The New Nation - Internet Edition

DAM receives Tk 72 lakh for cancer hospital

BSS, Dhaka

Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) received Taka 72.32 lakh as donation in the month of December 07 and January 08 for construction of its cancer hospital.

Of those, Maissa Karim Foundation donated Taka 20 lakh, Hena Ahmed Taka 15 lakh, Foreign Office Wives' Association and Intezar Ahmed each Taka 10 lakh, Dr Saleha Khatun and Md Ali Reza Taka five lakh, Rehana Begum wife of Syed kamaluddin Haider and Syed Kamaluddin Haider each Taka five lakh, Dr Saleha Khatun and Md Ali Reza Taka five lakh, Eng Monwar Ahmed and Shahana Begum each Tk 50 thousand, Nayeema Yousuf Taka 45 thousand, Dr Taher Abu Saif Taka 33.850, Farjia Rahman Taka 20 thousand, M A Mamun Taka 15 thousand, Sathiratha-1974 (Dhaka University) Taka eight thousand, an anonymous person Taka five thousand and Matiur Rahman Taka two thousand and five hundred , Saiful Alam Taka two thousand and Farida Yasmin, Sabina Yasmin, Happy, Jotsna and Sumiya together Taka nine hundred.

The hospital is being constructed at Uttara in the capital city. It needs Taka 200 crore for completion of the hospital.

Yakub made HC to Canada

BSS, Dhaka

The government has decided to appoint AM Yakub Ali, currently serving as High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Kenya, as the country's next High Commissioner to Canada.

Yakub Ali who had his Masters of Arts degree from Dhaka university in 1975, also had MS from University of Paris, said a Foreign office release here yesterday. He joined the Foreign Service in 1981 and served in different countries in different capacities. He was born in 1953 in Manikganj.

He was Chief of protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs prior to his appointment as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.

Yakub Ali is married with two children.

Prices of essentials cheaper in BDR-run markets

BSS, Dhaka

Prices of essentials were cheaper yesterday in the BDR-run sales centers and markets compared to those in the city's ordinary markets, according to a BDR market report released here yesterday.

Flour in packet is being sold between Taka 41 and 43 per kg in the ordinary markets, it said adding, the item was sold at Taka 41 per kg in the BDR-run open markets and Taka 34 in the BDR-run sales centers. The price of one kg flour in Kolkata is equivalent to Taka 24.13.

Coarse rice was sold in different markets between Taka 29 and 30 per kg, while the price of the same item in the BDR-run markets is Taka 29 and BDR-run sales centers is Taka 25 and in Kolkata markets, it is being sold at Taka 24.13.

Onion was sold at Taka 12 per kg in the BDR-run open markets. Price of onion in other city markets were between Taka 13 and 18. The item is being sold in Kolkata at Taka 6.89.

Potato is being sold from Taka 12 to Taka 14 per kg in the ordinary markets, while its price in the BDR-run open markets is Taka 12. In Kolkata, price of the item is Taka 6.89.

The price of soybean oil ranges between Taka 100 and Taka 105 per liter in the ordinary markets, while it is available at Taka 105 in the BDR-run open markets and Taka 90 in its sales centers. In Kolkata, price of the soybean oil is Taka 99.99 per liter.

Palm oil is being sold between Taka 88 and Taka 96 per liter in the ordinary markets, while it is available at Taka 98 per liter in the BDR-run open markets. In Kolkata, price of the palm oil is Taka 77.58 per liter, the BRD market report said.

Hilsha fish was sold at different markets from Taka 230 to Taka 320 per kg, the report said.

Activities of Youth Dev projects reviewed

BSS, Dhaka

Overall activities for implementation of the projects under the Department of Youth Development were reviewed here yesterday.

Director General of the Department Md Ismail Hossain chaired the meeting attended by directors, deputy directors and officials concerned, said a press release.

Speaking on the occasion, Ismail Hossain called upon the officials to work with devotion to bring dynamism to the project activities of the Department.

He emphasised the need for timely implementation of the ongoing youth development projects to reach their benefit to the deserving people across the country.

"Youth development is prerequisite to development of the country," the DG added.

UNESCO book fair on Feb 27

BSS, Dhaka

UNESCO Book Fair-2008 will be held at Central Public Library in Dhaka on February 27-28.

The National Association of UNESCO clubs in Bangladesh in co- operation with UNESCO, Dhaka office will organize the fair for 7th time.

Different publication materials, books and posters published by UNESCO will be on display in the fair.

Adviser for Cultural Affairs Rasheda K Chowdhury is expected to inaugurate the fair.

Malama Meleisea, UNESCO representative in Bangladesh, will attend the function as special guest. The fair will remain open to all from 11 am to 6 pm.

Supreme Jute launches rationing system for workers

BSS, Dhaka

Supreme Jute and Knitex Limited, an export-oriented jute and yarn factory has introduced rationing system to provide its workers with daily necessities, including rice, pulses and edible oil at fair prices.

The rationing system was introduced on Saturday following the price hike of essentials, said a press release of the company yesterday.

Shams Group and Hasina Shams Foundation Chairman Mohammad Shams-ul Haq inaugurated the programme by distributing ration cards among the workers and employees at the factory premises in Savar.

