The New Nation - Internet Edition

Hotel workers demand declaration of minimum wages

BSS, Dhaka

Leaders of Bangladesh Hotel Restaurant Sweetmeat Workers Federation demanded declaration of minimum wages, appointment letters and identity cards for workers to establish their rights.

They made the call at a press conference at Bangladesh Photojournalists Association (BPJA) here, a press release of the association said.

President of the Federation Abdul Khalek, Joint Secretary Aktaruzzaman, Organizing Secretary Anwar Hossain and President of Bangladesh Trade Union Sangha Khalilur Rahman were present at the press conference, among others.

General Secretary of the Federation Rafiqul Islam read out a written speech.

Students urged to build them as worthy citizens

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a function on Saturday urged the students to build them as worthy citizens to lead the country in future.

The country requires such worthy citizens who will help build a knowledge-based society as well as prosperous nation by flourishing their latent talents, they said.

Stamford College organized the function to accord reception to the meritorious students who secured GPA-5 in 2007 and farewell to the students of 2006-07 session in the auditorium of the Diploma Engineers Institution here.

Acting chairman of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of Dhaka University Prof Dr A A M S Arefin Siddiqui was present at the function as the chief guest.

Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury and Deputy Director General (Programme) of BTV Quamrun Nesa Hasan spoke as special guests.

With Principal of the College Md Selim Hossain in the chair, the function was also addressed, among others, by programme coordinator Shobnam Zaman and teachers of the college.

Prof Arefin Siddiqui said side by side with bookish education, the students have to acquire comprehensive knowledge so that they can face the stiff global competition.

Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury urged the meritorious students to come forward to flourish their latent talents with a view to building a knowledge-based society.

Quamrun Nesa Hassan termed the students as one of the driving forces of the country and said it can not go ahead unless the students are enriched with knowledge.

Two meritorious students were given gold medals for their brilliant results. They are: Md Mahbubur Rahman of science group and Md Rezaul Karim of commerce group.

The reception was followed by a cultural function.

Help build cultural instts stronger, says Zillur

BSS, Dhaka

Adviser for Education and Commerce Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman on Saturday emphasized the need for taking concerted efforts to make the country's cultural institutions stronger side by side with the economy to attain a robust national development.

He said, the nation that is not careful about their own heritage, cannot reach to a prestigious level.

The adviser said this while speaking at a reunion, discussion and film show at the auditorium of the National Museum organized by Bangladesh Film Archives (BFA) as the chief guest.

The function was organized in observance of completion of three decades of BFA.

With Information Secretary Jamil Osman in the chair, the function was addressed, among others, by eminent film personality Subhash Dutta, filmmaker Tarek Masud, director general of BFA Dr M Jahangir Hossain.

Terming BFA as an important organization for preserving the country's cultural pieces, Dr Hossian Zillur Rahman said apart from collecting and preserving the cultural elements, the institution has also been able to create peoples' interest about films by organizing training programmes.

He laid stress on the need of bringing institutional reforms at all levels of the cultural organizations including their organizational structures and said time befitting ideas should be incorporated and experts concerned should be appointed to those institutions.

He also underscored the need for taking proper care of the organizations which project the national identity and said the legal structure of the film archive should be strengthen and make time befitting.

Despite constraints of our resources, desired outcome should be ensured through proper utilization of these resources, Dr Hossain Zillur said.

He said all have to work together from their respective place and position in order to brighten the country's image. He also stressed the need for bringing changes in the attitude at all spheres of the society.

Speaking on the occasion, Jamil Osman said the BFA is performing as the milestone of our history and heritage by colleting and preserving both local and international films.

He said a total of 2,169 local and international films have so far been preserved in the BFA. The institution should pay more attention to collect rare works, he said adding the rare films should be preserved through computerization.

Referring to various activities of the government in the field of films, he said the government is working to build the BFA as a centre of mingling of film culture.

The making of healthy films has returned once again in the country through active participation of all concerned including radio, television, FDC and BFA, he added.

BEPZA signed $1.2b investment deal 10 months

BSS, Dhaka

The BEPZA has signed a record level investment agreements with parties worth US$ 1.2 billion during the past 10 months up to April of the current fiscal 2007-08, the sources said.

A senior functionary of the Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA) told BSS here that Bangladesh EPZs have become an attractive destination for foreign investment over the recent years.

Investors from countries like Japan, China and Taiwan are taking increasing interest to relocate their factories here mainly because of its various fiscal incentives, low production cost and duty free access to some major global markets.

He said, in view of the growing demand and paucity of industrial plots, BEPZA has decided in February this year to set up two more EPZs - one at Feni and the other at Munshigonj to be called the Meghna EPZ.

The net investment inflow to the country's EPZs over the past 10 months stood at US$ 265 million compared to 152 million during the last fiscal 2006-07 and US$ 112 million over the previous 2005-06.

The eight EPZs are now producing over 50 famous global brands of prestigious wears and sports materials, besides common export products meant for major global market like the EU, USA and some other countries offering zero tariff access.

Some of the these brands include Nike, Reebok and Adida sports ware and Penny, Walmart, Kmart, ready to wear garment. It also covers Konika, Minolta and Nikon, Fuji, Olympus camera lens, Abu Garcia golf shafts, Sony mobile parts and automobile parts for vehicles like Nissan, Mitsubishi and Hino.

The functionary said, the EPZs have been fully integrated with the global marketing chain in one hand and generating employment and income for the local people on the other, besides significantly contributing to the country's export earnings.

About 2.15 lakh people are working in the existing EPZs and their export earnings over the 10 months of the current fiscal stood at US$ 1809 million. The export earnings may hit US$ 2.3 billion at the year-end, he said.

It was US$ 2063 million during the last fiscal, he said adding their total export earnings since beginning of EPZ operation in 1994-95 stood so far at US$ 15.7 billion.

The functionary said, the BEPZA now offers in built ready to start model factory to investors who want to start business immediately. He said, Bangladesh is an attractive place because of its low labor cost, only US$ 30 per month here compared to US$ 80 to 100 in Vietnam, US$ 70 to 75 in Pakistan and Indonesia and US$ 100 to 200 in China.

He said, India is also offering low cost labour and at present setting up 276 special economic enclaves throughout the country to take advantage of the global mobility of capital.

The setting up of Feni and Meghnaghat EPZs are very important to retain foreign investors, he said pointing to their location closer to sea port. The BEPZA wants to develop the site and the infrastructure as soon as possible, he said.

CA urges all Help ensure welfare of disabled

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on Saturday called upon individuals, private sector and non-government organisations (NGOs) to come forward along with the government for the welfare of the disabled.

He made this call while accorded a reception to the disabled sportspersons who won 71 medals in the World Special Olympics- 2007 held in Sanghai, China.

Dr Fakhruddin distributed crests and certificates among the disabled sportspersons amid clapping.

In Sanghai Olympics, 48 disabled boys and girls won 71 medals, including 32 gold , 15 silver and 24 bronze medals in different events.

Founder Chairman of Special Olympics Bangladesh, Ashraf Ud Daula gave the welcome speech with Secretary to the Chief Adviser's Office Kazi M Aminul Islam in the chair.

Dr Fakhruddin congratulated the disabled sportspersons for achieving a rare honour for the country from international sports competition. Success of the disabled in the Special Olympics, in the history of sports of the country, has deeply impressed all, he added.

Appreciating the officials of the Special Olympics, the Chief Adviser said selfless, skilled and devoted leadership is necessary to achieve something great.

The disabled have earned the recognition as world class sportspersons through relentless training with patience, he added.

He also thanked the guardians, coaches, sports organisers and sponsors for preparing the disabled to compete in such sports event.

Dr Fakhruddin directed the Ministry of Youth and Sports to take steps to provide play grounds exclusively for the disabled in each district including Dhaka.

He thanked the Grameen Phone for sponsoring the disabled to participate in the Sanghai Olympics and urged other organisations in private sector to follow this example.

The Chief Adviser said the government is aware of the problems of the mental and physically handicapped . It took various steps for their welfare including formulating law and implementing welfare projects for them.

Bangladesh has already signed the UN charter regarding the rights of the disabled, he added.

Kazi M Aminul Islam said the disabled needs more support from the society to prove their worth in different fields.

Ashraf Ud Daula urged the government to allocate a respectable fund for the disabled in the next budget.