. 35/50 MVA, 132/33kV three phase power transformers, auxiliary transformers and civil works.

It also includes the extension of one 132kV bay at existing Noagaon substation with necessary switchgear and related control and protection equipment. The project is to be completed within 18 months.

Mohammed Salim, Company Secretary of PGCB, Jose Joseph, General Manager of Power Transmission and Distribution (PTD) and Nishi Saksena, Manager - Commercial of Siemens Ltd, India signed the contract on behalf of their respective companies.

A.B.M Harunur Rashid, Managing Director of PGCB, Farid Uddin Ahmed, Deputy General Manager (Project-2) of PGCB, Md. Nazim Uddin, Deputy General Manager (Design) of PGCB, Hubertus Boesten, Director of Power Division of Siemens Bangladesh Ltd, Tarik al-Shomer, Commercial Manager of Siemens Bangladesh Ltd and other high officials from both the companies were present on the occasion of the contract signing.

With awarding of this contract to a consortium of Siemens, it shows the level of reliability and trust that Siemens has achieved in the Power sector of Bangladesh over many years of consistent quality work in Bangladesh.

After successful completion of this contract, the power sector infrastructure would be improved significantly which in-turn would ensure better distribution of power for the country.

Power Transmission and Distribution (PTD) in Siemens Bangladesh is one of the largest players in the power sector of Bangladesh. The presence of Siemens in the power sector of Bangladesh started in the mid 60s.

Siemens completed the High Voltage (HV)/ Medium Voltage (MV) substations for two units of Ashuganj Power Station in 1968. Now Siemens is an expert in realising Power Transmission and Distribution for HV and MV substations, Prepaid Metering projects, infrastructural projects for industry (Textiles, Steel, and Pharmaceuticals) including the private sector (Hotels, commercial and corporate buildings) in Bangladesh.

IBBL to distribute relief goods of taka 30 million

Is1ami Bank Bangladesh Limited has taken a decision to distribute relief goods of taka 30 million at the first phase among the helpless people who were affected by the devastating cyclone taken place on November 15. Different Branches of the Bank in the affected regions will conduct this relief distribution and rehabilitation effort. To conduct the relief distribution activity a committee has been formed under the leadership of the Chairman, Board of Directors of the Bank.

The decision was taken in an emergent meeting of the Board of Directors at the Board Room of Islami Bank Tower on November 18, 2007. Presided over by Prof. Abu Nasser Muhammad Abduz Zaher, Chairman, Board of Directors, the function was attended by other Directors of the Bank.

It will be fitting to note here that, Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited has played significant role by extending it's help to the flood-hit people in relief distribution and rehabilitation program. The meeting of Board of Directors called upon the affluent people as well as renowned institutions of the country to stand by the distressed people in this deplorable moment.

Islami Bank Foundation has allotted Taka 20 lac for the distressed people who were affected by the devastated cyclone in 15 November. Under the relief and rehabilitation activities the donation will be disbursed in the form of cash, food, medicine, agricultural tools, and for house construction. This was decided in an emergent meeting of the foundation committee held on November 18.

The capital Dhaka has shrunk into the old quarters posing a serious threat to public health and gathering momentum each day, says a press release

As long as one is desperate to get rid of city's hassles and suffocation, he might have dreamt for an apartment in the closest neighborhood. Given one dream to come true, Advanced Development Technologies Ltd. presents 'Advanced Angel City’ where you will enjoy all spheres of angelic thrills and ecstasy.

Combining practicality with functional and aesthetic qualities, the contemporary styled Angel City is a unique satellite town planned around a stunning neighborhood of capital Dhaka. It promises tranquility, security and accessibility, a place where community living is enhanced by lush open spaces tastefully decorated by invigorating pedestrian walkways and smooth thoroughfares.

For those who demand the ultimate in waterfront living, Angel City offers the very best. A perfect place to live with expansive water views of the brilliant blue lagoon and the lavish landscaped greenery surrounding the development where the dwellers will enjoy the serenity of Savar.

Located at Kornopara, Angel City stands on the main highway only a 15-minute drive from Sangshad Bhavan towards Savar Memorial Martyrs. It is the epitome of safe and comfortable living encompassing all modern facilities including a Police camp of its own to ensure fool-proof security.

The first of its kind and the largest housing scheme with integrated facilities ever undertaken by any private sector developer introducing state-of-the art construction technology. Initially the project is spread over a land parcel of 60 bigha consisting of about 2000 economy price affordable apartments.

