The New Nation - Internet Edition

A.T.M.Nurun Nabi

The poor are not concerned with the Bangladesh Bank governor's call to attain 6.5 percent GDP nor do they think of the country's export, import, inward remittance, foreign currency reserve and GNI position; but they are very much concerned with the report that the government has increased the fertiliser price by over 50 percent to almost 100.

It gathers from the reports that the government has reportedly enhanced the price of one sack (50 kilos) of TSP to taka 1382 from 697, that of MOP to taka 1121 from 710 and of DAP to taka 1870 from 970, meaning that the benefit of the fertiliser subsidy (taka 1500 crore) for the farmers will automatically shrink. If the report is authenticating, it will hit the food production in the long run, says a college teacher.

The country produced over three crore metric tonne of food grains including 2.83 metric tonne of rice during the fiscal 2006-07 against the annual demand of 2.81 crore metric tonne, transpiring the fact there was no food shortage in the country during the period. Regarding the stock of food grains in the hands of the government, available reports appear ambiguous.

One of the tragedies of the country's economy is that the correct statistics is really hard to get. Different agencies and departments of the government publish such reports as do not coincide with one another.

The best way to remove obscurity about the food output, annual demand, shortage if any, quantity of imported food grains and the quantity of food in the government's stock is that it will publish a full fledged report as quick as possible to block trading with imaginary food shortage.

Meantime, the price of the miniket variety of rice has increased by taka one kilo over the past week. It now ranges from taka 34 to 36. The poor is not concerned with the rise of the miniket rice, but they become worried when they struggle to buy their rice-the paijam. The production cost of one kilogram of kilo paijam is taka 14, which is sold in the capital city at taka 25 to 27, an increase of taka 11 to 13 only.

But the producers get a part (one-fifth) of the benefits, the greater portion going to intermediaries, mill owners, wholesalers and retailers. Now with the increasing of the fertiliser price, the cost of production will surely amplify leading to the turmoil in the rice market, meaning that the real wage will further decrease and the cost of living will proportionately increase.

And the greatest disappointmentof the marginal farmers and the sharecroppers is that they sell a remarkable part of the production to repay the loan taken from the moneylenders. And if the production is below the level, they sell their advance production and return home in despair, depressed. The condition of fishermen is no better.

7th International Garment & Allied Machinery and Accessories trade show is going to be held on 12-15 January 2008 at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre Dhaka. Zakaria Trade Fair International of Bangladesh and Zak Trade Fairs & Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd. of India is jointly organising this mega event attracting more than 200 international companies all over the world and expecting t0 draw attention of more than 20000 visitors from Dhaka & neighbouring region. From 12-15 January 2008, ZAK Garmentech Bangladesh has emerged as the premier international Apparel Technology Trade Show of Bangladesh. It has served as an ideal platform for the Bangladesh apparel industry to update and upgrade their technology.

Tipu Sultan, General Manager of Zakaria Trade and Fair International says, more than 200 exhibitors from 30 leading Garments Technology manufacturing countries all over the world will attend with their latest technology related with sewing, knitting, embroidery, laundry, finishing, dyeing, cutting machines, CAD/CAM and leading fabrics, accessories and support services sector. The main objective to organise this fair is to provide the Bangladesh garment industry a form to develop new alternate sources of suppliers, make new contacts and to discover and capitalise on the new opportunities that will be brought to the industry by means of this trade fair.

International seminar and workshop will be held with the participation of world famous technologist and consultants. It's a perfect meeting place for buyer and seller related with garments sector. Producer, exporter & importer of world famous garments machinery from USA, Europe, Canada, China, Japan, Germany, Italy, India, Korea will participate in the trade show which had already been conformed to the organiser. Joint venture investment will get preference in the workshop. This technology fair for the first time can accommodate more than 200 exhibitors, all leading names in the respective field under one roof, making it the largest technology trade fair in Bangladesh beating our own record. At the 6th edition of ZAK Garmentech Bangladesh in 2007 had world's leading technology players and attracted over 20000 visitors related with readymade garments and textile industry from Bangladesh, India, China, Korea, Pakistan, Europe, Canada, Singapore, Taiwan, Honking, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and many other countries participated with their technology & products, Organisers are hopeful that at the present Zak Garmentech show Bangladesh will get a perfect guideline to survive in the present.

Quota & Tax free and open market situation. It is not only helpful to create public awareness but also helpful to create new opportunities for our Garments sector with a great tune to protect our Garments and Textile Industry since 2002 ZAK Trade Fairs and Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd. is continuing to organise such a trade show.

Medexpo-2007, the fifth International Medical Equipment and Healthcare Services Exposition 2007 which began in Dhaka on Thursday at Winter Garden of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel concludes today.

National Professor Dr. M. R. Khan inaugurated the exhibition as the chief guest. The inaugural session was also addressed by Kazi Wahidul Alam, Chairman, Medexpo-2007 and Md. Abu Tariq Zia Chowdhury, Head of Customer Relationship Management, Otobi Ltd and Syed Alamgir Haider, Chief Coordinator, Medexpo-2007.

