The New Nation - Internet Edition

Target of producing 66.61 lakh tons of Boro rice in N-districts

BSS, Rajshahi

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed a target of producing 66.61 lakh metric tons of Boro rice from 15.69 lakh hectares in the country's 16 northern districts during the current season.

According to the official sources, a target has also been set to cultivate hybrid varieties on 5.17 lakh hectares, high yielding varieties on 10.44 lakh hectares and local varieties on 8825 hectares.

Meanwhile, farmers have already started planting early variety of Boro seedlings, dedicating their full efforts in achieving a record production target.

Preparation of Boro seedbeds for the late varieties, however, is still on and the farmers are planting Boro seedlings and also making their lands ready for further plantation after harvesting the T-Aman paddy.

Last year, the farmers achieved a bumper Boro production when the DAE had fixed a production target of 59,58,980 tonnes rice from 15,08,137 hectares land, they added.

Deputy director of DAE of Rajshahi, Braja Hari Das told BSS that special emphasis has been given to using the latest technology and hybrid seeds this time to help the farmers achieve the target and even exceed it.

He said that top priority was given to cultivation of Boro to achieve self-sufficiency in the region.

Increased yield of Boro is expected this year because of the training being provided to the farmers on the latest technologies along with all possible facilities including fertilizers and other agri-inputs, DAE sources said.

The farmers may bring more land under Boro farming this season as they have been getting bumper production of the major crop every year in recent years, the sources said.

Special steps have been taken by the DAE, BADC, Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), BRRI and BARI to bring more land under Boro farming including cultivation of hybrid varieties at larger scales aiming to increase the production further for ensuring the country's food security.

Talking to BSS, the DAE officials today said that special emphasis has been put in using the latest technologies and quality hybrid seeds this time to help the farmers achieve the fixed production target this season.

BADC and BMDA distributed 8,416 metric tons of quality seeds among the farmers in the region to ensure expected production.

Similarly, cultivation of hybrid varieties of Boro paddy like ACI-1 and ACI-2, Sonar Bangla, Jagoron, LC-50, Hira, Supreme Seed, Aftab and Aloron etc has been gaining popularity among the farmers and its cultivation will be more this season to further increasing Boro rice production, they added.

Similarly, massive initiative has been taken for farming of hybrid variety Boro paddy on more and more land in all 16 districts of the region to increase the overall rice production during this season.

Officials said the farmers could achieve more yield this year as special awareness building and training activities are being conducted for them on the latest technologies and provided with all possible facilities including fuels and irrigation.

There are tremendous potentials of increasing the overall rice production than that of the previous annual output through ensuring supply of hybrid seeds to the farmers during the Boro farming season, they added.

Meanwhile, the farmers have almost completed planting of Boro seedlings in the low-lying beds of the dried-up water bodies, beels, haors and other places keeping in view harvesting the same before commencement of the next rainy season, farmers said.

BMDA has kept over 10,000 power-operated deep tubewells ready in addition to the farmers' level diesel-driven pumps for irrigating lands for achieving a bumper production of Boro paddy, in the region, BMDA sources said.

Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) has been disbursing crop loans among the farmers to make the Boro cultivation process a complete success, the RAKUB sources said.

BRAC Bank gets nat'l award as highest VAT payer for 2007-08

BRAC Bank Limited has received a prestigious award for being the highest tax and VAT paying organization in national level in service industry.

Dr AB Mirza Azizul Haque, Adviser for Finance and Planning, handed over the award and crest to BRAC Bank Limited at a ceremony held in Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city.

AEA Muhaimen, Managing Director and CEO BRAC Bank, received the memento on behalf of the bank. Among others, Rais Uddin Ahmad, Company Secretary and Head of Legal, Regulatory and Internal Control, and Faruk Ahammad, CFO, of BRAC Bank Limited were present at the ceremony.

EBL opens 33rd branch at Moghbazar

Eastern Bank Ltd (EBL) has opened its 33rd branch at Moghbazar, Dhaka.

EBL Chairman Mir Nasir Hossain recently inaugurated the newest member of EBL's growing branch network at a simple ceremony. Other than regular banking activities the branch will offer ATM service, Online Banking, SME Banking and other modern services to the customers.

