Dhaka, Apr 24 (UNB)- Owners of major steel factories across the country on Wednesday urged the government for keeping the current tariff system over steel products’ manufacturing and distribution process.

Additionally they requested not to raise the gas price which is indispensable for the steel industry.

The calls were made at a press conference on the added VAT, tax on steel industry and the proposed gas price hike in the coming budget jointly arranged by Bangladesh Steel Manufacturers Association, Bangladesh Re-Rolling Mills Association and Bangladesh Steel Mill Owners Association at Jatiya Press Club.

Bangladesh Steel Manufacturers Association Secretary General Muhammad Shahidullah said the steel and re-rolling industry of the country is progressing despite many barriers.

"The current tariff method for paying VAT is an easy process. It is also an easy method for the government to collect taxes from the steel industry. We request the government to keep the current tariff method ( 900 taka VAT per ton)," he said.

He also mentioned that the production cost for each ton of rods could increase up to 9000 taka per ton should the government introduce new VAT abolishing the tariff method.

Shahidullah also urged the government to abolish the current Advance Income Tax (AIT) and TDS on steel production.

He further highlighted the necessity to keep the gas price down saying, "15% costs of steel production is due to fuel consumption. If the proposed gas price hike in the budget is implemented, the steel industry will see the production cost per ton increase to 4000 taka."
Current gas price for the steel industry is taka 7.76 per square meter which is proposed to increase 132 percent at 18.04 taka. For captive power consumption the rate is proposed to set at 18.88 taka from 9.62 taka per square meter marking a 96 percent increase.
Bangladesh Steel Manufacturers Association President Manwar Hossain said the local steel industry is lagging behind competing with the foreign companies who enjoy many facilities including tax rebate and duty free import.

"The government is importing duty free from foreign companies in many development projects. This practice should end and the local industry should get the chance," he added.

Among others present at the event Bangladesh Steel Mill Owners Association Chairman Sheikh Fazlur Rahman Bakul and Secretary General Md Shahjahan spoke.

Dhaka, Apr 23 (UNB)- Speakers at a roundtable discussion on Tuesday suggested that the potentials of dairy sector should be utilized by providing grants to the farmers and reducing the production cost of milk.

The theme of the roundtable programme was “Present and future of dairy sector of Bangladesh” was organised by daily newspaper Prothom Alo in association with PRAN Dairy Ltd, at the newspaper's office in the capital. Prothom Alo Associate Editor Abdul Kaium moderated the roundtable discussion.

Dr Hiresh Ranjan Bhowmik, Director General at Department of Livestock Services, said the main barrier of country’s dairy sector is the production cost and another problem is maintaining the quality.

Ghulam Rahman, President of Consumers Association of Bangladesh, said the per capita consumption of milk in Bangladesh is below the required amount.

The demand of milk will increases if people are aware regarding the nutrition milk contains, he said.

Eleash Mridha, Managing Director of PRAN Group, said there is no alternative of taking concerted effort for attaining self-sufficiency in dairy industry.

Mohammad Imran Hossain, president of Bangladesh Dairy Farmers Association, said, In India, farmers get subsidy for producing milk but Bangladeshi farmers don’t get that.

Shafiqul Islam Laskar, Director General of Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, Advocate Umme Kulsum Smrity, President, National Dairy Development Forum and Md Muniruzzaman, Executive Director at PRAN Dairy, spoke at the roundtable discussion among others.

Dhaka, Apr 22 (UNB) - A three-day fair titled ‘Indonesia Fair 2019’ will begin at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) here on Thursday which is expected to highlight Indonesian products, services and tourism sector cooperation between the two countries.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi will attend the inaugural ceremony of the fair, to be organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, as the chief guest.

The opening ceremony will be followed by the handover of Indonesia's buses procured by Bangladesh, said an official.

