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Mar 28, 2019 | Issue 213 NEWSLETTER |
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Bangladesh celebrates Independence Day The nation has celebrated the 49th Independence and National Day with a fresh vow to take Bangladesh towards prosperity with the spirit of Liberation War. On March 26, 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh's independence following the crackdown on unarmed Bangalees on the midnight of March 25 by the Pakistani occupation forces. On the occasion, Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has conveyed heartiest greetings to the countrymen as well as all expatriate Bangalees. Moreover, Washington, DC, the US capital, has declared Mar 26, 2019 as ‘Bangladesh Day’ to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the nation’s independence. |
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Padma Bridge: 9th span installed 
Around 1,350 metres of the much-hyped Padma Bridge is now visible with the installation of ninth span on the pillars no 34 and 35. The 150-metre span, weighing 3,140 tonnees, was installed at the Jajira point around 8:45 am. The construction work on the country's largest bridge started in December 2015. The 6.15-kilometre bridge will have a total of 41 spans, each 150 metres long. According to the engineers concerned, a total of 41 spans will be installed on 42 concrete pillars. The works of Padma Multipurpose Bridge became visible with the installation of 150-metre first span on the pillars no 37 and 38 on October 30, 2017. |
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UN will raise the issue of '71 genocide: Under secy-gen tells HPM 
During a recent visit to Bangladesh, UN Under-Secretary General and Special Adviser on Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng said the United Nations will raise the 1971 issue of the Pakistani genocide in Bangladesh at the international forum. He said the issue would be raised even though some countries may oppose it. Adama made the statement when he met the Bangladesh Premier at her office. In a related development, the families of the Bangladesh war victims have called upon the international community to recognise the 1971 genocide to prevent recurrence. |
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Rice output to rise, USDA forecasts 
Bangladesh’s rice production is expected to increase 7 percent year-on-year to 3.49 crore tonnes in the 12 months to April thanks to higher acreage and yields during the aus and aman season, said the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Sufficient and uninterrupted input supply and timely disbursement of easily obtainable low-cost agricultural loans to marginal and poor farmers also contributed to increase in acreage and yields, it said. The US agency's market year (MY) runs from May to April, so boro, which is harvested between the months of April and May, becomes the first crop of the year. |
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India to support Mongla port upgrades: Tk 60b project underway to make it regional sea transport hub 
The government has taken up a massive development programme for the Mongla port with Indian financial support, maiming at making the port attractive to both domestic and regional users. The state-owned Mongla Port Authority (MPA) has undertaken the Tk 60.14 billion port upgrading project that will improve facilities in the nation's second seaport. According to the port authority, the Indian government will provide loans worth about Tk 44.59 billion while the rest will be borne by the Bangladesh government from its own coffers. India, Nepal and Bhutan have already proposed using it. |
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AIIB approves $120m in loans for Bangladesh power sector 
The China-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, or AIID, has approved a loan of $120 million for a project that aims to upgrade and expand the power transmission system in Chattogram, according to a statement on the bank’s website. An initiative of the Power Grid Corporation of Bangladesh, the project titled “Bangladesh Power System Upgrade and Expansion Project” will construct and upgrade more than 46 km of double-circuit transmission lines and associated substations and line bays. The project will also improve voltage stability and reduce voltage fluctuations and the need to spread the demand for electrical power, allowing more residences and businesses to connect to the regional grid. |
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HPM Sheikh Hasina launches Post Office’s mobile financial service Nagad 
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has officially inaugurated Post Office’s mobile banking service Nagad. She also unveiled a postage stamp released to mark the Independence Day at the Ganabhaban on Tuesday. Post Office launched Nagad to take financial services to those deprived of banking facilities and bring them to the mainstream economy. About 66% of the country’s population do not get banking services, according to the Post Office. Funds can be transferred quickly through digital channels like mobile phone apps, ATM, POS terminals, NFC enabled devices, electronically enabled cards, biometric devices, and tablet computers, Post Office said in a statement. |
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UAE keen to invest in Bangladesh: envoy 
Saed-Mohammed Al-Mheiri, ambassador of the UAE to Bangladesh, has said his country is keen to deepen its bilateral relations with Bangladesh on all fronts. "My country is eager to invest in different sectors in Bangladesh and we would like to extend our hands to businessmen of both the countries in order to increase the business volume," he added. The UAE envoy made the remarks while delivering his speech at the Business Conference and Networking Session on "UAE- Bangladesh Business Ties: Present Status and Future Opportunities". |
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BANGLADESH AWAMI LEAGUE |
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