The New Nation - Internet Edition

Business Desk

The 8th Ministerial Level Meeting of the Forum for Nuclear Co-opearation in Asia (FNCA) was held in Tokyo, Japan on December 18, says a press note. In this ministerial level meeting; ministers, secretaries and high officials of the Atomic Energy Commission of the Member-States (Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) participated. A two-member delegation headed by Wahid-Uz-Zaman, Secretary, Ministry of Science and ICT represented Bangladesh. The other member of the delegation was Dr. Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, Chairman of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.

l. The major resolution of the meeting was to cooperate in order to implement the 11 FNCA projects in 8 fields in accordance with the plans proposed by the 8th co-ordinators meeting in February 2007.

Research Reactor Utilization, Industrial Applicatiol, Neutron Activation Analysis, Radioactive Waste Management, Research Reactor Technology, Public Information of Nuclear Energy, Application for Agriculture, Nuclear Safety Culture, Mutation Breeding, Human Resources Development, Biofertilizer, Application for Medical Care, Cyclotron and PET in medicine, Radiation Oncology

2. Joint Communiqué of the meeting on the 'Peaceful use of Nuclear Energy for Sustainable Development' is reproduced hereunder: Recalling that the FNCA's objective is to promote social and economic development through active regional partnership in the peaceful and safe utilization of nuclear technology,

ii) Recalling the resolution of the 7th FNCA Ministerial-Level Meeting in Kuantan, Malaysia, in November 2006, the reports from the FNCA Panel meeting concerning the 'Role of Nuclear Energy for Sustainable Development in Asia' held from 2004 to 2006 and the discussions of the 'Study Panel for Cooperation in the Field on Nuclear Energy in Asia' in Tokyo in October 2007,

iii) Recognising that it is a shared understanding that securing stable supply of energy is required for sustainable development in each member states, since energy consumption in member states is expected to increase sharply over the next 20 to 30 years due to rapid economic growth while reserves of fossil fuels are limited,

iv) Recognising that improvement of energy efficiency and increased energy conservation, the promotion of diversification of energy resources and optimization of the energy mix, the development of renewable energy including biomass, wind power, solar power and hydropower, the introduction of civilian nuclear power and the establishment of energy networks are important strategies for ensuring a stable supply of energy,

Recognising that the prevention of air pollution and minimisation of global warming caused by the burning of fossil fuels are common objectives,

vi) Emphasising that civilian nuclear power, which emits no greenhouse gas in the process of generation and has been verified as a technology that can serve as base load electric power supply, is one of the practical means that can contribute to both stable energy supply and to a reduction in emission of greenhouse gases,

vii) Emphasizing that in promoting the use of civilian nuclear power, in must be supported in a manner that ensures nuclear non-proliferation, safety and security, and that it is a necessary prerequisite to develop social infrastructures such as human resources, regulatory systems, financial mechanisms and public acceptance, as well as the technical infrastructures, and

viii) Welcoming IAEA endeavors aimed at addressing the growing interest for civilian nuclear power in the world, such as the "Technical Meeting/Workshop on Issues for the Introduction of Nuclear Power" in Vienna in November 2006 and the "Resolution on Nuclear power application" at the 5th General Conference in September 2007,

1)Work towards raising global awareness that, in the framework of addressing global warming beyond 2012 it is important to

a) promote the utilisation of civilian nuclear power as a clean energy source in a manner that ensures nuclear non-proliferation, safety and security,

b) recognise that nuclear power emits no greenhouse gases and therefore should be considered in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and that the Special Climate Change Fund should be available for use for civilian nuclear power plants,

2) Promote actively policy dialogue to encourage use of civilian nuclear power as an effective long-term measure for reducing the emission of greenhouse gases such as CO2 and hence make a positive contribution reducing the contribution of CO2 to global warming,

3) Make further efforts to ensure nuclear non-proliferation, through strengthening cooperation with the IAEA in the area of non-proliferation and working towards concluding safeguards agreements and associated additional protocols,

4) Make further efforts to ensure nuclear safety, through promoting the sharing of information and experience on nuclear safety,

5) Make further efforts to ensure nuclear security, through cooperating with the IAEA and the international community and actively participating in international efforts such as the IAEA Nuclear Security Seminars, and

6) Promote exchanges of information and sharing experience of technical infrastructure and social infrastructure such as human resources, regulatory systems and financial mechanism in order to strengthen and promote peaceful and safe use of nuclear technology.