EBL Managing Director and CEO Ali Reza Iftekhar, DMD Mamoon Mahmood Shah, Head of Administration Major Abdus Salam psc (Retd), Consumer Banking Area Head Md Saad Ullah, Head of Marketing Nazeem A Choudhury, senior EBL officials and local dignitaries attended the inauguration programme.

Grameenphone distributes blankets in worst hit dists

NATION BUSINESS REPORT

Concerned over the prevalent cold weather, Grameenphone Ltd has initiated distributing blankets in worst affected areas of Dhaka, Rajshahi and Chittagong division. A total number of 11,000 blankets are being distributed.

As a part of that plan 6,500 blankets were distributed in Rajshahi division on December 26 last in five districts, namely, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Chapainawabganj and Sirajganj. Another 4,500 blankets will be distributed in Dhaka and Chittagong divisions later, which was postponed for the time being for the national election.

Grameenphone partner NGO, Thengamara Mohila Shobuj Sangha (TMSS) and the local government, provided support during the event.

Mahbubur Rahman, Regional Head Rajshahi and Hafiz Rahman Khan, Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility Grameenphone were present during the distribution program. In addition other employees from the regional offices voluntarily participated in the distribution program.

As a responsible corporate citizen, Grameenphone always extends its support to the affected, vulnerable people during trying times due to natural calamities, be it flood, storm surge, cold wave, or landslide. Earlier this year, Grameenphone distributed blankets in different SIDR affected areas of Barisal and Khulna districts.

In 2007 during the severe cold snap, blankets and winter clothes were distributed in all 6 administrative divisions. During the devastating cyclone SIDR in 2007, Grameenphone initiated emergency relief efforts in eight worst affected areas and made monetary contribution to the Chief Advisor's relief fund too.

As part of its rehabilitation plans in the SIDR affected areas, the construction of 4 education center-cum-cyclone shelters is currently undergoing in the southern belt of the country. During the floods in August and October 2007, Grameenphone donated BDT 43.1 million to Chief Advisor's Relief Fund and undertook emergency relief activities as well.

Proactive and enthusiastic employees, involvement in these community service activities reinforces Grameenphone's commitment to make a difference.

Marketing and Sales Conference of ACI Pharmaceuticals held

NATION BUSINESS REPORT

The Marketing and Sales Conference 2009 of ACI Pharmaceuticals was held at a hotel at Cox's Bazar on December 26 last, says a press release.

The Managing Director congratulated pharma team for their extraordinary accomplishment in 2008 and reiterated ACI's commitment to improve the quality of life of the people of Bangladesh. Chief Operating Officer and Director, Marketing and Sales elaborated the strategic plan of 2009 and gave directions to capitalize market opportunities.

In the conference, awards were distributed among the sales team for extraordinary achievement.

The program ended with an enchanting cultural show attended by renowned artists of the country.

BTRC takes steps to make internet service available

NATION BUSINESS REPORT

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has taken different steps for expansion of internet system in the country.

As part of the measures, the commission has decided to give three categories of Internet Service including Cyber Cafe Service License on thana basis with a view to making the internet service available and reaching its benefit to the people at cheaper rate, a BTRC press release said yesterday.

The release said category A license will be given on thana basis in Dhaka metropolitan area, while category B license will be given on thana basis in other five divisional metropolitan areas and category C will be given on thana basis in outside of the metropolitan areas. The license will be applicable for both internet service providers(ISPs) and cyber cafes.

License acquisition fee for category A, B and C has been fixed at Taka 10,000, Taka 5,000 and Taka 1000 respectively, while annual license fee has been fixed at Taka 5,000, Taka 2,500 and Taka 500.

The license will be given in open licensing system. As a result, the license holders could provide standard internet and cyber cafe service at a low price to the customers.

All ISPs and the owners of cyber cafes, which have no license, have been requested to take like license by submitting application to the commission.

The application for the license is available on the website of the commission www.btrc.gov.bd.

The release further said legal action would be taken against ISPs and the owners of cyber cafes, which have no license.

Daffodil Computers Ltd okays 10pc dividend

Daffodil Computers Ltd, the country's leading computer company providing total IT solution in Bangladesh held its 11th annual general meeting for the year 2007-2008 on 31 December 2008 at DIU auditorium (Prince Plaza, 4/2, Sobhanbag, Mirpur Road, Dhaka-1207).