Being managed by a team of qualified and competent architects, engineers and technicians for smooth and timely completion, planned on the doctrine of an independent and self sufficient satellite town, Angel City encompasses unprecedented amenities such as Police camp of its own ensuring fool-proof security, Nursery school, Primary School, Community Health Club, Clinics, Mosque, Playground, exclusive 7 (seven) storied car parking building, Kitchen Market, Corner shop, lavish open space, shuttle network services with all vital points of the city etc.

''dvanced Angel City greets all and their families to enjoy the taste of modern living."

Radisson Water Garden Hotel Dhaka is committed to offer new and exciting experiences to the Bangladeshi as well as foreign community residing in Dhaka. As a part of the ongoing commitments, the hotel this time is offering Bangladesh Food & Cultural Festival from 16 November - 23 November.

Since the beginning of operation in February 2006, Radisson Water Garden Hotel Dhaka has organised and offered different food and cultural festivals from different parts of the world. We now feel it is high time to showcase Bangladeshi delicacies, culture and heritage. This is the first and one of many steps that we are implementing to create an attraction about Bangladesh.

The festival will take place at the Poolside of the hotel and will be open for all from 16 November to 23 November, 2007. There will be food stalls representing different divisions/regions of Bangladesh along with many local delicacies. It will be a buffet arrangement and will showcase authentic Bangladeshi cuisine such as Chotpoti, different kinds of Bhorta, Bhaji, Shutki Bhorta, Korma, Polao, Biriani, Khichuri, Rosh Golla, Rosh Malai, Patishapta, Bhapapitha and many more. The festival will offer dinner starting from 1830 hours - 2230 hours every day.

Apart from showcasing local food, a cultural team will also perform to uphold Bangladeshi culture. Every evening the cultural team will perform songs such as Rabindra shongit, Nazrul Shongit, Vatiali, Harano Diner Gan, Lalon Giti and other famous songs. Besides famous songs, there will be a display of local and tribal dances representing the traditional culture to the modern trends.

Radisson Water Garden Hotel Dhaka started its operation in early 2006. Radisson Water Garden Hotel Dhaka, is part of a major hotel expansion programme being undertaken across Asia Pacific by the US based Carlson Hotels Worldwide. The hotel is owned by Sena Hotel Developments Ltd, (sponsored by Sena Kalyan Sangstha and Army Welfare Trust).

Carlson Hotels Worldwide manages five brands of hotels: Regent Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn. Globally Carlson Hotels Worldwide includes over 948 locations in 71 countries. Carlson Companies, the parent company of Carlson Hotels Worldwide is one of the largest privately held corporations in the United States and a global leader in the marketing, travel, and hospitality industries. Among the names in the Carlson family of brands and services are Carlson Wagonlit Travel; T.G.!. Friday's Restaurants; Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Carlson Marketing Worldwide.

The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) is deeply shocked at the severe devastating homicide in the coastal districts of Bangladesh which badly affected the distrcts of Borguna, Bagherhat, Barishal, Patuakhali, Jhalokati, Gopalgonj, Madaripur, Shariatpur and others as well as part of Sundarban, the world's largest mangrove forest and heritage site.

The DCCI appreciates the earnest endeavour of the government and its concerned departments for earlier preventive efforts for disaster management which reduced the number of casualties to a great extent.

The allocation of Taka one crore to conduct relief and rehabilitation of the survivors for each most badly affected districts by the Chief Adviser, GoB is also a very timely and commendable action.

The extent of damage and loss should be assessed properly and connectivity should be restored at the earliest. Effective action and timely distribution of the relief materials to conduct rescue and relief operation should also be ensured for minimising sufferings of the people.

But government alone can not cope with such a gigantic task which needs immediate care and attention. As such, the DCCI urges its members, and the business community at large, to rise to the occasion and do their utmost to assist in the relief and rehabilitation work of the affected people who needs urgent relief.

As the occurrence of the cyclone is a regular feature, a long-term comprehensive Plan of Action for the construction of more shelters and other measures for protection of houses, land and forest should also be prepared and Implemented to minimise the devastation of such massive national calamities in future.

Reuters, Singapore

Talks on a deal to free up world trade in the Doha round could be completed before an election in the United States next year, the top U.S. trade representative said on Monday.

The Doha round of trade talks, launched six years ago, has been deadlocked, with the United States and the European Union calling on developing countries to open up their markets for manufacturers in return for cuts by rich countries to trade- distorting farm subsidies.

"The Doha round is not dead," U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab told reporters in Singapore after meetings with Southeast Asian officials. "There's every reason to expect that this could happen in the current administration."