The 29th Annual General Meeting of the Dacca Dyeing & Manufacturing Co. Ltd. was held on 28 December 2007 at its mill premises, QC Nagar, Pagar, Tongi Gazipur.

Saifuddin Quader Chowdhury, Chairman of the company presided over the meeting. Glasuddin Quader Chowdhury, Managing Director, Mrs. Meena Parveen Quader. Chowdhury, Director, Sameer Quader Chowdhury, Director and Md. Amlrul Islam, Director were also present in the meeting.

The shareholder approved of the board of directors recommendation for 15 pc stock dividend (bonus shares) to all the shareholders of the company.

The shareholders unanimously approved of the director's report, audited accounts for the year 2006-2007 and auditors report thereon. The shareholders also approved of the offering of public issue of the company through ICB. The shareholders also approved of the appointment of the auditor' of the company for the year 2007-2008.

The managing director enlightened the shareholders regarding the development plan of the company. The management is confident to compete in the international market and improve the profitability of the company in the years to come.

Global Markets HSBC Bangladesh recently organised a three day workshop at Srimongol, Sylhet from 14+16 December 2007 titled "BASEL-II and its impact on Treasury Management". Dealers from fifteen local private banks, three nationalised banks and central bank personnel participated in the workshop.

Tarique I Khan, Head of Global Markets, HSBC Bangladesh conducted the Workshop and distributed crests amongst the participants. Interesting discussion ensued regarding implementation of BASEL-II in Bangladesh. The country is committed to implementing BASEL-II standards from 2009.

The workshop was followed by team building activities and a cultural evening. Global Markets HSBC Banglade has been organizing similar events since 2004 and working towards developing the market.

The Board of Directors of Continental Insurance Limited, in its 79th Meeting held recently in a city hotel, unanimously re-elected Md. Musa Meah Chairman and Mohammed Iqbal Vice Chairman of the company for a two years (2008 & 2009) terms.

Md. Musa Meah, business personality, industrialist and philanthropist of the country is also the Chairman of Kuliarchar Group, a leading frozen shrimp and Readymade Garments Exporter of the country with its six 100 pc export oriented industries. He is one of the sponsor-shareholders and past Chairman of Golden Life Insurance Ltd. and sponsor-shareholder of National Credit & Commerce Bank Ltd. Mohammed Iqbal, a renowned businessman engaged in construction civil engineering, shipping, real estate sectors of the country since 1972. He is a pioneer in real estate business in the port city of Chittagong.

At present he is the Chairman & Managing Director of ICC Limited, Ideal Home Builders Ltd., and proprietor of Highway Plaza Shopping Complex of Chittagong. He has long association with many socio-cultural and sports organisations of both Dhaka and Chittagong.

Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Ltd. earned a total revenue of Tk. 256.54 crore, which includes sales revenue of Tk. 235.71 crore and other income of Tk. 20.83 crore. Further, the company earned a pre-tax profit of Tk. 29.72 crore, which is 82 percent higher than the preceding year. During the fiscal year 2006-2007, the company contributed Tk. 24.13 crore to the government exchequer in the form of DSL, dividend, income tax and import duty.

This was disclosed in the the 21st Annual General Meeting 2006-07 of the company for held on the 30th December in a city hotel and was presided over by the Chairman of the Board of Directors Janab Md. Alauddin . The audited accounts of the company were also approved in the meeting.

The meeting was also informed that the company laid nearly 100 km gas pipeline of different dia the year under review. The shareholders, directors and other senior officials of the company were also present in the meeting.

Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited (BPBL) appointed Mrs. Rupali Chowdhury, its Managing Director with effect from January 1, 2008. Mrs. Chowdhury began her professional career in 1984 with CIBA, a Swiss multinational company and later joined Berger in 1990. She had an illustrious career with Berger Paints and was inducted in the board in 2004. She completed her Honours in Chemistry and did her MBA from IBA, Dhaka University.

Masih-UI-Karim was appointed Adviser and Board Member of Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited from January 1, 2008. He joined Berger in October 1992 as Managing Director and successfully led the company for fifteen years. He was the immediate past president of Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industries of Bangladesh. He is also involved in different apex bodies and social organisations. During his tenure as managing director, Berger shined in different fields and emerged as absolute leader in Bangladesh Paints industry.