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49 licences of rice millers cancelled in Nilphamari

Our Correspondent

NILPHAMARI, July 13: Licences of 49, out of 324 licence holders of rice husking mills in Nilphamari district, have been cancelled and their electricity lines have also been disconnected because of non-fulfilment of the contract they have made with the district controller of food to supply rice for government procurement. This has been disclosed by Deputy Commissioner of Nilphamari Md. Rashidul Hasan recently in a view exchange meeting with the rice mill owners at his office. The meeting was presided over by the deputy commissioner. Commander of 22 Infantry Division, Saidpur Cantonment, Brigadier General Safiul Islam Belal was the chief guest in the meeting.The chief guest asked the rice husking mill owners to fulfil the contracts they made. Otherwise the defaulters' licences would be cancelled for the greater interest of food procurement. Speaking on the occasion the deputy commissioner said in the current boro season 3,34,000 tonnes of rice have been produced in the district, which is 40 per cent more than the target. The government procurement target is 27,668 tonnes of rice out of which only 14083 tonnes have been procured so far, he added.

Bangladesh lags behind in industrial competitiveness

BUSINESS REPORT

Bangladesh lags behind 66 other countries in industrial competitiveness, faring poorer than Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan, a United Nations Industrial Development Organisation report said.

In an industrial development scoreboard prepared by the UNIDO, Bangladesh ranks 67, out of 100 different economies in terms of competitiveness of its industry in a liberalising world.

Singapore tops the UNIDO list and is followed by Ireland, Switzerland, Japan, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Korea, Taiwan Province of China, France, the US, Hong Kong, Austria, Slovenia in the top 15.

However, Bangladesh fared better than Sri Lanka, which occupies the 75th position.

Others in the ranking are UK (16), the Netherlands (17), Malaysia (18), Canada (22), Malta (23), China (26), Mexico (30), Brazil (39) and Russia (66).

"The scoreboard is based on two sets of components, namely industrial development indicators and competitive industrial performance index, the latter benchmarking competitive industrial activity of countries against the backdrop of liberalisation and globalisation," UNIDO said.

The index measures the competitive performance of countries in terms of their ability to produce goods competitively, keeping abreast with changing technologies as well as the intensity of industrialisation, which is the share of manufacturing value added in GDP.

It also takes into account export quality, reflecting the role of manufacturing in a country's export activity as well as the ability to make more advanced products, thereby moving into more dynamic areas of export growth, UNIDO said.

Industrialised countries continue to lead the rankings, while transition economies are tightly grouped in the middle ranks.

Cell phone subscribers in Bangladesh reach 43.70m : Six mobile operators sign up 1.66m new connections in June

BUSINESS REPORT

The total number of mobile phone subscribers increased to 43.70 million at the end of June, from 42.04 million in May, in Bangladesh, one of the Asia's fastest-growing cellular markets, telecom regulator data showed on Sunday.

Releasing the data, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), said that the country's six network operators signed up a total of 1.66 million new users to end the month with 43.70 million customers among them.

According to the BTRC's report, market leader GrameenPhone, controlled by Norway's Telenor, increased its subscriber base by 730,000 in June to 19.58 million. Banglalink, part of the Egyptian Orascom Telecom Group, signed up 470,000 new users in the month to take its total to 9.46 million. Telekom Malaysia subsidiary TM International (Bangladesh) Limited (AKTEL), reached a subscriber base of 7.85 million at end-June after adding 140,000 users. The UAE-backed Warid Telecom (Bangladesh), had signed up 3.31 million subscribers by mid-2008, including 180,000 in June. The sole CDMA cellular operator in a GSM-dominated field, Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Limited (Citycell), part-owned by SingTel, saw its customer base grow to 1.7 million, up from 1.64 million in May, whilst the total users of state-owned Teletalk stood at 1.07 million at the end of June.

The number of mobile users rose nearly 58 per cent in 2007 to 34.4 million, the Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission said, helped by competitive tariffs and cheap handsets.

The country has just 1.27 million land-line phone customers.

Mobile phone services are an important contributor to the nation's economy. Several market surveys have forecast the number of mobile phone users will be around 70 million at the end of 2011.

Apollo Hospitals Dhaka accredited by JCI for quality of healthcare

Economic Reporter

Apollo Hospitals Dhaka (AHD) has achieved prestigious accreditation from Joint Commission International (JCI), the worldwide leader in improving the quality of healthcare for the first time in Bangladesh.

With this accreditation AHD confirms its standing with other JCI accredited hospitals in South Asian and South East Asian countries which include: Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and India among others.

Officials of AHD said this yesterday at a "Meet the Media" programme at the auditorium of AHD.