The expo is organised by Triune Exhibition and Event Management Services (TEEMS) to which furniture manufacturer Otobi Ltd is the Premium Partner. The exposition is being participated by 45 companies from eight countries, which include Bangladesh, India, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Germany, China and USA.

Participating organisations include hospitals from home and abroad, manufacturers and distributors of medical equipment, surgical equipment and accessories, laboratory equipment, rehabilitation equipment, laboratories and diagnostic centres, Tele-medicine companies as well as host of other organisations involved in various medical professions.

The exhibition is open to all, free of charge, from 10 a.m. to 8 PM everyday during the three days. The exhibition will be open for medical professionals and trade delegates only from 10 AM to 12 noon on December 7 and 8.

Foreign and local doctors are available for free consultations while equipment manufacturers are offering discounts at the fair.

Two seminars will be held alongside the exhibition. A seminar on 'Surgical Treatment of Spinal Problem: What's New?" will be held at 12-30 PM on December 8, jointly organised by Labaid Specialised Hospital, Dhaka and Raffles Hospital, Singapore, while on Management of Male Infertility" will be held at 11-30 AM on December 9, jointly organised by Fertility and Sterility Society of Bangladesh (FSSB) and Bhagirathi Neotia Woman and Child Care Centre, Kolkata, India.

The objectives of Medexpo-2007 are to showcase equipment, devices, products, packages and services available in the medical, dental and healthcare sector at home and abroad; to understand the need to excel in healthcare facilities in the present-day world; to see how other organisations are developing cost effective healthcare delivery systems without sacrificing quality; assess the new models of consumer driven healthcare plans and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses; and to anticipate trends, understand the opportunities of technology and develop a strategic plan to remain competitive in the ever-evolving marketplace.

SQ Group, country's largest supplier of Sweaters, and Crystal Martin Knitwear Limited, a garment manufacturer based in the United Kingdom have formed a joint venture to produce world class sweaters exclusively for Marks & Spencer (M&S).

SQ and Crystal Martin are technology leaders in the field of manufacturing sweaters. Built on equality, this unparalleled supply chain integration is expected to be highly efficient to provide design-to-delivery solutions to its customer M&S.

The joint venture promises to be an exciting development as it will be the first Eco-friendly "Green" manufacturing plant in the world to produce sweaters.

With an estimated investment of US$ 6.5 million, the factory will be built on 225,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility at SQ Supply Chain City situated at Valuka, Mymensingh. This new investment marks Crystal Martin's first strategic partinership in Bangladesh.

SQ Group has been in Sweater manufacturing business for over a decade now, Ghulam Faruq, Chairman of SQ Group, and Lawrence B. Ward, CEO of Crystal Martin Knitwear Limited, signed a MoU to set up the joint venture on November 29, 2007.

Speaking on the initiative, SQ Group Chairman Faruq expressed his views on the project being -An excellent way to kick-off SQ/Crystals' environmental initiatives. It is a proof of our closely aligned values and outlook".

Crystal Martin's CEO Ward said, "we are proud to associate ourselves with M&S. Plan-A through our new Green model".

The Green plant will be operational by December, 2008 with a combined work force of over 4000.

A comprehensive relief programme(RP) was conducted by Kirtonkhola Forum a multicultural social & women development organisation, in the cyclone-prone South-East part of Barisal during November 29- December 2, 2007. The programme was supported by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI). The relief programme included medicines, warm clothes, sharee, shawl, food items like rice, pulse, onion, chilli, chira, gur, and other essential items like matches, candles, water purifier, saline, etc. Five- member team conducted the relief programme in collaborator with the local level private administrative authority and village people.

The Team covered areas like Kakchira, Taltoli, Majher Char, Katakhali, Padmar Char, Majher Khal etc.

The team provided medical support and health care services, distributed medicines while they treated more than 200 people which include a large number of children & women. They also provided treatment, consultation and cash money for buying necessary medicines. The team observed that a large number of injuries through tin, branches of trees and sharp nails and other known and unknown element caused severe infection to the human bodies, they need immediate long-lasting treatment for health safety.

While discussing with the local people, they mentioned that there are some other places like Nishan Baira, Nali, Badar Khali, Deme, Dhewal Gram, Kaliatoli, Naltora, Kollarchar, Joyalbhangha, Hatirkhola, Sakina, Tatulbuinna, where sufferings are no less.

The tream tried to contact local govt. organizations but failed. The places where the team distributed relief, local private associations were also distributing relief regularly and organising programme for the traumatised children. Paddy fields, forestry, roads, culverts, pontoons, community centres, schools and almost all tinshed houses were destroyed. Immediate shelters, utilities, agricultural inputs are needed from the government to improve the situation. From DCCI) Ms. Ferdaus Ara Begum, Additional Secretary(R&P) represented while Dr. Nasreen Jahan, former President Kirtonkhola Forum and an international consultant led the team. Other members were Engr Mr. Jahangir Miah, Md Zakir Hossain of World Fish and Mr. Sajib.