The New Nation - Internet Edition

A.T.M.Nurun Nabi

The country's proven gas reserves of 8.39 TCF are likely to be exhausted by 2011 and the probable reserves of 13.6 TCF by the end of the year 2015, indicating the possible shutdown of 90 percent gas-run-power plants, demonstrating the looming of serious energy crisis if its substitute, coal, as energy is not extracted from the mines or new gas fields are not discovered.

According to 'Power Sector Master Plan Update 2006' prepared by Nexant, in order to reach GDP to eight percent, 450 million tonnes of coal will be required for 'coal based plants' between 2005 and 2025. The country will be requiring 75 million tonnes of coal in 2025 alone to produce 32,837 megawatt of electricity out of total 41,899 mw .. On this ratio, 375 (75X5) million tonnes of coal will be required for next five years from 2026 [and 750 (75XlO) million tonnes for next 10 years from 2026 totalling 1200 (450+750) million tonnes (2005-2035)].

As to the extraction of coal, there are two methods. One is the 'open pit method' and the other is 'underground mining method'. The cost of extraction under the former method is 60 dollars per tonne and that under the latter is 103 dollars. Under the open pit method, 90 percent extraction is possible while under the underground mining method, 20 percent could be extracted.

The severe drawbacks under the open pit method are that thousands of people living in and outside the mine(s) will be homeless and the environment in and around the locality will be seriously affected. So, to avert agitation and turmoil by the probable displaced inhabitants, prior-rehabilitation of them must be done before the coal company (ies) begins work in the coalmine area(s). If the government does not do that, creation of more Phulbari cannot be ruled out.

At present, there are proven reserves of 2,221 million tonnes of coal in the country's five coalmjnes (all in North Bengal). The full particulars are furnished below: -

(In million tonnes)

Locationlfield- Year of Discovery-Drilled Well-Depth-Proven Reserves- Probables

I.B arapukuri a 1985-87 31 118-509m 303 390

Dinajpur

2.Khalashpur 1989-90 14 257-483 143 685

Rangpur

3.Phulbari 1997 108 150-240 572 572

Dinajpur

4.Dighipara 1994-95 5 328-407 150 600

Dinajpur

5.Jamalganj 1962 10 640-1158 1053 1053

Jpypurhat

Total 2221 3300

(Sources: BCML, ABC, GSB)

If the open pit method is applied, about 1050 million tonnes of coal could be extracted from four mines (except Jamalganj) while 235 million under underground mining method, enough to produce electricity till 2022. In truth, the dependence on the coal based power plants and the industries will be in danger if the proven gas reserves are exhausted by 2015 and if no new gas field is discovered. Since 1,200 million tonnes of coal will be required for power plants only, the question of export does not at all arise. Not only that, the government can't give any kind of guarantee of supplying gas to any foreign company desiring to invest (regardless of amount) in Bangladesh.

The country will need 13,408 mw of electricity in 2015, 24,405 in 2020 and 41,899 in 2025 if the GDP reaches 8 percent. On the other hand, there will be necessity of 9,786 mw in 2015, 13,993 in 2020 and 19,312 in 2025 in case of GDP entering 5.2 percent, claims Nexant. It is therefore imperative on the part of the interim government to draft a clear coal policy right now in order to avert crises and to free the country from the curse of load shedding by 2012.

The 21st Annual General Meeting-2006 of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) was held on Saturday December 29 at 11.00 AM in the Board of BCI. The President of BCI Mr. A.K. Azad presided over the meeting and presented a concise resume of BCI Activities in 2006.

He extended heartfelt thanks to all concerned including the distinguished Directors and the Members of BCI for offering valuable cooperation towards the last year's activities. The meeting elaborately discussed the problems and impediments of industrialisation, export import, investment, abnormal price hike, infrastucture problems of the country and laid emphasis on solutions of those problems.

BCI President Mr. A.K. Azad said in his annual speech that private sector is the key player in the fields of investment,. employment and savings of the country. So this sector needs to emerge as an engine of growth and work in cooperation with Govt. in policy formulation and its implementation.

He, therefore, stressed to ensure an enabling environment at home by improving the overall climate for smooth private sector growth. He emphasised on a prudent business and investment plan considering all aspects of current socio-political-economic situation and realities of the domestic as well as global market.

To run the economy smoothly the President also put importance on making our products qualitative, competitive and expansion of industrial base. He further mentioned for reduction of import dependency by increasing industrial exports in the overseas market. BCI President sought continuous Govt. support to industrialise the country and help make arrangements for attraction of foreign investment in the industry sector.

The abnormal price hike of the essentials have caused the great sufferings and also exceeded the tolerance limit of the people. It's also affecting the economic growth adversely", BCI President lamented. He urged the concerned authority to topple down the prices within the capacity of the common people.

He agreed to the problems pointed out by the General Members of BCI and emphasised to take necessary action to help solve the industrial bottlenecks immediately.

meeting also discussed threadbare the last year's activities and accounts. After discussion, the house unanimously confirmed the minutes of the 20lh Annual General Meeting and adopted the Annual Report of BCI for the year 2006.

The meeting was attended, among others, by BCI Senior Vice President Mr. M.A. Shahid, Vice President Mr. Shamsur Rahman, Directors M/s A.M. Badruzzaman Khan Khasru, Md. Rajjab Sharif, Dr. Md. Jahangir Alam, Omar Farooque Bhuiyan, Shamim Ahmed, Enayet Ullah Siddiqui, Shahidul Islam Niru, Delower Hossain Raja, Zahid Maleque, M. Nasir, Mrs. Priti Chakraborty, K.M. Zakir Hussain, Jahangir Alam and BCI Members M/s. Razia Hossain, Md. Zakir Hossain, Md. Sayedur Rahman, A.K.M. Sharifur Rahman, Bipul Chandra Saha and others.