"We need to go forward on the basis of texts that are on the table," she said, adding some progress has been made on both agriculture and manufacturing. Developing countries say proposals currently on the table are not in the spirit of the Doha round's development mandate because they require poor countries to cut their industrial tariffs by more than rich countries would do.

The EU's top trade official said this month that both the U.S and Europe will have to settle for less than they wanted. Many experts think the final deal requires the U.S. to make deep cuts in its farm subsidies and tariffs.

Schwab said the U.S. was not comfortable with some of the proposals on the table, but said the debate was not a North-South divide but held by up some "defensive" countries. Democratic lawmakers said last week the the U.S. Congress is likely to reject a world trade agreement unless it restores eroded U.S. ability to impose duties on unfairly traded imports. Recent Chinese complaints have also added to doubts over a deal.

In the wake of the devastating cyclone Sidr which wreaked destruction across Bangladesh, Citycell initiated immediate relief operations to assist victims at Rampal, one of the worst affected areas of Bagerhat District.

Abdul Mannan Khan, Zakir Hossain Khan and other officials of Citycell, in cooperation with local authorities and Bangladesh Scouts, distributed basic food assistance of rice, daal, potato, salt, and saline to 600 cyclone affected families in 3 Unions (Rampal Sadar, 10 No.

Bashtoli Union, 2 No. Ujolkur Union) of Rampal Thana. TNO of Rampal Thana Masumur Rahman, Bashtoli Chairman Rezaul Karim and Magistrate Mahbubur Rahman, and Ujolkur Chairman Abdul Majid Sheikh and Scout Commissioner Sk Haider Ali Babu, were present among other officials during distribution of the relief materials.

Citycell CEO Michael Seymour said that Citycell stands firmly beside the affected victims in this moment of national crisis.

Warid Telecom has started a SMS campaign to raise fund for aid of the hurricane 'Sidr' affected people in the Southern coastal districts.

Warid subscribers can donate Tk 10 through one SMS. The proceeds from the SMS campaign will be donated to the Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund.

To contribute to the fund, the postpaid and prepaid subscribers of Warid Telecom have to type HOPE10 in the message option for donation of Tk 10 and send it to 9911. The subscribers can send multiple SMS to contribute more to the fund. Warid will not apply any regular SMS charge for sending the SMS.

Earlier in September this year, Abu Dhabi Group and its two sister concerns in Bangladesh Warid Telecom and Bank Al-Falah Limited jointly donated Tk 100 million (Tk 10 crore) to the Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund to aid the flood victims.

Reuters, Sydney

Oil jumped more than $1 to above $95 a barrel on Monday, as the dollar fell and some OPEC members pushed for action to stem their declining purchasing power.

U.S. light crude for January delivery the new front-month contract, rose $1.21 to $95.05 a barrel, and adding to Friday's nearly 2 percent gains. Friday's gains were partly fueled by forecasts for colder U.S. weather that would boost demand.

London Brent crude rose $1.07 to $92.69 a barrel.

The OPEC heads of state summit in Riyadh ended on Sunday without signalling whether the producer group would agree to pump more oil at its Dec. 5 policy meeting, although members renewed their pledge to provide "adequate" supplies to consumers.

Of greater interest to oil traders was the push by Iran and Venezuela-anti-U.S. firebrands and typically OPEC's most hawkish members-for some kind of action that would offset the falling value of their dollar- denominated oil revenues, such as pricing oil against a basket of currencies.

Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying that the market price of fossil energy, including oil, was still below its real price. While the weak dollar was omitted from the summit's final statement, traders say the growing concern over the U.S. currency's predicament could prompt OPEC to seek a higher price.

"OPEC talk about prices being undervalued and its concerns with the falling dollar are all filtering into the market," said Mark Pervan, a senior resources analyst at ANZ Bank in Melbourne.

"There are pockets of bullish news out in the market and no bearish news at all."

The dollar fell again versus the euro and yen on Monday after weak U.S. economic reports late last week that showed the biggest drop in industrial production since January.

Oil slid from an all-time high of $98.62 a barrel struck on Nov. 7, as traders fretted about weakening oil demand in the world's top consumer and U.S. crude stocks unexpectedly rose, although the looming winter has lent fresh support.

Separately, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told the OPEC summit that crude oil prices could double to $200 a barrel if the United States attacked major oil exporter Iran But Iran's President Ahmadinejad said on Sunday his country would not use oil as a weapon even if it is attacked by the U.S. over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme