The New Nation - Internet Edition

Week long tree fair begins in Barguna

Barguna, UNB

A week long tree fair, to encourage common people for afforestation, began in the district town on Monday.

District Forest Department and Agriculture Extension Department are jointly organizing the fair on the premises of Shaheed Minar. Deputy Commissioner Shafayet Hossain inaugurated the fair.

Various kinds of saplings of fruit-bearing, timber and medicinal trees are being displayed in different stalls of the fair.

The visitors, male and female, crowded the fair with much enthusiasm on first two days.

Moriarty visits Cox's Bazar and Teknaf : Reaffirms US govt's long-term commitment to development

Staff Reporter

US Ambassador James F Moriarty visited Cox's Bazar and Teknaf from July 8-10 to review development activities in the region.

During his visits to various US government-funded projects, the Ambassador reaffirmed the US government's long-term commitment towards the development of Bangladesh.

He also visited several Rohingya refugee camps to learn more about this important issue.

Mrs Moriarty and Carey Gordon, Acting Mission Director for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), accompanied the Ambassador.

During his stay in Cox's Bazar, Ambassador Moriarty visited US government-funded environment, health, energy and small and medium-business projects.

His trip started with a visit to the US government-supported rural electrification project. The initiative creates employment for rural women while bringing electricity to the doorsteps of rural people through solar home systems that generate electricity from solar power. The project focuses on increasing household access to energy through solar power by training women users, entrepreneurs and technicians to assemble and maintain solar home systems.

The Ambassador met with solar home system users, women entrepreneurs who were trained to install and maintain the solar home systems, and women technicians.

He was impressed by their skill and professionalism and commended them for their involvement in income generating activities, and their exemplary effort to improve their lives and contribute to the national economy.

Later that day, Ambassador Moriarty visited the Memorial Christian Hospital to learn more about the US government-supported fistula (a childbirth injury) treatment and rehabilitation service. The US Government supports services to repair fistula, while simultaneously working with communities to spread information and awareness about fistula prevention and treatment. This funding has provided care to more than three hundred women since the inception of this project in 2005.

Mrs Moriarty met with patients and offered encouragement and support.

Afterwards, the Ambassador visited a shrimp hatchery to observe the hatchery operations as well as the production of shrimp larvae.

He also visited the shrimp virus testing laboratory. Larvae tested in this laboratory are being distributed to shrimp farmers who lost their livelihood due to Cyclone Sidr. The U.S. Government will also work with the shrimp farmers to identify and add value to the production and export of shrimp in the coming years.

The next day Ambassador Moriarty visited a madrassa in Teknaf and inaugurated a US Government-supported biogas plant. The biogas plant, the first of its kind in the Chittagong division, is expected to reduce the need for consumption of firewood from local forests. The use of biogas at this madrassa will replace 7.5 tons of fuel wood and save 288 mature trees per year, preventing 50 tons of green house gas from entering into the atmosphere.

The Ambassador congratulated the madrassa authority for being environmentally responsible and expected that this initiative will help save the forest and will be replicated in the community. During his interactions with students and teachers at the madrassa, Ambassador Moriarty underscored the role and importance of their involvement in the national development efforts.

Later that day the Ambassador visited the Mochoni Nature Park and inaugurated the nature interpretation center.

He highlighted that nature-based tourism initiatives have great potential and reiterated the US Government's commitment towards sustained economic growth for Bangladesh.

He commended the local government as well as the community for practicing collaborative management of natural resources that involves the entire community as well as the government. He complimented them on empowering the local community with the devolution of trust and power to local communities which has brought outstanding results in terms of environmental management in that area.

He also thanked the Government of Bangladesh for their active support for sound environmental governance and increased transparency in the management of resources.

Following the visit to the nature reserves, Ambassador Moriarty visited with Rohingya individuals in the Tal, New Leda and Kutapalang refugee camps. He interacted with local officials and camp residents and observed the living conditions of the refugees.

The Ambassador's three-day visit concluded with a visit to the Palli Bidyut Samity in Cox's Bazar. The US Government works in partnership with the Rural Electrification Board to assist with the management of the PBSs and also to raise awareness among the local authority as well as the beneficiaries about their rights and responsibilities.

The Ambassador met with local authorities and congratulated them for a well managed cooperative. He also met with beneficiaries waiting for new connections and to pay bills, and asked about their satisfaction with the services received.

The U.S. Government has supported the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Program since its inception in 1977 and has contributed more than $220 million to increase access to energy in rural areas.

The United States Government has a long history of extending assistance to Bangladesh. The U.S. Government's assistance to Bangladesh includes support for free, fair and credible elections and more transparent and accountable governance; assistance for a better educated, healthier and more productive population; and funding to increase economic opportunities through equitable economic growth, and improved food security and disaster mitigation.

The U.S. Government has provided more than $5 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh since 1971.

IOM launches 'Information Campaign on Remittances'

STAFF REPORTER

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched its 'Information Campaign on Remittances' yesterday at Sonargaon Hotel in the city.

The campaign, which is a part of IOM's ongoing project titled "Remittance Payment Partnership (RPP)" supported by DFID, is scheduled to disseminate a nation wide print media campaign to generate awareness amongst the overseas workers and their respective households throughout Bangladesh, particularly in migrant prone areas.

The campaign will specifically highlight the benefits of using, the safe and legal channels of remittances; as well as optimise the benefits of remittances by motivating the migrant, households to save, invest arid utilize the remittances in the best productive way.

The information campaign will use a broad range of communication aids such as leaflets brochures, posters, billboards, bus paintings, and in signs for a wide and effective reach.

Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Governor of Bangladesh Bank attended the event as the chief guest. Abdul Matin Chowdhury, Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates, Welfare and Overseas Employment and Md Touhid Hossain, Foreign, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present as special guests.

Senior government officials, NGO, personnel, corporate houses, diplomats and representatives of international development organisations were also present at the event.

GP signs MoU towards AIDS prevention

Grameenphone embarked upon a CSR partnership with UNAIDS, a joint venture of the United Nations family, to build an AIDS-free Bangladesh through the Asia Pacific Leadership Forum (APLF).

APLF is part of the 'World AIDS Campaign with Leaders', which aims to create an enabling environment in support of policy action on HIV and AIDS. The initiatives involve eminent leaders of Bangladesh from different arenas, namely the government, media, development, fashion, culture, and corporate.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between UNAIDS and Grameenphone on June 22 in this regard.

Under the terms of the MoU, Grameenphone will work jointly with UNAIDS in its advocacy campaign to create awareness about HIV and AIDS to create a non-discriminatory and enabling environment for HIV and AIDS-affected individuals at the workplace and in the wider community. Syed Yamin Bakht, Director, Public Relations Division, and Dan Odallo, Country Coordinator of UNAIDS in Bangladesh signed the memorandum of understanding in the city on June 22 last.

Shuvashish Priya Barua, Head of CSR, Grameenphone and Ms Lazeena Muna, Social Mobilization and Partnership Adviser, UNAIDS were also present on the occasion.

This is the second time that Grameenphone is undertaking a campaign like this. Last year, Grameenphone carried out a mass media campaign from mid-November leading up to the World AIDS Day which included television commercials, press advertisements, radio announcements and billboards.

The campaign highlighted messages from the six APLF members with an objective to raise awareness and encourage an open and candid social dialogue on this crucial issue. A direct mail was also sent to corporate houses and relevant development agencies with a message from Anders Jensen, CEO, Grameenphone, and the APLF Champions.

With an estimated prevalence of less than 1 per cent, AIDS may not look like a major threat. However, with a population of nearly 150 million, an increase of just 1 per cent in the rate of infection among the adult population in Bangladesh would mean more than a million additional AIDS patients ea-ch-year. According to a 2004 UN study, HIV infections have tripled in the last six years.

One of the eight Millennium Development Goals for Bangladesh is to halt the spread of HIV and AIDS by 2015 and Grameenphone is committed to work closely with Bangladesh government and concerned development agencies to achieve that target.

8th Edimexpo 2008 at Bashundhara Expo Centre begins

BUSINESS REPORT

The 8th Edimexpo 2008, an education and career expo of Bangladesh began yesterday at Bashundhara Expo Centre in the city.

ATN Bangla and the daily Samakal are the media partners, bdjobs.com is the web partner, radio forte is the radio partner and acer is the technology partner of the expo.

The five-day 8th Edimexpo 2008 has its mission of providing up-to-date and comprehensive educational and career opportunities and guidance. The Edimexpo is an invaluable platform for the students to gain information regarding their desired educational and career paths.

This is a perfect platform and unique opportunity for the participants to promote themselves & use it as a medium for direct interaction and counseling with prospective & potential students/working executives for spot admissions or interview on the expo premises.

Over 60 universities, education institutions, call centers, fashion institutes, financial institutions and related service providers are participating this year in the 8th Edimexpo in about 90 booths.

Students from all over Bangladesh anxiously wait for this mega event for them to get the first hand knowledge of the further education they wish to achieve and design their career paths.

DBBL earns operating profit of Tk 1,089m in first half of 2008: Deposit stands Tk 45,366.46m, loans and advances Tk 39,311.19m

BUSINESS REPORT

The 81st meeting of the Board of Directors of Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited was held at the bank's Board Room, Head Office in the city on July 9.

The Board approved the half yearly provisional un-audited financial statements-2008.

The meeting was presided over by Abul Hasnat Md Rashidul Islam, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

All the Directors including the Independent Director Prof Dr Irshad Kamal Khan attended the meeting. At present, Prof Khan is the Chairman of the Department of Economics, University of Chittagong and he is also the Vice President of Bangladesh Economic Association.

Among others, the half yearly provisional un-audited financial statements as on June 30, 2008, were discussed in the meeting. During the first half of the current year, the bank earned an operating profit of Tk 1,089.14 million as against the corresponding figure of Tk 675.42 million of the previous year showing a growth rate of 61.26 per cent.

The net profit after provision and tax is Tk 462.68 million. As on June 30, 2008, total deposit of the bank stood at Tk 45,366.46 million as against the corresponding figure of Tk 43,342.75 million of the previous year and loans and advances stood at Tk 39,311.19 million as against the corresponding figure of Tk 32,933.17 million of the previous year marking a growth rate of 4.67 per cent and 19.37 per cent respectively.

Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) as on June 30, 2008 stood at 10.30 per cent as against Bangladesh Bank's minimum requirement of 10 per cent.

'Banglalink desher mukh' competition Names of winners announced

BUSINESS REPORT

Banglalink announced the names of winners of the "Banglalink desher mukh" competition at a press conference in the city on June 3 last.

The winners Tareq Biswas and Shushmita Aktar were present as their names were announced by Solaiman Alam-Head of PR and Communication, Banglalink.

Other oficials present at the press conference were Sharfuddin Ahmed Chowdhury-PR and Communication Manager, Banglalink, and renowned media personalities Golam Haider Kisloo and Afsana Mimi, who acted as judges in the final selection of desher mukh.

The competition which took place in the festive environment of the Bengali New Year, enlisted participants through sms registration after which they could have their pictures taken by photographers at the booths set up in Dhaka city on the day of 'Pohela Boishakh'.

It may be mentioned that thousands of young male and female participated in the campaign with lot of enthusiasm. After two rounds of evaluations, the winners were selected out of thousands of photos, by a final exclusive judge panel consisting of photographers, media personalities and concerned PR and Communication team members of Banglalink.

The campaign was aimed to find some suitable faces for Banglalink's very popular brand "banglalink desh' from the mass of the country by giving an opportunity to the youth to be directly associated with the brand. These winners will be groomed to be the models in various campaigns of 'banglalink desh' in future.

This initiative was in line with the country's second leading telecommunications service provider banglalink's consistent support to youth and culture related activities.

United Airways celebrates first anniversary of journey: Flight operation to Kolkata by end of July

AVIATION REPORTER

United Airways celebrated one year of its service yesterday.

The airlines, the second largest private airline in Bangladesh, started its operation with a maiden flight from Dhaka to Sylhet on July 10, 2007.

United Airways is the first private airline which was launched with the investment from non-resident Bangladeshis, particularly, from the UK-based Sylhet community.

Starting with ONE Dash 8-100 aircraft, the airlines now owns two of such aircrafts through outright purchase and operates daily flights to Chittagong, Sylhet, Jessore, Cox's Bazar.

It also plans to operate flights to Barisal shortly and doing necessary feasibility study for operating flights to Syedpur and Rajshahi.

The airlines also obtained government permission to fly to international destinations like Kolkata, Kathmandu, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Bahrain and Dubai on March 24 this year, and hasmade necessary preparations to start flight operation to Kolkata by the end of this month.

On this auspicious occasion of its first birthday, the management of United Airways has expressed their gratitude to all its patrons and well wishers, and in particular, all the government agencies for their heartfelt support in making United Airways a success story.

RED COW re-enters market thru' New Zealand Dairy Products

BUSINESS REPORT

RED COW, one of the pillar brands of New Zealand Dairy Products Bangladesh Ltd and trusted for more than 12 years in Bangladesh has re-branded. RED COW brand which initially entered the Bangladesh market through distributors is now returning through New Zealand Dairy Products Bangladesh Ltd.

RED COW is a product of Australia, harvested with the natural goodness of world renowned clean, green pastures using the advanced knowledge, science and technology to make their products the best in quality. New Zealand Dairy Products Bangladesh Limited ensures this purity by bringing their products direct to the consumers in Bangladesh.

Bonlac Foods an Australian company, owned by 2300 dairy farmers in Victoria and Tasmania established the brand RED COW. In 2001 when Bonlac merged with Fonterra the ownership of the brand RED COW transferred to New Zealand Dairy Products Bangladesh Ltd. Since then NDP (New Zealand Dairy Products) has continued to ensure a sustainable quality associated with this product.

Blood glucose reduction based on Diamicron MR protects diabetic patients from vascular complications

Endocrinologist Prof. Zafar A Latif in a scientific symposium held on 3 July 2008 told that intensive blood glucose reduction based on Diamicron MR can protect diabetic patients from serious vascular complications.

In a symposium on ADAVANCE study, including more than 70 Endocrinologist and Diabetologist, organized by Servier Bangladesh Operations, Prof. Latif as the keynote speaker said that it is the largest study ever performed in type 2 diabetes. The study was conducted by "the George Institute for International Health" and involved more than 11,000 patients from 20 different countries all over the world; who were treated and followed up for five years.

The results of the ADVANCE study were released in the last American Diabetes Association Congress in June 2008 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Major findings of the study demonstrates that Diamicron MR based intensive treatment protects diabetic patients from serious vascular complications by reducing both micro and macrovascular events by -10%. This result is mainly driven by a major protective effect on the kidneys by -21% reduction of nephropathy and -30% reduction of development of macroalbuminuria. Furthermore cardiovascular death was reduces by -12%.

Prof. Latif concluded that the prevention of serious vascular complications in diabetes requires a multi-factorial approach addressing all modifiable risk factors, among which intensive blood glucose control plays an important role which was by Diamicron MR.