Mrs Shahana Khan, Chairman of the company presided over the meeting while Md Sabur Khan, Managing Director of the company placed the agenda.

Emran Hossain, M S Shekil Chowdhury, Director, Md Monir Hossain, Company Secretary and Sarwar Mahmood FCA, Company Auditor were also present in the meeting.

Dividend at the rate of 10 per cent for the year 2007-2008 was approved by the shareholder.

Modernising Bangladesh Railway through reform and investment

Inadequate and poorly managed infrastructure services have always been a major hindrance to for economic growth and poverty reduction for Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Railway system has the potential to meet the growing transport demand in the country in a more environmentally and socially sustainable way if properly managed. Transformation of Bangladesh Railway into a government-owned corporate entity is expected to improve the operational efficiency of the organization and to reposition railways as a leading mode of transport in the country.

A World Bank team recently discussed with the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) and Bangladesh Railway (BR) regarding the reform progress made so far. The discussions also highlighted the key decisions to be taken by the Government. The reform will include the proposed structure along Lines of Business (LOB) for BR along with a detailed organogram. The government needs to decide on the most appropriate legal status of BR and a Bill to transform BR accordingly, to ensure that the objectives of the reform are achieved. The second phase (US$60 million) of the Development Policy Credit (DPC) from the World Bank will depend on the progress of these reforms. The Steering Committee, jointly chaired by the Ministry of Communication and the Ministry of Finance, in charge of reviewing the progress made so far, will play a key role in moving ahead with the reforms. The total disbursement of the US$ 40million support for the 'Bangladesh Rail way reform programmatic development policy credit' is completed on January 2007.

The World Bank team also reviewed the preparation of the proposed Railway Modernization (investment) Project, which will be dependant on satisfactory progress in the reform of Bangladesh Railways. Indeed, without the reform, it is likely that the objectives of the investment project would not be achieved. The investment project would focus on double tracking of the Akhaura-Laksham railway line on the Dhaka-Chittagong corridor.

The Asian Development Bank and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), in close coordination with the World Bank, will support the Bangladesh Railway reform and investment program.

Saudi minister warns of racism towards foreign workers

AFP, Riyadh

Saudi Labour Minister Ghazi al- Gosaibi has warned against growing racism among Saudis towards the millions of foreign workers in the kingdom, mainly domestics, media reports said yesterday.

Gosaibi told senior labour ministry officials on Sunday that the country should treat foreign workers better, protect their rights and not succumb to racism, local newspapers reported. "Regrettably, we have become overwhelmed by arrogance and even racism, and we have begun to imagine that we are better than those who have come to share in shouldering the burden of development," he said. "We should not be arrogant or racist towards those who came to serve us in our homes after we used to do everything ourselves," Gosaibi said of reported maltreatment of domestic workers, who reportedly number around 1.5 million. Foreign workers have a huge presence throughout the kingdom, estimated at more than eight million altogether in a country with a native population of over 17 million.

Mainly Indians, Pakistanis, Filipinos, Indonesians and

Bangladeshis, foreigners work in everything from construction and as household domestics to nursing, as shop attendants, programmers and business managers.

Ghosaibi told officials their job is to protect such workers' rights, prevent mistreatment of foreigners and protect Saudi Arabia's reputation.

"When a foreigner came here to work in the past, we treated him with deference because he was either a doctor we asked to treat us, a teacher from whom we sought knowledge or an accountant we asked to watch over our business. "But today this picture has changed. We look at them like they have come to rob us or to corrupt our society and spread criminality, even though it is us who have brought them here," he said.

The minister's comments came amid controversy over a privately financed television and newspaper advertising campaign promoting respect for foreign maids, drivers and other low-wage workers.

The "Mercy" campaign confronts Saudis with images of ugly treatment of their hired help-not paying them regularly, not giving them time off and even treating them like animals. Some Saudis have complained that the public service ad campaign, by Jeddah-based advertising company FullStop, gives the country a bad image. US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a July report that many Saudis believed they "owned" their foreign domestic workers and treated them like slaves.