The New Nation - Internet Edition

A.T.M.Nurun Nabi

There is one kind of complacent that the readymade garments industry (RMG) alone earns 76 percent of the country's total export earnings and has contributed a lot in the country's economic development and created job opportunities for two million people. But the admirers have forgotten that the country uses to pay a good amount in foreign currency every year in importing apparels for use at home.

It is claimed that about seven lakh workers work in those factories to manufacture apparels. But sadly, the local markets have been flooded with the Chinese, the Indians and the Thai goods. The president of the internal garments manufacturing samity said that they are required to pay duties three times for import of accessories needed to produce apparels. To the contrary, those who directly import apparels, pay duty only one time. As a result, the price of the locally produced apparel becomes higher than that of the imported one. Thus, the foreign goods have driven away the homemade apparels. If it continues for some more periods, thousands of workers will lose their jobs, which will not be a good tiding.

To this, economists are of the view that the government should implement 'Trade Protection Law' to safeguard the interests of the locally produced products. It is not acceptable that a part of the export earnings from apparels will be spent behind importing apparels. Another danger is likely to come down from the European Union and the USA, which will lift sanctions on China by the end of the year 2008 to shatter the BGMEA and the BKMEA's pledge of exporting 15 billion dollars by 2012.

Howbeit, similar apprehensions were made in 2004 by some quarters. They said that, with the withdrawal of multi-fiber agreement (MFA), the country's export garments would largely fall short of target and thousands of workers would lose their jobs and a social unrest might take place. The apprehension, however, did not prove correct. A garments worker of the city's Gulshan Area confidently said at that time, "We have no fear of retrenchment because we give labour and get our wage in due time. The condition of our factory is sound and we are not worried at all."

That worker might not have any idea about MFA, sanctions, compliance etc., but he knew that he would be nowhere at least temporarily if the factory were closed. This was his one kind of consciousness. And the BGMEA and the BKMEA leaders were also very much conscious of their doings. They overcame the MFA syndrome and advanced more. Similarly China would be no barrier to Bangladesh's advancement.

Instructor Training and General Studies (ITS) Department of the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) a susidiary organ of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Gazipur organised a five-day long International workshop from 1st December to 5th December 2007 on 'ICT in Teaching-Learning in Technical and Vocational Education’ Ten experts from home and abroad including Dr. Feng-Chung Miao of UNESCO conducted different sessions of the workshop.

The objectives of the workshop were to exchange ideas on how learning can be enhanced through technology, share ideas on various modes of e-learning, understand the role of computer and its use in Technical and Vocational Education, know the role of ICT in distance education, Develop online assignment assessment management system for distance learning, Use Computer in Analysing and interpreting educational problems, formulate recommendations based on the discussions for future planning and course of action in the 21st century. The topics of the workshop were : Computers and its use in Technical and Vocational Education, Enhance Learning through technology, E-Learning, Computer Aided Instruction, Role of ICT in distance education, On line assignment/assessment management system for distance learning.

The workshop was sponsored by IUT and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in collaboration with the UNESCO.

The closing ceremony was held on 5th December 2007. Dato' Abdul Malek Bin Abdul Aziz, High Commissioner of Malaysia gave away the certificates to the participants as the chief guest while Prof. Dr. Abdur Razzaq Akhanda, Acting Vice Chancellor of IUT was present as a special guest and Prof. Dr. M. Shahjahan Mian Tapan presided over the ceremony.

Warid Telecom distributed prizes among the winners of the Warid Celebrity Quiz Contest at the star-studded post-Lux-Channel i Performance Award get-together, says a press release.

At the celebrity quiz '07 awarding ceremony and post-Lux-Channel i performance award, a gala dinner and get-together took place in a city hotel. Performers from cultural arena handed the prizes to the winners of the SMS-based contest.

Apart from dinner with the cine world celebrities, the winners were awarded with Warid connection with handsets and Warid gift hampers. It was a dream evening for the winners who got the chance to dine with the cine stars, take autograph and have photo session with them.

Warid Telecom and Channel i jointly hosted the dinner at Lake Shore Hotel in Gulshan in honour of the awardees and performers of the Lux Channel i Performance Award Programme which was held on November 9 in Dubai. This year Warid Telecom was the exclusive telecommunications partner of the event.