More than 30 companies from Indonesia will participate in the trade fair to showcase Indonesian products, ranging from traditional Indonesian batik, jewelry, fashion, and handicrafts, to services, food and beverages, automotive, aviation, banking, pharmaceutical, building material, military equipment, and tourism destinations.

On the sidelines of the fair, Indonesia-Bangladesh Business and Investment Forum will be held on April 26 with panelists from Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Indonesian Investment Board.

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujon will attend the business forum as the chief guest.

Two-day fashion shows, traditional dance performances, talk shows, and other product demo will be part of the fair.

Dhaka, Apr 20 (UNB) - Rubana Huq took charge as the first female president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Saturday.

She will lead the organisation for the 2019-2021 term.

Outgoing BGMEA President Md Siddiqur Rahman handed over the charge to Rubana at their new office in Uttara.

Rubana, managing director of Mohammadi Group, is the wife of Annisul Huq, a former Dhaka North City Corporation mayor and BGMEA president.

Newly-elected First Vice-President Mohammad Abdus Salam, Senior Vice-President Foysal Samad, and five vice-presidents – SM Mannan Kochi, MA Rahim, Arshad Jamal (Dipu), Mohammad Moshiul Azom (Sajol), and SM Chowdhury (Salim), also took charge.

Two panels contested the April 6 BGMEA election led by Rubana and Jahangir Alam. All 35 directors were elected from Rubana-led Sammilita Forum.

Election to BGMEA body is scheduled to take place after every two years.

But after the last election in 2013, the forums decided to elect the board in consensus. Siddiqur served three years and seven months as BGMEA president.

Dhaka, Apr 19 (UNB) - US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller has met Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Zulfiqur Aziz and toured the seaport facilities through which over 90 percent of Bangladesh’s trade flows.  

They discussed the important role US private business investment could play in port upgrades and other construction projects.  

The US envoy visited Chattogram on April 16-19 to promote bilateral trade and investment, support the growing military partnership between the United States and Bangladesh, and bolster people-to-people ties, said the US Embassy in Dhaka on Friday.    

Ambassador Miller visited US private energy company Excelerate, whose Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) in the Bay of Bengal is supplying natural gas used to produce power for Chattogram’s six million residents and its entire industrial area. 

The FSRU has a 500 million standard cubic feet of gas per day regasification capacity, increasing Bangladesh’s ability to reliably use its domestic natural gas reserves.

Ambassador Miller met business leaders to learn more about local industries that contribute to the economic development of both the Bangladeshi and US economies.  

He also visited a ship-breaking yard and a steel melting and re-rolling facility. 

Miller reiterated the importance of worker rights and safety, and called on business leaders to protect workers and the environment and put an end to child labor.

In support of growing US-Bangladesh military ties, Ambassador Miller gave remarks at the closing ceremony of a US-Bangladesh Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (SWADS) exercise.  

The exercise included modules on human rights, first aid, and mission planning.  

The US envoy laid a wreath and planted a tree to honour Seaman Mohammad Nurul Islam who was killed during a UN Peacekeeping Operation (PKO) in 2005.  

He paid his respects to the 146 Bangladeshis who have lost their lives in PKOs, and expressed his appreciation for Bangladesh’s support of international peace and security as the second largest troop-contributing country in the world.

Miller also visited the American Corner at Chattogram Independent University (CIU), where he met two-time Fulbright Fellow and CIU Vice-chancellor Dr Mahfuzul Hoque Chowdhury and engaged with Bangladeshis attending an event on autism awareness, in commemoration of World Autism Awareness Day.  

He highlighted the opportunities of studying in the United States as well as the EducationUSA information and services offered at the Corner. 

He later met with the founder and the Vice Chancellor of the Asian University for Women to express his support for their dedication to women’s education and leadership development including Rohingya students.

The US Ambassador visited the Chattogram War Cemetery where he laid a wreath at the grave of American pilot William B Rice, who lost his life as a member of the British Royal Air Force during World War II.  

He also laid a wreath at the Cross of Remembrance in honour of the sacrifices of all who died in the conflict.