Joint Commission International's on-site evaluation of AHD occurred in September 2007 and was conducted by a team of international healthcare experts, including a doctor and an administrator.

"Healthcare organisations around the world want to create environments that focus on quality, safety and continuous improvement", said Karen Timmons, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of JCI. "Accreditation meets this demand by stimulating continuous systematic improvements in an organisation's performance and the outcomes of patient care. The community should be proud that AHD has made a commitment to quality and safety."

Among others, Dr Ed L Hansen, Chief Executive Officer, Dr GVJ Prabhakar, General Manager-Operations, Dr Lutful Aziz- Consultant- Anaesthesia, Ms Malka Shamrose, Director of Business Development of Apollo Hospitals Dhaka are addressed at the meet the media.

Dr Ed L Hansen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AHD said, "We sought accreditation because we want to provide the best care possible for our patients." He also said, "Earning accreditation from JCI is another step of excellence." He noted that accreditation only through collaboration among all organisation staff members. In addition he mentioned that providing high quality care is a team effort and one that give employees a feeling of prestige to work in an accredited organisation.

JCI is a US based accreditation body dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare through voluntary accreditation. It's uniform, high standards for patients care and safety, are designed to be adaptable to local needs thus accommodating legal, religious and cultural factors within a country.

Standards focus on the areas that most directly impact patient care. These include access to care, assessment of patient, infection control, patient and family rights and education. JCI standards also address facility management and safety, staff qualifications, quality improvement, organisational leadership, and information management.

AFL-CIO praises BEPZA for labour management in EPZs

BUSINESS REPORT

'Workers invest their labour like investors. That is why they should get proper wages,' said Ms Ellie Kiel Larson, Executive Director of AFL-CIO, during a meeting with the Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority in Dhaka EPZ on Sunday.

The Executive Chairman briefed her about investment, export and working environment of BEPZA.

Ms Larson discussed with the BEPZA chief regarding labour issues and the framework of Workers Association in EPZs.

Brig General Jamil informed her about function of WA in detail. He also reiterated about the success of the EPZs which depends on congenial relationship between workers and owners, and also on the excellent production-oriented environment.

The AFL-CIO Representative expressed her deep satisfaction at the activities of BEPZA particularly on workers rights. Ms Larson also visited Messrs Paxar (BD) Ltd and Messrs Valox Fashion Ltd and observed the ongoing referendum and election process.

The AFL-CIO Representative expressed their satisfaction for congenial election environment. Out of total 281 eligible industries 64 per cent units completed the election. In DEPZ alone, Workers Associations (WAs) have already been formed at 44 per cent enterprises.

It may be mentioned that 75,979 workers are employed in 96 factories of Dhaka EPZ.

Country's trade deficit rises to $6 billion last yr

BUSINESS REPORT

Bangladesh's trade deficit is likely to have risen by 57 per cent to around $6 billion in the 2007-08 fiscal year that ended in June, due to sharp rises in global food and fuel prices, a senior central bank official said on Sunday.

"The import bills will be at more than $20 billion compared with export earnings of nearly $14 billion, leaving about $6 billion trade deficit in 2007-08 fiscal year," said the official, who asked not to be named.

The import bill for the 2006-07 fiscal year was nearly $16 billion while export earnings were $12.18 billion, central bank data showed.

"It is a real reflection of soaring prices in international markets, especially of foodgrains and oil products as well as fertiliser," said Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue, a private think tank.

Natural disasters that hit Bangladesh, home to more than 140 million people, last year destroyed nearly 3 million tonnes of rice and wheat, leading to a sharp rise in foodgrains imports.

Rocketing food prices also pushed the impoverished South Asian country's annual consumer price inflation into double digits through the 2007-08 fiscal year, officials said.

Mustafizur said the huge trade gap had a tremendous pressure on the balance of payment, but comfortable receipts of remittances helped cushion its impact.

Bangladesh's more than 5 million expatriate workers sent home a record $7.94 billion in the just-ended fiscal year, nearly 33 percent higher than in 2006/07.

"The government must ensure smooth inflow of remittances to offset the shocks of rocketing import bills," Mustafizur told journalists.

The central bank has injected more than $700 million into the banking system since November 2007 to keep the local currency taka stable amid high demand for dollars because of increased import payments.

A top business leader emphasised increasing substitute production to lessen the dependence on foreign goods.

"The government has reduced the import duty on raw materials to 7 percent from 10 percent and on intermediary products to 12 percent from 15 percent in current fiscal year to help raise local production," Annisul Haque, president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, told journalists.