It was a glaring gathering abuzz with stars of the glamour world including Khurshid Alam, rock musician Sumon of Aurthohin, Biplob of Prometheus, Hyder Hussain, Habib, Hasan Abidur Reza Jewel, Munir Khan, Akhi Alamgir, Meherin and Mishu Rahman. CEO of Warid Telecom Muneer Farooqui and Managing Director of Channel i Faridur Reza Sagor were also present.

Six quiz contest winners who received awards were Md. Nura Alam, Shakil Mahmood Chowdhury, Md. Monjurul Alam, Md. Hasan Mahmud Dipu, Rintu Mohajon and Hedayet Hossain.

The Board of The Directors of Agrani Bank has approved some extra-facilities for the hurricane affected borrowers in Southern Bangladesh.

According to the decisions Agrani Bank will stop collecting instalment of agri-loan from the borrower for six months. The borrower can re-schedule his loan for two years for which no interest will be charged. Firesh loan will also be given for rehabilitation of Sidr hit people without interest for six months. Moreover, those who could not repay instalment in due time will be eligible for fresh loan without down payment for which no interest will be charged for six months.

It was first major decision of the bank after convention into Public Limited Company, says the press release.

Dr. A.B. Mirza Md. Azizul Islam Financial Advisor of The Care Taker Govt visited Premier Bank stall at Japan Trade Fair-2007, held from November 29 to December-1 2007. (Stall A-12)

Mir Nasr Hossain former President FBCCI also visited the stall with Khondaker Fazle Rashid Managing Director of The Premier Bank Ltd. Among others, Additional Managing Director Md. Mokhlesur Rahman and others high officials of the bank were present on the occasion. A huge enthusiast crowed flocked to the stall to have a glimpse of various products of the Premier Bank Limited. The products include fixed deposits, short term deposits, saving scheme, special deposit scheme, VISA credit card, consumers credit scheme, apartment finance, lease finance, SME financing etc. Product's brand name viz. FRD, STD SB, MIS, MSS, ESS, SDS, VISA Card, CCS, HBL, SME were also exhibited in the fair.

Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited (DBBL) donated a set of Multimedia Projector for the students of Paediatrics Department of Sir Salimullah Medical College & Mitford Hospital. K.S. Tabrez, Deputy Managing Director (Administration) of the bank formally handed the Multimedia Projector to Dr. Hosne Ara Begum, Head of Paediatrics Department, Sir Salimullah Medical College & Mitford Hospital in a simple ceremony recently.

The Multimedia Projector will help the students sharing knowledge and modern ideas between teachers and them to train them up to international level.

Among others, Dr. Mozammel Hossain Khan, Medical consultant of Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited and Dr. Naznin Akter Banu, Associate Professor, Paediatrics Department, Sir Salimullah Medical College & Mitford Hospital were also present on the occasion.

Citi has been named the #1 ranked cash management bank globally in Euromoney's annual cash management poll. In addition to capturing the top spot in the global poll, Citi also took top honors in 15 individual regions covered in the poll, including a sweep of Asian markets. Regionally, these include Japan, North Asia, South-East Asia, and South Asia. This year's poll, conducted annually by Euromoney, polled 11,988 cash managers, treasurers and financial officers from 89 countries around the world. Results of the poll were based on valid responses from 3,801 participants.

Citi was also ranked highly by clients in many service categories, including a #1 ranking for overall service and in categories such as: Availability of Global Banking and Electronic Tools, Innovative Payment and Collection Methods and Comprehensive Electronic Banking Capabilities.

"Citi delivers cash management as an end to end service," says Anthony Nappi, Asia Pacific CEO of Global Transaction Services at Citi. "To enable our clients to succeed, we deliver innovative tools, global connectivity and critical information to give them the visibility and transparency to enhance their treasury functions." "Our goal, first and foremost, is the satisfaction of our clients with our services," says Nigel Dobson, Asia Pacific Head of Cash Management at Citi's Global Transaction Services . "The Euromoney poll is significant in that it is an opportunity for our clients to tell us how we're doing relative to our peers.

"This poll shows that In Bangladesh Citi, which has been the pioneer in providing cash management solution to customers, still maintains its lead with innovative offerings," says Rashed Maqsood, Head of Citi's Global Transactions Services, Bangladesh.