The New Nation - Internet Edition

Scheme to bring 1.28 lakh hectares under wheat cultivation in Jhenidah

UNB, Jhenidah

An intensive scheme has been taken up to bring 1.28 lakh hectares of land under wheat cultivation in the district during the current season.According to Department of Agriculture Extension, of the total, 2,000 hectares will be cultivated in Sadar upazila, 5,020 hectares in Kaliganj, 1,810 hectares in Kotchandpur, 2,520 hectares in Moheshpur, 800 hectares in Shailakupa and 650 hectares in Harinakunda upazila. The production target has been fixed at 1,15,200 mts of wheat with 0.9 mts per hectare. Meanwhile, DAE has taken initiative to ensure supply of quality seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and other necessary inputs among the farmers at fair prices to make the scheme a success.

Stabilise market at all costs

A.T.M.Nurun Nabi

The government seems determined to engage the members of the joint forces to monitor the price of rice that the government may decide its next course of action. On the other hand, there is an opinion in favour of reactivating Trading Corporation of Bangladesh. Just a good will of the government with sufficient manpower and fund is enough to reactivate TCB. In case of need, the services of Sena Kalyan Sangstha, an organisation of retired military officers, could also be used.

According to reports, the price of finer quality of rice was taka 22 in December 2006 and it now sells at taka 44 per kilo, marking 100 percent increase. The course flour, which was sold at taka 18 per kilo in December 2006, now sells at taka 43, an increase of about 140 percent. As a result, the consumption of this item has substantially decreased. It reveals from the same report that the price of the coarse rice has increased by taka 12 during the same period of time. The it now sells at taka 30-32 per kilo.

The government uses to say that the reason of price hike is the convulsion in the international rice market. Nobody will deny it fully because Bangladesh has to import annually about two million metric tonnes of rice. But the price of rice in the international market differs from country to country. For example, India has demanded $ 500 for per metric tonne of coarse rice whereas Vietnam, Thailand and Burma export at around $ 320. So it is impractical to make the international market situation a scapegoat.

However, an opinion has grown in the rice market, both at the retail and the wholesale levels, that India has become a determining factor in the settlement of the rice-price. The moment India lifted ban on rice export, its price came down by taka three to four per kilo. The example of onion is more ostensible. Consumers had to buy one kilo of onion at taka around 70 per kilo during the month of Ramadan. But with the resumption of export from India, the price began to come down at a tornado speed and at present it sells at taka 15-16 per kilo and the locally grown one at taka 22.

In this regard, experts suggest that the government should issue a statement stating the annual production of rice in the country, the percentage of wastage, the annual demand, the quantity of imported rice, the stock position and the future plan. If the nation knows all these, it will be hard for the traders to fix price as per sweet will. Not only of rice, the government should appraise the nation of all the matters for the sake of the transparency.

Int’l textile and garment machinery exhibition '08 underway

UNB, Dhaka

A four-day international textile and garment machinery exhibition began here Sunday, showcasing the latest fashion trends, new technologies and material services for textile in trade.

Textiles and Jute Adviser Mohammed Anwarul Iqbal inaugurated the 5th International Textile and Garment Machinery Exhibition '08 at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center (BCFCC).

Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) and ES Event Management, SDN, and BHD of Malaysia jointly organised the exhibition.

Some 415 exhibitors from countries like the USA, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, South Korea, Singapore, China, India, Hong Kong, Turkey, Belgium, Canada, Taiwan, Australia and host Bangladesh have assembled in 'one stop selling and searching platform' with world-class latest textile machinery.

Describing the textile industry as the most vital sector in empowering the country's women, Anwarul Iqbal said this sector provides jobs to five million people of which 80 percent are women. "The sector contributes 13 percent to our GDP as 78 percent of the total export earnings come from textile and related products," he told. Anwarul Iqbal said state of art technology is replacing the old ones in the textile and clothing sectors, boosting productivity, improving quality and increasing cost effectiveness.

"This exhibition will surely provide an opportunity to our people to witness the technological development taking place globally, as the exposition is being held at our doorstep," he hoped.

Speaking at the inaugural session, BTMA president Abdul Hai Sarker said the show has become an annual event of BTMA and this year's exposition has attained a far greater height compared to previous years' ones.

"This year some 415 exhibitors from 26 countries who are the major manufacturers of textile machinery are participating in this exhibition with 730 booths; Last year, some 236 exhibitors from 25 countries took part in the show," he said.

The BTMA president hoped that the exposition would provide a unique opportunity for local entrepreneurs and textile and garment manufacturers to have a glimpse of the technological advancements taken place in the international textile trade.

IBBL holds board meeting

A meeting of the Board of Directors of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited was held on Thursday, 17 January, 2007 in the Board Room of the bank at Islami Bank Tower. Prof. Nasser Muhammad Abduz Zaher, Chairman, Board of Directors of the bank presided over the meeting. Foreign and Local Directors including Yousif Abdullah Al-Rajhi, Representative of Al-Rajhi Company for Industry and Trade, K.S.A, Dr. Abdul Hameed Fouad Al-Khateeb, KSA, Wasim Ahmed, Representative of Islamic Development Bank, KSA, Ahmed Mohammed Thani, Representative of Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation, Kuwait were present in the meeting.

The meeting evaluated the performance of the bank for the year 2007 and expressed it's satisfaction over the success and progress achieved so far, approved Annual Business Plan for the current year and took some important business decisions.

4965 chickens culled, 3750 eggs destroyed in Natore after detection of bird flu

UNB, Natore

Some 4,965 chickens were culled and 3,750 eggs destroyed at a poultry farm at Anandanagar in Gurudaspur upazila on Sunday night after detection of Avian Influenza in the farm.

Owner of the farm Abul Kalam Azad contacted with the local Livestock Department when his chickens started dying few says back.

Later, a livestock official collected sample of some dead chickens and eggs from the farm and sent those to Joypurhat Laboratory for test.

Later, the chickens were culled and eggs destroyed when the laboratory sent report of detection of Avian Influenza on Sunday. The culled chickens and eggs were dumped under the soil in presence of the senior officials on the same night.

Deputy Commissioner SM Ehsan Kabir when contacted said that necessary measures have been taken to check the spread of the bird flu in the district.

Managers’ Conference of Eastland Insurance company held

The Regional Branch Managers Conference-2008 of Eastland Insurance Company Limited was held on Thursday, the 17th January, 2008 in the auditorium of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).

Mahbubur Rahman, Chairman of the company inaugurated the conference. In his inaugural address, the Chairman expressed satisfaction on the overall achievement of the company and thanked the officials for their commendable performance during the year 2007. He called upon the .Managers to face the challenges ahead and maintained growth through dynamism and professional excellence.

Fifty executives and senior officers representing all branches from all over the country participated in the conference. The chairman also distributed prizes/awards among marketing personnels who made their mark.

Directos, K. M. Humayun Kabir, Moazzem Hossain, Alhaj Mohammad Arshad Ali, M. Azmal Hoque, Managing Director, Ghulam Rahman, Executive Director and Mosleh Uddin Ahmad, Joint Managing Director were in attendance.