The New Nation - Internet Edition

Govt to reduce fuel oil price soon

Staff Reporter

The government has decided to reduce fuel oil price within a month as the downtrend in the international market continues, special assistant to the Chief Adviser Dr M Tamim told newsmen yesterday.

"I had meeting with the Finance and Planning adviser today. He has agreed to reduce the fuel oil price,' Tamim said.

The Adviser said the government will reduce fuel oil price provided that common people get the benefit of the tariff slash like reduction of public transport cost.

"Price of fuel oil will be reviewed in every three months. In addition, price will also be reviewed if there is 10 per cent upward or downward change in the international market," Tamim said.

He said the government had raised fuel oil price as it climbed to $147 per barrel. "During the price hike of fuel oil in June this year the government made commitment to reduce the price once the price falls in the global market. Now the price has come down to $90 per barrel and we are reducing the price," he explained.

Tamim did not elaborate the extent of price slash but said government will keep it in mind so that subsidy does not exceed Tk 5000 crore. "We have not given any specific proposal of the price cut. It will be decided considering various factors."

However, sources hinted that price cut may stand between 10 to 20 per cent.

Tamim informed newsmen that government will in no way give subsidy to octane and petrol.

On June 30 the government hiked fuel oil price in different ranges. It raised the prices of diesel and kerosene to Tk 55 from Tk 40, petrol to Tk 87 from Tk 65, and octane to Tk 90 from Tk 67.

Election schedule by early Nov: CEC: AL to have associate organisations, urges emergency lifting, deferment of UZ polls

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda
speaking at the dialogue with Awami League leaders at the
Election Commission Secretariat in the city on Wednesday.
Photo: Agencies

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) during the talks with the Election Commission (EC) yesterday demanded complete lifting of state of the emergency, deferment of the upazila polls, ensuring neutral observers for the national polls, renouncement of the provision of canceling candidature for mistake after finalisation the nominations.

The AL leaders also strongly called for allowing the party to retain its front organisations as 'associate organisations'

Responding the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda opined that associate organisations can be retained but can not be mentioned in party constitution".

During the meeting the CEC said that the EC would announce the schedule for the ninth parliamentary elections on November 1or 2.

AL delegates led by presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury arrived at the EC Secretariat at around 11:30 am to discuss with the CEC and other commissioners some crucial issues, which include new electoral laws, amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO) and registration of political parties.

Meanwhile, the party collected form for registration with the EC within the timeframe under the recently amended RPO that makes it mandatory for the political parties.

AL Office secretary Abdul Mannan and deputy office secretary BM Mozammel Haque collected the registration form on behalf of the party from EC deputy secretary Jasmine Tuli, following the bilateral meeting between AL and EC.

Coming out from the meeting, AL presidium member Tofail Ahmed said, "We have attended the talks to learn about the EC's latest position on amending the electoral laws. We have come today to urge the EC to bring about changes in some clauses of the election laws."

Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda said they explained to the AL delegates about the latest changes effected to electoral laws.

Other AL delegates were Acting General secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, Presidium member Abdur Razzak, Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and AL election coordination committee chief HT Imam. The EC delegation included Commissioners Muhammad Sohul Hossain, Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, Secretary Muhammad Humayun Kabir, Joint Secretary (law) NI Khan, and Deputy Secretary Jasmine Tully.

According to the EC sources, a total of 127 political parties have so far collected the registration form from the commission and eight of them already applied to date in order to be eligible to contest the national election set for December 18.

Dhaka-Yangon agree to raise two-way trade

FBCCI President Annisul Haq addressing the bilateral
meeting with Myanmar business delegation at the Federation
Bhaban in the city on Wednesday. Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain
Zillur Rahman and Minister for National Planning and
Economic Development Myanmar

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion said yesterday that the complexity of visa procedure, lack of airline connectivity, direct road linkage and costal shipping link and tough banking system are the main barriers to enhance bilateral trade between the two bordering countries-Bangladesh and Myanmar.

They highlighted these obstacled during meeting with the visiting Myanmar delegation at Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) auditorium.