Department of Pharmacy of Primeasia University paid tribute to the world renowned Bangladeshi scientist, Dr. Salah U Ahmed by hosting a lavish reception programme in their Banani campus, Dhaka..

The reception programme was followed by a seminar on the topic "Pharmaceutical Profession in Western World: Present and Future", presented by Dr. Salah U. Ahmed. Dr. Ahmed completed his M. Pharm, from the University of Dhaka in 1977 and moved to USA in 1983. At present he is working as the Executive Vice President and Global Head, Research and Development of Barr Laboratories Inc., USA. He is also associated with MIT and Harvard University in several research projects. In his speech, Dr. Ahmed said that Pharmaceutical Scientists must have strong scientific understandings that they can do things for quality drugs. He commented that Bangladesh can elevate its scientific efforts with the help of very basic research subjects and equipments in Pharmaceutical sector. The basic equipments like spectrophotometer, chromatography, X-ray diffractometer, moisture analyzer, texture analyzer etc. are suitable to be used in basic research purposes in the industry. Research laboratories of our universities can successfully accomplish their basic pharmaceutical research schemes of international standard and quality to upgrade their standard of academics. The research scheme may be on bioequivalence studies, the generic and brand products that can be characterised by their physical, chemical properties and physicochemical parameters. The development of efficient sustained release dosage forms can open a new door of research and development prospects.

Dr. Ahmed mentioned that chemistry is the heart of pharmacy, so pharmacy students should be prudent enough to grasp the basic concepts of physical pharmacy first and then go for study on different dosage forms and their manufacturing, drug development etc. Dr. Ahmed also stressed on development of leadership abilities by our Pharmaceutical manufacturers to become competent in global pharma-market. He mentioned the major reason that Bangladeshis often lag behind others in international community is the lack of their research potentials and communication abilities.

Dr. Ahmed also mentioned that if the pharmaceutical scientists know-how the chemical compounds behave and react, then they will be able to understand the chemistry of active ingredients and recipients for pharmaceutical product formulation and designing.

Therefore, he advised the pharmacy students to learn as best as possible the physicochemical properties of the drugs and additives. Dr. Ahmed also mentioned that the quality of Research and Development Department of a Pharmaceutical Company is the key stone that brings forth international recognition and demands.

Research projects being carried out in USA and European countries are expensive but after all turn profitable. Dr. Ahmed placed an example that in 1993, Barr Laboratories Inc. of New York, USA invested 0.6 million US dollars whereas their turn over was 50 million US dollar..,. The research cost in Barr Laboratcaries has mounted to 250 million US dollars in the year 2007, the turn over being 3 billion US dollars. Now there are 660 employees in Barr Laboratories, 150 among them arc PhD researchers.

Dr. Salah U. Ahmed recommended the local pharmaceutical companies to establish Research and Development (R & D) division wherein all sorts of pharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic parameters of pharmaceuticals can be studied. The establishment and maintenance of R & D at even very limited affordability and budget with necessary basic facilities can be managed by all manufacturers to ensure "quality through bioequivalence and quality by design studies". Quality by design (QBD) and its control will help the local pharmaceutical companies to gain better image and reliability and expand business worldwide. Dr. Ahmed concluded the seminar by saying that 'if in that way we run, we can run faster and if we can run faster, we can be the world champion thereafter'.

The 12th Annual General Meeting of Metro Spinning Limited was held on Saturday, December 29, at Spectra Convention Centre, in the city. The meeting chaired by its Chairman, Al-Haj Abdul All. The members of Board of Director and huge numbers of shareholders were present in the meeting. The Managing Director Mohammod Ali Khokon replied all the queries and questions of the shareholders. The shareholders in their speech have given valuable advice and appreciation on the performance for the financial year.

The Chairman, Managing Director along with other Directors conveyed thanks to shareholders for their kind support and advice. Board of Director also expressed their expectation for future support of the shareholder. 12% Dividend, Audited Reports and Directors Report for the financial year of 2006-2007 unanimously confirmed and passed.

As per Company Act, 1994, two Directors Showkot Ali and Mrs. Laila Ali retired and re-elected for the next term. The company achieved net profit before tax Tk. 87.73 lac. Despite adverse circumstances prevailed in the Textile Sector, the Company had achieved a total turnover of Tk. 72.56 crore during the financial year, 2006-2007.

Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited opened its 47th Branch on Baridhara Road, Basundhara, Dhaka on December 27 with Truly On-line Banking facilities from the very opening day of the Branch. The Branch was inaugurated by Mr. Md. Yeasin Ali, Managing Director of the Bank.

Business personalities, bankers, educationists and journalists were present at the inaugural ceremony. The respected guests, residents of the locality and owners of business houses/shops showed their spontaneous enthusiasm by opening account with the bank. The opening ceremony started with a Milad-Mahfil seeking blessings of the Almighty Allah for successful operation of the Branch, prosperity of the business community, depositors of the bank and stakeholders. The distinguished guests of inaugural ceremony opined that, Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited is not only rendering present-day customer need-focused banking services but also the bank spends a significant portion of its annual profit for carrying out a wide range of philanthropic activities from which the society at large is benefited.