August 17, 2017
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The nation observed the National Mourning Day on Tuesday, marking the 42nd anniversary of the martyrdom of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. People from all walks of life with a heavy heart remembered Bangabandhu, the best Bangalee of all time, with a call for bringing back his fugitive killers to execute them. President Abdul Hamid and Honorable Prime Minister (HPM) Sheikh Hasina led the nation in paying homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait at Dhanmondi. Not only that the assassins killed the Father of our Nation but also his life's partner, Fazilatunnesa Mujib, two sons and their wives and the third son, a child of mere 10, Sheikh Russell. That his two daughters -- Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana -- escaped was only a matter of luck as they were abroad.
Bangladesh is the third most optimistic market in the Asia Pacific thanks to consumers' positive outlook on stockmarket, jobs and income, according to the Mastercard Index of Consumer Confidence released this week. Between April and June, Bangladesh saw the biggest jump in the stockmarket sub-index, as its point rose to 74.9 in the first half of 2017 from 59.9 in the second half of 2016. The country witnessed a 7.2-point increase to 93.7 on the outlook on employment prospects while the points rose by 6.8 to 95.7 on the regular income prospects while the outlook on the quality of life improved by 3.9 points to 91.4.
Seventy years since British colonial rule in India was ended, Bangladesh is again strong when it comes to women’s purchasing power, significantly outperforming Pakistan and standing ahead of India. The average Bangladeshi can expect to live to 72, while Pakistanis and Indians can expect to live to 66 and 68, respectively. On women’s purchasing power, Bangladesh outperformed Pakistan and standing marginally ahead of India. Among the three South Asian states, Bangladesh performs best in rates of child hunger and posts the lowest under five mortality rates. Almost a quarter better than India and more than 50% better than Pakistan’s, Bangladesh’s 37.6/1000 is, in relative terms, impressive.
Outgoing Canadian High Commissioner in Dhaka Benoit-Pierre Laramee lauded Bangladesh for impressive progress in women empowerment under the leadership of Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The envoy also noted various pragmatic steps taken by the government that resulted in stunning progress in socio-economic sector especially in women empowerment. The envoy made the observations as he paid a farewell call on Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury at the latter's office.
GROWTH AND DEVELIOMENT
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As many as 19,500 buildings will be set up at secondary schools, madrasahs, colleges and public universities by the next year. Under the current development projects, 184 academic and residential buildings, student dormitories and buildings for research are being constructed at public universities. On the other hand, some 7,851 academic buildings were constructed at the secondary level under the first project while construction of 1051 more buildings are underway.
As many as 20,000 ordinary graduates will be developed as skilled human resources by December this year through world-class Information Technology (IT) trainings. The training of 11,000 post graduate students of colleges and universities have already been completed while the training of 9,000 more is underway. This initiative, among a number of others, stands out as a shining testament to the government’s commitment to transform the future of Bangladesh into a technologically advanced one by 2021.
TRADE AND INVESTMENT
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Remittance inflow in to the country rose 11% to $1.12 billion in July, the first month of the current fiscal year 2017-18, against the same month in the last fiscal year. In the last fiscal year Bangladesh workers employed abroad sent $13 billion, up 10% from the previous fiscal year. Meanwhile, Almost OMR1 billion rials more has been sent home by expats working in Oman over the past five years, according to the Central Bank. This milestone has been achieved owing to the successful diplomatic efforts placed by the government over the last seven years.
Outgoing ambassador of Japan in Dhaka Masato Watanabe said Bangladesh has turned into an attractive destination of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The present government has initiated economic development under the leadership of the HPM Sheikh Hasina and for this the country has become an attractive destination of FDI, according to the envoy. The remarks were made while the envoy paid a farewell call on Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu at the industries ministry in the city. During the meeting, they discussed different bilateral issues, including Japanese investment, technology transfer and relocation of Japanese factories to Bangladesh.
INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL COOPERAION
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The European Union (EU) has reiterated its ‘steadfast commitment’ to remain engaged with Bangladesh on important issues like migration, trade and investment, science and technology to further deepen and widen the ties. Outgoing Head of the EU Delegation and Ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon met Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque on Wednesday at the State guesthouse Padma and discussed the issues. The Foreign Secretary thanked the EU Ambassador for his ‘constructive role’ in taking the Bangladesh-EU relations to a newer height.
Fifteen Bangladeshi children attended a 20-day Rosatom School International Children's Camp, at the "Ocean" Children's Center in Vladivostok, that concluded on August 6. The camp, supported by Russia's state nuclear energy corporation- Rosatom and Russia's federal agency for international co-operation Rossotrudnichestvo, was participated by 126 children from eight countries. The camp included various programmes including a number of workshops for participants, who wanted to do and learn things, which usually are not taught at schools.
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