Bank Asia starts operation in Jessore

BUSINESS REPORT

The 32nd branch of Bank Asia started operation in Jessore town from yesterday (Monday).

The new branch will strive to support the growing economy of the country's southern region. It is the bank's second branch in this area.

President and Managing Director of the bank Syed Anisul Huq formally inaugurated the new branch at Jess Tower in the town's MK Road. Members of business community and local elite in large numbers attended the auspicious inaugural ceremony.

Starting its operation in November 1999, Bank Asia established itself as one of the most innovative banks in the country's banking sector. It offers a wide range of financial services that covers the entire spectrum of banking operations. In addition, it has launched SME banking, SMS banking, ATM and internet banking under its online platform to deliver the highest standard of service to its clientele, ably supported by the use of state-of-the-art technology. In the meantime, Bank Asia has also expanded its network to rural areas by setting up seven rural branches.

Bank Asia as a part of its Corporate Social Responsibility conducts various social activities including eye operations of all born blind children of the country, scholarships for higher education of the needy and meritorious students, operation of computer-learning centers at rural areas, etc. The Bank puts special emphasis on social activities, and its coverage will gradually be expanded.

Banglalink launches You and Me International FNF

Banglalink has launched the first ever International FnF service in Bangladesh. Through this service any banglalink prepaid/postpaid customer can set anyone Wind Italy mobile number as their FnF number and enjoy special international rate.

In order to set an International FnF, customers will have to senda valid Wind Italy mobile number to the short code "3322". FnF setting is free, and requests will be executed within 7 days.

Orascom Telecom Holding (OTH) is one of the largest and most diversified network operators in the world with operations in 7 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. As of March 2008, OTH has over 74 million subscribers and the numbers are rapidly increasing. Banglalink has advantage of this and partnered with Wind, Italy (another subsidiary of the Group) to offer banglalink customers an innovative service.

Banglalink, 100 per cent owned by Orascom Telecom, is the second leading telecommunications service provider in the country and has been continuously committed to providing their customers with better services and network expansion.

Bangladeshi migrants send $6.4b in 2007: South Asian migrants highly vulnerable

STAFF REPORTER

Protection for the soaring number of migrant workers from South Asia - and the ability or inability of countries to provide this protection - will be the focus of an international conference to be held in Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, Bangladesh from July 15 to 16.

The Regional Symposium on 'Deployment of Workers Overseas: A Shared Responsibility', organised by the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) will be represented by government, worker and employer organisations from ten countries.

More than 1.5 million South Asian workers are estimated to migrate every year, many of them destined for the Gulf region to perform construction, maintenance, and other service jobs. Counting only those who go through regular channels, more than 200,000 workers are estimated to depart every year from each of Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and many more from India and Bangladesh.

In 2007, remittances to the region were estimated by the World Bank to have exceeded US$40 billion. Of these, India accounted for US$27 billion, Bangladesh US$6.4 billion, Pakistan US$6.1 billion, Sri Lanka US$2.7 billion, and Nepal US$1.6 billion.

But rights protection for South Asia's migrant workers is the major concern. By standard definition, South Asian migrants would be classified as highly vulnerable: large numbers take irregular routes; most are low-skilled and young; and for some countries the majority are women. In Sri Lanka, between 60-70 per cent of outgoing workers in recent years were women finding employment mainly as domestic helpers. This is confounded by exorbitant recruitment costs and corrupt recruitment practices widespread in some countries.

"If the region is to reduce the risks for migrants, and maximize the benefits of this large and growing migration, it should constantly adapt its migration infrastructures to emerging conditions and realities in the global labour market," said Ms. Leyla Tegmo-Reddy, Director of the ILO Sub-regional Office for South Asia.

Migration infrastructures are institutions that facilitate migration and remittances, and return. They include regulatory agencies to monitor recruitment, social security provision for migrant workers, training centers, money transfer agencies, and cooperation agreements with receiving countries.

The symposium is a concrete step in pursuit of 'improving dialogue and the management of labour migration so as to benefit both sending and receiving countries and better protect the rights and equal treatment of migrant workers, which was identified as a national priority for action at the ILO Fourteenth Asian Regional Meeting on Decent Work in Asia held in Busan, Korea in 2006.

Participants include high-level government officials, and representatives from workers' and employers' organizations from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka.

The symposium will discuss recruitment policies and cooperation mechanisms between origin and destination countries, and will provide a venue for exchange of best practices on the preparation of workers for foreign employment and provision of on-site services and monitoring.

The conference hopes to contribute to the development of recruitment practices and labour migration management in South Asia. Financial and technical support for this event is provided by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the ILO/EU Asian Programme on the Governance of Labour Migration.