May 7, 2015

A recent survey, conducted by the US-based Pew Research Centre, revealed that Bangladesh has outperformed major developed countries including US, UK, India and China in terms of providing support for the free market system. Among 44 countries, Bangladesh was ranked second only to Vietnam as most pro-capitalist country. Eighty percent, or four in every five, of surveyed people in Bangladesh expressed their support for free markets.

India’s upper house of parliament (Rajya Sabha) passed constitution amendment bill on the much-talked-about Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh to settle decades-old boundary disputes between the countries. That victory is another testament to the Awami League led government’s visionary diplomatic policies. The exchange of enclaves will end the decade long hardships of the enclave inhabitants’ and fulfill their major humanitarian needs.

Government has decided to establish a 'National Emergency Operation Centre’ (NEOC) to deal with emergencies during any disaster including high intensity earthquake. Apart from the NEOC, as many as 393 units would be constructed in 37 coastal upazilas to implement Cyclone Preparedness Programmes (CPP).

Over the last week, the country marched another step forward towards the Awami League led government’s vision to make electricity for all by 2021. On Wednesday, the country witnessed highest ever electricity generation of 7,850 megawatt (MW) against a demand of 7,700 MW. Bangladesh’s capability to generate power has increased threefold to 11,000 MW in last six years. Days back, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated four power generation plants and two transmission projects through videoconferencing that will enable the country to generate 315 MW additional powers. In a related development, a joint venture between Summit Group and General Electric of the US has started a test run to supply 240 MW of electricity to the national grid. Meanwhile, In another development, the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shipping Ministry to construct a jetty and a channel for another 1200MW coal-fired power project.

The Digital Investment Summit began in Dhaka with an aim to attract global and local investors in telecom and information communication technology sector. The first of its kind in the country, the summit showcased the prospects of foreign investment in the sector, found ways to attract investment and build Bangladesh as an ICT destination. Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, ICT affairs adviser to the PM, inaugurated the summit while top officials and representatives from the leading telecom operators and vendors from a number of countries including China and Norway also took part at the programme.

In an effort to transform the young generation into a skilled Information Communication and Technology (ICT) based manpower, the Awami League led government has introduced country’s first ever “One student and one laptop” scheme for the university students. At the launching event, on Sunday, Sajeed Wazed Joy, ICT advisor to PM, handed over laptops to as many as 250 students of Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and Sylhet’s Shahjalal University of Science and Technology. Addressing the programme, Sajeeb Wazed said that the government was in the process to connect 118 universities of the country through fiber optics and make them free Wi-Fi zones.

On Wednesday, a new initiative was launched to provide financial support for underprivileged children living in urban slums. As part of a pilot initiative, 500 slum children will receive cash assistance for 18 months through mobile phone cash transfer. Moreover, the government has taken up two projects at a cost of $ 28 million to provide slum-dwellers and low-income people with the chance to own their own apartments by paying around $3.5 daily installments.