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June 03, 2018
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HPM Sheikh Hasina’s India visit: Taking Indo Bangla ties to heights
The relationship between Bangladesh and India has been elevated to a different dimension with the last week visit of Honourable Prime Minister (HPM) Sheikh Hasina to West Bengal as it has ushered in a new horizon to boost the bilateral trade and commerce in the coming days. During the visit, the Bangladesh Premier and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have jointly unveiled the plaque of Bangladesh Bhaban at Visva-Bharati University, founded by Rabindranath Tagore, in Kolkata. On the sidelines, the both Premiers held a meeting where the issues relating to the security and politics of the region came up for discussion.
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During her last week visit to India, The Kazi Nazrul University authorities conferred the honorary DLitt degree upon HPM Sheikh Hasina in recognition of her outstanding contributions towards building exploitation and disparity-free society, which is the ideal of poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. The Prime Minister said though the Bangla was parted, but the two great poets -Nazrul and Rabindranath were not divided. They belong to the two Banglas (Bangladesh and West Bengal), said the Premier, adding that, Nazrul's spirit will remain for ages as source of inspiration for people to work for the welfare of the human being.
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Honourable Prime Minister (HPM) Sheikh Hasina sought enhanced cooperation between Bangladesh and Thailand in the agricultural sector. The Bangladesh Premier made the call when Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn met her at her office. The prime minister informed the Thai princess of the "One House One Farm Project" and micro-savings model of Bangladesh. Thailand also has a programme similar to the "One House One Farm Project", the Honourable Thai princess mentioned. About Bangladesh's success in the agricultural sector, HPM said Bangladeshi scientists have developed salinity-, flood- and drought-tolerant crops, aiming to boost food production in the country.
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The UK parliament has said the relatively open civic space has played a major role in Bangladesh’s successful economic growth and development. In a report, made public recently, on the UK’s role in development of Bangladesh, the parliament also commended how the authorities and local communities in Bangladesh have pursued an open border policy for Rohingya people with generosity and compassion, said a release issued here today. As Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries with many still living below the poverty line, the UK government has continued to strengthen efforts to persuade the international community to fully shoulder the responsibilities of the displaced Rohingya population, said a summary of the report available on the website of the UK parliament, the release added.
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Four fallen Bangladeshi peacekeepers have been honoured at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York. They are Sergeant Altaf Hossain, Lance Corporal Jakirul Alam Sarkar, and Private Monowar Hossain, who lost their lives while serving with the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, and Private Abdur Rahim, who served with the UN mission in the Central African Republic. Bangladesh is the second largest contributor of uniformed personnel -- over 6,990 enlisted military and police personnel -- to UN peacekeeping operations worldwide. Commemorating International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday paid tributes to the service and sacrifice made by the UN “blue helmets”, according to UN News Centre.
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GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
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Bangladesh likely to surpass India in three years
Per capita income of Bangladesh may surpass the same of India within three years, according to an analysis of the Business Standard. "Per capita income (in dollar terms) in Bangladesh is now growing at nearly thrice the pace of income growth in India," said the analytical report. At $1,355 in 2016, Bangladesh's per capita income was up 40% in three years against 14% growth in India and 21% growth in Pakistan, it added. At this rate, Bangladesh's per capita income would top India's by the year 2020, the report projected. Business Standard analysis further added that during 2014 and 2016, Bangladesh's gross domestic product (GDP) grew at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.9%.
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The government is implementing a project, worth over $224 million, to develop the navigability of 24 river routes in the first phase, out of 53 rivers. Besides, as a part of mid-term plan, another project for the development of navigability of 12 important river routs is also underway. After assuming power, the government recovered around 1,100 kilometers river routes and around 3,000 acres of land from the illegal occupants. Moreover, the government has constructed 20 kilometers walkways beside the Buriganga, the Turag and the Shitalakkya rivers while more 50 kilometers walkways will be constructed soon, Hossain added.
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SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY
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A total of 2,00,000 poor working mothers were entitled to allowance and training under ‘Working Lactating Mother Assistance Fund Programme’ across the country for creating awareness about mother and child healthcare for poor working mothers living in urban areas. The programme is being implemented in all the city corporations, district and upazila headquarters and municipalities. Under the programme, each working mother will get Taka 500 per month. Apart from this, they will also be imparted training on maternal health, child health, breast-feeding, sanitation, reproductive health, vaccination, family planning and prevention of child marriage.
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Envisaged ad implemented by HPM Sheikh Hasina, the One House One Farm Project has emerged as major weapon to alleviate poverty as the project will benefit 6 million families across the country. Given the existing load system appears as a perpetual vicious cycle for the poor, HPM Sheikh Hasina conceived the idea and has put it in place to make poor people self-reliant.
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TRADE AND INVESTMENT
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The aggregate of proposed investments registered by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) rose by 17.08% in nine months to March last. During the July-March period of the fiscal year (FY) 2017-2018, the BIDA registered proposals, both foreign and local investors, rose up sharply in comparison with that of the corresponding period of the FY 2016-17. On the other hand, the BIDA recorded investment proposals over $3 billion during the first quarter of the FY '18. During the January-March period the investors sought to set up a total of 408 industrial units.
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HPM Sheikh Hasina encouraged implementation of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects on the basis of the government-to-government (G2G) partnership with different countries. She also gave directives to the authorities concerned to undertake such more projects. According to media reports, a total of 48 projects were undertaken to implement on the PPP policy. Of the projects, agreements were signed with private partners to implement 10 projects, while agreements will be signed with private partners soon to implement two other projects. If the 48 PPP projects are implemented, the amount of investment will stand at some US$ 12.6 billion.
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Bangladesh is the fourth-largest import source of clothing for its fellow member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a global report shows. The export volume stood at $1.30 billion in 2016, according to State of the Global Islamic Economy Report 2017-18. The report is prepared by Thomson Reuters in association with Dinar Standard, a growth strategy research and advisory firm based in New York. The project is supported by Dubai.
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INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL COOPERATION
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Bangladesh and Nepal have agreed to revise the list of products from either country to give access to boost bilateral trade. Bangladesh has been providing duty free access to 108 Nepali products that are available in the country. At the fourth commerce secretary-level trade talks held last week, Bangladesh has also expressed its consent on allowing Nepali trucks to ferry up to Mongla port of Chittagong. At present, Nepali shipments have access up to Banglabandha. Provided the operation comes online, Nepali traders can bring in third country imports through the Bangladeshi port via railway service.
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Bangladesh and Estonia today agreed to work jointly for human resource development through promoting ICT-based education. The countries reached the consensus when State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak meet Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser at His Foreign Ministry office at capital Tallinn. During the meeting, they discussed various issues including trade, commerce and investment of the two countries.
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