FBCCI President Annisul Huq presided over the dicscussion in which Myanmar delegation team members including Minister of National Planning and Economic Development of Myanmar Soe Tha, Commerce and Education Adviser of the Caretaker Government Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, Minister of Commerce of Myanmar Brig Gen Tin Naing Thein, Secretary of Commerce Ministry Feroz Ahmed and Union of Myanmar Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) took part. Chairman of Bangladesh Myanmar Business Promotion Council Syed Mahmudul Huq presented the keynote paper at the discussion.

Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said both countries have several problems including visa issue, lack of airline connectivity and direct road linkage and banking system. The problems need to be addressed to enhance bilateral trade between the two countries, he stressed.

"Bangladesh and Myanmar have jointly worked together during the last of couple of days for solving these problems through discussions, Zillur said. He informed that a delegation from Bangladesh will visit Myanmar next month to discuss ways to increase bilateral trade and solve other problems.

He said that the bilateral trade between the two countries now stands at $100 million both ways per year.

The visiting delegation team has expressed their eagerness to raise the volume of trade to $500 million a year, he added.

With this end in view, both the countries have already signed an agreement to avoid double taxation, Zillur mentioned.

The Commerce Ministry will hold a signle country fair in Myanmar in January next year, he said.

He further said Bangladesh would import one-lakh tonne of rice a year from Myanmar. "Besides, we will talk with the Myanmar authority to import gas. It will be used for producing fertiliser."

Terming the visit of the Myanmar delegation 'fruitful,' Zillur said it will help expand the bilateral trade relations between the two countries.

Soe Tha said, visa issue, airline connectivity, costal shipping link, direct road link and banking system problems between the Myanmar and Bangladesh would be solved through discussions.

He said that both the countries have huge potential to enhance trade to $500 million from $100 million annually.

"We have exported rice, vegetables, pulses, animals products and other items worth $32.4 million until September this year and at the same time imported goods valued at $3.7 million from Bangladesh," Soe Tha informed.

He called upon the Bangladeshi businessmen to visit Myanmar.

Secretary of Commerce Ministry Feroz Ahmed said that the bilateral relation between Bangladesh and Myanmar would expand with the setting up of fertiliser factories and hydroelectric power plants in Bangladesh though joint venture.

FBCCI President Annisul Huq said that the business community of Bangladesh has little access to Myanmar to expand trade due to complexities of visa procedure.

He called upon the visiting Myanmar delegation to relax the visa procedure and remove other barriers to boost up trade relations between the two countries.

Syed Mahmudul Huq said Bangladesh would import rice and other agricultural products from Myanmar and export a large quantity of Pharmaceuticals, leather goods and other products to Myanmar.

CCC Mayor Mohiuddin freed on bail

Mohiuddin

UNB, Dhaka

Chittagong City Corporation Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury was Wednesday freed from the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) after long detention amid the ongoing anti-graft drive.

DIG (prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told UNB that the Mayor of the port city was released at 3:25 pm as he secured bail from the higher court in all the cases against him, including corruption.

Arrested on March 7 last year, Mayor Mohiuddin, also an Awami League leader, presently faces a total of 15 cases.

Earlier police had filed 22 cases. Of them, police submitted final reports to the court in 4 cases and the High Court quashed another 3.

Bijoya Dashami today

Bijoya Dashami

Staff Reporter

The largest religious festival of Bengali Hindus, Durga Puja, will end today with immersion of Durga idols all over the country including the capital.

The Hindus will also celebrate Bijoya Dashami in the morning according to the lunar calendar.

"All Durga idols from the puja mandaps of the capital will be brought together in Palashi at 3:00pm. A colourful procession will parade through different areas of the city," said Jayanta Sen Dipu, president of Mohanagar Sharbojoneen Puja Committee. "Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) selected Waiz Ghat on the bank of river Buriganga as the place from where the idols will be immersed in the river," he added.

Thousands of Hindu devotees yesterday observed Maha Nbami with great festivity at all puja mandaps in the city as elsewhere in the country.

Devi Durga was offered the Nabami Bhog of food and fruits which was later distributed among the devotees visiting the mandaps.

