July 20, 2017

Last week saw the Sri Lankan President coming to Bangladesh, elevating Bangladesh-Sri Lanka relations to a new era of cooperation. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka signed 14 instruments -- one deal and 13 MoUs -- during the visit beginning a new journey in their bilateral relations. President Sirisena held official talks with Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina among others. The Lankan president visited National Martyr's Memorial, Savar and paid respect to the martyrs of Liberation War. He also visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, Dhanmondi.

In sync with the government’s pledge to ensure electricity for all by 2021, a plan has been laid out to provide 100% electricity in all 460 upazilas in the country by December, 2018. Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) will expand 50,000 kms of distribution line and develop some 80 sub stations in current fiscal while 4 million of new subscribers will be connected to the national grid. As of now, around 19 million rural people are getting service from BREB and the number, will cross 20 million soon.

As many as 5 million beneficiaries, including physically challenged persons, have been brought under social safety net and food security programmes in 2016-17 fiscal year. The programmes included old-aged allowance, allowances for widow and women tortured by their husbands, insolvent disabled allowance and stipend for physically challenged students. In 2016-17, some 31,50,000 people have got old-aged allowance, 11,50,000 got widow allowance, 7,50,000 people got insolvent disabled allowance and 70,000 physically disabled students were awarded education stipend.

Export earnings from leather sector marked a 6.29% growth in FY 2016-17 compared to the previous FY, bringing in a sense of relief for the local businesses. The leather and leather goods sector fetched $1.23 billion from exports in FY 17, up from $1.16 billion in 2015-16 fiscal and $1.13 billion in 2014-15 fiscal, according to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data. According to experts, leather exports will increase manifolds as the leather and leather goods manufacturers have started to meet the compliance standards and taking initiatives to promote their products in the international market.

Modeled after Silicon Valley of the US, the construction of Bangabandhu Silicon City project will make a notable impact on the socio-economic improvement of the region. This Silicon city will both render training and provide employment opportunity for educated young men. A ten storied building will be constructed here and another five-story building covering 62,000 square feet will be constructed which will be used as IT Incubator-cum-Training Center. In this Silicon City world standard technological gadgets will be manufactured too.