Senior officials of the company were present on the occasion.

This is the first ever ration system introduced by company owners to supply commodities to their workers at fair prices, the press release said.

Romania to recruit more Bangladeshi workers

BSS, Dhaka

Romania will recruit more Bangladeshi workers for its garment and textile industries.

Two executives Antonello Gamba and Christina Curpanaru of the Ware Company of Romania said this when they called on Adviser for Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at the latter's office here yesterday.

After the meeting, Dr Iftekhar told reporters that after China, Bangladesh is the only country in Asia, which is exporting workers to Romania. He said the export of Bangladesh workers to Romania is very significant.

Romania as a manpower importing market, the foreign adviser said, will help Bangladesh to find manpower markets in the East European countries. He said over 100 skilled garment workers have already left for Romania. Another about 1,000 will find jobs there soon, he said.

Responding to questions after the meeting, Chritstina Curpanaru said the workers of Bangladesh would get salaries as per pay structures of Romania.

Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Abdul Matin Chowdhury and Director General of the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) Abdul Malek were present during the meeting.

Bangladesh RMG getting response in US fairs

BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh are getting good responses and should continue to participate in more international fairs, Hedayetul Islam of the Lofty Designs and Fashion Pvt Ltd, which is one of the participants in the ASAP Show in Las Vegas, said.

A total of 26 garment manufacturers from Bangladesh are participating in two apparel shows - ASAP Global Show and MAGIC Show - in Las Vegas in the USA, according to a message received here yesterday.

The ASAP Show opened on February 11 last in the Venetian Hotel in the City of Las Vegas while the MAGIC started on February 12 in the Las Vegas Convention Centre. Both the Shows are focussing on sourcing of apparel and textile products from various countries around the world, the message said.

A total number of 726 exhibitors from the 37 apparel sourcing countries are taking part in the two shows.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA M Humayun Kabir and Bangladesh Consul General in Las Angeles Md Abu Zafar visited both the shows.

The ambassador spent some time in the Bangladesh pavilions of both the shows and shared ideas with Bangladesh exhibitors on how to promote the Bangladesh apparel sector in the US market.

He inquired about the responses they have been receiving from the buyers. He encouraged them in continuing participation in such global shows.

The Bangladesh ambassador discussed with Frank Yuan, Chairman of the ASAP Show David Pennes, and David Pennes, Director Sourcing of MAGIC Show, and sought their cooperation in promoting the Bangladeshi garments in the US.

Both Yuan and Pennes thanked the ambassador for having Bangladesh exhibitors in their shows and assured the envoy of their support for Bangladesh to grow its business in the USA, the message said.

They suggested that the Bangladesh garments sector would get more benefit if they can make extra efforts to enhance their reputation and improve the compliance issues.

Govt to repeal Gram Sarkar Act-2003

BSS, Dhaka

The government has decided, in principle, to repeal the Gram Sarkar Act-2003, approving a new ordinance "Gram Sarkar (Repeal) Ordinance-2008.

The decision was taken at a regular meeting of the council of advisers held Sunday afternoon with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair at his office here.

Besides, the council approved the "Policy for Construction of Flats on Government Land on Partnership Basis".

Under the policy, multi-storied buildings will be constructed jointly by the private entrepreneurs on abandoned government land and demolishing abandoned government dilapidated houses for distributing those among the government servants on the hire purchase basis.

Developers will be selected through open tender for the construction and all procedures of the National Housing Rules will be followed, said Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Syed Fahim Munaim.

"Accommodation problems of the government servants would be solved to a great extent if the policy is implemented," he said while briefing newsmen at his office after the meeting.

The press secretary said the council also decided to hold a meeting of the council of advisers in Barisal on March 5 to closely observe and review the post-cyclone Sidr rehabilitation programmes in the south-western belt of the country.

This will be the second meeting of the council of advisers outside Dhaka after Rangpur.

The council also gave directives to develop transport infrastructures in Dhaka city for the next 20 years when a concept paper on "Strategic Transport Plan (STP) was presented at the meeting by a group of experts.

Advisers of the caretaker government and special assistants to the Chief Adviser attended the meeting. Cabinet secretary and secretaries concerned were present.

Graft case: Charges framed against Mirza Abbas

BSS, Dhaka

A Special Court here yesterday framed charges against former minister Mirza Abbas in a graft case.

Mirza Abbas now in jail was produced before the Court under tight security.

According to the allegations brought against him by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) that he took pecuniary benefit by giving allotments of 18 abundant houses when he was the Minister for Public Works and Housing.

After investigation, the ACC found that the allotments caused the loss of over Taka 127 crore public money.

Judge of the Special Court in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban compound Shahed Nooruddin read out the charges, but the accused prayed for justice denying the allegations.

The Court fixed February 24 for recording the depositions of the witnesses.

Another Special Court yesterday fixed February 24 to pronounce the verdict in a graft case lodged against former Awami League lawmaker and Sheikh Hasina's cousin brother Sheikh Helal and his wife Rupa Chowdhury.

They were charged for accumulating the property of Taka 7.60 crore through illegal means.

The trial is taking place in their absence as they were hiding since the case was lodged.