Bangladesh
265 zarda, gul factories evading taxes
Many smokeless tobacco (SLT) manufacturers of Bangladesh have managed to slip away from the government's tax net; at least 265 of them are not paying taxes and 33% do not even have a valid trade licence.
Of the 483 SLT factories, 435 zarda – moist or dry chewing tobacco – and 48 gul – oral tobacco powder – factories in Bangladesh, only 218 pay taxes.
Also read:1.26 lakh people die in Bangladesh every year in diseases ...
Dr Nasiruddin Ahmed, former National Board of Revenue (NBR) chair, came up with the number Monday while presenting the findings of the study "Factors inhibiting smokeless tobacco tax payments by smokeless tobacco manufacturers operating outside the tax net in Bangladesh" at a webinar.
The study was conducted with assistance from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
NBR jointly organised the programme with several anti-tobacco organisations, including National Heart Foundation, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, UBINIG, Voice and Progga.
In Bangladesh, SLT manufacturing and marketing mostly go unsupervised and unregulated. So, these products remain quite cheap, available and affordable.
Also, around 91% of SLT manufacturers produce their products manually. SLT products are primarily manufactured in small unmarked factories or houses. Their total monthly gross turnover is around Tk2.7 crore.
Also read:Dhaka Conference: Amend tobacco laws, impose specific taxes
Bringing the SLT producers under the tax net would increase the tax revenues from this sector considerably, the study said.
However, it also identifies the "informal" nature of SLT production as the main impediment in ensuring tax compliance in the sector.
Several other issues concerning the NBR, including lack of trained officials, the organisational structure of field offices and the outdated equipment and systems also add to this problem, the study said.
The absence of a fully digitalised and automated tax return processing system as well as the lack of a secure tracking and tracing system also facilitates tax evasion.
The study suggests introducing an automated tax return processing system, equipping and training the NBR officials, restructuring NBR field formations, introducing a secure tracking and tracing system (TTS), and authorising local government institutions to bring SLT manufacturers under local tax nets.
SLT products are severely detrimental to health and responsible for causing oral, oropharyngeal and other types of cancers.
However, around 20.6% – 2.20 crore – adults and school-going children aged 13-15 use smokeless tobacco in Bangladesh.
Despite such a high prevalence of tobacco usage, the SLT sector contributed Tk30.6 crore in revenue – 0.12% of the total revenue collected from tobacco – in the fiscal year 2019-20.
Sheikh Fahim new President of D-8 Chamber
President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Fazle Fahim has been made President of D-8 Chamber of Commerce and Industries (D8CCI).
It was announced at the ‘D-8 Business Forum’ held on Monday on the eve of the 10th D-8 Summit scheduled for April 8.
The D-8 is an organisation for development cooperation among Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
Also read: FBCCI president reelected as VP of Asia-Pacific trade body
Apart from leading the apex business body - FBCVI, Fahim is also the Vice-President of Saarc Chamber of Commerce & Industries (SCCI) and Confederation of Asia Pacific Chamber of Commerce & Industries (CACCI).
Talking about his new role, Fahim said they are committed to improving connectivity and trade relations “among our nations” and reach the goal of high economic growth and prosperity. "We reach out to our D8 members for support wherever applicable and look forward to our future engagements to drive impact among member states," he said.
Fahim will serve as the President of the Developing-8 Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the term of 2021-2023, marking the beginning of Bangladesh’s presidency over the D8 CCI for the first time, said the FBCCI.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen was present as the chief guest at the Business Forum.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, Ambassador Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari, Secretary General of D-8; Ruhsar Pekcan, Minister of Trade of Turkey; Jerry Sambuaga, Deputy Minister of Trade of Indonesia; Rifat Hisarciklioğlu, President of TOBB and previous president of D8 CCI; Sonia Bashir Kabir, Founder SBK Tech Ventures & SBK Foundation; and Dr Syed Ferhat Anwar, Director of Institute of Business Administration and Asian Center for Development, were present.
Congratulating Sheikh Fazle Fahim on his new role, Dr Momen said the role of D-8 CCI is crucial in forming economic integration to ensure economic development and revival, especially to combat the challenges of this ongoing global crisis. "I believe D-8 CCI, under the leadership of Sheikh Fazle Fahim, will aid intra-trade, investment opportunities and collaboration among D8 member states to facilitate the overall economic growth and development.”