Bijoya Dashami is the special ceremony to reaffirm peace and good relations among people. Families visit each other to share sweets during the Dashami festivities. Married Hindu women put vermillion (sindur) on each other's forehead on the eve of Dashami.The Hindus believe Dashami is the day when Goddess Durga accompanied by her children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh leave for Kailash, her husband's abode.

Mahalaya, the first day of the festivities, is followed by a series of unique rituals on the days of Sashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Nabami and Dashami or Bijoya Dashami.

Festivities intensify on the days of Maha Saptami, Maha Astomi, Maha Nabami, culminating in Bijoya Dashami, which marks the end of Durga Puja.

Durga Puja, the greatest extravaganza of the Bengali Hindus, is the worship of 'shakti' or divine power symbolised by Devi Durga. The worship is a tribute to the fight between good and evil with the dark forces eventually succumbing to the divine.

President Iajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday greeted the Hindu community on the occasion of Durga Puja through separate messages.

"Religious festivals widen liberalism in human beings and teach harmony and unity among all. I firmly believe the Durga festival will consolidate further the harmony and sense of unity among the people of the country," the president said in a statement.

Leaders of political, social, and cultural organisations, and members of the civil society yesterday visited Durga Puja mandaps and exchanged greetings with the Hindus.

White House contenders trade barbs in 2nd debate: Post-debate polling favours Obama over McCain

AP, Washington

John McCain dismissively called rival Barack Obama "that one," Obama mocked McCain's "Straight Talk Express," and both left the debate stage to return to the campaign trail Wednesday.

CNN's national poll of debate watchers found that 54 percent said Obama did the best job, compared to 30 percent who said McCain performed better. While 51 percent of those polled said they had a favorable opinion of McCain, unchanged from before the debate started, 64 percent said they had a favorable opinion of Obama, up 4 percentage points from before the debate.

By more than a 2-1 margin, 65 percent to 28 percent, more people said they found Obama more likable than McCain during the debate, according to the CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey. On the question of who won the debate, a CBS News/Knowledge Networks poll of uncommitted voters found a similar result. Forty percent said Obama won, 26 percent said McCain won, and 34 percent thought it was a tie.

Playing off the second debate, the Obama campaign released a TV ad Wednesday that continued the criticism that McCain's health care plan included taxing employer-based health care benefits. "Instead of fixing health care, he wants to tax it," the ad says.

McCain's campaign, in turn, put out a TV spot contending that Obama promises nearly $1 trillion in new spending in the wake of the $700 billion financial rescue plan Congress approved. "Sound crazy? the ad asks. "It is."

It took just eight minutes into Tuesday's presidential debate for Republican candidate McCain to land the first blow, blaming Obama and Democrats for the collapse of mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

"They're the ones that, with the encouragement of Sen. Obama and his cronies and his friends in Washington, that went out and made all these risky loans, gave them to people that could never afford to pay back," McCain said.

Obama responded: "I've got to correct a little bit of Sen. McCain's history, not surprisingly. t In fact, Sen. McCain's campaign chairman's firm was a lobbyist on behalf of Fannie Mae, not me."

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis has a stake in a Washington lobbying firm that received thousands of dollars a month from Freddie Mac until recently.

Davis is one of the many figures in both campaigns and near them who have been targeted as reasons why each should not be supported. As they head back on the road Wednesday, both campaigns say those associations would again be highlighted.

McCain running mate Sarah Palin has questioned Obama's ties to William Ayers, who 40 years ago was a member of the Weather Underground, a radical group that claimed responsibility for a series of bombings. Obama had a limited relationship with Ayers, who lives in the same neighborhood and teaches at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Democrats have criticized McCain for his role in a 1980s banking scandal. He was one of five senators who had accepted contributions from Charles Keating Jr., a real estate speculator and savings and loan owner. Keating's institution failed and cost many investors in uninsured financial products their life savings.

Neither figure came up during Tuesday's debate. Nor did either candidate call the other a liar, a familiar charge in this contentious campaign.

The closest: "You know, Sen. McCain, I think the Straight Talk Express lost a wheel on that one," Obama said.