Also read:Fahim's statement gains traction in international media
Tipu Munshi said the government of Bangladesh along with D-8 CCI, under the leadership of the new president, can overcome the challenges imposed by Covid-19 which are affecting all the D-8 nations.
"Together, we’ll work towards enhancing trade, investments, entrepreneurship, tourism, strengthening MSMEs and other businesses among member states,” he said.
Shahriar Alam said, “We remain steadfast in our commitment to facilitate b2b trade and investment among member states. The government of Bangladesh is ready to provide full support to the D-8 CCI and Mr Fahim in sharing this important responsibility of boosting economic and social cooperation among member states.”
The Minister of Trade of Turkey and Deputy Minister of Trade of Indonesia also extended their congratulations and pledged their full cooperation and support to the new president.
President of TOBB Rifat Hisarciklioğlu, who handed over the presidency, said, “I’m truly honoured and pleased to hand over the presidency into his safe and capable hands. We’ll support the new president whenever it is necessary to strengthen the relationships among D-8 member states.”
Covid’s alarming surge in Bangladesh continues
Bangladesh recorded more than 7,000 new Coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day on Monday as the country is struggling with the rising number of Covid infections during its second wave.
Health authorities recorded 7,075 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours until Monday morning while it registered 7087 cases a day earlier which was the highest number of infections in a single day since the start of the pandemic.
With 52 new deaths during the period, the coronavirus fatalities rose to 9,318. The mortality rate remained static at 1.45 percent.
Amid the worsening Covid situation, the government enforced a 7-day lockdown from Monday restricting people’s movement, shutting shops, markets and suspending operations of public transport (bus, train and domestic flights).
Also read:Second dose of Covid vaccine from Thursday: PM
Coronavirus claimed 568 lives in January this year, 281 in February and 638 in March.
Earlier, the health authorities recorded over 5,000 Covid cases on March 29, 30 and 31 and April 3 while over 6,000 cases on April 1 and 2.
The infection rate rose to 23.40 percent from 23.07 percent on Sunday.
Bangladesh has so far recorded 644,439 coronavirus cases, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The number of daily cases and infection rate dropped below 5 percent earlier this year but then infections continued to rise again amid people’s reluctance to maintain health safety rules.
Hospitals are struggling to provide treatment to the increasing number of coronavirus patients with their limited resources. The government is increasing the number of beds and Covid-designated hospitals to deal with the situation.
During the 24-hour period until Monday morning, 2,932 patients recovered, taking the number of recoveries to 555,414.
Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8 last year and confirmed the first death from the virus 10 days later.
Also read:Covid-19: Bangladesh records 6,000+ cases for 2nd straight day
The country has so far tested 4,813,624 samples, including 30,239 in the last 24 hours, the DGHS said.
Second dose of Covid vaccine from Thursday: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday reaffirmed that the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine will be rolled out on Thursday next (April 8) as per the schedule.
She came up with the reassurance while presiding over the weekly Cabinet meeting virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
“The Prime Minister has made it clear that the roll-out of the second dose of coronavirus vaccine will begin on April 8 as usual as per the schedule,” said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters after the meeting held at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
The roll-out of the first jab of the covid-19 vaccine will start on April 6, he said.
Also Read: 20-30 lakh more doses of Covid-19 vaccine to arrive Feb 22
The Cabinet Secretary said there will be no problem with the stock of the second dose of the vaccines as Bangladesh will get the supply of the vaccines from India within the scheduled time.
The government will review on Thursday next whether the ongoing 7-day Covid-19 lockdown should be extended or not, he said.
Festival allowance for FFs
The Cabinet cleared a proposal for providing two festival allowances (each Tk 10,000) to the gallantry award holding freedom fighters, Tk 2,000 as the Bengali New Year allowance to gallantry award holding freedom fighters, war-wounded freedom fighters and martyred freedom fighters’ families and Tk 5,000 as the Victory Day allowance to the living freedom fighters, said the Cabinet Secretary.
Now the gallantry award holding freedom fighters are not getting the two festival allowances, the Bengali New Year allowance and the Victory Day allowance, while war-wounded freedom fighters are not getting the Bengali New Year allowance and the Victory Day allowance and the martyred freedom fighter’s families are not getting the Bengali New Year allowance, he said.
Modi thanks Momen for "excellent arrangements" during his recent visit
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen for the "excellent arrangements" made during his recent State Visit to Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Modi also congratulated the Bangladesh government for flawless arrangement of the spectacular celebrations on March 26 to mark 50 years of Bangladesh's Independence as well as the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Also Read: Modi visits Tungipara; pays homage to Bangabandhu
"I write to convey my thanks for the excellent arrangements made during my recent State Visit to Bangladesh. It was a pleasure to exchange thoughts with you during the visit," Modi said in his recent letter to Dr Momen.
Also Read: Bangladesh, India for progress of whole world: Modi
During the visit, Bangladesh and India agreed to accelerate the momentum that exists between the two countries with an eye on next 50 years of cooperation in diversified areas.
The two countries also laid emphasis on having enhanced connectivity, not just between Bangladesh and India but beyond the two countries to ensure broader economic benefits.
Shop owners, workers stage demo protesting closure of markets
Shop owners and employees of New Market and adjacent shopping malls staged demonstrations for the second consecutive day on Monday protesting the closure of shopping malls during the 7-day lockdown enforced to contain the Covid-19 transmission.
The protesters first took to the streets on Sunday and vandalized a number of vehicles during the demonstrations. At one stage, they locked into clashes with police.
Also Read: Spectre of panic buying returns to kitchen markets ahead of lockdown
Owners and employees of shops of Dhaka New Super Market, Chandrima Super Market, Nur Mansion and several other shopping malls again brought out a procession in the New Market area at around 10:30am to protest the closure.
They demanded the government to allow the market owners keep those open for four hours every day during the shutdown.
The traders said they incurred huge losses last year when the pandemic broke out. They feared incurring losses again for the ongoing lockdown as Eid is near.
Additional law enforcers have been deployed in the area to keep the situation under control, SM Kaiyum, officer-in-charge of New Market police station, told UNB.
“We are speaking with some of the leaders of the traders. The situation is under control and we are alert to avoid any unexpected situation,” he said.
Also Read: Bangladesh set to enforce nationwide lockdown Monday
The country started a seven-day lockdown on Monday, aiming to contain the second wave of Covid-19.
All modes of public transports (road, river, rail and domestic flights) will remain suspended during the period, among other restrictions.
Govt reschedules office timing for Ramadan
The government has rearranged the office timing for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan from 9am to 3:30pm for all government, semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions.
The decision was taken on Monday at the weekly cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Also Read: Ramadan office timing from 9 am to 3:30 pm
The Prime Minister virtually joined the meeting, held at the Bangladesh Secretariat, from her official residence Ganobhaban.
“During the Ramadan, 9am to 3:30pm was fixed as the office timing from Sunday to Thursday. And there’ll be a 15-minute break from 1:15 to 1:30pm for Zahr prayer,” said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters after the meeting.
He said banks, other financial institutions, Bangladesh Railway, the agencies involved in emergency services like fire services, hospitals, state-owned industries and factories, other companies as well as the Supreme Court will reschedule their own office timing for the Ramadan following their own rules and considering the public interest.
Also Read:Office timing rescheduled for ramadan
The Fridays and Saturdays will remain the weekend as usual during Ramadan, the Cabinet Secretary added.
This year, the holy Ramadan in Bangladesh is expected to begin on April 12.
Faruque Hasan-led Sammilito Parishad wins BGMEA election
Faruque Hasan is going to be elected President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) as majority of his panel Sammilito Parishad won in the election held on Sunday.
The elected Directors will elect President on April 16 and the new committee will take over on April 20.
Syed Nazrul Islam is going to be the first Vice President of the BGMEA.
Some 1604 votes, out of 1853, were cast in Dhaka while 392, out of 461, in Chattogram. Nearly 86.56 percent votes were cast in the election held on Sunday.