During a discussion of an energy bill McCain offered up a two-word phrase that drew a quick reaction from the Obama campaign.

"You know who voted for it? You might never know. That one," McCain said, pointing at his opponent.

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said after the debate, "John McCain was all over the map on the issues, and he is so angry about the state of his campaign that he referred to Barack Obama as 'that one' - last time he couldn't look at Sen. Obama, this time he couldn't say his name."

McCain also suggested some evasiveness on Obama's part: "Nailing down Sen. Obama's various tax proposals is like nailing Jell-O to the wall. There has been five or six of them and if you wait long enough, there will probably be another one."

In one pointed confrontation on foreign policy, Obama bluntly challenged McCain's steadiness. "This is a guy who sang 'bomb, bomb, bomb Iran,' who called for the annihilation of North Korea - that I don't think is an example of speaking softly."

That came in response to McCain's accusation that Obama had threatened to invade Pakistan.

McCain said his rival "was wrong about Iraq and the surge. He was wrong about Russia when they committed aggression against Georgia. And in his short career he does not understand our national security challenges. We don't have time for on-the-job training."

Obama countered with a trace of sarcasm that he didn't understand some things - like how the United States could face the challenge it does in Afghanistan after spending years and hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq.

Polls under emergency deepens doubt: Delwar

Staff Reporter

BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain yesterday expressed his resentment at Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur's statement that the forthcoming general elections would be held under the emergency rules.

"The assertion of the government of holding the elections under emergency has deepened the doubt about the polls," he said while talking to reporters after a 5-member UNDP delegation led by its Resident Representative Ms Renata Lok Dessallien met with him at the BNP central office in the city.

The BNP leader regretted that the Adviser made the statement when we are getting ready to take part in the dialogue with the government.

"The assertion of the Adviser was regrettable, as demand for withdrawal of emergency for the sake of free and fair polls is gaining ground. Besides, BNP is going to press for lifting emergency during the proposed dialogue with the government, he added. "The statement has raised doubts among the people if the election will be held," he said.

Replying to a question Khondoker Delwar said they would like local and foreign observers to monitor the upcoming polls.

He said the delegation discussed about the UNDP project on strengthening parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh.

The BNP leader mentioned that the tenure of 10-year UNDP project to strengthen democracy completed last year.

The project was extended further and the delegation talked how the project can be revived and make it effective, he said adding that the BNP supported revival of the project. Talking to reporters UNDP Resident Representative Renata said that the delegation did not discuss about election.

"We hope the election will be free and fair to install a new government. We will work on the project with the new parliamentarians," she, observed.

Export target $16.3b for current fiscal

Staff Reporter

The government yesterday fixed export target for the fiscal year 2008-09 at US$16.298 billion, 15.5 per cent higher than last year's $14.11 billion export earnings.

Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said the target is realistic as well as ambitious. We will try to achieve the export target, he said replying to a question.

A high level meeting of the Ministry of Commerce attended by the private sector stakeholders estimated the export target taking into consideration the global economic situation, particularly of the US and the European Union.

Hossain Zillur at a press briefing at commerce ministry conference room said the product-wise and destination-wise targets were set on the basis of last five year's trend when the export earnings registered growth at rates not less than 10 per cent.

Replying to a question he said Bangladesh is considering capitalising on the global economic situation. "We can come out as winner in the situation as the consumers from the developed countries would go for cheaper products."

Describing Bangladesh's new products and new destinations Zillur said Bangladesh has already delivered a new ship, one of the new products, to its buyer two weeks ago.

The Adviser said the government would convene a workshop late October to review the export performance and the target considering the global economic turmoil so it could reset the country strategy in response to the global changes.

He said exports to some new countries, including in the Middle-East and central Asia, were increasing significantly in terms of percentage though the amount would be meager.

The government, he added, has already undertaken initiative in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen the Bangladesh missions abroad to accelerate export growth.

He informed that the government has already taken decision to recruit lower level local staff in the Bangladesh Missions in Turkey and Italy which will help expedite trade promotion due to advantage of understanding the local languages.

This time the highest export target has been set for the Knit apparels at $ 6.6 billion with 19 per cent growth over the previous fiscal year's earnings of $5.5 billion, followed by woven apparels at $ 5.7 billion with growth of 10 per cent over previous year's earning of $ 5.3 billion.

Mission-wise, highest target was set for USA at $ 4.15 billion with 12 per cent growth over previous year, followed by UK at $ 2.5 billion which is 15 per cent higher than the performance of previous year.

Zillur said export earnings from home textiles; terry towel, raw jute and jute goods are increasing. "The government will formulate jute friendly policy so that we can depend on its export," he said.

Elaborating the last year's country wise export performance he said export to UK rose by 12.7 per cent, France by 31.5 per cent, Holland by 43 per cent, Canada by 17 per cent, Turkey by 41.4 per cent, Australia by 57 per cent, UAE by 48 per cent, KSA by 41 per cent, Russia by 98 per cent, Malaysia by 42 per cent, Kuwait 34 per cent and S Africa 143 per cent.

Myanmar may offer gas for shared fertiliser production

Desk Report

Myanmar may supply natural gas to Bangladesh to help it produce fertiliser for use in both countries. Bangladesh will have to wait until December when a new field is due to be explored, Reuters news agency reported.

Meanwhile, UNB reported, Myanmar has no gas right now for export to Bangladesh. Myanmar energy minister Brig Gen Lun Thi conveyed his country's position during a meeting with his counterpart in Dhaka.

The Myanmar minister expressed his country's interest in moving forward a Bangladesh proposal for undertaking a hydropower project in the neighbouring country from which the power-hungry Bangladesh will get electricity.

As per the proposal, Bangladesh will build the hydropower plant at its own cost and get 70 percent of the electricity from the project while 30 percent goes to Myanmar's share as royalty.

After the meeting was over, Dr Tamim told reporters that he discussed, in particular, two issues?-gas import and hydropower project.

"Bangladesh has offered Myanmar to import gas on two modes--either cash purchase or setting up a fertiliser plant under joint venture," he said.

Under the partnership, Bangladesh will provide land and expertise while Myanmar its gas and both then can share the output.

But the Myanmar minister informed that his country has no available gas right at this moment to export to Bangladesh as it has already signed deals with China and Thailand to export its gas from the existing fields.

Tamim said the Myanmar minister also told him that if any new gas could be discovered from the ongoing exploration, then it would consider exporting to Bangladesh. "But the price will have to be same or better."

Reuter adds: Later the minister discussed demarcating the two countries' maritime boundary with Bangladesh's energy adviser M Tamim, who said Yangon would not object to Bangladesh's bidding process for hydrocarbon exploration in the Bay of Bengal.

"The minister assured us that his country will not raise any objection regarding Bangladesh's offshore bidding process in the Bay of Bengal," Tamim said.

Bangladesh floated tenders on Feb. 15 for exploration in the bay and seven firms have submitted 22 bidding documents to search for gas and oil in 15 offshore blocks, officials said.

Both India and Myanmar objected, saying some of the blocks were disputed.

SC dismisses Mujaheed’s bail petition

UNB, Dhaka

The vacation Chamber Judge of the Supreme Court Yesterday dismissed a petition for anticipatory bail filed by Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general and former minister Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed in the Barapukuria coalmine graft case.

Emerging from the chamber of Justice M Joynul Abedin, the counsel for Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Khurshid Alam Khan, who opposed the bail petition, told UNB that Mujaheed's petition was "dismissed as being not pressed."

Barrister Abdur Razzaq, the counsel for Mujaheed did not agree with the opinion of the counsel for the ACC, and told reporters that after making a brief submission "I didn't press for it."

Meanwhile, court sources said, Justice Abedin, after hearing the petition halfway through passed an order that says "Abdur Razzaq, learned counsel submits that he will not press for the leave petition. Accordingly, the leave petition is dismissed being not pressed."

During the hearing, Justice Abedin termed the petition as belated and advised the counsel for Mujaheed to approach the High Court or the trial court seeking redress, court sources said.

They added that apprehending refusal of the Chamber Judge, Barrister Razzaq told the court that he would not press for bail.