Shammilita Parishad secured 24 posts of directors while the other panel, Forum, led by ABM Shamsuddin, won 11 posts in the election.
In Dhaka zone, Shammilita got 17 posts, out of 26, and Forum bagged 9, according to the results.
In Chattogram zone, Shammilita Parishad bagged 7 out of 9 posts while Forum got 2 posts of directors.
The votes were cast from 9am to 7pm without any break maintaining hygienic guidelines in 14 polling booths there.
The election was held with a three-hour extended time from the usual time due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Based in capital Dhaka, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is the apex trade body of Bangladesh’s garments manufacturers. Founded in 1983, the BGMEA plays a pivotal role in Bangladesh’s apparel sector as the country’s economic growth largely depends on garment exports.
In 2019, Rubana Huq, Managing Director of Mohammadi Group and wife of late Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq was elected BGMEA President. She was the first female president of BGMEA.
The new BGMEA board will take over on April 20.
Bangladesh offers support to Afghanistan for development
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday offered help to Afghanistan in their efforts for development, stressing that peace is a must for progress.“Peace is a must for development,” she said when outgoing Afghan Ambassador Abdul Qayoom Malikzad met her at her official residence Ganobhaban.
Also Read: Perform duties properly to enforce Corona directives: PMPM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.She said non-government organisations like Brac are working for the socio-economic development of Afghanistan.The Prime Minister said the government has involved people so that their support can help establish peace.She mentioned that the government is working to establish poverty- and hunger-free Bangladesh which was the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.Talking about coronavirus, she said the whole world is reeling under various problems caused by this menace. “We’ve been fighting this menace.”She termed relations between Bangladesh and Afghanistan wonderful as both the countries have been working together in many international forums.
Also Read: PM calls for unity in war against natureShe also conveyed greetings to the Afghanistan President.Afghanistan Ambassador Abdul Qayoom Malikzad congratulated the Prime Minister on the occasion of Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence.Showing deep respect to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he said the historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu has been translated into their local language.He said the relations between the two countries have been strengthened under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina and termed Bangladesh’s development a ‘role model for all’.The Ambassador thanked the Prime Minister for extending cooperation to Afghan embassy in Bangladesh.Regarding trade and business between the two countries, he said there is enough scope to enhance that, particularly in the private sector.He urged the Prime Minister to reopen Bangladesh’s Embassy in Afghanistan.Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus was present on the occasion.
Narayanganj launch capsize death toll jumps to 28
Two more bodies were retrieved from the sunken launch in the Sitalakkhya River, pushing the death toll from the accident to 28 until Monday evening.
Police identified the deceased as Runa Aktar, 24, Soleman Bepari, 60, his wife Bebi Begum, 55, Sunita Saha, 40, her sons Bikash Saha, 22, Anik Saha, 12, Sakhina, 45, Bithi, 18, her daughter Arifa, 1, Pratima Shwarma, 50, Shamsuddin, 90, his wife Rehena Begum, 65, Md Jakir, 45, Hafizur Rahman, 24, his wife Tahmina, 20, their son Abdullah, 1, Narayan Das, 65, his wife Parboti Rani Das, 45, Saiful, 45, Ajmir, 15, Shah Alam Mridha, 55, Jakir Hossain, 45, Moharani, 37, Anowar Hossain, 45, Maksuda Begum, 30, her daughter Mansura, 7, Rizvi, 20, and Sauda Aktar Lata, 18.
Munshiganj-bound launch ML Rabit Al Hasan was carrying around 50 passengers when it capsized after being hit by an oil-laden tanker around 6pm on Sunday in Narayanganj. Police said the oil tanker could not be seized.
Around 20 passengers managed to swim ashore after the collision. Five bodies were recovered that night.
Golam Maula Sadeque, chairman of Bangladesh Inland and Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), said divers from local Fire Service and Coast Guard managed to salvage the sunken launch with the help of a salvage ship and recovered 21 more bodies from it at noon.
Upazila Health Officer (UNO) Nahida Barik handed over the bodies to their families at 2pm.
Relatives say nine passengers are still unaccounted for.
Two separate probe bodies were formed by Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner and the BIWTA under the Shipping Ministry to look into the incident.