At the time of hearing in the chamber of Justice Abedin, Mujaheed, looking downcast, was seen loitering on the veranda in front of the Chief Justice's court, a spot account said.

Barrister Razzaq moved the Chamber Judge for hearing with a pending petition for leave-to-appeal against Mujaheed's June 3 bail-denial order passed by the High Court following issuance of arrest warrants by the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge M Azizul Huq on Monday against Mujaheed and eight others, a day after accepting the charge-sheet in the Barapukuria coalmine case.

BNP chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is the principal accused in the case.

With the arrest warrant hanging over his head, Mujaheed along with his counsel and a few party men Wednesday drove to the High Court for seeking bail.

Mujaheed later told the media that the case was filed with "political and conspiratorial motive."

Following the SC Chamber Judge's dismissal order, upholding the High Court denial of bail to Mujaheed, Barrister Razzaq met the Chief Justice at his residence urging him to provide a HC division bench that has the criminal jurisdiction to hear a fresh bail petition filed by his client.

After a brief hearing, Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin asked the counsel for Mujaheed to contact two available vacation division benches headed by Justice M Anwarul Haque and Justice AKM Fazlur Rahman.

While contacted, Barrister Razzaq told UNB that one judge of each division bench was not available until this evening.

"Later at night, I contacted Justice M Anwarul Haque and referred to him the advice of the Chief Justice. But Justice Haque regretted to hear Mujaheed's bail petition," said Razzaq, adding that he was waiting for the other judge.

"But the possibility is bleak," he added.

On February 26, the ACC filed the case with Shahbagh police station in the capital on charge of taking kickbacks amounting to about Tk 159 crore in awarding the Barapukuria coalmine deal to the highest bidder instead of the lowest.

In the charge sheet, the anti-graft watchdog body accused the top politicians and bureaucrats of misappropriating about Tk 159 crore inflicting loss to the national exchequer by awarding the contract of production, management and maintenance of the Barapukuria coalmine to the highest bidder.

Business competitiveness: Bangladesh ranks 111 among 134 countries

BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh has ranked 111 out of 134 countries in terms of business competitiveness index while the United States (US) retains its top rank followed by Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and Singapore.

Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), a research organisation centre, released a survey report on 'Bangladesh Business Environment Study-2008 here yesterday. The survey had been conducted from February 2007 to January 2008 in collaboration with World Economic Forum (WEF). The report was released as part of a report Global Competitiveness Report (GCR)-2008-09, which is being published simultaneously from the 134 countries.

The GCR-2008 was prepared through broad-based consultations with 91 large responding companies having total assets of no less than Taka 10 crore and dealing with various issues related to public and private institutions, infrastructures, capital market, CSR, ICT, education, health and corruption, said Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, coordinator of the study, while focusing on highlights of the study.

CPD executive director and team leader of the study Dr Mustafizur Rahman was present on the occasion.

Dr Moazzem said the ranking of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in terms of the GCR has slid down and that of China improved substantially, while the ranking of least developed countries (LDCs) excepting Bhutan, Ethiopia and Cambodia has fallen further.

He said the Bangladesh's position in terms of the GCR at the institution level has increased to 2.98 percent from 2.87 percent due to present government's evaluation of businessmen of the country.

Besides, the country's health, education and technological capabilities remained unchanged compared to those of last year while the financial sector has shown better, he added.

Dr Moazzem said policy-making strategies of the government are mostly centralised and income-generating steps are not praiseworthy.

Due to the government's efforts, there is a sharp decline in common crimes and violence, he said adding that dynamism was bringing back in the country's economy as the government had taken a number of steps, including formation of Better Business Forum (BBF) and Regulatory Reforms Commission (RRC).

Dr Mustafizur Rahman said the country's tourism and airlines sectors have not improved satisfactory. He suggested drawing the government's attention to the tourism sector for attracting foreign investors and more simplifying rules and regulations of airlines sector.

He said the country's economy would have a changed look as many a number of innovative steps by the government are under way to help businessmen doing business more smoothly.

The CPD researcher underscored the need for creating an independent food security fund to help supplement the government's efforts to ensure food security in the country.